February 2020 Association Watch

IFPS opens Fluid Power Hall of Fame 2020 nominations

In its call of nominations, the International Fluid Power Society said that the success of the fluid power industry is not in its hardware, pumps, valves, cylinders, and hoses — but rather the success is through the efforts of its dedicated individuals — innovators, researchers, application engineers, educators, as well as sales and service personnel. These people are the reasons that the industry continues to thrive.

This special award has been established to acknowledge those individuals who have dedicated their careers, and have made significant contributions, to fluid power technology.

In 2019, 11 individuals were inducted into the Hall of Fame, with six of them being posthumous.

2020 nominations will be accepted through April 15. Any person can nominate an individual, living or deceased, who demonstrated excellence within their 25-plus year fluid power career. Their career must be verifiable. The nomination form is simple and other than contact information, only requires a brief description of why the person is being nominated. Those nominated are asked to complete a 13-question application.

A panel of judges review the applications and select the class of Inductees. Inductees will be honored at a special dinner later this year.

Nominations can be submitted at www.fluidpowerhalloffame.org.

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 thecollege level. The goal of the clubs is to get engineering students introducedto and interested in fluid power, support club activities, and connect studentsto industry professionals to learn about careers in fluid power.

Four-year colleges or universities that offer a Bachelor of Science degree are eligible to apply. Clubs must have at least three student members with one at or below the junior level. The college must also provide a faculty advisor who oversees fluid power club activities and must offer at least one course that has fluid power content (hydraulics or pneumatics).

Students will learn about fluid power while working on educational and technical projects, and other fun activities, including the NFPA Vehicle Challenge, access to guest speakers and mentors, job opportunities and leadership experience and professional development.

The Colorado State University created a club last year. According to Riley Abbott, President of the Colorado State University Fluid Power Club, membership has been growing, from three to 11 members.

“The club hopes to build on its momentum to make sure that Colorado State University has a place for students to learn about hydraulics and pneumatics,” Abbot said. “The group decided on focusing on three different aspects of the club: knowledge through application, guidance through networking, and giving back through service. One of the ideas for this semester that has drawn the most support has been a competition between two teams to see who can make a device to lift the most weight!

“The club has found a great home at Colorado State University where it can nurture interested minds on fluid power and will continue to do so!”

For information, email Amy Zignego, azignego@nfpa.com.

Registration open for Detroit NFPA/FPIC Regional Conference

2020 Detroit NFPA/FPIC Regional Conference March 5 | 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Mich.

Expand your knowledge of advanced sensor technologies for fluid power systems at the March 5 NFPA/FPIC Regional Conference, presented by NFPA and MSOE’s Fluid Power Industrial Consortium (FPIC). The speaker lineup for this event has been finalized:

• The End of Reactive Maintenance: Today’s Predictive Solutions for a Proactive Future | Kris Mikulan, Group Product Manager, Filter Systems, Schroeder Industries, and Anthony Maiolo, Application Engineer, Schroeder Industries

• Novel Position Sensors for Closed- Loop Servo-Hydraulics | Art Holzknecht, District Manager, Renishaw Inc and Matjaz Sivec, LinAce Sensors Engineering Manager, Renishaw Inc

• Autonomy: How Close is the Future? | Marcus Herrera, Sales Application Engineer – Sensors and Controls, HYDAC

• Reducing Cost of Field Operations Using HART Technology | Leslie Perez, Senior Product Manager, Barksdale Inc., and Steve Brown, Key Account Manager, Barksdale Inc.

NFPA | nfpa.com