Leading Through Innovation

Barloworld Equipment has a long history of innovative thinking, elegant engineering solutions and entrepreneurial endeavour. Notable amongst these has been the introduction of several Caterpillar products to the market, of which the ACERT Tier 3 engine emission technology is making world headlines. This was followed by the introduction of the unique System One undercarriage for small and medium sized, track-type tractors.

Continuously Variable Transmissions have been around for a long time. The first toroidal CVT concept was patented in the 18th century, but had to wait for the industrial revolution and traction fluid technology before it could be manufactured. But it was not until the early 1980s that practical applications became viable. Early CVTs, whilst proving the efficacy of the engineering concept, relied on traction fluid and/or pure rubber belts to create the friction interface to change the radius between two interfacing/ planetary metal surfaces. The resultant heat generation, vibration and friction losses have characterised early CVT technology ever since.

• Gary Berndt
• Jan Naude
• Marinus van den Ende

Poised to become one of the most important discoveries in the search for lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions since the invention of the automobile, the revolutionary new Naudic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) concept, is making a significant impact in the vehicle and engineering industries.