Bosch Rexroth has concluded an agreement to take over all industrial property rights, patents and know-how of the companies EH-D and Onovum. The drive technology specialist from Lohr am Main is thus further expanding its range of compact axes in the lower power classes up to 10 kW; to date, the focus has been on axes in the power class from 10 kW upwards.

The compact axes from EH-D and Onovum have a leading position in this market segment and have a wide range of customers. They are used in various industries in which linear movements with high force are required: typically in plastics machines or presses, in power plant technology, the steel industry, metal processing, refrigeration technology, the food industry or in mobile applications.

Special technical features

The axles of the acquired companies have some special technical features: Their internal gear pumps are suitable for 4-quadrant operation - i.e. operation as a drive or brake is possible in both directions. The oil-flow synchronous motors allow targeted heat dissipation and therefore extended operating ranges without secondary cooling measures. And the expansion joints specially developed for EH-D's compact axles are used to balance out differential volumes and compensate for internal leakage currents or thermal expansion of the fluid.

"By acquiring the special compact axis expertise, we will be able to offer our customers a technologically and economically leading drive solution for all performance classes in the future and drive forward the electrification of industrial applications. In addition, the broader portfolio supports us in our strategy of acquiring customers in other sectors such as the food industry," says Dr. Steffen Haack, Head of the Industrial Hydraulics business unit and member of the Bosch Rexroth Executive Board responsible for development.

Structure of in-house production

In addition to the property rights, patents and know-how of the two companies EH-D and Onovum, which operate under the same management and are based in Burghaslach, the drives specialist from Lohr am Main is taking over all employees. The next step planned is to set up technical support for the global expansion of product sales and to establish in-house production of EH-D and Onovum compact axes in Chemnitz. Bosch Rexroth already manufactures hydraulic systems in Chemnitz and currently employs around 150 people at the site.