Every year, the NFPA holds a Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge for engineering students who attend universities around the U.S. The competition combines two technology platforms not normally associated with one another — human-powered vehicles and fluid power. Teams are tasked with designing and building their own fluid power vehicles over the course of a school…
University of Louisiana at Lafayette named Grand Champion of the 2023 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge at Danfoss
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette was named Grand Champion at the 2023 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge Final Competition hosted by Danfoss Power Solutions in Ames, IA, April 26th – 28th. Nine schools competed in four races last week judged by fluid power industry professionals. In addition to the races, students gave presentations on their…
NFPA supports elementary education through Fluid Power Action Challenge grants
This fall will mark 14 years of The National Fluid Power Association hosting the Fluid Power Action Challenge and eight years of NFPA offering schools/organization grants. NFPA would like to thank the hundreds of individuals in NFPA member companies and education partner institutions who have been involved in mentorship, classroom activities, and events related to…
National Fluid Power Association awards 19 fluid power scholarships
The NFPA Education and Technology Foundation has awarded $2,000 scholarships to 19 students pursuing fluid power technology fields of study. A minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, 500-word essay, and a letter of recommendation were required from each applicant. The Foundation’s goal is to help individuals enrolled in technical schools and universities pursue their…
National Fluid Power Association awards 19 fluid power scholarships
The NFPA Education and Technology Foundation has awarded $2,000 scholarships to 19 students pursuing fluid power technology fields of study. A minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, 500-word essay, and a letter of recommendation were required from each applicant. The Foundation’s goal is to help individuals enrolled in technical schools and universities pursue their…
NFPA 2022 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge slated for two April dates
With the support of NFPA Pascal Society donors, this year’s NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge program will feature two separate final competitions, ensuring that more students and universities can participate, and more industry supporters can connect with these students. Danfoss Power Solutions will host one event April 20-22 in Ames, Iowa and Norgren will host […]
NFPA offers incentives to increase fluid power internship programs
The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) is offering up to $5,000 to help support NFPA member company fluid power internship/co-op programs. NFPA staff will collect applications and resumes from students interested in fluid power and provide members who apply with information on quality candidates for their open positions. If a member hires one of them, […]
NFPA publishes 2021 update to Fluid Power Technology Roadmap
A new publication, the 2021 NFPA Technology Roadmap: Improving the Design, Manufacture and Function of Fluid Power Components and Systems, has been published by the National Fluid Power Association. Copies can be downloaded after a brief registration process from the NFPA website. The purpose of the Roadmap is to provide NFPA member companies and their…
Strength ahead, but still some uncertainty
Over the last few months, I’ve chatted with several fluid power manufacturers who have stated that their business is busier than normal in any type of recovery mode. It’s an all-hands-on-deck situation, where every employee is pitching in and hiring has become a challenge. These were all just passing conversations. NFPA data also indicate that…
National Fluid Power Association awards 15 fluid power scholarships
The NFPA Education and Technology Foundation has awarded $2,000 scholarships to fifteen students pursuing fluid power technology fields of study. A minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, 500-word essay, and a letter of recommendation were required from each applicant. The Foundation’s goal is to help individuals enrolled in technical schools and universities pursue their…
Next NFPA/FPIC Conference slated for June 3
The next installment of the NFPA/FPIC Quarterly Conference will be held on Thursday June 3, with a focus on “Advanced Software and Smart Tools for Fluid Power Component and System Design, Simulation and Optimization.” Due to the current COVID 19 pandemic, this program will be a live webinar using the Remo Online Conference Platform. Registration […]
Expanded 2021 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge fast approaching
With the support of NFPA Pascal Society donors, this year’s NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge program has expanded to two separate competitions, ensuring that more students and universities can participate, and more industry supporters can connect with these students. Both events will take place in a virtual format. Norgren is hosting one event April 7-9 […]
Although still down, fluid power shipments up in December over November
