Here’s to the Next 25

By Robert McKinney, Associate Publisher, Fluid Power Journal

As I reflect upon this year with Fluid Power Journal thus far, my mind travels back to last fall when we were planning for the 2019 Editorial Calendar. We set three goals—the first of which was to reach out to more of fluid power’s ever-increasing markets such as civil engineering, food processing, and the medical industry. We quickly realized that we needed to publish the Fluid Power Journal monthly in order to engage these markets. It would also guarantee that there would be no communications gap with our subscribers. We also decided to increase the frequency of our digital offerings to a monthly basis as well.

Another goal that we had was for the Journal to increase its relevance to the fluid power audience by “telling our clients’ stories.” We embarked on an aggressive Sponsored Content program with both print and digital offerings. We added new features such as the Component Showcase section that focuses on a specific product category, and the Ask The Expert section, where companies can share their expertise on a particular topic so as to help our readers solve their problems. We also rejuvenated our white paper and video programs with dedicated pages on our website, www.fluidpowerjournal.com.

Additionally, we started a very popular Targeted Display Advertising program that reaches out to the fluid power audience through a digital programmatic platform. We also further developed our Creative Resources program that helps companies define and support their brand strategy.

Our third objective in 2019 was to celebrate the Fluid Power Journal’s 25th Anniversary with our readers and clients. We decided to celebrate throughout the entire year with our Then & Now articles in all the issues about changes in fluid power technology and best practices. This culminated in our official 25th Anniversary issue in August. From the Notable Words column written by our founders to the 25-year timeline of our magazines’ growth to the Then & Now feature about advances in fluid power over the last 25 years by our Technical Editor, Dan Helgerson, to our very interesting Fun Facts Crossword Puzzle section, the August issue “told the entire story” of the Fluid Power Journal.

Our vision now continues with this issue’s Salary Survey and Motion & Power Technology Expo guide, November’s focus on forestry and wood processing, and our December’s Tech Directory.

It has been a wonderful and challenging ride for the fluid power industry the last 25 years. Now we can look forward to another exciting 25 years of growth and challenge as the Fluid Power Journal commits to being an even greater resource to the fluid power professional community.

• 25 year anniversary
• fluid power journal
• recap