Now in its seventh year, the LEAP Awards (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) celebrates the most innovative and forward-thinking products serving the design engineering space. This dynamic competition honors the most innovative engineered products/components across several of our flagship brands: Design World, Fluid Power World, EE World, and Engineering.com. Submissions for the 2024 LEAP Awards program are now being…
Innovation awards highlight mobile hydraulics
Intermat 2024, the major construction-equipment exhibition taking place this week in France, is hosting around 1,000 manufacturers of mobile machines, tools, accessories, controls and software. One highlight of the show is the Intermat Innovation Awards, which shines the spotlight on exhibitors’ equipment, products and services that contribute to progress in the construction and materials industries. […]
Wear rings get no respect in cylinder function
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor When buying a cylinder repair kit, you generally expect to open a plastic bag filled with O-rings, rod seals, end seals and other synthetic rubber bits used to freshen up an old air or hydraulic cylinder. Often, we call such an assembly of parts a seal kit, which completely forsakes […]
Greene Tweed names industry veteran Justine Franchina as COO
Greene Tweed proudly announces that Justine Franchina has joined Greene Tweed as Chief Operating Officer. An accomplished leader, Franchina brings a strategic perspective and over two decades of experience in driving operational excellence, improving safety and quality culture, supporting organizational and talent development, and fostering strategic growth across global manufacturing operations to her role as […]
How do three-way hydraulic valves work?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Three-way valves, common and versatile tools in fluid power, demonstrate their precision by effectively diverting, selecting, or mixing three flow paths as the circuit requires. These valves, available in lever or solenoid actuation, are widely used for directional control. Their construction style varies, ensuring suitability for diverse applications. The three-way…
Intermat looks to the future
Intermat, the largest construction equipment show in the western hemisphere this year, opened today at Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center. Held every three years, the event is being billed as the Sustainable Construction Solutions and Technology exhibition. “Focusing on the unavoidable issue of low carbon for the construction industry, the 2024 edition aims to constitute […]
Pneumatic valve solutions ensure reliable trailer operations
Alkon Corp., a provider of pneumatic components and systems, is proud to announce the launch of two groundbreaking products: the Lightning Lift-Axle Valve and Module-AIR. Engineered to revolutionize trailer performance and reliability, these innovative products offer unparalleled accuracy, configurability, and durability for the transportation industry. The Lightning Lift-Axle Valve sets a new standard in trailer […]
Pirtek USA strengthens with more franchise growth strategies
Pirtek USA experienced continued growth in Q1 with eight openings and seven signed agreements. Among the new openings were four first-time Pirtek franchisees as well as expansions from four existing franchisees. The signings comprised six new franchisees and one existing franchisee expanding their territory through the signing of a resale agreement. This growth reflects the […]
Third generation Webtec Digital Hydraulic Tester offers IP65 protection rating
Webtec is unveiling the third generation of its class-leading DHT digital hydraulic tester designed to assist hydraulic technicians with reactive, proactive and preventive maintenance. Measuring flow, pressure and temperature, the DHT has a built-in loading valve to simulate load. This rugged tool — a workhorse of the hydraulic testing arena — features a number of…
Kundinger expands team in Wisconsin with internal promotion and new hires
Kundinger, a Wisconsin and Michigan-based company delivering products and solutions in fluid power, automation and process control to a wide range of industries, announces the promotion of Stacey Burns to purchasing team leader at its Neenah location as well as the addition of three new team members — John Blahnik, Herman Mohr and Kenneth Root.…
Dakota Fluid Power expands to new location in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Dakota Fluid Power, a Singer Industrial Company, announced earlier this year, that they have opened a new storefront in Council Bluffs, Iowa, that services the Council Bluffs, Omaha, and surrounding areas, to better meet the needs of their customers. With this addition, Dakota Fluid Power will increase Singer Industrial’s North America footprint to approximately 100+…
Bosch Rexroth launches drive systems for hydrogen filling station compressors
At Hannover Messe this week, Bosch Rexroth announced that it has developed a scalable portfolio of servohydraulic drives for compressors in the power range between 10 and 280 kW in partnership with others from the hydrogen industry. Hydrogen produced from renewable energies plays a key role in achieving global climate targets. It is a CO2-free […]
