Air is a troublesome contaminant in hydraulic fluid. Once it enters and becomes entrained, it’s a pain to remove. If it goes undetected or unmitigated, it can delay system response, decrease performance, degrade the fluid, and wreak havoc on hydraulic pumps. “It’s not like the bubbles that rise to the surface in your glass of […]
OFCO creates parts cross-reference guide
Ohio Fabricators Company (OFCO) has created a new tool on its website that allows OEMs, distributors and end-users to search for equivalent OFCO parts when a manufacturer, part number or part description is known. The search tool allows users to quickly find OFCO equivalents which normally ship in days from OFCO’s Ohio facility, rather than […]
How do you check for hydraulic leaks?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Pretty much the only time it’s easy to check for hydraulic leaks is when the power unit and machine are spanking new. The pristine, glossy epoxy paint used on power units makes an excellent canvas for the soft amber sheen of hydraulic oil. And to be fair, testing and startup […]
Eaton expands hydraulic filtration with duplex and in-line pressure filters
The Filtration Division of Eaton has expanded its product line with the launch of three high-performance filter series: the DUA, LWF, and DNR. The new filters are engineered to provide hgh durability, efficiency, and reliability, making them suitable for demanding applications such as power generation, manufacturing, marine operations, and more. “As pressures mount to safeguard […]
How do seal geometries affect performance?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Let’s start by stating the obvious: seal geometries matter, or the fluid power realm would use only geometrically simple O-rings. The other two critical factors for effective seal performance are polymer composition and a machined groove to call home. However, even considering the latter, a seal geometry of the same […]
Brian Weisbarth of anyseals appointed to ISD board of directors
anyseals Inc. announces the appointment of Brian Weisbarth, Head of Finance/Controlling & HR, to the board of directors of the International Sealing Distribution Association (ISD). Weisbarth’s extensive experience in financial management and human resources positions him to impact the organization’s continued success. His appointment reflects anyseals’ ongoing commitment to supporting industry leadership in the industrial […]
Bio-Ultimax 1200LT hydraulic fluids conquer cold weather challenges
Renewable Lubricants’ Bio-Ultimax 1200LT hydraulic fluids are environmentally friendly, biosynthetic formulas that provide outstanding reliability in low-temperature conditions. These ultimately biodegradable fluids help users avoid the nagging problems of winter, including slow startup, sluggish performance, seal leaks and moisture contamination. Bio-Ultimax 1200LT outperforms mineral oil-based options, maintaining cold temperature pumpability down to –40°C (–40°F) with […]
How do you prevent microbes in hydraulic oil?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Microbes aren’t the most common contaminant in hydraulic oil, but they do become a problem when conditions are ripe for their proliferation. Anaerobic bacteria of various forms are the most common to be found within hydraulic fluid, although it’s not unheard of to see fungi (molds and yeasts) in very […]
Hydraulic oil analysis part 8: a round-up of all oil analysis tests
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor As the last article in the series on laboratory-based hydraulic oil analyses, we thought we’d provide a single article to recap the tests in one convenient location. For the past six months we’ve discussed just as many topics important to your predictive maintenance program. Each one of these parameters is […]
Hydraulic oil analysis part 7 – additives keep fluids performing optimally
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Although a hydraulic machine could run off highly crude forms of hydrocarbons, without a complement of additives, the performance and longevity of your hydraulic machine would suffer. Welcome to Part Seven of the Hydraulic Oil Analysis series, where we dig deep into the various additives that are always or usually […]
Where does built-in hydraulic contamination come from?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor When I sat in my first fluid power class 18 years ago, I remember learning about built-in contamination and how the reservoir was the biggest offender. The welds and their slag were the biggest problems, the teacher stated, but a close second was the debris from pipe threading machines. Looking […]
Unlocking the potential of spin-on filters
By Donald Krause, Industry Consultant, Ohio Fabricators Company Exploring the basics of spin-on filters: design and functionality Spin-on filters have cemented their position as a cornerstone of liquid filtration and tank breather applications, thanks to their unique design and operational efficiencies. These filters consist of a self-contained housing and filter element assembly, which facilitates straightforward […]
New biodegradable fluid meets environmental and performance standards
A closer look at Chevron’s Bio EliteSyn AW biodegradable hydraulic fluid. Concern continues rising over stern tube leakages and operational discharges that were once considered part of normal operation in marine vessels. A popular 2010 study estimated that marine shipping vessels leak 4.6 to 28.6 million liters of lubricating oil from stern tubes annually and […]
