Power-Shift Transmissions for Heavy Machinery Course
Online 300-hour course on power-shift transmissions for heavy machinery. 6 modules covering ISO 6336 (gear load capacity calculation), ISO 281 (rolling bearing rating life) and Romax. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Power-Shift Transmissions for Heavy Machinery Course — studying from Malta
Malta's construction, quarrying and infrastructure activity creates demand for heavy machinery, specialist vehicles and their maintenance. Contractors, plant hire companies and public works departments rely on skilled technicians and engineers to keep equipment safe and productive. The island's rugged terrain and coastal conditions also support niche markets in agricultural and marine-adjacent machinery. Engineers in this area commonly work with equipment dealers, contractors and public authorities responsible for fleet management.
Fees for Malta: €644 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which Maltese authorities regulate special vehicles and machinery, and does this qualification fit?
Machinery and vehicle safety in Malta follow EU-derived rules, with Transport Malta handling vehicle matters and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority overseeing workplace machinery. SEIUM Institute's qualifications are private and not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. Recognition for regulated roles is for employers or the relevant authority to decide.
Where might off-road and machinery engineers find work in Malta?
Malta's opportunities in this field are mostly in construction, plant hire, equipment maintenance and the marine and industrial services sectors. Employers in these areas usually value hands-on experience highly. How they view a private online qualification is for each employer to decide, so asking them directly is worthwhile.
Is employer funding available, and how demanding is the English language requirement?
Employer sponsorship is possible, and tuition can be paid in instalments. Programmes are taught fully in English, so you should be comfortable with technical English reading and writing. The online format lets you study around work, and each student has an assigned technical tutor. Hours range from 300 to 1,900 depending on the programme chosen.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain how power-shift transmissions work in heavy machinery.
Identify internal components such as planetary gear sets and clutches.
Calibrate the electronic control of gear changes.
Diagnose faults using pressures, fault codes and oil analysis.
Plan the repair and rebuild of a transmission.
Extend service life through good operating practices.
Develop a diagnostic and repair procedure as a final project.
Who it's for
- Transmission specialist technician who wants to specialise in Power-Shift Transmissions for Heavy Machinery.
- Powertrain engineer who wants to specialise in Power-Shift Transmissions for Heavy Machinery.
- Heavy-machinery diagnostics technician who wants to specialise in Power-Shift Transmissions for Heavy Machinery.
- Rebuild workshop manager who wants to specialise in Power-Shift Transmissions for Heavy Machinery.
- Calibration engineer who wants to specialise in Power-Shift Transmissions for Heavy Machinery.
- After-sales support technician who wants to specialise in Power-Shift Transmissions for Heavy Machinery.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to join heavy-machinery manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- ISO 6336 (gear load capacity calculation)
- ISO 281 (rolling bearing rating life)
- SAE J1939 (CAN communications in heavy vehicles)
- Caterpillar TO-4 (transmission fluid specification)
- ISO 4406 (fluid cleanliness code)
- ISO 1328-1 (gear accuracy)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Architectures: mechanical, powershift, hydrostatic and continuous1.2What a power-shift transmission is1.3Advantages and disadvantages compared with other solutions1.4Typical applications in construction, mining and agriculture1.5Main components of the assembly1.6Power flow and gear staging1.7Torque converter and its role1.8Controls and control electronics1.9Industry terminology1.10Workshop: identifying the architecture of a machine
2.1Multi-disc clutches and their actuation2.2Planetary gear sets and the ratios they provide2.3Charge pump and lubrication circuit2.4Modulation and sequence valves2.5Speed and pressure sensors2.6Integrated parking and service brakes2.7Cooler and cooling circuit2.8Filters and fluid maintenance2.9Specific fluids and their specification2.10Practice: tracing the power flow for each gear
3.1Transmission control unit3.2Shift strategies and maps3.3Pressure modulation during shifts3.4Protections: overspeed and temperature3.5Clutch calibration and its procedure3.6Adaptive control learning3.7On-board diagnostics and fault codes3.8Live parameters useful for diagnosis3.9Software updates3.10Practice: guided calibration of a transmission
4.1Symptoms and their interpretation: slipping and jerking4.2Pressure measurement and test points4.3Stall testing and its interpretation4.4Oil and particle analysis4.5Overheating and its causes4.6Internal and external leaks4.7Electrical and sensor problems4.8A structured diagnostic procedure4.9Deciding whether to repair in the machine or strip down4.10Practice: guided diagnosis of three faults
5.1Stripping down and cleaning the assembly5.2Inspection of discs, planetary gears and bearings5.3Criteria for replacing components5.4Clearances, preloads and adjustments5.5Assembly and torque values5.6Running-in and commissioning5.7Bench testing and verification5.8Exchange rebuilds and their economics5.9Traceability and repair warranty5.10Practice: rebuild plan for an assembly
6.1Operating habits that shorten service life6.2Operator training and its effect6.3Specific preventive maintenance6.4Monitoring temperature and hours6.5Cost of repair compared with replacement6.6Managing critical spare parts6.7Fleet reliability indicators6.8Common maintenance errors6.9Trends: continuous transmissions and electrification6.10Final project: maintenance and diagnostic plan for transmissions
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Romax, KISSsoft, MATLAB/Simulink, Cat Electronic Technician, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real diagnostic procedures: clutch pressure checks on the test bench, electronic gear-change calibration and transmission oil analysis. Assessment is continuous across each module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain how power-shift transmissions work in heavy machinery.
Identify internal components such as planetary gear sets and clutches.
Calibrate the electronic control of gear changes.
Diagnose faults using pressures, fault codes and oil analysis.
Plan the repair and rebuild of a transmission.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme’s software.
- A level of Spanish sufficient to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses Romax, KISSsoft, MATLAB/Simulink and Cat Electronic Technician. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An own SEIUM Institute diploma on passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit-transfer policy when you enrol.
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