Helios Technologies, Inc. (Helios) a global leader in highly engineered motion control and electronic controls technology for diverse end markets, introduces ENERGEN™, the unique cartridge valve that converts hydraulic flow into electric energy. Launched by Sun Hydraulics (Sun) a Helios company within the Hydraulics segment, ENERGEN™ is a new product in the recently announced ecoline™ program and a direct result of a longstanding focus on quality, performance, and innovation.
The rising costs of fuel, increasing use of electrification, and introduction of battery-powered electric vehicles are increasing the importance of electrical power management. Sun Hydraulics’ ENERGEN™ solution is a timely direct response to what the market wants.
Starting with the understanding of the increasing requirement for electric power and the issue of parasitic energy loss in hydraulics, Sun created this innovative check valve solution in record time. The energy regeneration capability of the ENERGEN™ cartridge valve is attributed to an integrated generator that converts otherwise lost power into usable energy. This energy can be re-directed to control electronics such as solenoid valves and sensors or to charge a battery within an application’s system. The highly engineered generator within a cartridge valve produces supplemental electrical power in situations where increasing demands for electrification have made some electrical power sources insufficient. Equally as important, ENERGEN™ provides energy where manufacturers have traditionally not been able to run an electrical harness, unlocking functionality that was previously not possible.