INFORM FUTURE LAB TESTING HEART AND SOUL The more thorough the testing of material and machinery, the better the outlook for subsequent breakdownfree customer operation. With this in mind, Krone opens a new chapter in quality assurance with its “Future Lab”. The best machinery manufacturers have always tried to put their money on safeguarding respective reputations for tractor and implement reliability. And increasingly, as machinery becomes more sophisticated and complex, as the pressures to get a quality crop in are ever-greater in line with larger farms, bigger herds and the demand for optimal crop quality, downtime for expensive equipment out in the field is a very expensive experience. So the pressure continues to test every idea, design and material involved the best way possible. Particularly in vehicle technology, the effort invested in such testing is enormous – for example by Krone. “After all, our products represent investments of substantial value, that in practice are subject to considerable wear and tear. The more comprehensively testing is carried out during even first development steps on the computer and then right through to the final inspection before customer delivery of a completed machine, the better its resultant assurance and operational quality. In other words, value retention for the customer remains acceptable”, explains Jürgen Graumann. He’s manager of the “Future Lab” created by Krone in 2019, although in official Krone formulation, it’s called the “Validation Centre”. BUNDLED KNOW-HOW The term validation indicates the focal point of the operations taking place in the Future Lab, located at Lingen in German Emsland. “Our task is, above all, to utilise complex modern measurement and testing technology, as well as appropriate analysis procedures, to test the functionality and robustness of components, component groups and complete vehicles and machinery. The data and information thus collected flow finally as basic information into product development and the production process”, explains Jürgen Graumann. “This has, however, little to do with the quality control carried out by our colleagues, for instance on goods coming into the factory or during checks at the end of the assembly line before delivery. The knowledge collected by our work is applied much earlier. One can say the information we secure ensures the constructive success of future products – so that the name Future Lab fits very well.” This materials engineer is fascinated, not only by the daily work in the lab – which alone is enthralling enough, he reckons. But mainly by the opportunity to plan from the start such a test laboratory valued at over 20 m €. And to get it working with a team and the very latest test technology, representing a once-in-a- lifetime chance in a professional career. “On top of this, the Krone Group puts its complete know-how into the validation from both its divisions: commercial vehicles and agricultural machinery. This produces very many synergy effects, boosting our work results enormously. A situation not to be found anywhere else in the manufacturing landscape”, he states with noticeable enthusiasm. SIMULATING STRESS And how or, indeed, what is to be tested in each case? There’s an enormous variety of possible subjects. Too long to list here, says Jürgen Graumann. But he mentions a couple of the available facilities such as often very large test stands. There’s also a test track and an outdoor area for trials. The main work includes functional and long-term load tests with the aim of literally discovering the limits of what is possible with the material involved. Such tests take place under an enormous number of simulated scenarios. “Krone products must function reliably and continually under all climatic conditions and weather zones around the globe. So we test, among other things, electronic modules in a climate chamber to ensure that influences such as temperature or moisture content levels do not impact functionality”, he explains. “KRONE PRODUCTS MUST FUNCTION RELIABLY AND CONTINUALLY UNDER ALL CLIMATIC CONDITIONS.” JÜRGEN GRAUMANN, FUTURE LAB MANAGER As a further highlight, he names the road simulator, called X-Poster in specialist speak. With this, among other things, working life cycles of the drive train and bodywork of truck trailers are reproduced. The aim here is to simulate one million km roadwork within a three-week trial – over as many different types of road surface as possible. “The collected data allows realistic usage results to be fed into a computer model for reliable information on lifetime stress. The development steps, up to prototypes and the later test phases of the machinery, can in this way be substantially more effective. This helps efficiency, because prototype construction and the further steps up until readiness for serial production are extremely cost intensive. “Thus, the better we carry out our work in the Future Lab, the less teething troubles to take care of later. Or, to stay in health simile mode: prevention is better than cure. What we have tested heart and soul is therefore very fit for the future.” « 60 61
We Wir connect verbinden TRADITION & VISION Since 1906 Krone has been inseparably linked with agriculture. With people who sow their fields Seit 1906 Since ist 1906 KRONE Krone untrennbar has been mit inseparably der Landwirtschaft linked with verbunden. agriculture. within the rhythm of nature. Mit We mow, Menschen, With people swathe, die who chop im sow Rhythmus and their bale. fields der We within Natur connect ihre the tradition rhythm Felder and bestellen. of nature. vision. Wir mähen, schwaden, We mow, häckseln And swathe, together und chop pressen. we’ll and work bale. Wir to verbinden We get connect the best Tradition tradition out of your und and harvest. Vision. vision. And Und together gemeinsam we’ll holen work wir to get das the Beste best aus out Ihrer of your Ernte harvest. raus. #KRONECTED
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