Liebherr Hydraulic actuation systems

Liebherr is a major supplier of hydraulic control systems such as leveling systems, active lateral steering systems, bogie steering systems, and anti-kink systems for rail transportation applications.

The product line ranges from simple passive dampers to complex safety systems. These are installed on the latest high-speed trains and locomotives, long-distance and local trains, subways, city and suburban rail transit systems, and tramways.

With comprehensive technical know-how in transport technologies, aviation, and construction machines, Liebherr-Transportation Systems transforms the most challenging customer requirements into innovative solutions.

Electrohydraulic Actuators for Rail Applications

Electrohydraulic actuators act as compact, powerful "power houses" on rail vehicles, tailored for various applications. These include yaw damping, active lateral positioning, car positioning systems, active radius steering, and tilting technology.

They meet the future demands of rail infrastructure by reducing environmental burden, minimizing wear and noise, and improving vehicle performance.

Increased Riding Comfort

Electrohydraulic actuators are engineered to position loads of several tons at speeds up to 350 km/h, guided by intelligent control units or to counteract vibrations. They play a vital role in enabling high-speed travel and enhancing passenger comfort.

Another key benefit is the substantial reduction in wear to both vehicles and infrastructure. Although they involve higher initial costs, these are balanced by significantly reduced maintenance costs, lower energy usage, and increased transport capacity over time.

Easy and Low-Cost Installation

Electrohydraulic actuators are sealed hydraulic systems. Liebherr handles assembly, filling, and final inspection under high-purity conditions, ensuring long-term reliability under demanding rail conditions. For train manufacturers, this means they only need to mount the actuator, connect power and the control unit—eliminating the complex and error-prone setup of traditional hydraulic systems.

This approach reduces the risk of contamination and potential damage during installation.

Plug and Play Solution

Electrohydraulic actuators are essentially maintenance-free. In rare cases of malfunction, the unit can be quickly replaced without specialized hydraulic knowledge. This modular design minimizes downtime.

These systems are managed by a microprocessor controller developed by Liebherr for rail applications. The software is programmable to meet Safety Integrity Level SIL2 according to EN 50128 standards. Liebherr’s electrohydraulic actuators can be customized for nearly any requirement, supporting fast, comfortable, and safe journeys.