Collaboration and open innovation

When Airport Technologies Inc. went looking for a clutch solution for its newest airport snowblower model, the Snow Wolf SB-1050, its expectations and requirements were high.

“The clutch needed to be able to handle a 1,050-hp engine and 3,400 ft.-lbs. of torque, but also have smart technology to protect itself from damage,” says Barry Smith, president of Airport Technologies, Southport, Manitoba, Canada.

Another challenge Airport Technologies had to overcome with finding the right clutch manufacturer was that it had already started building the machine with a proprietary gearbox developed by Rj Link Intl. Inc., Rockford, IL, onto which the clutch had to be mounted directly. The clutch manufacturer would have to work closely with the gearbox provider to integrate its custom solution onto the gearbox and into the snowblower.

PT Tech, based in Sharon Center, OH, is no stranger to partnering with other companies, and its hydraulic PTO clutch fit the demands. “What was interesting to us when we first started talking with PT Tech,” says Smith, “was they demonstrated no reservations to working with another company, and in fact ended up working closely with the gearbox manufacturer to pull this product solution together and deliver it to us on time.”

“They wanted a combination of a hydraulic pump drive, a clutch that was remotely actuated from the cab and a gear reduction unit,” explains Joe Guinter, general manager, Engine Products Group, PT Tech. “Airport Technologies had already been working with Rj Link and wanted us to work together to come up with a solution.” The clutch couldn’t simply be coupled to the end of the gearbox because of size constraints in the machine design. The system had to be fully integrated together in order to meet those size requirements.

Airport Technologies had looked at other clutch suppliers, but struggled to find one willing to work together with another company for an integrated solution. “It’s a lot more work to partner for a system solution,” explains Guinter. “And it also requires the sharing of intellectual property.”

PT Tech likes to consider itself an extension of its customers’ engineering department. “We frequently work with the customer to offer a customized solution. Close to 97% of our sales are to equipment manufacturers. Our expertise is helping OEMs design specialty solutions,” says Guinter. “We get really excited when there is an opportunity like the one with Airport Technologies to integrate a product into a new piece of equipment.”

Some component manufacturers work with a handful of OEMs providing custom or off-the-shelf components. PT Tech’s willingness to work with other component manufacturers has opened the door to hundreds of customers, most with custom solutions.

The design partnership

The initial brainstorming session between Rj Link and PT Tech defined which company was going to take on which role in the integrated solution process. Each company brought its own area of expertise. The team looked at the entire scope of the project and decided where to use each company’s products, discovered where new systems needed to be designed and which company’s design team would undertake the development.

PT Tech’s willingness to coordinate the project was a blessing for Airport Technologies who admits that having to coordinate meetings and give direction and guidance to the two companies would have been too time consuming. “When we were working on this project, our design people were completely tied up with the design itself,” explains Smith. “We really enjoyed PT Tech’s willingness to work jointly with Rj Link on the project.”

The open innovation concept

Proprietary information is a competitive advantage for any company. But while competitive edge is important, there is a growing trend between companies to share intellectual properties for the benefit of a “greater solution”. Sounds cliché, but according to Guinter “there has been an opening up where companies are realizing that by working together and sharing innovation and intellectual properties, a greater solution can be created than what could be accomplished internally.”