NFPA Members Start School Year Strong with Fluid Power Challenge Events

NFPA Fluid Power Challenge veterans started the school year out with a bang! The Challenge is a competition where middle school students solve an engineering problem using fluid power. They work in teams of four to design and build a fluid power mechanism, and then the teams compete against other teams in a timed competition. The students learn about teamwork, problem solving, and perseverance. In addition, they have lots of fun.

Here are the events that took place last fall and winter:

• Caterpillar in Joliet, IL.: This is Caterpillar’s second year of hosting, and they brought in 27 teams.
• Deltrol in Palatine, IL: Deltrol has hosted seven events, and this year brought in a record 85 teams.
• Daman in South Bend, IN: Daman has hosted six events, and this year brought in 28 teams.
• Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, WI: MSOE has hosted eight events, and this year brought in 29 teams.

All of these members and partners invest in the NFPA Fluid Power Challenge – financially and with their time. They are helping to make students aware of fluid power technology and think about fluid power as a career path.

Other Challenge events took place at Eisenhower Middle School in Hoffman Estates, Ill., and in Fayette County, Pa., hosted by the Pennsylvania Small Business Education Fund.

For more information about the Fluid Power Challenge or to learn how to host one of your own, contact Lynn Beyer at lbeyer@nfpa.com or (414) 778-3364.

• fluid power challenge
• nfpa
• youth