There is much going on in the world of fluid power and motion control, from technology introductions and industry advancements to new trends and industry leaders. Each week the Power & Motion team collects some of the latest industry news to help keep our readers up to date on what's happening in the industries in which they work.
Vanguard Partners with Hydra-Power Systems on Batteries
Briggs & Stratton has formed another partnership with a supplier of fluid power components, Hydra-Power Systems (HPS). HPS designs and manufactures hydraulic and pneumatic valve manifolds, hydraulic power units and custom hydraulic equipment for various mobile and industrial applications.
The company plans to use Briggs & Stratton's Vanguard brand battery packs to create hydroelectric solutions for its OEM customers. Through this new partnership, HPS will be able to create custom as well as high volume products for its customers which combine battery and fluid power technology.
"Partnering with Vanguard will give us an edge in assisting our OEMs with quickly integrating durable, smart battery solutions as more industries embrace electrification," said Dan Sowards, VP of Sales and Business Development at Hydra-Power Systems, in a press release announcing the partnership.
The Vanguard line of Lithium-Ion Battery Packs now includes a 7 kWh option in addition to 1.5, 3.5, 3.8, 5 and 10 kWh versions to provide customers with power ratings to meet a range of application requirements.
New Director Named for MSOE Fluid Power Institute
The Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) has appointed Paul Michael as director of its Fluid Power Institute (FPI). Michael has worked at MSOE since 2005 as manager of tribology research in the FPI.
During his tenure at MSOE he has worked with students on a variety of research projects, many of which were also conducted in collaboration with industry and associations.
Michael's work with industry standards organizations includes serving as part of the ISO technical advisory group for hydraulic product testing and contamination control, and chairing a section of ASTM which covers hydraulic fluid thermal stability and compatibility standards.
He is also a frequent presenter and subject matter expert at conferences and trade shows, including IFPE. At IFPE 2023, he will give a presentation entitled "Hydraulic Fluid Properties, Efficiency and Contamination Control."
Michael will be taking over the role of director after the passing of Tom Wanke earlier this year.
Cummins Filtration to Rebrand
Cummins Filtration, a brand of power systems company Cummins Inc., plans to rename itself Atmus Filtration Technologies as part of its move toward becoming a standalone company. The new name will take affect once this occurs.
The new name, derived from the word atmosphere, is intended to signify a clean and sustainable environment which can be achieved using the company's various filtration products which include those for fluid power systems.
Read more on the rebranding from our colleagues at Construction Equipment.
Volvo Continues Sustainability Initiatives
The Volvo Group and its various brands continue to make strides in the areas of electrification and general sustainability.
In addition to its electric vehicle developments, Volvo Group is investing in charging infrastructure. It recently signed a letter of intent with Pilot Company to develop public, high-performing charging for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The agreement will bring together electric vehicle expertise from Volvo and its brands with Pilot's network of refueling stations across North America at which charging infrastructure will be installed.
Volvo's North American brands Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks will aid with prioritizing which locations which would be suited for the charging infrastructure in the immediate term as well as in the future. Both brands currently offer electrified truck models, the uptake of which has increased in recent years.
By working toward the buildup of more charging infrastructure, Volvo Group aims help with the uptake of more electric vehicles and thus the reduction of global emissions.
READ MORE: Volvo Sees Continued Growth Opportunity in Electrification
Volvo's construction equipment brand, Volvo CE, continues its sustainability efforts as well. Volvo CE recently announced an investment in its Braås, Sweden, facility which will enable production of a larger range of articulated haulers with different types of powertrains. In addition, automation and ergonomic updates will be made at the facility to create a safer and more productive work environment.
The facility has already achieved carbon neutral operation as it is powered entirely by renewable energy and in 2018 became a zero-landfill facility. These efforts to ensure sustainable operation will continue with the expansion of the manufacturing site.
