Perforated sheet metal Fresh air for tractor engines

Related Vendors

SCHÄFER WERKE GmbH

Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA)

Wuxi InfiMotion Technology Co., Ltd.

SIMTOS (Seoul International Machine Tool Show)

Effective ventilation while simultaneously protecting against insects, dirt, dust, and other foreign objects - that's what the use of perforated sheet metal in agriculture stands for. Fendt relies on solutions from Schäfer Perforated Sheets.

Since 2017, Schäfer Perforated Sheets has been constructing the characteristic ventilation grilles of the bonnets for models of the Fendt Vario tractors in collaboration with the agricultural machinery manufacturer Fendt, most recently for the series of special tractors Fendt 200 V/F/P Vario. The cooling grilles made from perforated sheets form the eye-catcher at the front part of the bonnets. They supply the engine with air and protect it and its accessories from unwanted external influences. The ventilation grilles are manufactured in Neunkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, and delivered ready for installation just in time to the Fendt cabin plant in Asbach-Bäumenheim.

Perforated sheet metal allows for effective ventilation and cooling of machine parts through optimized air permeability. It succeeds in preventing overheating and utilizing full power in an energy-efficient manner. At the same time, it protects the engines and other components from foreign bodies such as dirt, dust and insects, extending the life of the machines and reducing the need for maintenance. Particles cannot penetrate the engine compartment or damage the agricultural machine in any other way.

Function and design combined

In general, the front part is one of the primary visible surfaces of vehicles. This also applies to tractors. The air entering the engine compartment is directed through so-called beads, the reinforcing and shaping strips of a bonnet. In the Fendt 200 Vario, function and design are combined in a special way. The embossing pattern crucial for ventilation reflects the corporate design of the agricultural machinery manufacturer and gives additional stability to the cooling grille.

The use of perforated sheet metal not only serves to protect engines and machines, but also offers individual surface structures - adapted to each agricultural machine. The use of different materials, perforated shapes and features allows for a homogeneous design. In addition, the robust properties of the perforated sheet metal ensure a long lifespan of the machines. It increases resilience to the demanding working conditions in agriculture.

Gallery

Gallery with 5 images

In order to achieve the necessary functions and at the same time the brand-specific design, the cooling grilles are made from four embossed perforated sheets. Before sheet metal forming, deep drawing, perforated sheet metal with edge-rounded hexagonal perforation is made from 1.0 millimeter thick deep-drawing steel of grade DC06. In addition to protecting against external influences, the perforated sheets with hexagonal perforation achieve optimal cooling due to their high free cross-sectional area (up to 80.2%) and thus ensure better engine performance. This optimizes consumption values and uses resources efficiently, also due to the low self-weight.

Radiator grills withstand salt spray tests according to DIN EN ISO 9227

In addition to mechanical refinement, the combination painting of the ventilation grills is special. They undergo a dip painting process and a final powder coating. This way, the manufactured perforated sheets, or the radiator grills made from them, can withstand the extreme conditions of the salt spray fog test according to DIN EN ISO 9227.

"Schäfer Perforated Sheets was involved from the very beginning when the first prototype of the new generation of the Fendt 200 V/F/P Vario was developed. Since then, we have evolved together with Fendt, evaluated the experiences made and incorporated them into both the construction and the manufacturing process," says Torsten Schoew, automotive expert in the field of motor protection and cooling at Schäfer Perforated Sheets.