Resources for hydraulics

Eastman Chemical to Acquire Solutia

2012-02-02T08:11:59-06:00

Eastman Chemical Company and Solutia Inc. have entered into a definitive agreement under which Eastman will acquire Solutia, a performance materials and specialty chemicals company that offers a range of products including heat-transfer fluids and aviation hydraulic fluids.

The transaction, which was approved by the boards of directors of both companies, remains subject to approval by Solutia’s shareholders and receipt of required regulatory approvals as well as other customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2012.

“The acquisition of Solutia is a significant step in our growth strategy and one that I am confident will strengthen Eastman as a top-tier specialty chemical company with strong, stable margins,” said Jim Rogers, chairman and chief executive officer of Eastman. “The addition of Solutia will broaden our geographic reach into emerging geographies, particularly Asia Pacific, establish a powerful combined pla

Klüber Lubrication Introduces Hydraulic Oil for Injection Molding Reservoirs

2012-01-10T08:33:35-06:00

Klüber Lubrication has introduced Klüberfood 4 NH1-46, the only NSF H1-registered fully synthetic hydraulic oil that is approved for use on Husky injection molding equipment.

Compared with mineral hydraulic oils, Klüberfood 4 NH1-46 reduces contaminant build-up and valve blockages, resulting in longer oil change intervals and lower operating costs in hydraulic systems.

Husky Injection Molding Systems has approved Klüberfood 4 NH 1-46 in its range of injection-molding machines for use on all generations of Husky machines.

"After a successful two-year test, we were pleased to see that our oil met or exceeded all of the performance criteria for both Husky and the end-user,” said Kimberly Eldridge, food market manager, Klüber Lubrication North America L.P. “Our product is now the only NSF H1-registered synthetic oil to attain Husky approval."

Klüberfood 4 NH 1-46 was designed to provi

Humidity Saturation Limits of Hydraulic and Lubrication Fluids

2012-01-09T11:27:49-06:00

In order to ensure the required plant availability, it is necessary to regularly check the degree of contamination due to solid particles and to monitor the water content in non-aqueous lubricants. Sensitive applications and components are often classified according to their tolerable limit of water content in milligrams/kilograms (mg/kg) or parts per million (ppm).

In the laboratory, this value is usually measured by the Karl Fischer method. The result is the sum of free and dissolved water. However, water only causes damage if it is free. Dissolved water is not a problem. Each lubricant contains dissolved water. Without knowledge of the respective limit of solubility (saturation) of the fluid in use, it is not possible to interpret the results from the Karl Fischer method. Thus, using proper measurement methods and determining the individual limit of solubility for water are important preconditions to implement modern maintenance strategies.

Free Water and Its Consequ

Contamination of Biobased Hydraulic Oils with Mineral Oil

2011-12-29T09:06:49-06:00

During the last decade, demand for biobased hydraulic fluids has increased, especially for applications in mobile equipment and in close-to-water stationary installations like movable bridges. Motivation for the change comes both from users being more conscious about environmental risks and from government policies to create new markets for agricultural products.

One of the major obstacles in this market conversion is the sensitivity of biobased ester fluids or biodegradable fluids (bio-oils) to contamination with traditional mineral hydraulic oils. Typical situations involve either incomplete flushing during conversion from mineral oil to bio-oil or lack of attention during maintenance and refilling. This has been motivation to analyze the contamination effects in more detail.

Effects of Contamination

With mineral oil contamination levels reaching several percent, problems like excess foam generation, poor air release or filter clogging have been reported d

Invest in Proactive Maintenance for Your Hydraulic Equipment

2011-12-19T07:13:36-06:00

I recently purchased a used SUV with the plan to do some traveling with the family. It’s a big trip, starting with a journey across the Nullarbor Plain from the west to east coast of Australia. If you spend 12 hours a day in the car driving, you can cover the distance in four days.

However, the Nullarbor is a desolate place. There’s not much out there. You’re lucky if you see a kangaroo or emu between gas stations, and they’re hundreds of miles apart. It’s certainly not somewhere you want to break down. This would be even more unacceptable for me, being a preventive maintenance guy and knowing if something goes wrong with the vehicle that I’m really going to hear about it from my wife.

To minimize the possibility of any nasty (and embarrassing) surprises in the middle of the desert, I took my newly acquired but pre-loved SUV down to the automobile association for a thorough workshop inspection. I dropped it off in the morning, and when

Why Oils Should Not Be Mixed

2011-12-12T12:14:41-06:00

"Is it all right to mix an R&O hydraulic oil with an AW hydraulic oil in a hydraulic application?"

Mixing oils with different additive packages is never recommended. Doing so could compromise the additive performance of both constituents, cause corrosion of component surfaces and lead to increased mechanical wear. Trending of some oil analysis properties also will be compromised.

In a pinch, if the oils are the same viscosity, you may be able to get away with mixing for a short time. If you must mix the oils or live with an accidental mixture until the next scheduled outage, take the following precautions:

1. Visually inspect for signs of sludge, poor demulsibility and foaming.

2. Increase the frequency of oil analysis to spot abnormal

Nestle Waters Reports Results of Hydraulic Fluid Conversion

2011-11-17T12:02:33-06:00

Nestle Waters North America recently released the results of a collaborative program designed to eliminate servo-valve failures in its Husky HyPET 500 units, which caused downtime and multiple component replacement. The program also intended to extend drain intervals, reduce energy consumption, reduce bottom-line costs and be environmentally intelligent and appropriate for use in a food/beverage plant.

After two years, the program demonstrated that use of Hydrotex SYN-Nth hydraulic fluid in this application, when combined with the principles of lubrication management, significantly reduced incidence of valve failure and improved energy efficiency. For the second year of monitoring, there were no servo-valve failures, the fluid analysis indicated no wear metals or oil degradation, and the energy efficiency improved by more than 13.5 percent after 13,000 hours of operation.

"With our conversion to the new SYN-Nth hydraulic fluid, we have increased the mean time betwee

Why You Should Trend Water Contamination

2011-11-14T16:20:12-06:00

"Our monthly oil analysis reports have shown that a few of our systems have between 400 and 500 ppm of water consistently. The OEM has told us that water levels less than 500 ppm are OK for this system and that we shouldn't worry about it. What level of water is acceptable for hydraulic systems and hydraulic fluid?"

The short answer to this question is that there is no acceptable level of water in a hydraulic system or hydraulic fluid. Any amount of water will have an effect on the chemical properties of the lubricant and the metal surfaces of the components and reservoir. Simply stated, the degree of damage to the oil and to the machine depends upon how much water is present and for how long.

The long answer is more complex. Additives used in some hydraulic fluids, in pa

Schroeder Introduces Spin-On Filter

2011-11-11T09:11:08-06:00

Schroeder Industries has introduced a new spin-on filter for return-line applications. The SAF1 Series is a low-pressure top-ported spin-on filter with an all-steel housing design for increased strength and greater safety. It is suitable for mining, machine tool, power generation, forestry and paper mill applications.

