Registration is open for the 2022/24 cohort of the NFPA Executive Leadership Program, presented in collaboration with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and program cadence and session topics are now available. This cohort will consist of six full-day in-person sessions (health standards allowing) interspersed by seven virtual sessions focused on concept applications […]
Bosch Rexroth’s Gumbs to present at NFPA’s Future Leaders reception
The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) has announced that Greg Gumbs, the President and CEO of Bosch Rexroth North America, will be giving the presentation during the Future Leaders Reception at the NFPA Annual Conference. If you haven’t already registered for the Annual Conference, now is a great time to do it. Don’t miss this…
John Deere and the autonomous future
At last week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, John Deere put on an impressive hybrid press conference to announce its fully autonomous tractor. This isn’t some concept machine or a test vehicle. We’ve seen plenty of those over the years from OEMs; this is one that’s ready for large-scale production. The machine combines Deere’s […]
Hydrotech names Campbell as new president
John Campbell has been named the new President of Hydrotech Inc., a company committed to providing the best and most reliable fluid power and automation products, solutions, and services in the industry. An experienced business leader from the fluid power industry, Campbell will succeed Mike Tonyan and officially assume responsibilities on January 3, 2022. Tonyan…
VMAC survey shows employee absences a top Covid challenge
Increased employee absences is the top challenge caused by COVID-19, VMAC’s 2021 State Of The Mobile Compressed Air Industry Survey reveals. Increased employee absences was selected by 41% of the survey’s respondents, followed closely by canceled service contracts (40%) and internal equipment and truck purchase delays (38%). “COVID-19 has brought unique challenges to businesses throughout […]
Compressed air fail: Placebo effect
A large industrial user installed a pressure/flow controller in its system to regulate the plant pressure to a constant level. The lower plant pressure reduces the extra flow (called artificial demand) that is caused by running production machinery at a higher pressure than is needed. The lower the flow, the lower the electricity bill. Flow […]
CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 opens Call for Education session ideas
What should we be talking about to ensure a strong, prosperous future for the construction industry? That’s the question AEM’s CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 team has tasked itself with trying to answer. The opportunity to hear and talk with peers at the largest construction show in North America is just over a year away, and efforts are […]
Compressed air fail: Read the problem
A sawmill purchased a VSD compressor to renew its compressed air system and gain savings. The equipment was installed, commissioned and was running for a number of weeks before a compressed air expert visited the site. The first thing he did was go to the compressors and read the load and operating hours. Compressor controllers […]
Compressed air: “Tanks” for the savings
Sometimes in compressed air systems there will be “high flow, short duration demands” consuming large gulps of compressed air for short periods of time. This could be a dust collector, a drain, a compressed air blowing device, a large cylinder, or a material transport system — just about anything can happen. When high flow demands […]
Compressed air: How low can you go?