The latest data published by the National Fluid Power Association shows industry shipments of fluid power products for December 2020 decreased 0.2% when compared to December 2019 but increased 6.0% when compared to last month. Mobile hydraulic and pneumatic shipments increased, while industrial hydraulic shipments decreased in December 2020 when compared to December 2019. Mobile […]
NFPA Annual Conference registration is open for virtual attendance
The NFPA is moving forward with a virtual presentation for its Annual Conference in 2021, which will take place February 24 – 26, 2021. The virtual event will bring the diverse presentations and valuable networking right to attendees’ desks. Registration for the Virtual Annual Conference is now open. In addition to the virtual experience, pending…
We’re shut down — not broken — and that’s a good thing
As he does every year, Alan Beaulieau, President of ITR Economics kicked off The NFPA Industry & Economic Outlook Conference on August 11 — a little differently than his usual dry humor from the stage, but still with his similar upbeat attitude. The key takeaway from this year’s opening keynote, is that the U.S. industrial…
NFPA’s 2020 Industry & Economic Outlook Conference quickly approaching
The 2020 Industry & Economic Outlook Conference is fast approaching, and there are several reasons to register if you haven’t already. Taking place over the course of three half-day, online sessions August 11-13, this year’s conference is set to not only deliver hard data and expert analysis for everyone in the fluid power supply chain,…
2020 Industry & Economic Outlook Conference registration opening soon
2020 Industry & Economic Outlook Conference August 11-13, 2020 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM CT each day Virtual Delivery Registration Opening Soon NFPA’s Industry & Economic Outlook Conference (IEOC) is an annual event for fluid power supply chain professionals and this year it’s more accessible than ever before. Split into three virtual half-day sessions on […]
June FPIC/NFPA Regional Conference goes live via zoom
The Thursday June 4, NFPA/FPIC Regional Conference on “Improving Fluid Power System Efficiency, Reliability and Durability with Precision Manufacturing” program will be a live webinar using Zoom due to the current COVID 19 pandemic. Like the in-person events, this meeting will provide in-depth technical presentations and opportunities for networking via chat rooms. A 10-minute break…
NFPA’s Global Market Report Update
A new issue of the following NFPA global market report(s) are now available online. Please click on the report title below or pane down further for a report description. Oxford Economics Special Reports Global Market Reports and Forecasts *NFPA Login is required Oxford Economic Highlights from Updated Reports Global Highlights The rapid spread of the…
University Fluid Power Clubs bring interest to industry
The NFPA Technology and Education Foundation launched a new program last year to support Fluid Power Clubs at the college level. The goal of the clubs is to get engineering students introduced to and interested in fluid power, support club activities, and connect students to industry professionals to learn about careers in fluid power. Four-year…
Culture is key to businesses’ — and employees’ — futures
At the NPFA annual conference in Miami earlier this month, Don Rheem of E3 solutions presented a talk on neuroscience and its effect on driving high-performance cultures. He shared that 70% of employees who report to work in America today worldwide are disengaged. “One of the key reasons they’re disengaged is there’s a part of…
NFPA hosts Research Symposium at IFPE
The NFPA will present its IFPE Research Symposium March 11-13 during lunch presentations. This program showcases the latest fluid power research being performed at U.S. universities with funding provided by a new program within the U.S. Department of Energy to improve the energy efficiency of hydraulic systems on off-road vehicles. The Symposium will be held from […]
Wisconsin Fluid Power Action Challenge open to the public
Families and community members are invited to attend the Fluid Power Action Challenge competition March 13, at 1:00 p.m. at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC), Gymnasium; Building S. Five years ago, Price Engineering launched this event in Waukesha County with nine teams. This year, more than 200 local middle school students will work to design…
Schedule announced for March FPIC Regional Conference in Detroit
The schedule has been announced for the March 5 NFPA/FPIC Regional Conference on “Advanced Sensor Technologies for Fluid Power Systems” at Lawrence Technological University. Registration is free to NFPA members. As always, the event kicks off with breakfast and networking from 7:30 – 8:00 a.m., followed by welcome and introductions until 8:30. The rest of…
Registration open for NFPA Annual Conference Feb 11-13 in Miami
Registration is open for the National Fluid Power Association’s 2020 Annual Conference, slated for February 11-13 at the Mandarin Oriental in Miami. Early bird registration is open until December 9. This year’s conference features an expanded general session for more diverse topics and solid takeaways: Fred Harburg of the Kellogg School of Management will use […]