Fluid Power News Bites: Trelleborg Creates Seal Material from Renewable Sources and Scanreco Acquires CrossControl
Welcome to Fluid Power News Bites, where I bring you a collection of recent news relevant to the hydraulics and pneumatics sector. Through the brief synopses contained in this piece I aim to help you stay on top of what is going on in the fluid power industry as well as other technological areas of interest in a quick and easily digestible manner. Like what you see, or don’t? Have your own news to share? Email me at [email protected] to let me know!
Trelleborg Develops Sealing Material Made from Renewable Sources
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has announced the launch of two ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber grades made from renewable sources. They are created from raw polymers based on non-fossil sources derived from renewable ingredients such as cooking oil, straw, forestry residue and tall oil.
Because renewable sources are used, the company is able to reduce its product carbon footprint — the amount of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) created throughout a product’s lifecycle — by as much as 55% it stated in the press release announcing the material’s launch.
Both EPDM grades, the 70 Shore A hardness E7T11 and 80 Shore A E8T12, are able to provide performance consistent with that of traditional EPDMs. They are well suited for creation of seals for pumps, valves, air cylinders, engines and more that may be used in applications including automotive, manufacturing, and agricultural equipment.
Sustainability continues to be an important design criterion for companies like Trelleborg and their customers. Developments like this help demonstrate the advancements taking place and the various methods being used to reduce environmental impact.
STLE Hosting Virtual Symposium on Additives
The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) is hosting a Virtual Symposium on Additives July 21-22, 2026. It will explore the science, strategy, and application of lubricant additives across the manufacturing landscape.
“This virtual symposium provides insight into the current trends driving innovation in additive technology,” said Rebecca Lintow, CAE, STLE executive director, in the press release announcing the symposium.
Attendees will gain insights into:
- How formulation philosophies differ across manufacturers.
- How base oil chemistry influences additive response.
- How evolving equipment demands and regulatory pressures are driving innovation in additive technology.
- Cross-industry perspective on the decisions and trade-offs that define modern lubricant formulation.
The event provides a professional development opportunity for those involved in the development, specification, or application of lubricating fluids, which can include those in the fluid power industry that may work with hydraulic oil or other fluids.
More details on the event and how to register can be found on STLE’s website.
Scanreco Acquires CrossControl
Remote control technology developer Scanreco has acquired CrossControl, a developer of displays and central vehicle computing solutions. The companies’ complementary technologies — remote control solutions, on-board displays, vehicle computers and machine control solutions — will now be available from a single supplier.
Bringing the two companies’ technologies and industry expertise together under a single brand will make it easier to provide integrated, full-system solutions, something OEMs and other customers strongly desire.
“This acquisition is part of our long-term plan and reflects a clear transformation in the market. Machine control and HMI are becoming more strategic to OEMs as software, connectivity and intelligence take on a greater role,” said Peter Lageson, CEO of Scanreco, in the company’s press release announcing the acquisition. “By combining onboard and remote solutions with intuitive HMIs and strong computing capabilities, we help OEMs build machines that are more capable, more productive and ready for the future — while creating unique operator experiences.”
Scanreco and CrossControl’s technologies are commonly used in conjunction with the fluid power systems on machines, and this acquisition demonstrates the consolidation that continues to take place within the industry as companies look to expand their capabilities and better meet customer needs.
Read the below articles to learn more about the pros and cons of industry consolidation.
The Lee Company Opens New Innovation Center
The Lee Company has opened a new 27,500 sq. ft. Innovation Center that it says will help accelerate development for miniature precision fluid control products.
An open workspace with integrated labs will enable the company’s engineers to collaborate on and test their designs. The new Innovation Center includes a fully equipped machine shop built for rapid, precision fabrication as well as offers high resolution additive manufacturing.
Additional lab infrastructure is planned to support advanced testing, automation, and system level experimentation to further aid the product development process.
“This facility is a world-class engineering playground that allows us to simulate real customer environments in-house and develop a deeper understanding of the problems they're trying to solve,” said Thomas Frosell, Vice President of Innovation, in the company’s press release announcing the opening of the Innovation Center. “We have the tools, the team, and the environment needed for success — enabling us to move faster, accelerate our learning, and design solutions that are aligned with where our customers are headed.”
Investments like this help showcase the continued value many companies place in their engineering departments and the importance of continually developing technologies that will meet market needs.
SSP Celebrating 100 Years of Business
SSP — a developer of valves, fittings and other fluid power components — is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026.
Headquartered in Twinsburg, OH, the company has remained committed to manufacturing its products in the U.S. throughout its history. All products are made in the same U.S.-based facility, enabling SSP to maintain a high level of quality and control over its production process.
It continues to expand the capabilities of its hydraulic and pneumatic components to serve a range of applications including aerospace, chemical processing, oil and gas, power, transportation, and other demanding industrial settings.
SSP also continues to invest in its people and manufacturing capabilities. The company recently achieved AS9100 certification, reinforcing its disciplined approach to quality, process control, and continuous improvement. It also maintains a 99.9% on-time delivery rate, ensuring customers get products in a timely manner to assure they can get their own products into the market in a timely manner.
Throughout the year SSP will be highlighting milestones in its history and culminate its 100th anniversary celebrations with an event at its facility in September.
Companies with such a long history are rare, and achieving this business milestone, along with the company's committment to U.S.-based production, is nice to see within the fluid power community.
About the Author
Sara Jensen
Executive Editor, Power & Motion
Sara Jensen is executive editor of Power & Motion, directing expanded coverage into the modern fluid power space, as well as mechatronic and smart technologies. She has over 15 years of publishing experience. Prior to Power & Motion she spent 11 years with a trade publication for engineers of heavy-duty equipment, the last 3 of which were as the editor and brand lead. Over the course of her time in the B2B industry, Sara has gained an extensive knowledge of various heavy-duty equipment industries — including construction, agriculture, mining and on-road trucks —along with the systems and market trends which impact them such as fluid power and electronic motion control technologies.
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