*Editor's note: This article was originally published in April 2024 and updated in July 2024 with additional information.
In September 2023, the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) announced its longstanding event the International Fluid Power Exhibition (IFPE) would not be held in conjunction with CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026.
This left the industry wondering what would become of IFPE. Its co-location with CONEXPO, one of the largest events for the construction and mining equipment industries — key customer segments for fluid power, particularly hydraulics — had helped it to grow into the biggest event for the fluid power industry.
Unfortunately, the future of IFPE currently remains a mystery but NFPA has provided an update on its continued involvement with CONEXPO, indicating it will be a supporting organization for the 2026 show. The association understands how crucial it is for hydraulics and pneumatics manufacturers to continue having the ability to connect with the heavy equipment OEMs who are present at the event.
NFPA said it is working the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) which organizes CONEXPO to ensure enhanced promotion is offered to past qualifying IFPE exhibitors through an exhibit section focused on fluid power and other component technologies.
The association has confirmed a components concentration area for those who sell products, including hydraulics and pneumatics, to OEMs will be a part of CONEXPO 2026. Per NFPA, placement in the product concentration area will be determined by priority points, and NFPA members will earn priority points based on the square footage they occupied at IFPE 2023.
In addition, NFPA members in good standing will receive a discount on exhibit space at CONEXPO 2026.
Important dates to keep in mind for exhibit space sales include:
- September 3, 2024 – Exhibit sales open
- October 4, 2024 – Exhibit space priority deadline & 50% exhibit space deadline
- March of 2025 – Sponsorship sales open
- July of 2025 – Final 50% Exhibit Space Payment
NFPA is encouraging fluid power companies with an interest in exhibiting at the show to plan on submitting their applications as soon as they can to help ensure the largest possible footprint for fluid power within the component product concentration area.
Visit our dedicated IFPE page for all of the news from the 2023 event.
Efforts to Serve Hydraulics and Pneumatics Industry Remain a Priority
Although IFPE will not be part of CONEXPO 2026, NFPA is continuing to evaluate how it will serve the fluid power industry with other possible events. The association currently hosts several of its own standalone events including the Annual Conference and always popular Industry & Economic Outlook Conference (IEOC).
Once a quarter it also hosts a virtual technology conference in conjunction with the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) to help educate the industry on technologies and trends which are making an impact on hydraulic and pneumatic designs.
NFPA is also assessing how it may continue working with other industry events to ensure fluid power has a strong presence. Pack Expo and OTC (Offshore Technology Conference) are among the tradeshows with which the association has worked in the past to present conference sessions or contribute in other ways due to them representing important sectors for fluid power, namely packaging machinery and oil & gas.
Most recently, NFPA announced it will host a 2-day advanced hydraulics conference in conjunction with iVT Expo U.S. which is an event focused on the design of off-highway equipment. NFPA's event will run in parallel to iVT, providing educational sessions on hydraulic technologies utlized in construction, agricultural and other off-highway equipment.
iVT provides a combination of exhibition and conference sessions to help educate engineers on the various technologies and trends impacting the off-highway equipment industry.
NFPA's conference will add to this by adding hydraulics focused educational opportunities; hydraulics remain critical to the performance of construction equipment and other machines, making the co-location with iVT a good fit.
The association is currently accepting proposals for session topics, and is particularly interested in those focusing on thermal management strategies for hydraulically actuated electrified machines, comparisons between hydraulic and electromechanical technologies, collection and analysis of hydraulic data, and more.
While the future of IFPE remains uncertain, NFPA is working to ensure there remain opportunities for those in the fluid power sector to stay educated on the latest technologies as well as network with others in the industry and customer markets.
