Are we 10 years away from driverless cities? At the NFPA IEOC in August, I had the chance to hear John Ellis speak on Transportation 2.0. Ellis is a developer who has worked with some of the biggest names in tech and automotive — with names like Motorola, Ford, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SAE, Linux…
August 2019 Issue: Hydraulics with a twist
Making progress with women in fluid power Last May, it felt like we broke records when we had more than 20 women attend our Women in Fluid Power panel discussion at our Fluid Power Technology Conference. And later that year, our sister publication created its inaugural Women in Engineering issue, where we featured amazing women…
July 2019 Special Edition: 2019 Fluid Power Handbook
BROADENING HYDRAULIC FLUID POWER KNOWLEDGE Welcome to the eighth edition of the Fluid Power Handbook. Every year, our editorial staff works hard to add to the detailed information we’ve already accumulated on hydraulic and pneumatic components and systems. Once again this year, we’ve incorporated some new frequently asked questions into many of the Handbook sections.…
June 2019 Issue: Why pneumatic actuators are the workhorses of industry
Smart manufacturing must be open to change — are you? Over the course of two weeks, I heard several industry experts echo a fascinating trend as they discussed the future of manufacturing. The factory of the future is going to have to be flexible and fast, using IoT and AI, to deal with customized products…
April 2019 Issue: Hydraulics for steel production
Plot your IoT course like an open roadmap At the National Fluid Power Association’s Annual Meeting last month, attendees had the opportunity to hear from Jeremy Drury of IoT Diagnostics. Drury opened his talk with an old roadmap, comparing the opportunity to plot your own IoT course versus opening up an app on your phone.…
February 2019 Issue: Hydraulic motion system tames rough seas
The power of connections Engineers and others working in fluid power understand the importance of connecting with their peers. This is especially true for those younger individuals just entering the field. Fluid power is a technology that many (myself included) admit they “just fell into.” Very few actually enter it intentionally (apart from those involved…
December 2018 Issue: Hydraulics lets driverless trucks move 2 billion tons
Don’t leave humans out of the Industry 4.0 equation At the recent Integr8 conference in Detroit, a panel of five speakers from Bosch Rexroth discussed how to successfully implement Industry 4.0. Key to connected industry, they all agreed, was ensuring that people are at the center of decision-making. Rodney Rusk, the i4 business leader for…
October 2018 Issue: Hassle-free path to clean-running hydraulics
Pneumatics and automation must go hand-in-hand to survive Although some manufacturers are moving away from pneumatics in their machine designs, the industry can continue to grow if done smartly. That is, seamless integration of automation and pneumatics will rely heavily on the continued adoption of smart technologies, data collection and use, and more compact, efficient…
August 2018 Issue: Hall-effect transducers ensure consistent crop rows
The reality of women in engineering leadership Last month, I wrote about the need for mentoring to get more young people — young women, in particular — studying engineering and entering the field. There’s a reason for this. Despite strong recruiting efforts, women just aren’t entering the engineering space. According to research by the Society…
June 2018 Issue: Building a world-class pump
Our future lies in engaging the littlest engineers among us My thoughts and face now grace this column in every issue, thanks in part to a surprise promotion by our VP, Editorial Director Paul Heney at the conclusion of our Women in Fluid Power Panel at our Fluid Power Technology Conference. He couldn’t have picked…
May 2018 issue: 2018 Fluid Power Handbook
Fluid power overview Welcome to the seventh edition of the Fluid Power Handbook. Every year, our editorial staff works hard to add to the detailed information we’ve already accumulated on hydraulic and pneumatic components and systems. Once again this year, we’ve incorporated some new frequently asked questions into many of the Handbook sections. We had…
April 2018 Issue: Hydraulic hybrid powers fuel-efficient tug
Boston Dynamics talks fluid power, 3D printing at IFK More than 650 fluid power manufacturers, users and academics came to Aachen, Germany last month to talk about the future of hydraulics and pneumatics technology at the 11th IFK. Aaron Saunders, VP of Engineering of Boston Dynamics gave a memorable keynote address. Boston Dynamics is the…
February 2018 Issue: How automated air control valves can replace VFDs
Fluid power continues to evolve Fluid power has somewhat of a reputation for being mature and un-changing, but at least from a corporate perspective, changes do happen and sometimes they can happen fast. After covering this industry for more than two decades, it’s amazing to think of the brand names that have come and…
