Hydraulics Technology Advancements to be Highlighted at iVT Expo 2026
Hydraulic systems continue to advance to meet the evolving performance requirements of construction equipment, agricultural machinery and other off-highway machinery.
iVT Expo USA 2026 takes place August 19-20 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. Several hydraulics companies and other technology suppliers of interest will exhibit their latest solutions during the event. In addition to NFPA’s conference sessions will be the Off-Highway Evolution Conference offering technical presentations on technologies and trends currently influencing machine designs such as automation and the need for data-driven intelligence.
More details about iVT Expo as well as how to register can be found on the event’s website.
Many of these developments will be highlighted during the National Fluid Power Association’s (NFPA) Advanced Hydraulics Conference which will be held during iVT Expo USA 2026 — an annual event for engineers who design off-highway machines.
In addition, NFPA president and CEO Eric Lanke will moderate a panel discussion entitled “AI-enabled and automated machines: Current OEM needs and hydraulic solutions.” One of several plenary sessions being held during iVT Expo USA 2026, the panel discussion will bring together members of the fluid power industry to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are changing machine as well as component designs.
Panelists currently include:
- Jon Frey, Bosch Rexroth
- Congmin Niu, Komatsu
- Jason Looman, Scanreco North America
- Keith Simons, OEM Controls
For its Hydraulics Technology Conference, NFPA said presentations are focused on technologies, strategies and real-world applications aimed at enabling the creation of next-generation machines. Methods for improving efficiency and machine intelligence will be among the themes covered during these presentations.
Following are the presentations currently scheduled for the NFPA conference, offering a glimpse into the trends shaping the mobile hydraulics industry as well as a potential guide for those who may be going to iVT Expo USA 2026 to help them determine which sessions to attend.
Wednesday, August 19
From Machine Data to AI-Enabled Service: How OEMs Can Turn Data into Customer Value by Adam Livesay, Elevāt
This session will examine how hydraulic and machine data can be used to improve diagnostics and servicing of mobile off-highway machinery in an effort to move from reactive to more proactive maintenance practices.
From Components to Intelligence: The Evolution of Off-Highway Vehicles by Darren Lockyer, Bailey International
This session will explore how digital hydraulics and smart fluid power architectures are enabling machine OEMs to achieve higher efficiency, greater controllability and differentiated operator experiences.
Where ePTOs Win: Selecting Optimal Applications for Electric Power Take-Offs by Kyle Myers and Richard Nagel, Parker Hannifin
The advantages of flow-on-demand electrified hydraulics, use cases for electric power take-offs (ePTOs) and applications where system technology improvements are needed will be among the topics covered during this session.
Considerations Regarding Hydraulic System Architecture: The Case of a Telehandler by David Stevenson, Bucher Hydraulics
During this session, attendees will have the opportunity to learn how different hydraulic system architectures can be used to achieve efficiency gains, which will be illustrated with a case study involving a telehandler.
Scalable Electrohydraulic System for Skid Steers by DJ O'Konek, Nott Company
Another case study will be offered during this presentation which examines the development of an electric skid steer from the ground up and how electrohydraulics and other technologies were employed to achieve desired performance as well as efficiency requirements.
The Convergence of Safety, Cybersecurity and Connectivity in Modern Fluid-Power Machines by Andy Gray, Scanreco
This session will show how hydraulics, safety, cybersecurity and connectivity all work together, along with human machine interfaces (HMI), to ensure safe machine operation and will remain critical in future machine designs.
Advances in Hydraulic Cylinder Linear Position Sensing Over the Years by Luka Korzeniowski, Leggett & Platt Hydraulics
Attendees of this session will learn about the history of sensing technologies which have been used in hydraulic cylinders over the years as well as new solutions entering the market to aid with the control and automation of machine functions.
Thursday, August 20
System-Level Modeling and Performance Evaluation of Electrohydraulic Systems by Bruno Dupuis, Famic Technologies
The importance of system-level simulation and how different modeling approaches can be used to compare conventional hydraulics with electrohydraulics will be discussed during this presentation.
Rethinking Fluid Power Architecture: From Energy Transmission to Data-Driven Systems by Gary Gotting, Strategic Advisor
This session will examine how OEM and customer requests for system insights is prompting the need for real-time flow measurement within hydraulic systems, enabling precise diagnostics, control validation and predictive maintenance.
Treating Noise at the Source with Hydraulic Suppressors by Nathan Pedigo, Wilkes & McLean
In this session, two basic principles of noise control engineering will be discussed as well as an overview of some of the technologies available for mitigating hydraulic noise.
Powering Hydraulics with Axial Flux Technology and Smart Inverters by Nathan Martinez, Turntide Technologies
This session will examine axial flux motor technology and why it is a good option for powering hydraulic systems in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Comparison of Fluid Effects in Dynamometer and Excavator Field Tests by Paul Michael, Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)
This session will look at testing conducted with different viscosity hydraulic fluids in the lab and the field, and what the results show about the importance of fluid optimization for enhancing machine productivity.
Smarter Hydraulics Power Efficient, Intelligent Off-Highway Machine Performance by Chris Kolbe and Russel Evans, HYDAC
Measuring Aeration in Mobile Equipment Hydraulic Systems Using Sonar by James Oftelie, Aeration Measurement Technologies
Attendees of this session will learn about the impacts of air contamination in hydraulic oil and a new technology designed to measure aeration levels so machine designs can be better optimized.
Compact High-Performance PCLS Valve Technology by Jace Birschbach and Joseph Meyer, Husco
This session will review how a compact electro proportional relief valve, when paired with other hydraulic components, can help meet the high performance requirements now desired in many compact off-highway machine designs.
Rare-Earth-Free Ultra Silent and Regenerative Electro-Hydraulic Solutions by Andres Jimenez, Settima USA Inc.
In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about an electro-hydraulic solution with rare earth free synchronous reluctance motor enables noise reductions and efficiency gains as well as its ability to enable energy regeneration.
Beyond the Part Number Choosing Hydraulic Components That Extend Equipmen by Scott Mason, FluiDyne Fluid Power
This session will review fundamentals of hydraulic component selection and how they contribute to system and machine performance as well as overall lifespan.
Load Holding Versus Advanced Motion Systems for Electrified Machinery by Reinhold Herrman, IFP Motion Solutions, USA
The need to shift from traditional load holding valves to advanced motion control solutions in electric-powered machines, and the advantages of doing so such as improving battery capacity, will be reviewed this session.
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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