Skyjack partners with CVTCORP

Skyjack used World of Concrete 2016 (Feb. 2-5 at the Las Vegas Convention Center) to debut its new TH series of telehandlers, as well as announce its partnership with CVTCORP, a Montreal-based transmission company.

The Tier 4 Final telehandlers offer Skyjack's simpler rear axle stabilization, hydraulics systems, outriggers, controls, engine servicing, electronics and option packages – staying true to the cmpany's "Simply Reliable" philosophy.

World of Concrete was the first public showing of the company's new telehandler line, and Skyjack president, Brad Boehler, said the company is "very serious about being in the telehandler business."

"We are working on new models that will be released soon," Boehler said. "We are working on another new project, as well."

Skyjack and CVTCORP have been working together for more than a year to develop a true mechanical continuously variable transmission for Skyjack's telehandlers.

“The possibilities that a mechanical CVT opens up for our new TH-series telehandler range are fairly exciting,” said Barry Greenaway, product manager, Skyjack. “Firstly, the mechanical CVT greatly increases efficiency over a hydrostatic system. It also allows the engine to stay in its ideal rpm range – resulting in significant fuel savings. What’s more, these benefits partner perfectly with our SMARTORQUE 74hp engines, which already reduce fuel use, and will allow rental companies to reduce net costs to their customers without dropping rental rates.”

CVTCORP’s toroidal mechanical CVT transmits torque between curved traction discs using actuated rollers, it eliminates metal on metal contact using a specially formulated traction fluid. This allows output speed to be varied across an infinite number of ratios throughout the operating range.

“With over 500,000 hours of cumulative testing performed both by us and OEMs we have worked with — much of which at higher power levels than used by Skyjack’s TH range — we have a wealth of experience with our CVT design in equipment transmissions,” said Daniel Girard, founder and CEO of CVTCORP.

The transmission ensures that the machine is in the optimal ratio at all times, making machine operation easier than a comparable power-shift equipped unit – the operator only has to choose forward or reverse.

“Aside from the fuel savings, the nature of how our CVT works will result in real gains in terms oflife cycle costs for equipment managers,” Greenaway said. “Another real benefit over power shift transmissions is that the operator cannot abuse the drivetrain in the same way; the CVT smoothly ramps up for acceleration and deceleration with no shock loads from abrupt gear changes. In fact, the operator can shift into reverse while travelling at max forward speed with his foot firmly on the accelerator and the machine will smoothly decelerate and seamlessly transition into reverse.”

Skyjack and CVTCORP are currently carrying out internal testing using a SJ1056 TH telehandlers equipped with a CVTCORP transmission, with the aim to begin customer field trials of the optional CVT transmission in the fourth quarter of 2016.

For more news on Skyjack, and the company's goals for the coming year, see the World of Concrete review in Access, Lift & Handlers' March/April 2016 issue.