Data-driven off-road equipment will improve uptime and performance and reduce operating costs. Mobile machine owners, fleet operators and rental companies increasingly want equipment that offers more-exacting control, higher productivity and efficiency, and is more environmentally friendly. Add to that is the growing interest in electrification, automation, and autonomy. In response, mobile OEMs and their suppliers are […]

I recently asked ChatGPT what “intelligence” means. It told me that intelligence is a complex and multi-faceted trait, generally consisting of three key aspects: cognitive abilities (learning, reasoning, and problem-solving), emotional intelligence (empathy, self-awareness, and emotional regulation), and practical intelligence (street smarts or common sense). It also informed me that since its last knowledge update…

If you’re a longtime reader, you know I like to stay positive, keep it topical and look to the future. I try to stay up on fluid power trends. With trends, we often have to endure excruciatingly boring pitches from factory sales professionals acting like their new blah blah blah system will revolutionize the breather…

In future, updating pneumatic circuits through the IoT will help manufacturers stay current and benefit from the opportunities available to them. Contributed by Mike Parzych, Product Marketing Manager  •  Norgren Smart, internet-connected devices have become increasingly significant in all areas of life, and industry is no exception. The use of automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytics […]

Uncertainty creates opportunities for innovation and progress. Those who embrace change and adapt tend to come out on top. Recently, Fluid Power World had the opportunity to interview Paul Kundinger, third-generation president of Kundinger Inc, a Wisconsin and Michigan-based company delivering fluid power, automation, process control, and product solutions to a wide range of industries.…

Domin recently announced its latest development in the manufacture of hydraulic systems using an innovative approach to additive manufacturing. Recognizing the limitations and inefficiencies of traditional hydraulic systems, its ground-breaking approach to designing and manufacturing hydraulic systems combines additive manufacturing with cutting-edge technologies such as high-speed motor controls, onboard electronics, and intelligent data integration. These advancements…

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies can now validate the superior performance capabilities of the intelligent seals it has under development. In addition to their core function, these seals can handle tasks such as sensor applications and monitoring their own state of wear. As a result, they enhance the reliability of machines and systems they help power by […]

Technology advancements enable smaller, quieter, and more energy-efficient hydraulic power units that save space and reduce the total cost of ownership. The common perception of conventional hydraulic power units is that they are large, loud, and inefficient. Such claims are valid for facilities that still use power units from the 1960s and 1970s and among…

Contributed by Amit Patel • Senior Marketing Manager, Digital Transformation at Emerson Digital technologies along with pneumatics automation can transform a facility’s efficiency, productivity, and versatility. The digital transformation of processing and packaging operations is well underway. Manufacturers are integrating connected technologies into their operations and seeing significant results. Digital technologies have the power to […]

Motion Industries (Motion), a leading distributor of maintenance, repair, and operation replacement parts, and a premier provider of industrial technology solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of the new Motion Ai website, ai.motion.com. Announced in February 2022, the Motion Ai business group unifies acquired technical companies, including Applied Machine and Motion Control (AMMC), Axis…

Jon Hirschtick, the general manager of Onshape at PTC, spoke recently at the Robotics Summit in Boston, and he had a lot to say about the technology that is shaping our future. Hirschtick, who is well known as the fellow who developed Solidworks, was also a member of the famed MIT Blackjack Team, which was…

Elevāt, a global IoT connected machines SaaS innovator, announced that Versatile, a division of Buhler Industries Inc., deployed the Elevāt Machine Connect platform across its entire tractor line for Model Year 2022. Since starting tractor production in 1966, Versatile has remained a leader for articulating four-wheel drive tractors. “We manufacture all our tractors in our […]

Micro-PLCs with support for Wi-Fi and industrial communication protocols make it possible to add IIoT to any type of machinery in an easy and incremental manner. Bill Dehner, technical marketing engineer, AutomationDirect Pneumatically- and hydraulically-operated equipment is found worldwide in machine shops, factory floors, and production sites. While these heavy-duty systems excel at manufacturing and…

Winners of the 2021 LEAP Awards (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) were announced this afternoon in a digital ceremony, with products across 12 categories. This annual competition saw a record number of submissions, as it aims to celebrates the most innovative and forward-thinking products serving the design engineering space. This year’s winners were chosen by […]

Bosch Rexroth’s Connected Hydraulics Roadshow is a traveling exhibit, bringing a complete “tradeshow booth on wheels” to plants and industrial parks across North America beginning in September. The Connected Hydraulics Roadshow is a self-contained exhibit, housed in a specially created tractor trailer that is designed to present a full array of Bosch Rexroth’s smart, networked…

Elevāt, a global IoT connected machines SaaS innovator, has released its Elevāt EZ, a turnkey monitoring, tracking and management solution for machines of all types. Elevāt EZ connects heavy machinery to the cloud, configures quickly, and provides immediate improvements in uptime, output, security, and machinery asset management with a user-friendly application platform. “With the release…

Contributed by Andrew Johnson, President, ShelfAware LLC I began my industrial career young, having been born into a family-owned O-ring distributor and grown up with the business. I have watched as the technology boom has changed the landscape of our business and those businesses around us. Leveraging technology to innovate your distribution business is not…

At this week’s International Fluid Power (IFK) conference, Prof. Jürgen Weber, head of the Institute of Mechatronic Engineering at Technical University Dresden, offered an ambitious and optimistic view of the industry’s future, along with the challenges. In his keynote presentation, “Digital Mobile Machines — From Cloud to Earth,” he predicts what lies ahead for mobile […]

A chassis system manufacturer needed to retool a Tier-1 automotive hydroforming line to accommodate a new model design change. The new line required the flexibility to produce both the current OEM product and the new product at higher volumes. As a requirement for the new machine design, the manufacturer wanted to eliminate the messy and…

Emerson has introduced a wireless automatic recovery module (ARM) for its Aventics G3 electronic fieldbus platform that makes it easy for technicians to perform pneumatic valve system commissioning and diagnostics from a mobile phone, tablet or laptop computer. “The Aventics G3 fieldbus platform is the first in the industry to offer wireless technology that puts […]

Most advocates for fluid power technology are well aware of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), where factory floor and mobile equipment are fitted with sensors, connected to wireless networks and send vast volumes of data to the cloud. Analyzing the data in real time gives manufacturers a better idea of how their production lines […]

July 13 to 16, Bosch Rexroth will host a free 4-day virtual event that explores the Factory of the Future. According to company officials, the event will let visitors learn about the new world of versatile, customer-orientated manufacturing that’s based on greater intelligence, flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Once registered, participants can join as many sessions as…

Engineers at Cross Co., a supplier of fluid power components, systems and controls based in Greensboro, N.C., have developed Cross Mobile IoT. The hardware and software system connects vehicles through a sophisticated — and easy to use — cellular gateway, according to company officials, to improve fleet efficiency, reduce costs and help equipment manufacturers generate […]

The event exclusively dedicated to fluid power technology will be held at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center November 19 and 20, with a pre-conference day November 18. The Fluid Power Technology Conference (FPTC) will debut in Cleveland on November 19 and 20, with a pre-conference workshop and NFPA Regional Meeting scheduled for Monday, November 18.…

Smart hydraulic equipment is delivering IoT compatibility, better machine performance and precise control accuracy through Eaton’s embedded control systems. Contributed by John Kimmel, Chief Engineer, Power and Motion Control Products, Eaton   Industrial machine end users are looking to equipment manufacturers to deliver better machine performance, state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities and Internet of Things (IoT) compatibility. Equipment…