Bringing Precision Control to the Oilfield with an Electrohydraulic Winch Solution
Some of the toughest engineering challenges happen far from the factory floor—out in the oilfields, where heat, distance, and downtime aren’t just obstacles, they’re profit killers.
That’s where one equipment manufacturer found itself. They needed to rethink a core system used in their field service vehicles: a winch mechanism that manages high-tension cable thousands of feet underground. The industry standard had always been hydraulic, but this customer wanted something more modern, more connected, and more precise. They came to Evolution to help design it.
The Challenge: Modernizing a Critical Oilfield Operation
For years, this system had relied on a hydraulic transmission and controls to do the job. Now, the customer was ready to evolve their offering with an electric or electrohydraulic solution. They needed to maintain exact winch control while increasing efficiency, connectivity, and monitoring—all in a rugged mobile environment.
That kicked off a collaborative engineering effort between the Evolution team and the customer’s internal designers. The goal: create a next-generation solution that could perform in the harshest conditions and still deliver exceptional control.
The goal: create a next-generation solution that could perform in the harshest conditions and still deliver exceptional control.
Designing the Right Electrohydraulic Architecture
The first concept used a Bosch Rexroth eLION motor and inverter. But as the design progressed, it became clear that the system needed liquid cooling and a more robust control backbone to support the customer’s operating conditions.
Tapping into our dual expertise in mobile and factory automation, we designed a hybrid architecture that balanced electric drive power, precise loop control, and real-time connectivity—even in remote environments.
Smart Components, Seamless Integration
To bring the system to life, Evolution delivered a suite of integrated technologies designed to work in tandem with the customer’s own tension feedback unit, which closed the control loop and maintained precise cable positioning:
- Bosch Rexroth eLION Motor – Heavy-duty electric motor for mobile applications
- Bosch Rexroth IndraDrive ML – Scalable, high-power drive system ideal for R&D and production testing
- Bosch Rexroth ctrlX Core – A Linux-based control platform with real-time performance, open architecture, and remote connectivity
- Bosch Rexroth Mobile Controller– Field-proven joystick for real-time control
This wasn’t just component delivery. It was a system-level solution that solved a complex control challenge, with the scalability to support long-term growth.
Driving Results and Future Demand
The initial system is already complete, with a second unit in production and planned showings at major international industry events. This collaboration has become an active, daily partnership—proof that when you align expertise with innovation, real progress happens fast.
Let’s Create Your Next Solution
Whether you’re modernizing a legacy design or launching something entirely new, Evolution Motion Solutions brings cross-disciplinary thinking and hands-on support to help you build better. Partner with us today to build the solutions of tomorrow.