German designer and manufacturer Max Holder, owner of North American distributor Holder Tractors of Canada, has been chosen to receive an Industriepreis award for 2015 in the category of drive and fluid technology for its “PowerDrive” system.
The Industriepreis award is judged by an independent panel of professors, industry experts, trade journalists and scientists and is based on a combination of high technology, ecology, economic and social values in the automotive industry. The Holder PowerDrive technology is currently available as an option on the Holder C270 tractor.
The core of the PowerDrive consists of four strong wheel motors, a valve block for control of the hydraulic flow and an electronic system that switches automatically between two-wheel and all-wheel drive depending on the driving situation. The company says the unique combination provides 40 percent more towing power and a climbing capability 50 percent higher than its predecessor in heavy-duty applications.
In transportation mode, the torque of the wheel motors is cut in half and the rear axle is deactivated to reach maximum speed at a much lower motor speed; this results in fuel savings of more than 20 percent and a noticeable reduction in noise, according to Holder.