More than 50 years after the first Hägglunds Viking motor was developed, the classic hydraulic motor continues to play an important role in modern winch systems. The motor, manufactured by Hägglunds – a Bosch Rexroth company – in Mellansel outside Örnsköldsvik, is today used in new advanced marine solutions where high demands are placed on reliability, precision, and durability.
The latest example comes from winch manufacturer DÉGRA, which has developed a new heavy-duty mooring system with four, six, or eight winches for marine applications. The solution is designed to handle severe shock loads while offering precise control of force and speed. Each winch can pull up to 47 tonnes on the first layer and can be equipped with features such as dynamic brakes, load measurement, constant tensioning, and automated level winder systems.
At the center of the solution is the Hägglunds Viking motor – a hydraulic motor that, despite its long history, remains highly relevant in new designs. One of the main reasons is the motor’s low moment of inertia, which provides high resistance to shock loads while also enabling excellent constant tension performance. The motor also offers high starting torque from standstill, low noise levels, and minimal maintenance requirements.
Since its launch in the 1970s, the Viking motor has been continuously developed, but the core characteristics that made it popular in winch applications remain the same. The combination of robust construction, high reliability, and long service life means the motor is still being used in new projects around the world.
For Hägglunds in Mellansel, this is also an example of how Swedish hydraulic technology continues to remain internationally competitive. Despite the technology being several decades old, today’s applications demonstrate that proven solutions can still play a crucial role in modern industrial and marine systems.