The SAF1 features a machined steel head and is currently offered with the porting option SAE ¾-inch straight thread. Other threading options are available upon request.

An integrated bypass valve with optional Dirt Alarm indicators enables operators to identify the appropriate time to change the element. The filter comes with the standard “P” size spin-on element in 10- and 25-micron Excellement ZMedia or in 10-micron cellulose media.

For more informati

Using Biodegradable Lubricants in Farm Equipment

2011-11-01T10:54:11-05:00

With 3,000 acres of farmland and 200 pieces of farm equipment, Penn State University’s College of Agriculture has an ideal situation for researching new technology of interest to farmers. However, fluid spills due to line breaks often occur here and must be cleaned up using a strict protocol enforced by the Penn State Environmental, Health and Safety Department (EHS) and the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Over the years, numerous hydraulic fluid spills have resulted in clean-up costs ranging from a few thousand dollars to $20,000. This was incentive to convert to more expensive biodegradable hydraulic fluids.

Conversion to biodegradable fuels and lubricants has been an ongoing effort at Penn State since 2003. All farm equipment hydraulic fluids were changed out to biodegradable fluid. Biodiesel fuel studies resulted in conversion of all diesel farm equipment to B20, and currently some tractors are using B100.

A field test was initiated,

Enerpac Unveils Air-Driven Hydraulic Foot Pump

2011-11-01T09:04:07-05:00

Enerpac recently introduced the XA-Series Air Driven Hydraulic Pumps to increase process efficiency and worker productivity by providing higher oil delivery. These 10,000-psi foot pumps deliver higher oil flow as well as variable oil flow and fine metering capabilities for precise control. These features, combined with an ergonomic design, offer high-quality performance with reduced operator fatigue for a broad range of applications.

“With this new pump, the time required to extend the cylinder or tool and build to maximum pressure has been considerably reduced,” said Brian Alexander, Enerpac’s global product manager. “Compared to the conventional air-over-hydraulic pumps, the XA-Series is up to two times faster. This speed advantage could save hundreds of dollars a year in l

How a Band-Aid Solution Can Fix Your Hydraulics Problems

2011-10-19T10:54:49-05:00

Last year there was a book on the New York Times bestseller list called Have a New Kid by Friday. It was written by psychologist Kevin Leman and has sold more than 400,000 copies. To capitalize on this book’s success, Leman is hurrying out another titled Have a New Husband by Friday.

Leman’s literary success is testimony to the appeal and popularity of the quick (and effortless) fix for a problem. Don’t get me wrong, I have no issue with the concept of a quick fix where one is legitimately available, but as a parent I know you can’t replace a child’s bad behavior with good in seven days. Most parents can’t even read the book in seven days. As a husband, I also know my bad habits won’t be eliminated in seven days. My wife may well be able to replace me in seven days but not change me.

Any thinking person knows instant results for anything but the simplest of problems are an illusion, but this is not to say that t

Trelleborg Wins 2011 Innovation Award

2011-10-11T10:50:03-05:00

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions’ Turcon M12, a PTFE-based material launched earlier this year, has received a 2011 Innovation Award from Flow Control Magazine. The magazine recognized 10 fluid-handling technologies for novel solutions in the areas of fluid measurement, control and containment.

Extensive testing has shown that Turcon M12 is resistant to virtually all media, including a broad range of lubricants, and has excellent wear resistance and friction characteristics. The cost-effective material is designed to provide extended hydraulic seal life, as well as a wide operating window in temperature, pressure and velocity.

“We believe the technologies named as winners in this year’s Flow Control Innovation Awards program represent some truly cutting-edge

AAR PetroTech to Offer Oil Purification Systems for Airline Industry

2011-09-23T16:06:41-05:00

AAR PetroTech Inc., manufacturer of hydraulic oil purification systems, has announced that it has developed a version of its purification technology to serve the commercial airline industry.

The company’s oil purification systems are currently deployed in the industrial manufacturing sector, which uses mineral-based oils in its hydraulic equipment. Commercial planes use Skydrol, a synthetic fluid that costs considerably more than mineral-based oils, making purification a potentially enormous cost-savings proposition for the airlines.

According to Haig Hachadoorian, director of product development for AAR PetroTech, oil purification can extend the life of hydraulic components by as much as 10 times. The cost-savings benefits are many, from reduced component wear and maintenance costs to the reduction or elimination of new oil purchases and waste oil disposal costs.

“Aviation customers, especially airlines and other aircraft operators, OEMs and MROs,

How to Develop a Hydraulic Pump Change-out Strategy

2011-08-06T09:45:32-05:00

I was recently asked by a hydraulic equipment owner who had just received a new asset to assist him in the development of a change-out strategy for the hydraulic pumps. I was told the hydraulic system comprises a 10,000-liter tank with five Rexroth A4VSO250DP/30R pumps with flooded inlets. The system has a normal operating temperature of 43 degrees Celsius, pressure and return-line filtration, no suction strainers, oil that is pre-filtered to ISO 15/12 and its condition monitored monthly.

Rexroth A4VSO rotating group cross-section

Unfortunately, there is no reliable “system” for accurately determining pump service life. Historical data is one of the most dependable indicators, but in a new system like this one, you don’t have any. However, there are a range of factors that influence pump l

How to Measure Demulsibility

2011-07-05T10:07:56-05:00

"How do I check to see if my aged hydraulic and/or lubricating oils can still shed water effectively?"

This is an issue of demulsibility, which is the measure of an oil's ability to release water. Of course, if you have time, your lab can run a specific test that can be performed to measure the remaining demulsibility potential.

For a quick pass/fail test, measure an equal amount (1 pint) of new lubricant and water, and fill a blender. Heat to 100 degrees F (38 degrees Celsius) or whatever temperature closely resembles the operating temperature of the sump. Thoroughly mix the oil with the water. Measure the amount of time it takes to separate. Also measure how much of the mixture does not separate (the emulsion is called the 'cuff'). Now repeat the test with the a

Magnom’s PumpMate Earns Bosch Rexroth Approval

2011-06-20T13:36:33-05:00

The Magnom™ solution to the challenge of removing aggressive microscopic magnetic contamination from hydraulic fluid circuits continues to win favor among the engineering profession.

The company’s PumpMate product has been approved for specification by Bosch Rexroth design engineers. Bosch Rexroth is an acknowledged global leader in industrial hydraulics with more than 500,000 customers worldwide, to whom it supplies standard and custom engineering solutions that are used in everything from lifting bridges and wind turbines to off-road machinery and vehicles.

To maintain its position as a global leader, Bosch Rexroth places stringent requirements on component suppliers. Only when all of its performance and specification requirements are tested and met will Bosch Rexroth give a component such as Magnom’s PumpMate the respected AB Standard seal of approval.

