Education & Technology Foundation seeks schools to receive grants

The National Fluid Power Association’s Education and Technology Foundation plans to cover expenses for 20 teams of eighth graders to take part in NFPA Fluid Power Challenge events. In challenge events, students solve an engineering problem using fluid power. They work in teams to design and build a fluid power mechanism, and then compete against other teams in a timed competition.

In past challenges, students have made robotic lifting arms out of wood, glue, and hydraulically activated valves. Students have to build the machines and stack wooden blocks on top of each other faster than competing teams.

So far in 2014, two school districts, both in Pennsylvania, have received grants to cover challenge costs – Canon-McMillan School District in Canonsburg and North Hills Middle School in Pittsburgh.
 

Membership reaches all-time high

With 32 new member companies joining the association during the 2013-2014 membership year, the NFPA has achieved an all-time high of 355 members, representing the entire fluid power supply chain. Five companies have joined since the start of the 2014-2015 membership year.

The newest members are:

• CNH Reman: The Springfield, Mo.-based company remanufactures hydraulic pumps, motors, cylinders, and valves that are part of the Case New Holland product line – Case IH Agriculture, New Holland Agriculture, Case Construction Equipment, and New Holland Construction Equipment.
• Hydreco Hydraulics: Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., the company previously known as Hamworthy Hydraulics and David Brown Hydraulics has been part of the Clyde Organization since 2008. It offers an extensive range of low-noise helical gear, aluminum, and cast iron gear pumps. Dual-axis, stackable, and single-axis hydraulic pilot valves are also offered. Hydreco also produces and sells its own range of transport hydraulics that covers power take-offs, pumps, valves, and accessories for on-road vehicles. Hydreco also markets a wide range of winches for the offshore and marine industries.
  
   

NFPA events

Sept. 8-13, 2014: IFPE Fluid Power Zone, McCormick Place, Chicago – Part of the Motion, Drive, & Automation North America (MDA NA) event, co-located with the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), the zone will showcase new and recently launched fluid power and machine control design technologies.

Oct. 13-15, 2014: Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power(CCEFP) Annual Meeting, Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. – Events include fluid power technical presentations, more than 50 student researchers’ technical posters, tours of Vanderbilt’s newly built Laboratory for Systems Integrity & Reliability, and an optional tour of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, including its Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, the National Transportation Research Center, and the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility.

March 11-12, 2015: NFPA Annual Conference, The Grand Del Mar, San Diego – This is the one time when members of all task force members, board members, committee members, council members, and future leaders come together to decide on initiatives, shape the direction of their projects, and vote on key decisions. The conference also provides outstanding opportunities for networking with leaders in our industry. This event is for NFPA members only.

About the NFPA

With more than 350 member companies, the NFPA provides a forum for the fluid power industry’s channel partners – manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, customers, and educators. Its U.S. and multinational members work cooperatively in advancing hydraulic and pneumatic technology through the association’s many programs and initiatives.