7 of the Most Common Uses for Hydraulic Cylinders

All modern vehicles have a hydraulic cylinder. This includes cars, trucks, and heavy-duty semis, as well as vehicles like skid steers and tractors. The hydraulic cylinder is part of the machinery's core system and controls functions like lifting, pushing, and pulling.

Because hydraulic cylinders are present in such a wide range of machines, they get a lot of use in miscellaneous industries. Knowing the most common uses for hydraulic cylinders gives you a better appreciation for how much they accomplish. Let's look at some of the most frequent applications for these powerful components.

Construction

Construction sites are hubs of heavy machinery, and hydraulic cylinders power much of this equipment. You'll find them in excavators, bulldozers, loaders, and cranes. In an excavator, for instance, hydraulic cylinders control the arm and bucket, which allows operators to dig and move massive amounts of earth with precision.

Bulldozers use hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower their large front blades. This action is what lets them push soil, rubble, and other materials. Without the force generated by hydraulics, these tasks would be nearly impossible for a single machine to handle.

Loaders also depend on hydraulic cylinders to lift and dump materials like gravel and sand. The strength provided by the hydraulic system allows these machines to carry heavy loads efficiently. This capability speeds up construction projects and reduces the need for manual labor.

Manufacturing

In manufacturing plants, hydraulic cylinders are integral to automated production lines. They power machinery that presses, stamps, and assembles products. You'll often see them in hydraulic presses that shape metal sheets or injection molding machines that create plastic parts.

These cylinders provide the consistent, powerful force needed for repetitive tasks. This consistency helps produce uniform products. The reliability of hydraulic systems minimizes downtime and keeps production running smoothly.

Robotic arms on assembly lines also use hydraulic cylinders for movement. These cylinders enable the arms to lift heavy components and position them accurately. This automation increases both the speed and safety of the manufacturing process.

Mining

The mining industry operates in some of the toughest environments on Earth, and it relies on rugged equipment. Hydraulic cylinders are engineered with robust materials, heavy-duty construction, and advanced sealing systems to withstand extreme pressures, abrasive dust, and corrosive elements. They power large mining trucks, drills, and excavators that extract minerals and ores from the ground.

Massive dump trucks use powerful hydraulic cylinders to lift their beds and unload tons of material. Hydraulic drills also use this force to break through hard rock and access valuable deposits.

The reliability of hydraulic systems is a major benefit in mining. Equipment failure in a remote mine can cause long delays and high costs. Hydraulic cylinders offer the durability and power needed to keep operations moving forward without interruption.

Agriculture

Modern farming would look very different without hydraulic cylinders. They're in tractors, combines, and other agricultural machinery. In tractors, hydraulics control attachments like plows, seeders, and loaders. This allows a single tractor to perform a variety of tasks.

For example, a farmer can use a tractor's hydraulic system to raise and lower a plow to prepare a field for planting. They can then switch to a seeder attachment, also controlled by hydraulics, to plant crops. This versatility makes farming more efficient and productive.

Harvesters and combines also use hydraulic cylinders to operate their cutting and threshing mechanisms. These systems help automate the process of gathering crops, which saves time and labor. The power of hydraulics allows these machines to work through large fields quickly.

Automotive

The automotive industry uses hydraulic cylinders in both manufacturing and vehicle systems. On the assembly line, hydraulic lifts raise car bodies to a comfortable working height for assembly line workers. Hydraulic presses also stamp out body panels from sheets of metal.

Within vehicles themselves, hydraulic systems are common. Your car's braking system is a prime example. When you press the brake pedal, you're activating a master cylinder that sends hydraulic fluid to the calipers, which then squeeze the brake pads against the rotors to stop the car.

Many convertible cars use hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower their soft or hard tops. The smooth, controlled motion provided by hydraulics makes this process effortless for the driver. Even the power steering in many older cars relies on a hydraulic system to assist the driver.

Waste Management

Waste management relies on heavy machinery to collect, compact, and transport trash. The most noticeable feature of garbage trucks, for example, is the hydraulic compactor at the back. This system uses a powerful hydraulic cylinder to crush trash, which maximizes the truck's capacity.

Waste collectors use the same hydraulic system to lift and empty large dumpsters. The strength of the hydraulics allows a single operator to handle heavy loads with ease. This efficiency is what makes modern waste collection possible on a large scale.

Hydraulic equipment also has its uses at recycling facilities and landfills. Balers use hydraulic presses to compact recyclable materials like cardboard and plastic into dense blocks. Bulldozers and compactors, powered by hydraulics, manage the landfill by spreading and compacting waste.

Forestry

In the forestry industry, hydraulic cylinders are components of many machines loggers use for felling and transporting trees. Feller bunchers, skidders, and loaders all use hydraulics to handle heavy logs. A feller buncher, for example, uses a hydraulic arm with a cutting head to grab and cut down trees.

Once the trees are down, skidders use hydraulic grapples to drag the logs to a loading area. From there, hydraulic loaders lift the logs onto trucks for transport. The power and reach of these machines make the logging process much faster and safer than traditional methods.

The durability of hydraulic systems is also a major advantage in the rugged forest environment. The equipment needs to withstand constant use and exposure to the elements. Hydraulic cylinders provide the robust performance needed for this demanding work.

Power Your Hauls With Higgs Parts

Hydraulic cylinders see a lot of use! These are some of the most common industries where they serve a purpose, but not all of them; they're that much of a staple in modern machinery.

If you own a semi-truck and need a new hydraulic cylinder for it, either as a replacement or an upgrade, Higgs Parts sells hydraulic and pneumatic original parts for a range of brands and models. Come shop our selection to get what you need to effectively haul cargo, materials, and more!