Fluid Power Components can be described as all those devices that are used to perform the task of power transmission by installing methods like pressurized air, water, gas, and special fluids. They are a combination of two types of equipments – Pneumatic and Hydraulic and includes devices like instruments and systems designed to facilitate or force the flow of fluids.

Types of Fluid Power Equipments

The Fluid power components, which is an essential part of the engineering and scientific industry can be broadly classified into two categories -

Hydraulic equipments and Components – All those fluid power equipments that are operated by the resistance offered or the pressure transmitted when a quantity of liquid is forced through a small tube are termed as hydraulic components. Examples include hydraulic accumulators, hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic motors, hydraulic power units, hydraulic pumps, hydraulic reservoirs, pulsation dampeners. The main characteristic of these hydraulic equipments and components is that they are capable of carrying large amount of power through small tubes and flexible hoses and can be installed in the various parts of the machine to control the fluid from the control valves directly and further distribute them via hoses and tubes.

Pneumatic Equipments and Components – This segment of fluid power components highlights those devices that are made to work by the use of air pressure. The instruments like Air Blow Guns, Air Compressors, Air Cylinders, Air Hose, Air Motors, Air Pressure Regulators, Air Springs, Compressed Air Dryers, Compressed Air Filters, Filter Regulator Lubricator and Flow Controls Pneumati are part of this family in the fluid power components industry. These equipments can be categorized as deriving their fluid power from pressurized airflow, or are designed to maintain, measure, restrict or filter the pressurized airflow.

Industry Growth

The fluid power industry is divided into three large segments namely mobile hydraulic, industrial hydraulic, and pneumatic. It is been found that while mobile hydraulic applications have accounted for about 50 percent of fluid power sales the other two segments each share about 25 percent of the market. In the late 1990's, the National Fluid Power Association of America estimated the total worth of this industry to be around 13.5 million dollars. However, this statistics since then has multiplied various times to become 14. 97 in just a matter of a two years. The manufacturers and suppliers of fluid power components claim that the value of shipments for fluid power valves and hose fittings is nearly $5.3 billion while estimate for indirect trade fluid power products has reached to a whooping $2. billion.

Applications

Fluid power controls and systems use pressurized, moving fluids within an enclosed circuit to generate, transmit, and control power. Hydraulic pumps deliver high-pressure fluid flow to the pump outlet and are powered by mechanical energy sources to pressurize fluid. These equipments are used widely in industrial and aerospace applications. Owing to the fact that they exert massive amounts of controlled pressure, they are extensively used for power aircraft landing gear, industrial presses and lifts, heavy earth-moving equipment, and other heavy duty equipment. In US alone, around 75 percent of the total fluid power consumption is acquired by aerospace industry, construction equipment, heavy truck, agricultural equipment, and the machine tool and materials handling industries. The other 25% is used by the other 500 industries.

Major Market Players

US undoubtedly is the major market for the fluid power components all over the world. The main countries which have emerged as the leading states in the production of fluid power valves and hose fittings are all east of the Mississippi and include Connecticut, Minnesota, Texas, New Jersey, Michigan, and Ohio. Some of the top companies that are engaged in fluid power components industries are ITT Industries, Vickers, Inc, SPX Corporation, and the Cooper Cameron Corporation.

Fluid Power Components Publications

Following is the list of some of the most popular publications, magazines and journals associated with the fluid power components industry.

Hydraulics and Pneumatics – This is the only on line publication and was launched recently in July 2008. This is the initiative of Hydraulics and Pneumatics who through the medium of this on line magazine try to bring forefront popular, high-quality tutorial and application stories. The target audience are component manufacturers, distributor sales personnel, manufacturer reps, system integrators, and other professionals in the fluid power supply chain universe.

Fluid Power Journal – The Fluid Power Journal caters to engineers, technicians, managers and corporate officers involved in hydraulics, pneumatics, vacuum and electronic control technologies. By publishing 10 issues each year, this journal fosters to facilities launch of new products and bolster sales of existing product lines. This is the official publication of the Fluid Power Society and includes professional, technical, and referenced articles along with the latest industry news from industry associations.

Fluid Power Components Associations

Some of the most popular industrial associations for Fluid Power Components are -

National Fluid Power Association – The National Fluid Power Association is an autonomous body that works to bring together all the manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers and dealers of these fluid power components under one roof. This trade association was established in the year 1955 and has a member list of more than 315 manufacturers of fluid power systems and components, fluid power distributors, suppliers to the fluid power industry, educators and researchers. The main aim behind the establishment of this association was to serve as a forum where all fluid power channel partners work together to advance fluid power technology, strengthen the fluid power industry, and foster member's success.

Fluid Power Safety Institute – This Institute that was founded by Rory S. McLaren and has become one of the major centers catering to hydraulic training workshops and manufacturing of hydraulic simulators. This organization work for the benefit of various manufacturers and suppliers of hydraulic equipments and advocate hydraulic safety through informative outreach as its main endeavor. Their mission also comprise of preventing occupational hazards in fluid power, and attain a firm sincerity from both hydraulic related organizations and educational facilities to implement safety in the work ethic and learning materials.

Japan Fluid Power Association – This is one of the most popular association in South east Asia. Reestablished in the year 1977, the mission of Japan Hydraulics and Pneumatics Association is to respond to the changing needs of today's fluid power industry. Presently it enjoys a membership of 68 companies which are manufacturers and suppliers of hydraulics, pneumatics, water hydraulics equipment and providers of the technology.