The Magnom PumpMate solves the problem of the microscopic magnetic cont

The Holy Grail of Hydraulics

2011-06-07T15:14:21-05:00

Air Contamination in Hydraulic Systems

2011-05-30T09:33:28-05:00

Hydraulic Pumps and Motors: Considering Efficiency

2011-04-13T10:51:49-05:00

In a condition-based maintenance environment, the decision to change out a hydraulic pump or motor is usually based on remaining bearing life or deteriorating efficiency, whichever occurs first.

Despite recent advances in predictive maintenance technologies, the maintenance professional’s ability to determine the remaining bearing life of a pump or motor, with a high degree of accuracy, remains elusive.

Deteriorating efficiency on the other hand is easy to detect, because it typically shows itself through increased cycle times. In other words, the machine slows down. When this occurs, quantification of the efficiency loss isn’t always necessary. If the machine slows to the point where its cycle time is unacceptably slow, the pump or motor is replaced. End of story.

In certain situations, however, it can be helpful, even necessary, to quantify the pump or motor’s actual efficiency and compare it to the component’s native efficiency. For

Worldwide Industrial adds grease, oil and lubricants to its marketplace

2011-04-08T08:52:48-05:00

Hydraulic Oil Can Make a Major Difference to Power Consumption

2011-03-03T11:22:28-06:00

I recently came across an instructive case study. I think that you will find it interesting and important. In the quest for improved fuel consumption, the manufacturer of an engine-powered, mobile hydraulic machine replaced the fixed-displacement pump powering the machine’s attachment with a variable-displacement unit.

The ground drive on the machine already featured a variable piston-pump (hydrostatic transmission), and so upgrading the attachment’s hydraulic circuit to a more efficient configuration was considered logical progression by the machine’s design engineers.

When this modification was tested, the engineers were shocked to find that fuel consumption had actually increased by 12 to 15 percent! Upon analysis, the hike in fuel consumption was attributed to an increase in oil viscosity brought about by a drop in operating oil temperature of 30 degrees Celsius. In other words, the “thicker” oil had resulted in extra drag on the hydrost

Lubrizol Launches Knowledge Resource on Hydraulic Fluids and Systems

2011-01-06T13:58:30-06:00

The Lubrizol Corporation on January 6 announces the launch of HydraulicFacts.com, a new Web site dedicated to providing current, comprehensive information on hydraulic fluids and systems. Lubrizol created HydraulicFacts.com to serve as a reliable guide to the hydraulic market as it continues to evolve and innovate. The site includes news and industry trends; commentary from leading equipment manufacturers and an education center featuring information on the role of fluids in system performance, as well as updates on industry standards, OEM specifications and changes and legislation and regulations.

How to Care for Your Hydraulic Inventory

2010-12-03T10:05:44-06:00

Hydraulic components are expensive, so you want to make sure that your inventory isn’t deteriorating in the warehouse. This article provides pointers for effective long-term storage.

The Pros and Cons of Various Hydraulic Filter Locations

2010-10-08T08:20:18-05:00

Using the right filters in the right places a critical component to hydraulic system life. Learn how to protect critical components and avoid damaging mistakes.

ExxonMobil celebrates 50 years of supporting technology show

2010-09-15T10:13:58-05:00

ExxonMobil is celebrating its 50-year anniversary as the official lubricant supplier for exhibitors at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago (September 13-18). This half-century partnership demonstrates ExxonMobil’s longstanding commitment to engineering products that help companies in the machine shop industry optimize equipment performance.

How Do You Know if You're Using the Right Hydraulic Oil?

2010-08-06T14:22:23-05:00

Specifying the right hydraulic oil for your system can have a big impact on component life. Following OEM specifications may not meet your applications demands.

Hose vs. Tube: What's the Best Call for Hydraulic Equipment?

2010-08-06T14:01:33-05:00

Dry-ice Blasting to Remove Grease and Oil

2010-05-04T08:45:03-05:00

A maintenance worker uses dry-ice blasting to remove grease and oil from the undercarriage and hydraulics on a rock truck.

Access this 1-minute, 42-second video by clicking on the link below.

How to Define a Machine's Optimum Operating Viscosity Range

2010-04-08T14:57:51-05:00

The most important proactive maintenance exercise you can do for a piece of hydraulic equipment is to define its temperature operating window (TOW) and then ensure that the equipment always operates within this window.

Operating temperature is inversely related to oil viscosity. So if operating temperature is too high for the grade of oil being used in the hydraulic system, loss of full-film lubrication can result in scuffing and adhesive wear. If operating temperature is too low for the grade of oil being used in the hydraulic system, cavitation can occur, damaging major components – catastrophically in severe cases.

Within the allowable extremes of viscosity (TOW) required to maintain adequate lubricating film thickness for hydraulic components and prevent cavitation, there’s a narrower viscosity range (TOW) where power losses through fluid and mechanical friction and internal leakage are minimized, and, therefore, power transfer is maximized.

Kaman to Acquire Distributor of Fluid Power and Lubrication Products

2010-02-25T08:23:32-06:00

Kaman Corporation on February 25 announced that its subsidiary, Kaman Industrial Technologies Corporation (KIT), has agreed to acquire the assets of Fawick de Mexico, S.A. de C. V. (Fawick) of Mexico City, Mexico. Fawick will become part of Delamac de Mexico, Kaman's Industrial Distribution Mexican subsidiary. Terms were not disclosed. Fawick, founded in 1965, is a distributor of fluid power and lubrication products, equipment and systems to a wide variety of industries throughout Mexico.

How to Select the Right Hydraulic Oil

2010-02-22T13:25:07-06:00

How do you know if you're using the right hydraulic oil? For most lubricated machines, there are plenty of options when it comes to lubricant selection. Just because a machine will run with a particular product doesn't mean that product is optimal for the application. Most lubricant mis-specifications don't lead to sudden and catastrophic failure, but rather they shorten the average life of the lubricated components and, thus, go unnoticed.

Why the Tank May Well Be a Hydraulic Fluid’s Best Friend

2010-02-19T09:09:12-06:00

Regardless of whether you use a synthetic, a high viscosity index maximum-efficiency hydraulic fluid (MEHF), ashless, zinc-free, multigrade or monograde, or any other of the myriad of options available today, to do its job well, your hydraulic fluid needs a little help from its friends. The first of these – and possibly the hydraulic fluid’s best friend – is the reservoir or tank.

How to Control Contamination From Hydraulic Hoses

2010-02-18T07:30:12-06:00

The need for hose replacement is a fairly common occurrence on hydraulic machines. Hydraulic hose fabrication is a big business with plenty of competition and more than a few cowboys running around. So if you own or are responsible for hydraulic equipment, where you source replacement hoses from, and how they're made, cleaned and stored - prior to installation on your machine, warrants your attention.

The hose fabrication process - or more specifically, the hose cutting process - introduces contamination in the form of metal particles from the hose's wire reinforcement and the cutting blade itself, and polymer dust from the hose's outer cover and inner tube.

