Michael Ference Fluid Power Marketing

I never get tired of seeing a brand new issue of our magazine, Fluid Power World , for the first time.  Today was that day for our August issue. This issue feature some very important information from our advertisers.  Every ad contains a message that is helpful to designers and maintenance people working with fluid power systems.  So, to gain and hold an advantage for your company's machinery both OEM and aftermarket, check out our issues regularly. The main feature articles are:  Industrial Hydraulics - How does water glycol fluid affect hydraulic seals? Sensors - Using your senses to better understand your system Pneumatics - Right-sized cylinders ensure performance and efficiency Mobile Hydraulics - Pilot systems for mining shovels - also the cover story If you are not yet subscribing to Fluid Power World and you find this lineup of articles to be interesting, then please visit our subscription page of our website  to order your free subscription

I heard a lot of economic news and evaluation this week specifically regarding the fluid power industry and all of the markets served.  I attended the 2016 Industry and Economic Outlook Conference presented by the National Fluid Power Association.  What are my key takeaways and what does it all mean? Well, let's start with the key takeaways 2016 has been a fairly soft year for all of fluid power with some negatives in mining and oil & gas dragging things down US Industrial Production is low but growing and should grow through 2018 There is a possibility for inflation down the road Brexit has had minimal effect on the world economy The U.S. has once again become a great place to manufacturing all types of goods, machinery, and materials 2017 could be a good year for mobile hydraulics Mining has been very depressed but could be showing a turnaround The Chinese economy remains a concern for global economics The U.S. construction industry has a good upside i

The fluid power industry has long been a very stable and mature industry.  There have been many innovations that have kept hydraulic and pneumatic components very competitive with other motion and control components even though the technology remains very much the same year over year. In the November issue of Fluid Power World, as I have written about recently, we are using the occasion of our company's tenth anniversary in business to give our customers the opportunity to convey to their customers through our media, the major changes and improvements that have taken place over the past 10 years.  Additionally, they are asked to share their vision for the next 10 years. I hope that your company will consider taking part in this special issue.  Our audience would like to know what challenges your company and products have addressed over the past 10 years.  What innovations have helped to keep fluid power moving forward?  What vision does your company have for the coming yea

That, of course, stands for the Industry and Economic Outlook Conference taking place on August 15-17 at the Westing Chicago North Shore in Wheeling, IL. The three-day event kicks off with a golf tournament called the IEOC Invitational and the funds raised by the event are used for fluid power education.  It is always a fun event and it will be taking place at the Chevy Chase Country Club also in Wheeling.  I encourage all fluid power golfers to come out and join in. The golf tournament is followed immediately by a welcome reception also at the Chevy Chase Country Club.  This is an opportunity for all attendees, both golfers and non-golfers, to network and get to know other industry professionals and get reacquainted with others. On Tuesday, the Conference gets under way with opening remarks by the NFPA and then presentations by this year's speakers.  Alan Beaulieu of ITR Economics will talk about Global Economics from an ITR Perspective.  Mark Killion of Oxford Economics wil

Here is a post  from our new website Sealing & Contamination Control Tips I think you will find it amusing and fun.  I did! If your company is involved with sealing and contamination control of fluid power systems in any way, please send us your content to post.

In the world of technology, things are changing faster than ever.  I would contend that the rate of change is also increasing.  Think of the innovations that have affected your lifestyle since 2006. Our company WTWH Media LLC was formed in 2006 with the launch of Design World magazine and digital media network.  So, in 2016 we are commemorating our 10th year in business.   Fluid Power World launched in 2014 as a part of WTWH Media and we are helping to mark this very important time with an anniversary celebration of our own. In our November issue, we will be publishing content provided by our advertisers about the past ten and next ten years.  They will be addressing questions such as: What have you learned about managing innovation in the past ten years? If you had the chance to do one thing differently over the past ten years, what would it be? What has surprised you most about your business over the past ten years? The answers compiled in this November report shoul