Greene Tweed welcomes Adam Phan as general manager, Sealing Systems
Greene Tweed is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Phan as the company’s new general manager of Sealing Systems. Phan brings more than two decades of extensive cross-functional leadership and industry experience in aerospace and defense to his new position. As GM, he will guide the Sealing Systems business and product management strategies, technology […]
VS6 electronic differential pressure sensor is a filter clogging indicator
The Filtration Division of Eaton has launched its new VS6 electronic differential pressure sensor. This advanced clogging indicator continuously measures the differential pressure within hydraulic and lubrication oil filters for users to easily evaluate the status of the filter elements. The VS6 sensor features a dust and splash-proof stainless steel housing and is suitable for […]
Hydraulic oil analysis part 6 — what is spectrometry?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor This is part 6 in this series on hydraulic oil analysis, and if you’ve missed any of the previous issues, you can find them here — part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5. I’ve covered everything from viscosity to water saturation already, and we’re not done […]
anyseals Americas announced new VP and sales manager
anyseals has announced the promotion of Austin Walker to VP of sales and marketing, effective immediately. In this role, he will focus on enhancing and further developing the company’s sales organization and manage all marketing efforts for anyseals Americas. Walker will continue to report directly to CEO Scott Rassett. Walker joined the company in 2023 […]
Chevron introduces Clarity Bio EliteSyn AW sustainable hydraulic fluids
Chevron has introduced its Clarity Bio EliteSyn AW, a hydraulic fluid designed to meet the evolving needs of the marine and construction industries while championing environmental stewardship. As governments worldwide tighten regulations to protect our planet, Chevron remains at the forefront of introducing new options to support those initiatives, launching Clarity Bio EliteSyn AW as […]
Heather Castleman named president of Trelleborg Industrial Americas
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has named Heather Castleman president of the Industrial Americas business unit of Trelleborg Sealing Solutions. According to Juergen Bosch, Business Area President, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, “Heather has made great contributions to our success in various senior roles. With her extensive knowledge of the company and proven leadership I’m confident in her ability […]
Hydraulic oil analysis part 5 — acidity and its impacts
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor In part 5 of this series covering hydraulic oil analysis, we move on to discuss acidity. As it pertains to hydraulic oil, we need to know the total amount of acidic substances found within the sample. Most commonly referred to as the Total Acid Number, or TAN for short, the […]
The benefits of unitized sealing products in hydraulic cylinders
Unitized sealing solutions feature over-molding and precision machining to eliminate challenges inherent in standard piston and gland designs. Contributed by Andrew Iddeson, Product Technology Director, Advanced Sealing Technologies and Chuck White, Global Product Development Manager Hydraulic cylinders are a key component in efficiently harnessing the power created by a fluid power system into usable linear […]
Simulations serve as valuable tools for sealing fluid power components
Contributed by Alan Astbury, Simulation Methods Developer, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions To achieve optimal efficiency, fluid power applications and their sealing components need good friction characteristics and long life to reduce maintenance. Engineering simulations and the experts to interpret them can result in better sealing and material recommendations, leading to faster prototyping, predictive maintenance and a […]
Portable printer expands accessories range for Eaton’s CCS 5 contamination control system
The Filtration Division of power management company Eaton enhances their CCS 5 contamination control system with a new, optional thermal printer. The portable and rechargeable battery-powered thermal printer connects to the CCS 5 system via a USB port and allows operators to improve accessibility and archiving of measurement results with printed hard copies. Suitable for both pressurized […]
Hydraulic oil analysis part 4 — water’s impact
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor In Part 4 of the hydraulic oil analysis series, we will tackle one of the most essential qualities of hydraulic oil you must test and understand. Particle contamination, for example, may take months or years to erode critical components to the point of failure, but water infiltrating your pumps, valves, […]
Offline hydraulic filtration system for secondary flow filtration
Designed and manufactured for oil maintenance and lubrication systems, Eaton’s UM mobile filter unit is versatile and reliable. In addition to an existing filter, it is ideal for secondary flow filtration. Its portability and compact structural design allows it to operate in difficult to access areas. The mobile off-line filter units in the UM series combine […]