The Time is Now, The Urgency is Today!

We all can recognize the rising problems in the industry. Fewer and fewer students are reaching toward engineering as a career option. Regulations are pulling companies in all different directions while they put projects on hold to address the growing environmental concerns. And, while new standards are being met, innovative solutions to other concerns have taken a back seat.

At the recent National Fluid Power Association's (NFPA) Economic Outlook Conference, Wheeling, IL, the greatest concern on everyone's mind was the decreasing interest and progress of the engineering community, and more specifically, the fluid power industry. However, one speaker in particular grabbed the audience's attention and captivated not only fluid power fanatics, but engineers from other industries as well.

Sohan Uppal is a recent retiree of Eaton Corp.'s Fluid Power Group. Formerly the vice president of technology, he now spends his free time — no, not golfing — researching how to integrate fluid power with other technologies to create functionality that people haven't even thought of. What makes Sohan unique is his willingness to support technologies outside of his field. Though he worked with fluid power for 37 years, he realizes the benefits of other technologies such as mechanical and electric. Instead of focusing on how fluid power can achieve advanced functionality, Uppal mixes and matches the best from each technology to supply the best solution possible.

The whole reason we invest time into furthering technology is to advance society. If you do not utilize the best resources available, you cannot produce the best product. Each technology has its own benefits that, when put together, could create the greatest result.

Electric technology give machines the "smartness" or its brain. Mechanical technology allows for consistent efficiency that is not dependent on fluctuating circumstances (e.g. fluid pressure, leaks, etc.) Hydraulics has a high power density to contribute, and when the three technologies are integrated, you can achieve an advanced, functioning solution. But, before major advancements can be made, there are basic problems that need to be solved.

Right now fluid power is perceived by many people outside the industry as a dirty industry, a stagnant industry, an industry with little forward movement. It has a lot to do with basic problems such as external leakage, noise vibration harshness (NVH) and system efficiency.

In order to solve an industry problem, the industry has to work together.

The fluid power industry must solve the basic problems in order for people to have a better perception of the industry as a whole. Once the basic problems are solved, the larger issues can be addressed more attentively. Consider if you make a change in fluid power, such as creating an immensely efficient machine, but the hydraulic system is very noisy. The innovation is going to seem insignificant since the entire system is still too loud. The larger changes cannot be seen nor appreciated until the smaller issues are fixed.

Working together

The small issues, in Uppal's opinion, should be attacked on all sides by everyone in the industry instead of competing with one another. The point is not to get rid of competition. Not only is that unrealistic, but it is impossible in our society.

"We live in a competitive society," says Uppal. "I cannot tell every company to work together. People will laugh at it. If you look at a basic, common problem that does not compromise any company's personal integrity and identity, I'm for it."

The larger issues can be tackled by each competing company, but the small issues need to be resolved quickly and efficiently, and the best way to do that is to work together to create the best possible solution for the industry, not just a solution for one company or brand. In order to solve an industry problem, the industry has to work together.