Introducing our blockbuster issues by examining leakage
If you noticed a theme throughout Fluid Power World this month, you’re not imagining things. With our April issue, we are introducing a new concept to our readers — blockbuster issues that take a trend in fluid power and examine it from several angles. A few years ago, Paul Heney, our VP, Editorial Director, mentioned…
Fossil-free worksite significantly cuts emissions
At the halfway point of Sweden’s largest fossil-free job site, productivity and emissions-reduction goals have exceeded expectations. The 100-year-old “Slakthusområdet” area of Stockholm city center, also known as the meat-packing district, is being transformed to provide 3,000 new homes as well as retail and office spaces. As a testbed for innovation and emission-free construction equipment, […]
Troubleshooting challenge: new valve locks up on rod threading machine
By Robert J. Sheaf, Founder, CFC Industrial A customer of mine has a machine that threads both ends of a straight piece of rod stock which then is fed into a second machine to bend it in a “U” shape. This creates a clamp for various round pipe sizes. They had a problem with…
Kurt Hydraulics continues growth with new hose warehouse in Minnesota
Kurt Hydraulics last month announced the opening of its new, centrally-located hydraulic hose warehouse in Fridley, Minnesota, approximately 3 miles from its headquarters. This allows for enhanced customer service, optimized logistics, and the ability to provide a more extensive range of hydraulic hose. The new location, strategically chosen for its accessibility and proximity to major […]
12 tips for leakage prevention through proper sealing design and selection
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Seals used for fluid power applications are highly varied and specific to each component and application. From simply sealing pressurized air from atmospheric air for pneumatic valves to preventing hydraulic oil from leaking into waterways from the rudder cylinder on watercraft, there are few conditions in which a fluid power […]
Compressed air fail: Outlet pipe size
A compressed air auditor was assessing a compressor and dryer installation within a compressor room and noticed something strange. On a large air dryer, the outlet flange was of 6-in. size, yet the piping used to connect the compressors and filters to the air dryer was only 4-in. Further to this, the long piping link […]
Creating a compressed air leak management plan
Measuring and repairing compressed air leaks can easily reduce energy costs by 10 to 20%. Compressed air is used in factories all over the world to control machines, processes, and pneumatic equipment. It is a safe and easily available medium and can be used in all possible places via hoses and pipes. However, compressed air […]
Will AI soon predict internal cylinder leakage?
Electrohydraulic actuators are standalone, self-contained systems that perform powerful tasks without external piping. They typically include an electric servomotor driving a hydraulic pump — often an axial-piston unit. Other components include a hydraulic cylinder, tank, valving and charging circuits. Because they are fitted with their own closed fluid circuit, they require only a small amount […]
Leakage, perceptions, and projections
For the quarter century that I’ve been covering fluid power, I’ve heard about how leakage, specifically for hydraulics, is the industry’s biggest problem and challenge. [See our recent major report on leakage and hydraulics here.] And while I agree that leakage problems are something that designers and users have to be aware of — how…
IFPS launches certification for support personnel
The International Fluid Power Society announced the release of its latest certification, the Fluid Power Support Associate (FPSA). This certification is the first to be released since 2010 and is designed to recognize non-technical individuals who work in the fluid power industry and demonstrate an understanding of the terminology and principles used within the industry.…
Hydraulics at work in the waves
Wave-generated power can be more reliable and consistent than other forms of alternative energy. Here, we look at how they work. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor The need to address climate change by creating and implementing alternative energy projects remains the most critical objective of our generation. Traditional sources of energy, especially those producing electrical…
DGD Fluid Power launches J1939-compliant CFT-Max cartridge flow transmitter
DGD Fluid Power announces the release of the newest addition to its Cartridge Flow Transmitter (CFT) product line: the CFT-Max. Designed to meet the increasing demand to monitor hydraulic flows on mobile equipment, the CFT-MAX is J1939 compliant with an IP69 rating. Flows up to 150 gpm and a 6,000 psi pressure rating allow the…
What’s in the cards for leakage?
Will hydraulics ever get past the leakage issue? I’ve heard people discuss this question countless times over the three decades that I’ve worked in and written about the technology. Time and time again, people bash this useful technology because of perceived problems with leakage. I have encountered this negative talk on factory floors, in educational…