The amount of contamination which enters the hose during cutting can be reduced by employing techniques such as using a wet cutting blade instead of a dry one, blowing clean air through the hose as it is being cut and/or using a vacuum extraction device. The latter two aren't very practical when cutti

Expert Advice on Mounting Hydraulic Pumps ... For Life

2010-01-24T13:00:22-06:00

An essential requirement for the optimum performance and service life of a hydraulic pump is that its pumping chambers fill freely and completely during intake. So if getting maximum pump life is your primary concern (and it should be), then anything that makes the free and complete filling of the pump's chambers more difficult to achieve should be avoided.

Suction strainers and most other forms of inlet filtration are a common culprit. With rare exceptions, a suction strainer has no place in a properly designed and properly maintained hydraulic system.

But when you take a position against the majority, there will be many who disagree with you. And so I regularly hear from folks who feel they need to explain to me why their hydraulic system is different and why they have no alternative but to use this pump-killing device.

I prefer not to debate the point with people who have convinced themselves of the merits of suction str

Advice For Maintaining Hydraulic Accumulators

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Gas-charged accumulators are ubiquitous on modern hydraulic systems. They carry out numerous functions, which include energy storage and reserve, leakage and thermal compensation, shock absorption, and energy recovery.

While accumulators present a number of advantages in hydraulic system operation and can provide many years of trouble-free service, they are a maintenance item.

For example, the correct gas pre-charge pressure must be maintained for proper functioning and optimum service life. Also, periodic inspection, testing and certification can be required by law - accumulators are pressure vessels after all.

Accumulator Types
The three types of gas-charged accumulators you'll encounter on hydraulic systems are bladder, piston and diaphragm.

The most popular of these is the bladder type. Bladder accumulators feature fast response (less than 25 millisecond

Hydraulic Oil - How to Consolidate Your Inventory

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

How many different types of hydraulic oil are taking up space in your oil store? If there's more than one, you're not alone. I often get questions from hydraulic equipment owners who'd like to consolidate their oil inventory but aren't sure how to go about it. This situation is typical:

"We have a number of pieces of hydraulic equipment - bucket trucks, cranes, backhoes, rollback wreckers, dump trucks, scissors lifts, etc. It seems as if each piece of hydraulic equipment requires a different hydraulic oil. And, I'm confused by all of the different oil we're currently using - for example, Warren R&O, Conoco MV-22, NAPA AW-46 and AW-315. I'd like to know the compatibility or interchangeability of the different products before I do irreversible harm."

Translation Required
The first step is to decipher all of the different abbreviations and numbers to understand what you've got, so you can

Heating Things Up: What’s Next in Hydraulics?

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Constant progress is part of life. We may rail against it at times, but we can’t stop it. And, it manifests itself in many different ways.

In engineering, we’ve grown accustomed to machines and their component parts becoming stronger, lighter, cheaper, smaller, more powerful and more efficient.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the field of information technology. In fact, according to Moore’s Law – named after Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel Corporation – the power of computer chips doubles every 18 months. At the same time, the cost of this extra computing power to the consumer decreases exponentially.

But as the cost of computing power to the consumer falls, the cost for manufacturers to fulfill Moore’s Law heads in the opposite direction. R&D, manufacturing and testing costs have steadily increased with each new generation of chips.

This has led to the definition of Moore’s Sec

Why Hydraulic Oil is Different

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Hydraulic oil is different than other lubes. Not only is it a lubricant, it’s also the means by which power is transferred throughout the hydraulic system. So, it’s a lube and a power transfer device. This dual role makes it unique.

To be an effective and reliable lubricant, hydraulic oil must possess properties similar to most other lubes. These include: foaming resistance and air release; thermal, oxidation and hydrolytic stability; anti-wear performance; filterability; demulsibility; rust and corrosion inhibition; and viscosity in respect of its influence on film thickness.

To be most efficient in its role as a power transfer device, hydraulic oil needs high bulk modulus (high resistance to reduction in volume under pressure) and high viscosity index (low rate of change in viscosity with temperature).

As an analogy, consider the tension on a V-belt. If it is out of adjustment, the belt will slip. The result is a higher percentage of input power

The Seven Most Common Hydraulic Equipment Mistakes

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

During Brendan Casey's two decades working in the hydraulics industry, he has observed and learned from the mistakes and omissions hydraulics users make when maintaining their equipment. Learn the seven most common mistakes hydraulic equipment users make - so you can avoid them.

Is Air a Contaminant?

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

When we think of contamination in lubricated systems, we often focus on particle and water contamination. The fact of the matter is that there are many other contaminants we should consider and attempt to control. Most contaminants, which include any material not contained in the lubricant's formulation, can potentially damage the oil and the lubricated components. Although air is always present in lubricating oil, it is often justifiable to adopt measures to minimize its presence.

Air can exist in oil in three different states: dissolved, entrained and foam. Air dissolved in oil exists as individual molecules which are similar to CO₂ dissolved in soda water. This type of air is invisible and impractical to detect. Entrained air in oil is comprised of tiny air bubbles suspended in the oil. This type of air contamination is arguably the most damaging, and can be identified by the oil having a cloudy appearance. Although th

Six Easy Steps to Maintain Your Hydraulic Equipment

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

My wife often asks me why I still do consulting work. She wonders why I happily leave the comfort of my office to crawl all over hot, dirty, smelly hydraulic equipment.

For starters, I actually enjoy it. Secondly, it keeps me sharp. But perhaps most importantly, it keeps me in touch with the issues that hydraulic equipment users must grapple with.

One of the lessons I've learned over the years is that in the early stages of a consulting assignment, it is better to ask good questions rather than dispense good advice.

Pump Failures
A recent client had a series of catastrophic pump failures. These pumps were achieving less than half their expected service life. So naturally, the company wanted some answers. At our first meeting, the client opened proceedings with a brief history of the machine and an account of the events leading up to the failures. He then pushed a sta

Why Your Current Maintenance Strategy is Wrong

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

We live in a skewed world, where nothing is evenly distributed. For example, 80 percent of the wealth is held by 20 percent of the population. Eighty percent of your firm's sales likely come from 20 percent of its customers. And 80 percent of your breakdowns are due to 20 percent of the causes.

Pareto's Law
You may recognize this as the 80/20 principle, or Pareto's Law, named after the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto who first recognized the pattern in 1897. Pareto was studying the distribution of wealth in England during the 1800s. Perhaps not surprisingly, he soon discovered that a minority of the population held the majority of the wealth. But when he looked further, Pareto also found the distribution of wealth was both predictably and consistently skewed, regardless of which nation or time period he analyzed.

Put simply, Pareto's Law states a

The Next Challenge For the Maintenance Department

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Are we approaching an energy crisis? As I write this column, crude oil has hit record prices, again, with gas prices at the pump sure to follow. Meanwhile, debate concerning two major issues, peak oil (the end of cheap mineral oil) and global warming (the end of the planet as we know it), rage on.

