Industry News

Ashcroft celebrates 160 years of gages

In 1852, the burgeoning use of steam power led Edward Ashcroft to produce his first revolutionary “Bourdon tube” pressure gage. With the growing need for more accurate and reliable instrumentation, Ashcroft gages soon became a staple on board steam ships, railroad locomotives and in industries throughout North America. 160 years later, Ashcroft... Continue Reading HERE

Micro-excavator a powerful fluid power teaching tool

A micro-excavator, powered by water hydraulics or pneumatics and small enough to fit in a hand-carried storage bin, provides an exciting new platform for increasing understandings of the importance of fluid power as well as insights into the technology itself. This innovative learning resource is well-suited for many audiences, too—in classrooms,... Continue Reading HERE

ROSS Controls acquires Michigan-based DECCO

ROSS Controls announced that it acquired the assets of the Detroit Coil Co., known in the marketplace as DECCO, on December 30, 2011. The history of the two companies has been intertwined, as DECCO has supplied components to ROSS for many decades. ROSS, headquartered in Troy, Mich., designs and manufactures precision pneumatic valves, control systems... Continue Reading HERE

NFPA webinar to explore pneumatic system design

Milwaukee—Designers of pneumatic systems will have the opportunity to learn from a leading expert on ISO 4414 by joining the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) for the first in a series of six one-hour webinars, to be held on January 26, 2012 (Thursday) starting at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. Safe, reliable and efficient pneumatic systems —... Continue Reading HERE

2011 in review

When 2011 started, I would have expected that the triennial IFPE show would have been the talk of the year. And the show was an impressive one, with more than 400 exhibitors, 100,000+ attendees at the combined co-located shows (including CONEXPO and CON/AGG) and a wonderful technical conference. But what I find perhaps most significant for the industry... Continue Reading HERE

SimpleCAD’s fluid power symbol libraries compatible with AutoCAD 2013

SimpleCAD has announced that it is preparing many of their industrial block libraries for the new AutoCAD 2013 release expected to arrive in spring 2012. SimpleCAD completed 2013 testing on one of their flagship products called the CAD-SYM library. The block library is comprised of electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic control systems. SimpleCAD President... Continue Reading HERE

Peter Paul Electronics unveils new website, logo, training program

New Britain, Conn.—PeterPaul has introduced new branding starting with our new logo which builds on its history and commitment to continuous improvement. It incorporates an evolved double P, our traditional blue, quality and strength in stainless steel. It is slanted indicating forward movement; speed and progress. The website is easy to use. The... Continue Reading HERE

New technical standards available from NFPA

Milwaukee—Three new technical documents have recently been published and are now available from the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA). ISO 4397:2011 (supersedes ISO 4397:1993): Fluid power connectors and associated components – Nominal outside diameters of tubes and nominal hose sizes Scope: This International Standard specifies information... Continue Reading HERE

NFPA webcast series to look at improving system design

Milwaukee—The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) will present a series of webcasts to focus on key issues facing the fluid power industry today. Learn how to use standards to design and build better fluid power systems to: · increase energy efficiency · improve reliability · reduce environmental impact · ensure system safety A series of six... Continue Reading HERE

Bimba unveils new website, customer tools

University Park, Ill.—Bimba Manufacturing has debuted a new website, featuring an updated look and improved functionality. The redesign includes state-of-the-art technical features, reorganized and updated content, and rich multimedia applications. Enhanced CAD drawing functionality and interactivity leads the suite of new features on the website,... Continue Reading HERE

ControlAir launches new website

Amherst, N.H.—ControlAir Inc., a manufacturer of precision pneumatic and electro-pneumatic controls, unveiled a redesigned website at www.controlair.com. The web site is faster, easier to access from all web browsers, notepad computers and mobile devices and also incorporates a search tool on the new home page. The redesign will provide customers... Continue Reading HERE

Fluid power energy efficiency conference is a hit

Jon Jensen of SMC, Immediate Past President of the International Fluid Power Society, opened up the first Energy Efficient Hydraulics and Pneumatics Conference at the Sheraton Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel on Tuesday. Jensen explained that the registered attendance was 107, an excellent showing for a first-time event. What I found most impressive was... Continue Reading HERE

ASCO Numatics sponsors industrial automation college scholarships

ASCO Numatics, a division of Emerson, announced its 2012/2013 college engineering scholarship program aimed at rewarding exceptional undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a career in manufacturing and processing engineering. ASCO Numatics will award two, $5,000 scholarships to U.S. engineering students who are pursuing careers in industrial automation-related... Continue Reading HERE

Year-on-year fluid power industry shipments up 16.7%, says NFPA

The latest data published by the National Fluid Power Association shows industry shipments of fluid power products for September 2011 increased 16.7% compared to September 2010, and decreased 6.0% compared to last month. Mobile hydraulics, industrial hydraulics and pneumatics all showed growth in September 2011 when compared to September 2010, but... Continue Reading HERE

Compact rescue robot climbs onto the stage

By Prof. Wayne Book and Hannes Daepp, Georgia Institute of Technology –From the CCEFP Newsletter A major feature of the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Research Center program is the emphasis on test beds. Test beds are primarily intended to provide: 1.) a means for demonstration of the applicability of research projects to real world... Continue Reading HERE

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