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CASE STUDY

Cost-Effective Linkage Solution for a Global Construction Equipment Manufacturer

COMPANY TYPE:

Construction & Mining Equipment Manufacturer

INDUSTRY

Construction & Agriculture

ASSEMBLIES

Ladder Support Linkage

Overview

A leading global manufacturer of large construction and mining equipment needed a reliable, cost-effective linkage for a critical safety application. Their existing design was expensive, difficult to source, and negatively impacting their supply chain. Radial Bearing stepped in to engineer a simpler, more durable solution that improved delivery timelines while maintaining structural performance.

The Challenge

The customer’s initial design relied on a thin-walled hollow tube swaged with male rod ends. While functional, the tube was expensive to procure and posed ongoing sourcing difficulties. Specific challenges included:

  • Supply Chain Instability: Hollow tubes with precise specs were costly and difficult to secure.
  • Cost Constraints: The part needed to be viable at scale without sacrificing load performance.
  • Timeline Pressures: Lead times had become a bottleneck in the ladder support assembly process.
  • Safety Requirements: As part of a structural access platform on large mobile equipment, the linkage needed to meet strict mechanical load requirements.
Lead times had become a bottleneck in the ladder support assembly process.

The Solution

Drawing on our experience with similar applications and ongoing collaboration with the customer’s engineering team, Radial Bearing recommended a simplified yet robust alternative:

  • Revised Design: Replaced the hollow tube with a solid connecting rod using male rod ends, leveraging materials already used in other Radial Bearing applications.
  • Load-Qualified Materials: Selected a standard in-stock material that met or exceeded the load criteria for the ladder support.
  • US-Based Sourcing: Eliminated sourcing complications by transitioning to a domestically available, cost-efficient solution.
  • Collaborative Engineering: Worked directly with the customer’s product engineers to design, review, and validate the new approach through an efficient approval process.
Worked directly with the customer’s product engineers to design, review, and validate the new approach through an efficient approval process.

The Results

Radial Bearing’s engineered solution delivered measurable value:

  • Reduced Lead Times: Standard materials enabled faster production and fulfillment.
  • Cost Savings: Simplified design and domestic sourcing lowered per-unit costs.
  • Improved Reliability: Solid rod construction enhanced durability for a high-stress, safety-critical application.
  • Strong Partnership: Continued collaboration reinforced the customer’s trust in Radial Bearing as a dependable engineering and manufacturing partner.

 

Project milestones included RFQ submission in November 2023, design approval in March 2024, and the first shipment scheduled for October 2024.

Get Started on Your Project

Put reliable control in the hands of the world’s drivers, pilots, and equipment operators with the expertise and support of Radial Bearing. Contact us today to discuss your needs.

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