The fact you're reading this tells me you are involved in industry, directly or indirectly. And there's no escaping the fact that industry is a huge consumer of energy. If peak oil and global warming are real issues - and there's a growing body of evidence to suggest they are - then I predict energy management will become a major issue for industry over the next decade and beyond. At least some of this burden will fall on the maintenance department.

Reliable Machines Not Enough
Having reliable machines will not be enough. Highly efficient, reliable machines will be required. S

In Search of the Perfect Hydraulic Fluid - Part II

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

You may have conducted this experiment in school: Your science teacher gives you a plastic syringe. With the syringe full of air and the plunger retracted, she tells you to block the outlet with your finger, then attempt to push the plunger forward. You discover you are able to compress the air in the syringe by a significant amount.

She then tells you to repeat the experiment with the syringe full of water. This time, the result is different. No matter how hard you try, you cannot compress the water in the syringe.

Seeing is believing, and to a 12-year old, this experiment demonstrates that gases are highly compressible and liquids are apparently incompressible. By the way, if you didn't perform this experiment at school, you can try it at home!

Figure 1.

Mobile Hydraulic Equipment: Increasing the Pressure

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

According to an article published in the September 2007 issue of Hydraulics and Pneumatics magazine, the average operating pressure of mobile hydraulic equipment will increase to 450 bar by 2010.

This is an interesting development because while the operating pressures of mobile hydraulic equipment have been on the increase for more than 30 years, they have been relatively stable since the current average operating pressure of 350 bar was reached in the early 1990s (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Operating Pressure Trend of Hydraulic Excavators1

Mobile hydraulic equipment already has a harder life than its industrial counterpart. There are four key reasons for this:

Operating Env

Innovations in Hydraulic Systems

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Technological innovation encases the advancement of components, connections, procedures and techniques, all of which are relevant parts of a whole product. Hydraulic system innovations are important because they include improving the development and application of sensors and measurement systems for monitoring and diagnostics.

Figure 1. Light Gate Principle

System Facts
Many factors can reduce the service life of hydraulic components and systems. To prevent particle, water or gas contamination, an appropriate fluid cleanliness level must first be defined and then maintained. Once the minimum fluid cleanliness level required for acceptable component life in a system has been established, the next step is to monitor fluid cleanliness. This ensures the target clean

The Root Cause of Hydraulic Cylinder Drift

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

A popular misconception involving hydraulic cylinders is that if the piston seal is leaking, the cylinder will drift. While a leaking piston seal can be the root cause of cylinder drift, the physics involved are often misunderstood. Fact is, if the piston seal is completely removed from a double-acting cylinder, the cylinder is filled with oil and the ports are plugged, the cylinder will hold its load indefinitely, unless the rod-seal leaks.

Assessing Hydraulic Fluid Fire Resistance

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Hydraulic and related fluids are used in a wide range of industrial situations where prevention of fire is critical. Of particular concern are systems used in tunneling and mining. A number of incidents have occurred in which mineral oil-based fluids have provided a major fuel input to large fires. For example, the fire on the Kaprun funicular railway.¹ The industry response has been to develop fire-resistant (FR) fluids, usually by either adding water to the oil to create an oil/water emulsion that is used as the hydraulic fluid, or by engineering chemically fire-resistant fluids. The use of fire suppression equipment, with conventional mineral hydraulic oils, is also an option that has been used and may be available in some industries.

Fire situations may arise from a variety of causes. For example, fire may result from fluid released as a high-pressure spray or as a static pool. There is no one standard test which can reflect the full

Hydraulic Equipment Reliability

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

One of the attendees of a seminar I presented, a maintenance manager for a large open-cut mining operation, recently mentioned he was considering upgrading the filtration on a fleet of hydraulic mining shovels in an attempt to achieve a higher level of fluid cleanliness.

Documented evidence suggests that increasing hydraulic fluid cleanliness increases the service life of hydraulic components. Pondering the question of whether such an initiative would yield an acceptable return on the investment required, which depends on a number of variables, steered me toward a bigger issue.

Understanding the Bigger Picture
The maintenance principles described in my books, Insider Secrets to Hydraulics and Preventing Hydraulics Failures, involve equipping people with the knowledge needed to optimize the reliability and service life of the hydraulic equipment they are using r

In Search of the Perfect Hydraulic Fluid

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

U.S. Navy Restores Mineral Hydraulic Oil on Submarines

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Separating water from hydraulic oil is a difficult task. In industrial environments, several techniques are used including vacuum dehydration, centrifugal separation, air stripping or purging, polymeric absorption and droplet coalescing. The United States Navy needed a technique for restoring mineral hydraulic oil onboard submarines to a maximum saturation level of 0.05 percent (500 ppm) water. Selected hydraulic systems that have a seal interface or exposure to salt sea water experience easily degraded conditions related to oil contamination. The Navy has been unable to identify either government or commercial devices that perform this task with portable equipment onboard a submarine. Submarine hydraulic systems do not presently have continuous in-service dehydration capability. Studies have shown that traditional coalescing water separators (designed to separate water droplets from fuels) and centrifugal water separators are unsuccessful when used to remove emulsified water from hydraulic oil.

New Hydraulic Machines Present New Challenges

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

This article discusses the demands new machinery is placing on hydraulic oils and offers advice on what properties to look for when purchasing an oil to meet the challenge.

Modern Conveniences
As original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) continue to make improvements to modern machinery, many of the new hydraulic systems are now smaller, more compact, and operate at faster speeds, higher pressures and have tighter component tolerances. This offers advantages to engineering and manufacturing companies needing to fit more machinery into a factory and wanting to substantially increase productivity. However, such machine improvements place additional stress on hydraulic oils.

New machines have a reduced reservoir capacity compared to larger, traditional machines. Their smaller pumps place greater thermal stress on the oil used to keep the hydraulic system operating effi

Anatomy of a Fluid Failure

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The Negative Effects of Overpressurization on Hydraulic Components

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Determining Hydraulic Fluid Viscosity Requirements

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Machine builders recommend hydraulic fluids for their equipment by specifying characteristics such as viscosity, antiwear performance and oxidation stability. They may also identify qualified lubricants by brand name or the ISO viscosity grade. An abridged version of ISO viscosity grades is listed in Table 1.

Accommodating a variety of equipment builder preferences can lead to an abundance of fluids and high inventory costs. Consolidating hydraulic fluids can enhance system performance and reduce costs; however it requires a careful analysis. The guidelines shown in Figure 2 are designed to assist in this analysis. Other factors such as machine builder specifications, additive requirements and compatibility must also be considered.

Viscosity and Efficiency
One of the most important criteria in the selection of a hydraulic fluid is viscosity. There is a common misconception that reducing

Hydraulic Rebuilds Part II

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

How to Contain Runaway Reservoir Contaminant Populations

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

While demographers busily count the world's population, manufacturers are fighting against growing particle populations within lube oil and hydraulic systems. Particles and people have little in common except that each has the propensity to increase rapidly in large numbers.