When it comes to compressed air, the word “lower” is often used in describing actions to take in implementing energy savings measures. The key is to do certain actions that will lower the electrical bill and the resulting operating and maintenance costs. Here are some common actions: Pressure — Every 2 psi in lower compressed […]
Compressed air fail: Piping choke
When connecting and piping in air compressors, it pays to be careful with piping arrangement to ensure there are no areas of restriction. The pictured piping element is just one example. The installer did a good job in installing a 45° angle entry to the header, which is a great idea for any entry into […]
Compressed air fail: A stickup
There are certain things out in the plant that can rob you blind, sucking up money through the electrical bill. One of these things is a compressed air crime we jokingly call a stickup. Often vents and ducts on process machinery become clogged with debris over time. Sometimes personnel, not knowing the high cost of […]
Compressed air: Keep it clean, cool and dry
In dirty and hot environments, if you want a clean and reliable compressed air flow you need to heed these suggestions. You need to keep your equipment clean, cool, and dry through regular maintenance. Allowing debris to build up on system components is a recipe for disaster, especially if the equipment is air cooled and […]
Pirtek named official hose supplier of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar
Pirtek has announced that it will become the Official Hose Supplier of IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Through the partnership, IndyCar will begin to transition some of its hydraulic hose usage to the Pirtek brand of hoses and equipment. Pirtek also will continue its long-standing relationship with Team Penske’s NASCAR and IndyCar teams through associate sponsorship […]
Compressed air fail: When maintenance goes bad
I get it — you and your staff are busy and being asked to do more with less. When this happens, things will start to slide. One of the first items on the list is maintenance, and often you can get away with this for a period of time … but eventually a critical failure […]
Joysticks for controlling X, Y, and Z axes of 1, 2, 3 axis stages and actuators
OES (Optimal Engineering Systems Inc.) has expanded its line of Joysticks for 1, 2 and 3 axis stages and actuators. These are easy to use, single-handed, ergonomic joysticks that provide proportional control of the X, Y, and Z axis of from one to three actuators. Low, medium, and high speed ranges are button selectable. The […]
What’s coming in 2022 for fluid power
At the NFPA’s recent economic update meeting in Cleveland, Jim Meil of ACT Research Co., LLC talked to attendees about what’s ahead for the industry, from an economics perspective. Meil sees a COVID recovery through 2021, and “into 2022-2023 and beyond,” which is good news for fluid power manufacturers. Meil sees some definite problems in…
Registration open for NFPA’s 2022 Annual Conference in Phoenix
Registration is now open for the 2022 NFPA Annual Conference, taking place at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix from February 22-24. This members-only event will offer ample opportunities to network in-person with top fluid power executives as well as enriching presentations from expert speakers covering topics like geopolitical events, executive wellness and retaining employees in…
Applied Nano Surfaces partners with Precision Finishing on wear reduction technology
Applied Nano Surfaces (ANS) has entered a strategic partnership with Precision Finishing Inc., to advance a unique variant of its core Triboconditioning technology — a process developed to provide for friction reduction and wear resistance on various steel and cast-iron surfaces. The new variant, known as Triboconditioning CG (Complex Geometries), is a mechanochemical surface treatment […]
Why should you measure compressed air?
Portable electronic measuring instruments have been indispensable in capturing compressed air system baselines over the past number of years. Rarely are there enough permanent instruments installed at a typical industrial plant to use to get a clear picture of how well the compressors and dryers are operating. Very often, all a compressed air auditor finds […]
Registration for NFPA’s 2022 Annual Conference now open
Registration is now open for the 2022 NFPA Annual Conference, taking place at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix from February 22-24, 2022. This members-only event will offer ample opportunities to network in-person with top fluid power executives as well as enriching presentations from expert speakers covering topics like geopolitical events, executive wellness and retaining employees…
Tandem PGS3 pneumatic clamping vise
Collaborative robots and an abundance of integrators have made it easier than ever to implement automated machine tending. Many small to medium size manufacturers are making the investment into automation and seeing returns in less than six months. The Schunk Tandem PGS3 vise further supports this trend. Featuring reliable, quality construction, the Tandem PGS3 reflects Schunk’s […]
IFPE publishes call for education content proposals for 2023 event
The International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE) has announced a call for education content proposals for the event that showcases the latest innovations and expertise in the fluid power, power transmission and motion control industries. IFPE will be held March 14-18, 2023, in Las Vegas. The event is co-located with the largest construction equipment trade show…
A compressed air rust problem?
Q: We have a problem with rust in a plant. Our downstream filters keep filling up with rust particles. Please see the attached picture. What do you think has gone wrong? A: I suspect that part of the steel piping in the plant is getting wet, likely from compressor overheating during hot days, or dryer […]
What is an air compressor’s pressure rating?
Air compressors come in many makes, styles and ratings. One of the most important ratings is the compressor rated pressure. This is the maximum pressure a compressor should operate, but as many people have found, the compressors will run above their maximum pressure, but should they? The primary issue is safety — compressors often have […]