What Industry Leaders Have to Say...

This is an incredibly exciting event for the Fluid Power Industry. The diligence of the Education and Industry teams in making this happen is testimony to the importance we all feel and believe in for future developments. The ability to generate new ideas and products to keep refreshing our industry can only be surpassed by the opportunity to bring more graduated engineers with solid fluid power experience to our member companies.
        Marty Berardi, Moog, Inc., 
        Past Chairman, NFPA Board of Directors &
        Member, NFPA Education Committee


In every industry there are major events that change the destiny of that industry. Often these ‘inflection points’ happen without us even being aware of them until they are virtually a fait accompli. The achievement of an NSF-funded Engineering Research Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power will be one of those major events. And it definitely DID NOT “JUST HAPPEN.” It took much hard work and planning by a consortium of fluid power companies, partner universities and NFPA. We have a great industry and we’ve just given it a new lease on life. My hat is off to all of you who made this happen. Thank you!
        Steve Demster, ROSS Controls
        Past Chairman, NFPA Board of Directors 


At Norgren, we believe the Engineering Research Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power will be instrumental in the continued growth of the Fluid Power Industry. Further research to develop smaller, higher performance, more energy efficient fluid power devices will provide significant benefits to customers, distributors, and manufacturers. This research will also enhance the Fluid Power Industry’s position as a premier technology for motion and fluid control. We are very excited the NSF has chosen to fund this project and make it a reality.
        Mark Shellenbarger, Norgren 
        Past Member, NFPA Board of Directors


We all should be pleased to learn that the NFPA-supported application to the National Science Foundation was approved for funding. This will ensure that the needed research takes place to enable our Fluid Power industry to grow and prosper in the 21st century. The effort that has been put into this proposal is just the beginning of a long journey that will benefit all of our members and will enable the industry to better serve our customers with more innovative and sophisticated products to meet their future needs. Congratulations to all for making this proposal a reality.
        Don Washkewicz, Parker Hannifin Corp.
        Member, NFPA Education Committee


In the May/June 2002 issue of the NFPA Reporter, I stated that we as an industry had “an obligation to invest in the future of our industry by supporting research for emerging fluid power and motion control technology.” That same year, we made our initial proposal for a National Science Foundation grant. We didn’t get it. However, we learned from the experience and we forged a strong partnership between academia and the Fluid Power Industry. The government, in the form of the National Science Foundation, has now joined in this partnership and The Engineering Research Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for our industry. My congratulations to all who have made this possible.
        Ralph Rivera, Past Chairman, NFPA Board of Directors & NFPA Education Committee


The NSF grant in support of the fluid power engineering research center (CCEFP) has far reaching effects. While the primary objective is basic research, the secondary benefits may ultimately become even more significant. The list of secondary benefits is too long to present in its entirety. However, let me provide a few examples...
• Collaboration—the CCEFP will lead to more collaboration both between academia and between academia and the applied engineering of NFPA member companies. 
• Spin off—the nature of basic research is that it leads to more unanswered questions and more basic (and applied) research. 
• Best and brightest—the CCEFP will also be a draw to get more talent into our industry. This research will create a “buzz” on campus that will take us to a new level. I can’t imagine anything more important than supercharging the talent pool with the best and brightest.
        Al Carlson, Sun Hydraulics
        Second Vice Chairman, NFPA Board of Directors


Congratulations; this is a monumental accomplishment for NFPA. It is hard to believe how far the industry-education relationship has come over the past 5+ years—from our initial summit in Cleveland, where there were only a few industry leaders in attendance, to the coordinated CCEFP effort—very well done.
        Jim Gannon, HUSCO International 
        Member, NFPA Education Committee & Past Member, NFPA Board of Directors


There are many benefits of the Engineering Research Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power: increased visibility and support for the advancement of fluid power technology and the Fluid Power Industry in the United States; a showcase to some of our best and brightest young minds that exciting and rewarding careers exist in the field of fluid power; the creation of more opportunities for new industries, expanded applications and research; and a strengthened bond between industry and educational institution research.
        Jim Neumann, RB Royal Industries
        Member, NFPA Board of Directors

Great news! For many years now, sometimes feeling all alone, I’ve been beating a drum for more, and better, fluid power motion control research in American universities. Now I mostly, and very happily, find myself on the sidelines as a cheerleader watching you making these dreams come true. Congratulations all, and thank you!
        Bob Koski, Sun Hydraulics, Former Chairman, NFPA Board of Directors & 
        Member, NFPA Education Committee

What an exciting time for Fluid Power Technology! Thanks to support from The National Science Foundation, our industry’s vision of an Engineering Resource Center is one step closer to reality. This well-deserved success is directly related to the ongoing cooperation between industry professionals, educators and NFPA. Congratulations to all as we continue to support and grow this vital technology.
        Marwan Kashkoush, Parker Hannifin Corp.
        Immediate Past Chairman, NFPA Board of Directors

It is an exciting time to be a manufacturer in the fluid power industry, an active member of the NFPA and a committed supporter of the Engineering Research Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power. Through the cooperative and coordinated efforts of key leading universities, NFPA and NFPA members, we have achieved a goal once thought impossible—obtaining an NSF grant to develop new fluid power technology and to develop young engineering talent focused on fluid power. Everyone who has been and will be involved, including and most importantly, the markets and customers we serve, will greatly benefit from the CCEFP. Congratulations to the dedicated and persistent NFPA staff, university leaders and business partners that have driven this dream towards reality.
        Bill Parks, Deltrol Fluid Products
        Member, NFPA Board of Directors & Chairman, NFPA Education Committee

Festo is convinced that this joint initiative of leading universities, NFPA and NFPA member companies will provide the impetus for driving the fluid power industry to new and profitable business opportunities in the future. A research center, such as the CCEFP, will attract our nation's best scientific minds to focus more intensely on important and critical fluid power research, thereby strengthening the overall competitiveness of the American fluid power industry.
         Hans J. Zobel, Festo Corporation
         Chairman, NFPA Board of Directors

As a manufacturer in the mobile electrohydraulics industry, Sauer-Danfoss is continually seeking out ideas to evolve hydraulics performance. The proposed Engineering Research Center will be a valuable team that further evolves the "state of the art" in our industry.
         Dave Anderson, Sauer-Danfoss Inc.
         First Vice Chairman, NFPA Board of Directors

For further information contact Linda Western