Saving Money on Hydraulic Rebuilds

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Reducing Hydraulic System Noise

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The Real Cost of Fluid Power Leaks

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

How to Maximize Hydraulic Cylinder Service Life

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Understanding Load-sensing Control

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Hydrostatic Balance in Hydraulic Component Design

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Selecting Hydraulic Fluids - How it Impacts Operating Costs

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Developing Commissioning Procedures for Hydraulic Equipment

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Selecting Hydraulic Connectors - The Key to Leak-free Hydraulic Plumbing

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The Benefits of Maximum Efficiency Hydraulic Fluids

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Hydraulic Equipment Reliability: Beyond Contamination Control

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Sizzling Success with New Hydraulic Fluid - Enhances Efficiency and Cuts Costs

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Hydraulic Fluids Meet Increasing Operating Demands

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Hydraulic Pump and Motor Case Drains - Should You Filter

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Consider the following scenario: “We have been involved in designing and building a hydraulic machine. The system has three separate circuits, each with an axial-piston pump and a common reservoir. Case drain filtration was included to reduce the possibility of cross-contamination if a failure occured. The pump manufacturer led me to believe that although it isn’t the norm, if the pressure drop across the filter is kept to less than 30 PSI it will be all right. This forces filter maintenance. What filter micron and beta rating should be used?”

Recommended Approach
Filters in a hydraulic system maintain flui

The True Value of Hydraulic Circuit Diagrams

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Choosing the Right Hydraulic Fluid

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Solving Hydraulic System Overheating Problems

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Determining Hydraulic Pump Condition Using Volumetric Efficiency

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Making Sense of Case Drain Leakage From Hydrostatic Transmissions

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The Negative Effects of Suction Line Filtration

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

How to Define and Achieve Hydraulic Fluid Cleanliness

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Carrying Out Effective Repairs to Hydraulic Cylinders

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Hydraulic Equipment Slowdown - Nailing Internal Leakage

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Symptoms of Common Hydraulic Problems and Their Root Causes

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Proactive maintenance emphasizes the routine detection and correction of root cause conditions that would otherwise lead to equipment failure. In the case of hydraulic systems, there are three easily detectable symptoms that give early warning of root cause conditions. These symptoms are abnormal noise, high fluid temperature and slow operation.

Abnormal Noise
Abnormal noise in hydraulic systems is often caused by

Hydraulic Troubleshooting: Getting the Correct Diagnosis - The First Time

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00
Troubleshooting hydraulic systems can be a complex exercise. It involves a lot of science and sometimes, a bit of art. Incorrect diagnosis prolongs downtime and can result in the unnecessary repair or replacement of serviceable components. Avoiding these costly mistakes requires the correct equipment and a logical approach.

The process of troubleshooting should always begin with checking and eliminating the easy things first. The benefits of this approach are clearly illustrated by a recent troubleshooting situation. The machine in question had a complex hydraulic system, the heart of which comprised two engines driving 10 pumps. Six of the pumps were variable displacement units and four of these had electronic horsepower control.

The symptoms of the problem were slow cycle times combined with engine lug-d

Injection Molding Hydraulics the Pressure is Rising

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Leak-free Hydraulic Plumbing

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Roll-Off Cleanliness of Hydraulic Systems

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Maintenance and Analysis of Water-Glycol Hydraulic Fluids

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Condition-Monitoring of Phosphate Ester Hydraulic Fluids

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

One of the most interesting synthetic base fluids is phosphate esters. It is the product of choice for the electrohydraulic control (EHC) system in steam turbines for electrical power generation. These fluids have a balance of desirable and undesirable properties that may create a bit of a love-hate relationship for many users, especially if they do not maintain them properly.

Phosphate esters have good thermal stability, excellent boundary lubrication properties, low volatility and fair hydrolytic stability (chemical stability in the presence of water). Unfortunately, phosphate esters can be hard on some elastomers such as Buna-N or nitrile, PVC coatings and paints. However, they are not as hard on butyl, nylon, PTFE, EPR, Viton and epoxy-based paints. Because phosphate es

Cavitation Wear In Hydraulic Systems

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The phenomenon of cavitation consists in the disruption of continuity in the liquid where there is considerable local reduction of pressure. The formation of bubbles within liquids (cavitation) begins even in the presence of positive pressures that are equal to or close to the pressure of saturated vapor of the fluid at the given temperature. Various liquids have different degrees of resistance to cavitation because they depend, to a considerable degree, upon the concentration of gas and foreign particles in the liquid.

Wear Mechanism
The mechanism of cavitation can be described as follows: Any liquid will contain either gaseous or vaporous bubbles, which serve as the cavitation nuclei. When the pressure is reduced to a certain level, bubbles become th

Removing Entrained Air in Hydraulic Fluids and Lubrication Oils

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Fluid aeration can cause numerous problems in a hydraulic and lubrication oil system including: unacceptable noise, poor component response due to spongy behavior of aerated fluids, cavitation damage and severe fluid degradation. A bubble removal device can be used to mechanically remove bubbles from fluids, which not only solves these problems, but also offers advantages such as the possibility of smaller reservoir size and lower overall system cost. This article describes the principles and operation of a new device that can be installed in a fluid circuit to physically remove bubbles from the fluid during system operation.

Temperature Stability of Lubricants and Hydraulic Fluids

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Valve Stiction Problem Cured by Soft Particle Removal

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Westferry Printers in London prints The Daily Express, The Telegraph, The Observer, The Star and The Financial Times, among others. Westferry is Europe’s largest newspaper printing facility, producing 18 to 20 million newspapers and supplements each week. For some time, Westferry faced a hydraulic problem that set off a failure chain reaction. It started with a short pressure loss in the power pack after start up. This pressure loss tripped a safety device and brought the printing process to a halt ultimately costing the company thousands of dollars in lost production. To keep the presses running until a permanent solution was found, a three-second delay was programmed into the machine’s computer to allow the operating pressure to be restored before the interlock cut in.

Results from the oil analy

Water Glycol - Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluids

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Industrial fluid power applications have increased worldwide over the years. Hydraulic fluid performance demands have increased in operating pressures, safety and reliability. As operating pressures increase, the risk of fire from ruptured lines also increases. It is necessary to balance management’s regulatory and insurance interests with equipment requirements for effective lubrication, wear and corrosion protection.

Fire-resistant fluids include synthetics such as phosphate esters or ester-mineral blends and water-based formulas such as water-oil emulsions or water-glycols. Water glycol fluids have proven to be an excellent fire-resistant hydraulic fluid option. The fire-resistance of these fluids depends upon the vaporization of the water and the smothering effect of the steam. The other performance characteristi

High-Pressure Oil Sampling: The Next Step

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Hydraulic Systems and Fluid Selection

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Detecting and Managing Hydraulic System Leakage

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

It is unfortunate, that many leaks identified in hydraulic systems are left to drip away the profits of a company - profits lost with unnecessary energy consumption, reduced equipment performance, decreased reliability, increased fluid costs, increased housekeeping costs, etc.

