Women in Fluid Power

When one thinks of fluid power research and university-level instruction, people often think of MSOE or Purdue here in the U.S. In Europe, a few key universities come to mind — RTWH Aachen University, Germany; Technical University Dresden; Aalto University, Finland; Tampere University, Finland; and Linköping University, Sweden. Being affiliated with one of these universities is…

In this week’s edition of Women in Fluid Power, Mary Gannon, editor of Fluid Power World, chats with Donna Pollander, Executive Director of the International Fluid Power Society. She discusses the progress women have made in her 25-year career in fluid power and recent updates from the IFPS, including its new Reference Handbook, certification, and…

In our latest edition of Women in Fluid Power brought to you by Fluid Power World, Mary Gannon chats with Rachel Schmidt, Application Engineer/ ISO 9001 Administrator with the Elwood Corporation’s Fluid Power Division. Although fairly new to the industry, she has been active with the NFPA and IFPS and was featured in the Fluid…

I’ve always maintained that the four-year college degree — while useful in teaching young people to be adults — can be a waste. As a journalist, I learned most of what I needed to know in two courses and several internships. That’s why I’m a big proponent of hands-on training — be it co-op programs,…

In our latest edition of Women in Fluid Power brought to you by Fluid Power World, Mary Gannon is joined by Caryes Allen, vice president of Higginson Equipment in Burlington, Ontario and the incoming chair of the Canadian Fluid Power Association. Notably Allen is the first woman to lead that organization and has big ideas…

In our first-ever Women in Fluid Power podcast, Mary Gannon, Editor of Fluid Power World, chats with Céline Cabana, Technical Account Manager and Ashley Busquets, Simulation Engineer, with FD Groups America. The two women are leading the charge in building its parent company FluiDesign Group’s presence in North America. FD Groups specializes in the design…

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 engineers at the companies that design and…

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 in family businesses, I…

NAHAD’s 35th Annual Meeting and Convention is taking over the Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, April 5-10, bringing together more than 1,000 hose industry professionals all under one roof. The event, geared towards both manufacturers and distributors, gives ample opportunities to network and learn from experts and each other through general sessions, organized and […]

With Pack Expo International and co-located Healthcare Packaging Expo (Oct. 14–17; McCormick Place, Chicago) around the corner, anticipation is running high for the largest packaging event of 2018. This year, 50,000 packaging professionals will convene at the four-day event produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, to network and connect with 2,500 […]

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 of Women Engineers, while more women are entering…

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 a more fitting time or venue. Although I am not…

Next week, we’ll be holding the Fluid Power Technology Conference at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and I hope you’ll consider joining us! This will be the third iteration of this event, and we’re more excited than ever about our program. With great speakers covering the latest in fluid power components, system level design, maintenance and…

Attendees won’t want to miss three keynote presentations. These high-level talks will shed light on trends in the industry and where the fluid power market is headed. First up is Husco International’s Austin Ramirez, who will open Tuesday with his presentation, “What Washington gets right—and wrong—about manufacturing.” Ramirez, President and CEO of HUSCO, was selected […]

Next month, as part of the 3rd annual Fluid Power Technology Conference, our own Managing Editor, Mary Gannon, will moderate a session on Women in Fluid Power. This powerhouse panel will include Caryes Allan, VP, Higginson Equipment; Céline Cabana, Technical Account Manager, FD-GROUPS America; Dr. H.C. Monika Ivantysynova, Maha Professor Fluid Power Systems, Director, Maha…

This spring, Aventics will again sponsor several campaigns aimed at getting young people interested in technology. By participating in “Girls Day” and “Future Day,” the pneumatics specialist hopes to draw the interest of children and youth in compressed air as a technology. On April 12, 2018, Aventics welcomed ten participants to its Girls Day in […]

Now in its third year, the FPTC—slated for May 14 to 16 at MSOE’s Kern Center—boasts expanded session offerings for design engineers and MRO professionals. The third annual Fluid Power Technology Conference offers an expanded three-day program, with technical presentations geared towards OEM design engineers and after-market professionals in the maintenance, service and repair sectors.…

One of the best fluid power events of the year is coming up, as NAHAD, the Association for Hose and Accessories Distribution, hosts its 34th Annual Meeting and Convention at the JW Marriott Marco Island Resort in southwestern Florida. Located about an hour south of Fort Meyers, Marco Island is a popular winter destination and […]

Casual beachside networking will be a key focus of NAHAD’s 34th Annual Meeting & Convention slated for April 28 – May 1, at the JW Marriott Marco Island, Fla. As usual, the four days provide attendees with education, training, networking, and fun, giving users, manufacturers and distributors of hose and accessories an opportunity to connect […]

Friday, February 16 marks the last day attendees can register at the early bird rate for NAHAD’s 34th Annual Meeting & Convention. The event is slated for April 28 – May 1, at the JW Marriott Marco Island, Fla. As usual, the four days provides attendees with education, training, networking, and fun, giving users, manufacturers and […]

NAHAD will host a webinar, “Old Ways Won’t Open New Doors” on Wednesday, February 21 from 12 to 1 p.m., to preview the Women in Leadership (WIN) workshop at NAHAD’s 34th Annual Meeting and Convention in Marco Island, Fla.,  April 29. The webinar is meant for both women and men, and will ask important questions, […]

The NAHAD Board of Directors recently announced the successful conclusion of a multi-year transition of the association’s executive leadership with the appointment of Molly Alton Mullins to the position of NAHAD Executive Vice President. Joseph Thompson, who has served as NAHAD’s EVP since 1990 will continue to support the association as General Manager through June, […]

The Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) — sponsored by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies—will host an exclusive breakfast featuring Tana L. Utley, VP, Caterpillar Inc., at PACK EXPO Las Vegas on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 a.m. This event is part of PPWLN’s ongoing efforts to address the gender gap […]

I recently spoke with Allen Carlson of the University of Florida—you may know him as the retired CEO of Sun Hydraulics—about engineering education and what new opportunities there are for students applying to land grant institutions today. Carlson will be one of our Keynote Speakers at the upcoming Fluid Power Technology Conference in Milwaukee on May […]

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