Agriculture

Space for filtration and emissions systems is becoming tougher to find in agricultural equipment, but Donaldson customized solutions can fit into tight spots and yield better performance, too.

Industry Challenges

The business of farming is highly personal. The people buying farming equipment are usually the ones using it, so they’re directly impacted by equipment performance. There is also a narrow window of opportunity for farmers to do their work, so equipment reliability and uptime is crucial. Delays can result in a direct drop-off in yield, which, in turn, has a direct impact on the bottom line.

The trend toward precision agriculture allows farmers to do their jobs more effectively, by farming more land in less time. However, the equipment needs to be smarter and more precise, using advanced technology to plant and harvest with a focus on greater production and improved efficiency. Evolving emissions requirements also have a big impact on engine performance, and OEMs are challenged to meet the various requirements around the world.

Donaldson Solutions

The need for reliability, precision output and efficiency means that more components are being squeezed into agricultural equipment, and this means that there’s less space available for key components like air cleaners and emissions systems. And all of these systems need to be intelligent – communicating both function and expected life.

Filtration plays a key role in supporting OEM goals of better equipment performance, reliability and intelligent maintenance. That’s why Donaldson offers customized solutions that incorporate our core filter, media and monitoring technologies. Our goal is to help OEMs meet their very specific application needs. This is why we work to develop smaller, more adaptable filtration solutions that often provide enhanced performance, all without adding restrictions to your equipment.

Donaldson Filtration System Options

Air – Agricultural OEMs face a broad range of challenges. They need to address large, assorted contaminants and chaff removal all while maintaining effective airflow to meet power output and fuel efficiency requirements. At the same time, air cleaners are expected to do more in less space. To help OEMs tackle these challenges, Donaldson offers a range of options, including large-vane pre-cleaners, integrated pre-cleaners, scavenge solutions, and industry-leading Ultra-Web™ media and PowerCore^® configurations.

Fuel – Engine technology looks a lot different now compared to two decades ago, due to environmental regulations requiring greater engine efficiency and reduced emissions from agricultural equipment. Fuel distribution efficiency can be improved with high-pressure common-rail (HPCR) injectors, but the fuel must be protected from nearly microscopic contamination by water and particulates. To provide this protection, Donaldson offers leading filtration media options like Synteq™ DRY coalescing technology that is featured in our high-performing primary fuel filter water separator system. Plus, particulate contamination can be removed – at a rate that’s four times better than our competitors – with our secondary fuel filters that use Synteq XP™ media.

Hydraulics – Start clean and stay clean. Uptime is the primary goal of hydraulic systems on agricultural equipment, and you do that by eliminating contamination. Donaldson offers a range of innovative solutions like Clean Seal to help hydraulic systems start clean and Alpha-Web™ media to help systems stay clean. Hydraulic systems perform more efficiently for longer periods of time with Alpha-Web™ media, including under the varied-flow operating conditions most heavy-duty agricultural equipment experience. Additionally, the available space and integrated deaeration filtration of hydraulic reservoirs can be engineered to the optimal size for your platform.

Lube – Donaldson lube filtration options deliver an ideal balance of efficiency and restriction. Our filters protect engines from contaminants while extending the life of oil and filters, saving on cost, space and maintenance.

Emissions – Increasingly stringent emissions requirements have greatly changed agricultural equipment design and technology. To meet these requirements, Donaldson can customize components that make emissions systems more effective in smaller spaces. We also offer unique mixer and dosing technologies.

Predictive Maintenance – If agricultural equipment owners service filters and oil too soon, they're not utilizing the expected life of the filter. But if they service too late, they risk inefficient operation or long-term equipment damage. That’s where our cloud-based Filter Minder™ Connect monitoring solution comes in. Filter Minder Connect provides actionable data on both filter and oil condition to improve equipment uptime. Filter use and predictive maintenance scheduling can also be optimized with Filter Minder Connect to provide low total cost of ownership.

Differentiated Donaldson Value

In the agriculture industry, margins are small and windows of opportunity are tight. No one understands how to operate efficiently in tight spaces like Donaldson.

Donaldson delivers highly customized filtration system designs that are built to your specifications and designed to not only keep your customers’ vehicles in the field but maximize every minute they’re in it.

Off the field, our vast distribution network ensures easy access to parts, better supporting your manufacturing operations or your dealer service parts network. We proactively anticipate challenges and work directly with your teams to solve problems. And we do it nearly everywhere in the world.

Our bottom line is your bottom line. Donaldson creates technical solutions that address real end-user needs. This creates differentiated value and revenue streams for your brand that help lower your overall cost of ownership.

Applications