December 2017 Issue : Hydraulic seals battle extreme cold – Robots and fluid power + more
At first blush, the industrial robotics market doesn’t appear to be a place for fluid power. Walk through an industrial trade show, and you’ll see a multitude of Delta, SCARA, Cartesian and other types of robots busy demonstrating their skills. And each of them is run by electric drives— certainly not hydraulics or pneumatics. But…
November 2017 issue: Mobile machines in extreme enviroments + more
Will automation make too many jobs irrelevant? At the National Fluid Power Association’s recent Industry and Economic Outlook Conference in suburban Chicago, Kevin Surace of Appvance spoke about the amazing disruptions that technology will play in our lives over the coming decades. The future is both scary and amazing, but we have to prepare…
September 2017 issue: Couplings ensure smooth conveying + more
Building a better event Although you may be thinking Fall, we’re already thinking Spring, because we’re knee-deep in the midst of planning for our third annual Fluid Power Technology Conference & Expo in Milwaukee. The conference, held at MSOE’s Kern Center, is already set for May 15-16, 2018. One of our takeaways after successfully…
August 2017 issue: Set it then forget it + more
The value of associations is in participation I’ve been a big proponent of associations over the course of my career covering the world of fluid power. They’ve helped me meet and interact with important industry leaders, network with readers, and understand the critical issues facing manufacturers today. I recently had the chance to catch…
June 2017 issue: Fluid Power Handbook
FLUID POWER OVERVIEW Welcome to the sixth edition of the Fluid Power Handbook. Every year, our editors strive to add to the great amount of information we’ve already accumulated on hydraulic and pneumatic components and systems. For this year’s edition, we’ve incorporated some frequently asked questions into the majority of the sections, and I…
May 2017 issue: Electrohydraulic drives interface with the IoT, Industry 4.0 + more
A cause for optimism? It’s been the heart of trade show season the last few months, with the triennial IFPE, the annual Hannover Messe and Offshore Technology Conference keeping the fluid power manufacturing community—not to mention us in the media—quite busy. It is always great to get out and see the new technology firsthand,…
April 2017 issue: Hydraulic hybrid slashes operating costs + more
In this issue: 32 Hydraulic hybrid slashes operating costs 40 Safe pneumatic system design 48 Demystifying transducers 54 Fluid Power Technology Conference Maintaining relevance in the midst of change Change in the fluid power industry is almost always through gradual evolution, and not in huge jumps and starts. Our technology is a mature one,…
February 2017 issue: Fluid Power drives mega dozer + more
In this issue: 74 Fluid Power drives mega dozer 82 Keeping your mobile machine running efficiently 88 Staying dry with cool air 94 How do you remove water from hydraulic fluid? Caterpillar’s trucking it out of Peoria … what does it mean? By Paul Heney If you were sick of the political back…
November 2016 issue: How does extreme heat affect hydraulic hose? + more
In this issue: 36 How can you keep your mobile machine running efficiently 44 PNEUMATICS Comparing the real costs of vacuum generators 54 INDUSTRIAL HYDRAULICS Is hydraulic efficiency a myth? 60 HOSE AND TUBING How does extreme heat affect hydraulic hose? Engineering education: The science vs. technology split Although it’s been more than…
September 2016 issue: Engineering a groundbreaking hydraulic hybrid + more
In this issue: 32 Careful monitoring ensures reliability in high-speed hydraulics 38 Engineering a groundbreaking hydraulic hybrid 48 Pneumatics makes quick work of packaging lane changes 54 Pneumatic valves continue to inspire unique applications Expanding your options online One of our passions here at Fluid Power World is providing you with all your…
August 2016 issue: Pilot systems for mining shovels: Large motions begin with tiny valves + more
In this issue: 20 Water glycol fluid and hydraulic seals 38 Sensors help you understand your system 48 Right-sized pneumatic cylinders 52 Pilot systems for mining shovels: Large motions begin with tiny valves Building a better distributor Not long ago, I had the opportunity to sit in on a “University of Industrial Distribution…
Fluid Power World Handbook 2016 Digital Edition
WELCOME to the fifth edition of the Fluid Power Handbook. This year, we have again changed the look and feel of this issue, and we welcome your feedback on these changes. You will find updated sections on many components and other areas of fluid power interest, some all-new topics, and a fascinating trends piece on…