Welcome to News Bites, where I bring you a collection of recent news relevant to the hydraulics and pneumatics industry. Through the brief synopses and analysis 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 that may aid your own work in a quick and easily digestible manner. Like what you see, have suggestions for improvements or your own news to share? Email me at [email protected] to let me know!

Baumer Opens New Innovation Lab

Sensor developer Baumer has opened a new Innovation Lab. The new 1,300 sq. m lab is equipped with the latest test and simulation equipment to allow for even the most extreme of conditions to be simulated, including:  

• leakage tests in a water chamber
• shock tests on a seismic shock bench
• vibration tests on shakers
• temperature tests and artificial aging in climate chambers
• performance tests on linearity, repeatability and resolution independent of the object and throughout the entire measurement and temperature range
• verification tests on response times, ambient light immunity, resistance to mutual interference, spot size, sonic cones, etc.

Baumer noted in its press release announcing the opening of its new lab that the addition of the more sophisticated equipment will particularly benefit customers developing mobile machinery and railway equipment.

Construction equipment and other mobile machinery are increasingly being equipped with sensors to enable automated functions, collect maintenance data and offer other capabilities. As these machines typically work in harsh environments, it is necessary to ensure sensitive components like sensors can withstand long-term use in these harsh operating conditions to prevent costly downtime from occurring.

NFPA Seeking Volunteers for Next Technology Roadmap

The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) is looking for volunteers from the hydraulics and pneumatics industry to aid development of its next Technology Roadmap which will be focused on mobile equipment applications.

Once every 2 years the NFPA has produced a Technology Roadmap to help outline potential development strategies for fluid power technologies to ensure they continue meeting customer requirements. Starting with the 2025 edition, the focus of each roadmap will alternate between industrial and mobile applications to help cover all the customer markets of importance to the fluid power industry.

To create these roadmaps, NFPA aims to bring together engineers and technology professionals from across the fluid power value chain. NFPA says all its members — suppliers, manufacturers, controls and data companies, and distributors — with interest and exposure to the mobile side of the fluid power industry are welcome and encouraged to appoint a representative to the Task Force that will help work on the next Technology Roadmap.

NFPA also welcomes referrals to OEMs or other technology partners in the mobile equipment market who may be able to provide perspectives on fluid power technology needs for this sector.

The first meeting of the Task Force is scheduled for August 31. Those interested in participating, or have a referral to offer, can contact NFPA president Eric Lanke [email protected].

Participating in development of the next Technology Roadmap offers the opportunity to provide input on the direction of the hydraulics and pneumatics industry as well as network with others in the sector.  

Read the below articles to learn about the finding from the last two editions of the NFPA Technology Roadmap.

Regal Rexnord Providing Cobot Transfer Unit for FANUC Collaborative Robots

Regal Rexnord is offering a fully integrated cobot transfer unit for FANUC CRX collaborative robots (cobots) featuring technologies from its various brands.

Known as the Thomson Movotrak Cobot Transfer Unit (CTU), it integrates linear motion, gearing, couplings, motors and software into a single engineered solution from Regal’s Thomson, Boston Gear, Huco and Kollmorgen brands.

The CTU is an external axis solution available in the FANUC Cobot Device network, allowing customers to easily choose the systems they want to use for their specific robotics application. Regal Rexnord said it worked closely with FANUC to ensure the system will work correctly with the CRX line of cobots.

Solutions like this not only demonstrate the varied technologies which go into robotics applications but also the growing importance of providing fully integrated systems. Design teams are strapped for time, and may not always have the expertise necessary to determine all the technologies required for their application.

Being able to go to a single source to get a full system saves time that might otherwise be spent on spec’ing and then integrating multiple components while providing assurance all technologies in the system will work together as desired.

Turntide Technologies Receives Funding to Accelerate Production of Axial Flux Motors

Turntide Technologies, a developer of electrification and hybridization solutions, will receive funding from the U.K. Government and Advanced Propulsion Centre U.K. to accelerate production of its axial flux motors.