Even more leaks are not identified because there are no visual indications of the leak until system performance has been severely affected. The components with these leaks are typically repaired in an unplanned, fire-fighting mode of breakdown maintenance.

Identifying and controlling hydraulic system leakage requires an in-depth approach to record keeping and surveillance based on monitoring leakage within hydraul

The Future of Hydraulic Oil Filtration

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Achieving proper cleanliness levels in today’s hydraulic systems requires the successful capture and removal of contaminants. Filtration must be done in a way that doesn’t disrupt the flow of oil, or unduly increase the pressure drop within the system. It’s a delicate balance between system design and efficiency.

The future of hydraulic filtration focuses on three major areas:

Developing finer fiber technology to be used in filter media,

Engineering the various layers/arrangements of filter media for maximum effect, and

Improving the overall construction and design of the filter to maximize the useful filtration area for optimal per

Hydraulic System Leakage - The Destructive Drip

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Is Fluid Leakage Drowning Your Profits?

A single hydraulic leak of one drop per second is equal to 420 gallons of oil in a 12 month period. This volume adds up fast. It has been estimated that over 100 million gallons of fluids could be saved every year in North America if external leakage from hydraulic machinery and other lubricated equipment was eliminated. In Canada alone, over 12 million gallons of oil is wasted due to leakage. In economic terms the cost of this waste is staggering. Besides high oil consumption, the economic effects of hydraulic system leakage include inefficient machinery operation, environmental damage, safety and accident liability, premature machine component failure, poor manufacturing quality and increased capital costs.

The Effects of Le

Coalition Aims to Boost Efficiency of Fluid Power Applications

2009-10-02T00:00:00-05:00

As part of an industry-wide effort, a coalition of university researchers and industry suppliers organized through the NSF-sponsored Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) is working together to boost the efficiency of fluid power applications. The center is supported by seven participating universities and 55 industrial partners.

Read the full article from Design News by clicking on the link below:

Lecture on Hydraulic Control Systems, Part 2

2009-07-30T00:00:00-05:00

Professor S. Mukhopadhyay of the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT Kharagpur provides this lecture on the topic of hydraulic control systems. This is Part 2 of a two-part series.

Access this 1-hour video by clicking on the link below.

Lecture on Hydraulic Control Systems, Part 1

2009-07-30T00:00:00-05:00

Professor S. Mukhopadhyay of the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT Kharagpur provides this lecture on the topic of hydraulic control systems. This is Part 1 of a two-part series.

Access this 1-hour video by clicking on the link below.

Magnetic Scrubber Technology improves Pump Performance

2009-07-15T00:00:00-05:00

Ferrous metal contamination in fluid results in premature wear and failure of pumps resulting in down-time for repairs and increased operational costs. The 5000 Series Magnetic Scrubber reduces pump damage caused by corrosion and erosion, which extends pump component life and reduces pump maintenance or replacement. When installed prior to pumps or return lines the 5000 Series Magnetic Filter Scrubber's magnetic fields are fully exposed to contamination with minimal flow restriction, which results in highly efficient removal of contamination.

How to Make Your Own Hydraulic Hoses

2009-07-10T00:00:00-05:00

This video shows you how to make your own hydraulic hoses with a D165 Hose Crimper.

Access this 2-minute, 46-second video by clicking on the link below.

Baldwin Filters Releases Hydraulic Training Module

2009-06-26T00:00:00-05:00

Baldwin Filters announces the availability of the fifth in its series of filtration training modules. The hydraulic filtration training module is available online and in DVD and CD format.

The hydraulic filtration training module is the latest addition to Baldwin Filters’ training series. Other modules concern lube, air, fuel and cooling system filtration. Each training module looks at the basics behind the specific system, examines the types of filters used with the system and addresses preventive maintenance procedures.

Shell Introduces Energy-Efficent Hydraulic Fluid

2009-06-18T00:00:00-05:00

Shell Lubricants, one of the world’s leaders in lubricants technology and innovation, has added a state-of-the-art lubricant to its high-quality Shell Tellus hydraulic oil range that could help increase the energy efficiency of hydraulic systems. Shell Tellus EE, formulated in response to customers’ concerns over energy usage and associated costs, has been shown to help companies reduce the energy consumption of their hydraulic machinery by an average of 8 percent* while also providing exceptional equipment protection and the capability of extending oil maintenance intervals.

Greenerd Announces Formation of Hydraulics Subsidiary

2009-06-10T00:00:00-05:00

Greenerd Press & Machine Company Inc. announced the formation of Greenerd Hydraulics, a subsidiary of Greenerd Press & Machine Company. Greenerd Hydraulics will distribute components as well as provide power unit fabrication, field service and repair, controls engineering and custom manifold design.

Training Pump Operators to be Reliability-Minded

2009-06-09T00:00:00-05:00

Learning it Wrong
One day I was talking to a seasoned operator about how he prepared pumps for service after repairs. I asked him specifically how he vented some of the critical process pumps that handled environmentally sensitive fluids. He told me he didn’t have to vent them at all because they were all self venting. I stood there for a few moments shocked, bewildered, and then disappointed. I soon understood what it was he was telling me. Whoever had trained him long ago taught him he never had to vent pumps before startup because they only purchased self venting pumps. He was right that most pumps are designed to be self venting but the associated pump piping is not!

If a pump’s piping is fully vented, most pump casings are des

The Cost of Hydraulic Fluid Contamination

2009-05-08T00:00:00-05:00

This video outlines how hydraulic fluid contamination costs you money.

Access this 2-minute, 28-second video by clicking on the link below.

A Deeper Look at Hydraulic Fluid Contamination

2009-05-08T00:00:00-05:00

A detailed look at what causes hydraulic fluid contamination, and what the effects are.

Access this 6-minute, 56-second video by clicking on the link below.

Popular Books and Videos at Noria.com

Practical Lubrication for Industrial Facilities - 2nd Edition

Introduction to Lubrication Fundamentals

Best Practices for Lubricant Storage and Handling

Lubrication Fundamentals

The Practical Handbook of Machinery Lubrication

Lubrication for Industry

Reliable Plant 2009 Conference Proceedings

Operator's Guide to Centrifugal Pumps

The Handbook of Maintenance Management

Preventive Maintenance

Plant and Machinery Failure Prevention

Rules of Thumb for Maintenance and Reliability Engineers

Slideshow: Overview of Y2K Fluid Power Products

2009-05-08T00:00:00-05:00

This slideshow provides a glimpse at the products offered by Y2K Fluid Power.

Access this 1-minute, 30-second slideshow by clicking on the link below.

Hydraulic Institute Announces New Standards Partners

2009-05-04T00:00:00-05:00

Robert K. Asdal, executive director of the Hydraulic Institute, announced on May 4 that the institute has added three notable pump industry firms to HI’s roster of select Standards Partners. The new Standards Partner program provides an opportunity for engineering consultants and pump users to partner with HI members in the development of pump standards and educational efforts.

