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By Robert Sheaf  •  Founder of CFC Industrial Training In this month’s challenge, we visit a small concrete supplier. Its mixing truck would run fine when loading and mixing concrete for a customer’s job site. However, when the drum rotation was reversed to discharge the concrete at the job site, the hydrostatic system would start…

Flowcopter has successfully demonstrated its heavy-lift utility uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), the FC100, in outdoor flight trials at the UAS Denmark Test Center at Hans Christian Andersen Airport in Odense. The FC100 was born out of the need for robust, heavy payload uncrewed platforms with greater endurance in markets traditionally requiring helicopters, such as search […]

NFPA members are encouraged to attend the Automate trade show this week, May 6-9, in Chicago, especially for a panel discussion put on by the organization. As part of its efforts to provide an effective forum for members to connect with key end markets in fluid power, NFPA has organized a panel discussion on “Digital…

At Hannover Messe this week, Bosch Rexroth announced that it has developed a scalable portfolio of servohydraulic drives for compressors in the power range between 10 and 280 kW in partnership with others from the hydrogen industry. Hydrogen produced from renewable energies plays a key role in achieving global climate targets. It is a CO2-free […]

If you noticed a theme throughout Fluid Power World this month, you’re not imagining things. With our April issue, we are introducing a new concept to our readers — blockbuster issues that take a trend in fluid power and examine it from several angles. A few years ago, Paul Heney, our VP, Editorial Director, mentioned…

  By Robert J. Sheaf, Founder, CFC Industrial A customer of mine has a machine that threads both ends of a straight piece of rod stock which then is fed into a second machine to bend it in a “U” shape. This creates a clamp for various round pipe sizes. They had a problem with…

Measuring and repairing compressed air leaks can easily reduce energy costs by 10 to 20%. Compressed air is used in factories all over the world to control machines, processes, and pneumatic equipment. It is a safe and easily available medium and can be used in all possible places via hoses and pipes. However, compressed air […]

Electrohydraulic actuators are standalone, self-contained systems that perform powerful tasks without external piping. They typically include an electric servomotor driving a hydraulic pump — often an axial-piston unit. Other components include a hydraulic cylinder, tank, valving and charging circuits. Because they are fitted with their own closed fluid circuit, they require only a small amount […]

Wave-generated power can be more reliable and consistent than other forms of alternative energy. Here, we look at how they work. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor The need to address climate change by creating and implementing alternative energy projects remains the most critical objective of our generation. Traditional sources of energy, especially those producing electrical…

As most users of fluid power technologies know, one of the most vulnerable systems for leakage is within hose assemblies. This is not because hose, fittings, and couplings are poorly designed but, most often, the result of improper assembly design and maintenance. That’s why XonKen, a Chinese manufacturer of hydraulic hose and fittings, has developed […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor If you’re considering a career in fluid power, you must weigh all your options. There are solid arguments on both sides of the courtroom, so I will pitch my side of the debate to help you out. Here are my top 7 reasons not to pursue a career in fluid…

The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) has entered into a partnership agreement with UKI Media & Events to convene and co-locate an advanced hydraulics conference for off-highway vehicle and fluid power engineers at iVT EXPO, to be held August 21-22, in Chicago. iVT EXPO is an annual exposition for the off-highway vehicle design and engineering […]

It’s about time we talked — no, not about how much time you spend on your phone — that’s between you and the sales manager. You and I need to talk about your customer service and communication. I’ve been in the game long enough to have communicated with thousands of customers and fellow sales professionals,…

Spring is around the corner, although if you’re located near the Great Lakes, you might need convincing that winter ever came this year at all. Regardless, the page on my desktop calendar is March, which makes a perfect time to schedule a spring maintenance session for your industrial hydraulic equipment. Even if you enjoy a…

Danfoss Power Solutions’ Editron EC-C1700B-420 electric converter has been named a Davidson Prize winner in the annual AE50 Awards program, highlighting its value to the agricultural machinery industry. The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers presented the award to Danfoss on Friday, March 1, at the Commodity Classic […]

For the last eight years engineers at Suncar AG, Zurich, Switzerland have been developing electric construction machines, and they offered some insights at the recent Future of Electrification 2024 conference, hosted by the Zapi Group. In a presentation titled “The all-electric construction machine,” Stefan Schneider, Suncar’s managing director, discussed progress on the road to electrification […]

There is heightened interest in optimizing the performance of mobile machines with electrohydraulic solutions, in particular with the coming need to transition from conventional machines to electrified zero-emission machinery. That’s according to Dr. Steffen Mutschler, Director Sales & Product Management Electrification of Mobile Machines at Bosch Rexroth. In a presentation, Empowering Optimal Performance with Electro-Hydraulic […]

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 […]

It’s no secret that the construction industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. As such, engineers and researchers constantly explore new technologies that align with sustainability goals while increasing productivity and reducing manual labor. Take dry stone wall construction, for example. This manually intensive task dates back thousands of years and was historically […]

Digital technologies allow for precise, highly responsive and efficient hydraulic control. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor In the era of Industry 4.0, where the integration of digital technologies is transforming the manufacturing landscape, on-board electronic controllers play a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency and precision of hydraulic systems. These controllers, embedded within hydraulic valves…

Collaboration and innovation drive the transition to electric vehicles in industrial vehicles as two transportation industry leaders advance the state of the art together.  As part of its industry-leading efforts to electrify critical off-highway machinery, Bosch Rexroth announced a partnership with thermal management manufacturer Modine. The two organizations are collaborating to bring Modine EVantage thermal […]

As I noted in our mobile trends feature last month, the discussion around transitioning machinery to more efficient alternatives, particularly in embracing electric solutions, has gained significant traction. This paradigm shift is not merely about the evolution of technology; it’s about redefining the very core of how construction machinery operates. Digital hydraulics, especially when combined […]

Moog helped a manufacturer of metalworking presses develop a first of its kind electrohydraulic high-speed press that recovers energy lost during depressurizing the machine’s hydraulic fluid. The technology regulates energy use with a Moog DE2020 energy management system to keep the power drawn from the grid at a steady, standard load. The machine maker’s original…

By Michael Pyper Bucher Hydraulics High hydraulic performance is crucial in mobile machinery. Especially in this era of increasing electrification, hydraulics remains vital. This is particularly true for agricultural and forestry machines where compact installation and weight optimization are essential. Fluid power plays a significant role in energy efficiency and, when intelligently combined, electric and […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor You may not know this, but I’m a straight-up car fanatic. There are as many car guy tribes as cars, and there are more ways to be into cars without bumper-sticker-level dedication to one brand. Me? I’m a Mazda guy who does the occasional track day, although I lust after […]