Fluid Power Forum

In this Fluid Power Forum episode, NFPA host Eric Lanke shares a recorded NFPA webinar on advancing technologies for controls, IoT, and data—featuring Scanreco Director of Sales Andy Gray. Gray explains how Scanreco's professional radio remote controls serve OEMs and system integrators for mobile and industrial machinery in harsh environments, translating operator intent into hydraulic actuator motion from simple on/off to highly proportional control to improve safety, precision, and productivity. Discussion covers operating at safer distances, integrating camera feedback and Human Machine Interface, HMI, information onto remotes, and the growing role of assisted operation and autonomy across applications like agriculture, forklifts, drilling, demolition, forestry, and fire equipment. Gray describes field research with operators, integration via CAN and software tools, OEM preference for open integration ecosystems, and progress to unify remote control, advanced displays, and onboard computing amid trends of digitalization, electrification, automation, and usability. Subscribe to the Fluid Power Forum today to never miss an episode. The podcast is available on all of your favorite podcast platforms, including YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. Connect with our host, Eric Lanke, at elanke@nfpa.com. Connect with our guest, Andy Gray, at andy.gray@scanreco.com. Learn more about the company at www.scanreco.com. Find and share more interesting fluid power technologies and unique applications using #onlyfluidpowercan and follow podcast and other fluid power industry-related updates at @TheNFPA. #FluidPowerForum #Controls #Safety #Autonomy #CID

At the 2026 CONEXPO-CON/AGG Trade Show, guest host Ben Brown interviews Ben Holter of Husco in the NFPA's first-ever Ben Show. Join to learn about industry trends and Husco's largest-ever CONEXPO booth, highlighting growing demand in the compact equipment market and electrification of hydraulics. Holter spotlights Husco's award-finalist GenSteer steer-by-wire system, positioned as a cost-acceptable platform for software-defined vehicles that enables feature changes via software and supports automation and improved operator feel and comfort. He explains GenSteer's fail-functional safety approach, using a motor-as-generator in failure mode to maintain steering power without extensive redundant batteries and controllers. Husco also features compact electrohydraulic products such as the M Series (described as the world's smallest electro proportional valve), spool position sensing for precise control, and the MX7 valve family (70–250 L/min). Learn more at husco.com. #FluidPowerForum #GenSteer #Electrification #CompactHydraulics Subscribe to the Fluid Power Forum today to never miss an episode. The podcast is available on all of your favorite podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. Connect with our guest host, Ben Brown, at bbrown@nfpa.com. Connect with our guest, Ben Holter, at Ben.Holter@husco.com. Find and share more interesting fluid power technologies and unique applications using #onlyfluidpowercan and follow podcast and other fluid power industry-related updates at @TheNFPA.

Recorded live at CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas, host Eric Lanke interviews NFPA Advanced Hydraulics Conference presenters Barun Acharya (Parker Hannifin), Joe Budden (Danfoss Power Solutions), and Philippe Reynolds (Poclain Hydraulics) on how electrification is driving innovation in mobile hydraulics through hybrid architectures, smarter controls, and integrated mechatronic solutions. Acharya outlines hybrid strategies to reduce battery cost via engine and hydraulic downsizing, variable pumps, steer-by-wire, and faster electric motor speed control to cut losses. Budden discusses selecting among increasingly complex system architectures and highlights new EV challenges such as back EMF, torque ripple, and NVH. Reynolds presents an integrated electronic drive unit for electrified wheel hubs, emphasizing energy-based sizing, higher voltage trends, and plug-and-play integration. The panel describes company shifts toward system engineering, acquisitions, and vehicle-level testing, notes autonomy as an emerging driver, and concludes that hydraulics' power density remains difficult to replace, though electric actuators fit some niche use cases. Subscribe to the Fluid Power Forum today to never miss an episode. The podcast is available on all of your favorite podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. Connect with host Eric Lanke, at elanke@nfpa.com. Connect with Barun Acharya, at bacharya@parker.com. Connect with Joe Budden, at jbudden@danfoss.com. Connect with Philippe Reynolds, at philippe.reynolds@poclain.com. Find and share more interesting fluid power technologies and unique applications using #onlyfluidpowercan and follow podcast and other fluid power industry-related updates at @TheNFPA. #FluidPowerForum #electrification #energyefficiency #systemintegration

At Conexpo 2026, Fluid Power Forum guest host Ben Brown interviews Bob Borowski of Engineering Technology Services (ETS) about the show's value for supplier/customer meetings and industry networking. Borowski explains that ETS supports fluid power aftermarket uptime by supplying only original products from major manufacturers (Bosch Rexroth, Parker, Atos, etc.), specializing in piston pumps, piston motors, and industrial valves. ETS fills distribution inventory gaps when critical parts aren't on the shelf, helping resolve line-down situations quickly with real-time online inventory and a ship-today/receive-tomorrow model via the FedEx hub, including rapid global shipping. ETS also offers fundamentals of hydraulics training in Memphis to help address workforce turnover and skills gaps. Learn more at etshydro.com. #FluidPowerForum #uptime #inventorymanagement #hydraulics Subscribe to the Fluid Power Forum today to never miss an episode. The podcast is available on all of your favorite podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. Connect with our guest host, Ben Brown, at bbrown@nfpa.com. Connect with our guest, Bob Borowski, at rborowski@etshydro.com. Find and share more interesting fluid power technologies and unique applications using #onlyfluidpowercan and follow podcast and other fluid power industry-related updates at @TheNFPA.

At CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, Fluid Power Forum guest host Ben Brown interviews Russ Schneiderwind from Hydraforce about show highlights and Hydraforce's exhibits. Russ notes key fluid power innovations around precise control, efficiency, and increased integration of electronics, sensors, software, and data analytics. Hydraforce is showcasing its cartridge valve technology, new products developed through integration with Bosch Rexroth (which acquired Hydraforce in 2023), including proportional valves for excavator load/boom lock applications, and HF Impulse GUI integration with hardware. Russ also discusses a Connected Control Unit (CCU) gateway for telematics and over-the-air updates, developed with software updates and a collaboration with Elevate to provide a cost-effective, flexible, single-gateway approach for machines with multiple controller types. #CONEXPO #FluidPower #Telematics Subscribe to the Fluid Power Forum today to never miss an episode. The podcast is available on all of your favorite podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. Connect with our guest host, Ben Brown, at bbrown@nfpa.com. Connect with our guest, Russ Schneidewind, at russs@hydraforce.com. Find and share more interesting fluid power technologies and unique applications using #onlyfluidpowercan and follow podcast and other fluid power industry-related updates at @TheNFPA.

At the 2026 CONEXPO-CON/AGG trade show, Fluid Power Forum guest host Ben Brown interviews Bruce Riley of Ultra Clean Technologies Corp about a busy show with returning customers and new leads and highlights innovations seen on the floor. Riley explains Ultra Clean's focus on contamination control through cleaning hydraulic hoses and tubes and encapsulating cleaned ends with heat shrink. He also introduces three new products: biodegradable stem lubricants for industrial and hydraulic applications, a patented custom 3D-printed nozzle program with 24–48 hour turnaround, and the PLC-controlled Ultra Loader for rapid projectile firing in production hose and tube assemblies. Riley also points listeners to the company website and describes webinar-based operator training and a certification program backed by independent test reports. #CONEXPO #ContaminationControl #OperatorTraining Subscribe to the Fluid Power Forum today to never miss an episode. The podcast is available on all of your favorite podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. Connect with our guest host, Ben Brown, at bbrown@nfpa.com. Connect with our guest, Bruce Riley, at briley@ultracleantech.com. Find and share more interesting fluid power technologies and unique applications using #onlyfluidpowercan and follow podcast and other fluid power industry-related updates at @TheNFPA.

Guest host Ben Brown records from the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 show floor for the NFPA Fluid Power Forum podcast and interviews Chris Kolbe of HYDAC about show trends and HYDAC's exhibit. Chris describes a busy event despite marketplace uncertainty and notes a shift from electrification toward autonomy, automation, and user-assist functions. He explains how HYDAC is showcasing system solutions that combine filtration, valves, electronic controls, accumulators, and other components to enable steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire, including variable steering-rate functionality. HYDAC is also ranh live mini excavator and skid steer demos—electrified with hydraulics still central to work functions—to help OEMs evaluate integrated system design and collaboration. Learn more at hydac.com or connect with Chris on LinkedIn. #FluidPowerForum #Autonomy #SystemDesign #CONEXPO Subscribe to the Fluid Power Forum today to never miss an episode. The podcast is available on all of your favorite podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. Additionally, we're launching Fluid Power Forum Plus, offering premium, members-only content designed just for our listeners. When you sign up on the NFPA website, you'll unlock a host of rewards, ranging from exclusive content to live panels and networking receptions. Connect with our guest host, Ben Brown, at bbrown@nfpa.com. Connect with our guest, Chris Kolbe, at chris.kolbe@hydacusa.com. Find and share more interesting fluid power technologies and unique applications using #onlyfluidpowercan and follow podcast and other fluid power industry-related updates at @TheNFPA.

This special episode of Fluid Power Forum features a recording of NFPA's inaugural Controls, IoT, and Data (CID) council webinar from February 2026, hosted by Mike Lietke with guest Mark Hoffman, Senior Vice President of Rota Limited. Hoffman outlines Rota's history and focus on transducers and high-end sensors used in hydraulic cylinders and beyond, including rotary sensing and tank applications, and explains how product development is driven by both customer needs and internal innovation. The discussion compares mobile and oil & gas requirements, emphasizing hazardous-area certifications, extreme-environment robustness, and the importance of collaboration among end users, cylinder manufacturers, and sensor suppliers. Hoffman describes industry shifts toward non-contact sensing, increased electrical robustness, and cost-reduction trends such as lower gun-drilling costs and material/assembly changes, and previews Rota's expanded manufacturing capacity and new rotary sensor product. Subscribe to the Fluid Power Forum today to never miss an episode. The podcast is available on all of your favorite podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio. Additionally, we're launching Fluid Power Forum Plus, offering premium, members-only content designed just for our listeners. When you sign up on the NFPA website, you'll unlock a host of rewards, ranging from exclusive content to live panels and networking receptions. Connect with our guest host, Mike Lietke, at elanke@nfpa.com. Connect with our guest, Mark Hoffman, at markhoffman@rota-ltd.com. Find and share more interesting fluid power technologies and unique applications using #onlyfluidpowercan and follow podcast and other fluid power industry-related updates at @TheNFPA. #FluidPowerForum #CID #sensors #costreduction