Energy Efficient Hydraulics & Pneumatics Conference Returns in 2017

Efficient consumption of energy is one of the key concerns around the world today. In fact, my local power company regularly prepares a report so I know how my household energy consumption compares with other households in the neighborhood. I think this is great, because it creates an awareness of something I might have not given much thought to otherwise. It has also started to change my behavior; I now wash my clothes in cold water, make sure all computers use the power-saving modes, and close the shades to keep the heat out in the summer. This all adds up to energy savings.

In a similar way, the Energy Efficient Hydraulics & Pneumatics Conference (EEHPC) was established not just to create awareness, but also to engage fluid power professionals to take action by sharing best practices, cutting-edge technologies, and success stories.

Over the past year, I have had the privilege to work with 20 fluid power professionals from across the industry to develop the upcoming conference that will be co-located with IFPE 2017 in Las Vegas from March 8-10. A lot of effort has been put forth to make next year’s conference a great one, and there is a lot of passion around this event. I would like to thank the following companies that participated: MTS Systems Corp.; Moog Industrial Group; Enfield Technologies; SMC Corp. of America; Festo Corp.; Bosch Rexroth Corp.; Poclain Hydraulics, Inc.; Parker Hannifin; Quality Filtration, LLC; Ross Controls; Curtiss-Wright; Bimba Manufacturing Co.; and Eaton, as well as members from the IFPS, the FPDA Motion and Control Network, NFPA, and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

The EEHPC Planning Committee was split into two subcommittees: hydraulics and pneumatics. Each subcommittee then developed the program of technical sessions and recruited speakers to participate. The time and effort the subcommittee put into this conference was outstanding. It is always great to see the dedication of people in fluid power who, regardless of the logo on their shirt, come together for the greater cause of the industry.

Changing technologies continue to drive improvements across the industry. Component manufacturers continue to make improvements to their products. System integrators are looking at ways to maximize efficiency by selecting the right components and optimizing the way they are connected. With increasing use of electronics in fluid power systems, smart technologies are being used to create smarter, more efficient fluid power systems.

Over 20 experts from the industry will share ideas and engage in discussions with the audience. The three-day conference kicks off with a keynote success story from Eaton, followed by topics related to smart system design and assessing systems for efficiency improvements. The second day begins with a keynote presentation from Danfoss on innovations in fluid power and continues with topics related to applied energy efficiency. The conference wraps up on the third day with a glimpse into the future. The keynote presentation will address opportunities and challenges in miniaturized fluid power technologies and follow with a presentation on how those challenges are being addressed.

You won’t want to miss this conference. It has something for everyone and provides you with access to top experts in the fluid power industry. You’ll also have an opportunity to discover the latest energy-efficient technologies, as well as network with other fluid power professionals. You’ll go away with a better understanding of what’s happening, what’s possible, and where you can make a difference in the future of fluid power. I look forward to seeing you there!

• 2017
• effiency
• energy efficient hydraulics and pneumatics conference
• technology