The big event last month was the annual conference of the (NFPA) in Hawaii. In what was supposedly their largest Hawaii event ever (itβs usually held in the islands every third year), attendees heard a lot of information about globalization and how to take their companies and products to the international market.
Kim Stelson of the Center for (CCEFP) gave his usual update on the Centerβs activities and goals. Stelson described the critical areas of fundamental research with academia and the applied technology overlap with industry. He also quoted the well-discussed Department of Energy report that found fluid power transmits 2.3-3.0% of the energy consumed in the U.S.βwith an average efficiency of a disappointing 21%. Stelson stressed that a 15% improvement over 15 years will mean an annual savings of $19-$25 billion.
Current CCEFP test beds include mobile heavy equipment, highway vehicles, mobile human scale equipment, and a human assist device.
New products/news
A lot of new items have been discussed recently. Check out these items: Pilot-operated check valves from Clippard; standard pneumatic grippers from Festo;Β compact, multi-application pressure switch fromΒ Ashcroft.Β Bosch Rexroth has launched a GoTo Products iPad app, check out details here. Here’s a great piece on finding and measuring pneumatic leaks. And lastly, have you seen our fluid power Q&A with Charles Raskin of Dynetic Systems?
On the web
There’s a simple new video from Airlane ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟs we found . AndΒ Bimba has been really active adding videos to different YouTube channels this week. Check out some of them at .
Hot Tweets of note:
New electronic catalogs & manuals available β content from experienced professionals about #pneumatic components . http://t.co/zRiT3Nak
Compressed air powering a motorcycle? The idea behind an air-powered motorcycle may sound strange, but the… http://t.co/tXZ6qGdQ
HSE case highlights importance of motion control: The value of motion control and dampers has been highlighted i… bit.ly/HNW0Xl