New partners include:

Seminar Focuses on Hydraulic Maintenance Needs

2009-03-17T00:00:00-05:00

A substantial investment in industrial hydraulics often depends upon basic monitoring and changing of a hydraulic machine’s lifeblood – oil. The Hydraulics Unplugged seminar offered by Bosch Rexroth Canada will show manufacturers how to stay ahead of hydraulic maintenance needs. The seminar will also emphasize predictive maintenance – avoiding trouble before it starts – through a variety of analysis and monitoring techniques.

Read the full article from Machinery and Equipment MRO by clicking on the l

Choosing the Best Hydraulic Fluid for the Application

2009-03-12T00:00:00-05:00

Petroleum oil is the most popular hydraulic fluid, but many other fluids — which provide benefits that oil cannot — are worth considering. Here are the most critical factors in fluid selection.

Read the full article from ThomasNet.com by clicking on the link below:

Hydraulic Institute Webinar Covers Slurry Pumps

2009-03-09T00:00:00-05:00

Hydraulic Institute (HI), the pump industry’s knowledge leader and foremost resource for pump education, has announced the kick-off of their Spring 2009 Webinar Standards Series titled “Making Sense of the ANSI/HI Slurry Pump Standard.” Among the pump user community, HI is known for world-class standards that define pump nomenclature, definitions, applications, operation and test procedures. Based on these standards, Hydraulic Institute is now offering straight talk and informative live presentations by subject matter experts delivered right to a pump professional’s desktop – home or office. Participants will be led by and have access to industry-leading experts in a non-commercial educational forum.

Slip on Hydraulic Fluid Leads to Pit Fall, Lawsuit

2009-03-09T00:00:00-05:00

A Madison County (Illinois) man is asking the court to render judgment in his favor after he claims he was wrongly fired from his job at Global Brass and Copper Inc. following an injury.

Read the full article from the Madison Record newspaper by clicking on the link below:

Bosch Rexroth Seminar Offers Hydraulic Power Press Seminar

2009-02-19T00:00:00-06:00

Bosch Rexroth Canada is offering a free Hydraulic Power Press Safety seminar on February 24. The seminar will demonstrate how to achieve hydraulic press worker safety that meets exacting regulatory standards, without compromising productivity or cost-effectiveness.

Specific regulations, including the Canadian Standards Association Z142-02 Power Press Safety Standard, will be examined in the context of how they apply to individual users' hydraulic press operations.

"Bosch Rexroth has a great deal of experience meeting very strict and complex hydraulic press safety standards in Europe over the last couple of decades, which were the basis for Canadian s

New Parker Catalog Saves Time for Fluid Power Pros

2009-02-11T00:00:00-06:00

A new catalog (Catalog 4400) is available from the Hose Products Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation, a global leader in motion and control technologies. For fluid power professionals, it represents the single best resource for selecting Parker hoses, fittings and equipment.

From choosing the correct crimper die to checking hose/chemical compatibility, the catalog will save readers time otherwise spent looking for answers online, via e-mail or on the phone.

The glossy four-color, 344-page catalog is three-hole punched for easy binder storage and is divided into five tabbed sections – Hoses, Fittings, Equipment, Accessories and Technical information – for quick reference.

Why Become a Fluid Power Engineer

2009-02-09T00:00:00-06:00

This video clip is an excerpt from NFPA's "Fluid Power: A Force for Change" half-hour TV program. The full video, viewable at www.nfpa.com, is a fascinating exploration of the fluid power industry and its positive effects on our current and future society, as well as the promise it holds for a rising generation of young engineers looking for exciting and socially-responsible careers. Fluid power — hydraulics and pneumatics — is one of our most reliable technologies, and its advancement will have transformative effects on our world and society.

Access this 1-minute, 40-second video by clicking on the link below.

Fluid Power is Truly Everywhere

2009-02-09T00:00:00-06:00

This video clip is an excerpt from NFPA's "Fluid Power: A Force for Change" half-hour TV program. The full video, viewable at www.nfpa.com, is a fascinating exploration of the fluid power industry and its positive effects on our current and future society, as well as the promise it holds for a rising generation of young engineers looking for exciting and socially-responsible careers. Fluid power — hydraulics and pneumatics — is one of our most reliable technologies, and its advancement will have transformative effects on our world and society.

Access this 1-minute, 13-second video by clicking on the link below.

Slideshow: How to Draw Hydraulic Symbols, Part 5

2009-02-04T00:00:00-06:00

This slideshow video provides you with the tools you need to draw hydraulic symbols. This is Part 5 of a five-part series. Pause the video as necessary to make sure you fully understand everything on the screen.

Access this 1-minute, 38-second video by clicking on the link below.

Slideshow: How to Draw Hydraulic Symbols, Part 4

2009-02-04T00:00:00-06:00

This slideshow video provides you with the tools you need to draw hydraulic symbols. This is Part 4 of a five-part series. Pause the video as necessary to make sure you fully understand everything on the screen.

Access this 3-minute, 31-second video by clicking on the link below.

Slideshow: How to Draw Hydraulic Symbols, Part 3

2009-02-04T00:00:00-06:00

This slideshow video provides you with the tools you need to draw hydraulic symbols. This is Part 3 of a five-part series. Pause the video as necessary to make sure you fully understand everything on the screen.

Access this 2-minute, 51-second video by clicking on the link below.

Slideshow: How to Draw Hydraulic Symbols, Part 2

2009-02-04T00:00:00-06:00

This slideshow video provides you with the tools you need to draw hydraulic symbols. This is Part 2 of a five-part series. Pause the video as necessary to make sure you fully understand everything on the screen.

Access this 3-minute, 7-second slideshow by clicking on the link below

Slideshow: How to Draw Hydraulic Symbols, Part 1

2009-02-04T00:00:00-06:00

This slideshow video provides you with the tools you need to draw hydraulic symbols. This is Part 1 of a five-part series. Pause the video as necessary to make sure you fully understand everything on the screen.

Access this 4-minute, 11-second slideshow by clicking on the link below.

Causes, Effects of Hydraulic Fluid Contamination

2009-02-04T00:00:00-06:00

This video provides a detailed look at what causes hydraulic fluid contamination, and what the effects are.

Access this 6-minute, 56-second video by clicking on the link below.

How Pump Performance Impacts the Bottom Line

2009-01-13T00:00:00-06:00

Pump Systems Matter (PSM) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Technologies Program will host a free audio Web briefing on how “Pump Systems Performance Impacts Multiple Bottom Lines.”

With volatile economic conditions, finding ways to save money and improve operations is more

How to Assemble Hydraulic Hoses

2009-01-13T00:00:00-06:00

This video shows you how to make hydraulic hoses with a D165 hose crimper from DiscountHydraulicHose.com.

Access this 2-minute, 45-second video by clicking on the link below.