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Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge

Celebrating 10 Years in Motion: Powering the Future of Innovation 

Made Possible By Industry

The Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge is made possible through the generous support of Pascal Society donors. Thank you to the many companies that contribute to the Pascal Society of the NFPA Education and Technology Foundation.

Get Involved

Judges
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Judges
Judges

A team of industry judges is responsible for guiding student teams, evaluating documentation and assessing the vehicle on-site at the Final Competition, using the FPVC Assessment Rubric.

Mentors
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Mentors
Mentors

At least one industry mentor is assigned to each team to coach throughout the year. Student teams check in with their mentor about things like their vehicle design, component selection, assembly and testing before the final competition.

Marshalls
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Marshals
Marshals

A team of marshals will be responsible for ensuring teams are operating in a safe and sportsmanlike way during the entire event, and in particular, during the Sprint Race, Efficiency Race and Endurance Race.

Timekeepers
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Timekeepers
Timekeepers

A small team of timekeepers will be responsible for the clock, recording time, and submitting data.

Industry Supporters
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Industry Supporters
Industry Supporters

Industry supporters may fill a number of other roles for the program — an ambassador of the initiative, a corporate sponsor, or component donor. Contact workforce@nfpa.com to learn more.

Current Program Sponsors

Applied Fluid Power

Applied Fluid Power is serving as a Program Sponsor.

Applied Industrial Technologies distributes a variety of fluid power and fluid handling products, including air compressors, FRL's, dryers, valves, cylinders, hose, tubing, fittings and pumps. Hydraulic products include power units, filtration, heat exchangers, pumps, valves, cylinders, motors, lubrication products, hose and fittings, gauges and other accessories.

Applied Fluid PowerRegR_Logo_SPOT_FINAL

 

Brennan Industries

Brennan Industries is serving as a product supplier.

Since 1953, Brennan Industries has supplied customers worldwide with the highest-quality, critical flow components. They offer over 120,000 different styles of hydraulic connectors and accessories. 

Brennan Industries logo

 

Danfoss Power Solutions

Danfoss Power Solutions is serving as a Product Supplier.

Danfoss Power Solutions is a global industry leader in providing mobile hydraulics and a complete range of energy-efficient hydraulic, electronic, and electrical solutions for the construction, agriculture, and other off-highway vehicle markets.

Danfoss

 

Famic Technologies Inc.

Famic Technologies Inc. is a Product Supplier.

For over 35 years, Famic Technologies Inc. has proudly offered Automation Studio™ to industries and schools worldwide. Trusted by tens of thousands of users, it enables the design, simulation, analysis, and troubleshooting of systems across multiple technologies, including hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical, PLCs, robotics, process control and instrumentation. Through schematic, illustrated components, as well as digital twins of real equipment, Automation Studio™ provides a complete environment for innovation and learning.

Famic Technologies - Automation Studio

 

Helios Technologies

Helios Technologies is a Product Supplier.

Helios Technologies is a global industrial technology leader that develops and manufactures solutions for both the hydraulics and electronics markets. 

Helios Technologies

 

HYDAC

HYDAC is serving as a Product Supplier.

HYDAC is a manufacturer of hydraulic, filtration and electronic components and systems. Products include Accumulators, Filters and Elements, Filtration Carts, Offline Filtration Units, Cartridge Valves and Manifolds, Air and Water Coolers, High Pressure Ball, Needle and Flow Control Valves, Compact Power Units, Fluid Analysis Kits, Tube and Hose Clamps, Reservoir Accessories, Pressure Transducers and Switches and Diagnostic Instruments to measure contamination, Pressure, Temperature and Flow.

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IFP Motion Solutions Inc.

IFP Motion Controls Inc. is serving as a Final Competition Host and Program Sponsor. One-third of the teams will compete at their facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

IFP Motion Solutions Inc. is a distributor of hydraulic power units and automation systems. They specialize in field service, repairs, engineering and electronic integration. They provide a complete line of industrial and mobile hydraulics and pneumatics.

ifp_logo_motion_control_solutions

 

IMI

IMI is serving as a Final Competition Host and Program Sponsor.

IMI plc will host participating teams at their facility in Rockford, Illinois in April.

IMI plc, the specialist engineering company, designs, manufactures and services highly engineered products that control the precise movement of fluids. Its innovative technologies, built around valves and actuators, enable vital processes to operate safely, cleanly, efficiently and cost effectively. 

IMI logo w.product brands P

 

Parker Hannifin

Parker Hannifin is recognized as the Founding Sponsor. The NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge is based on the Chainless Challenge program, pioneered and managed by Parker Hannifin Corporation from 2004-2016.

Parker Hannifin is a diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of commercial, mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. Parker has more than 800 product lines for hydraulic, pneumatic and electromechanical applications used by the industrial and aerospace markets worldwide.

Parker_Hannifin-150x150-1

 

Source Fluid Power

Source Fluid Power is serving as a Product Supplier.

Source Fluid Power designs and manufactures custom hydraulic products, manifolds, cylinders and valves for the medical, industrial, agricultural, and mobile OEM markets. Source Fluid Power is a solutions partner, and can handle everything from the design to the completion of the final product.

Source Fluid Power

 

SunSource

SunSource is serving as a Program Sponsor.

SunSource provides solutions to customers in the areas of industrial and mobile hydraulics, pneumatics, motion control, electronics, lubrication, fasteners and related technologies. It offers total on-site integrated materials management of MRO and “class C” OEM products. Other services include systems design, application engineering, repair services and proactive plant maintenance.

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Sun Hydraulics

Sun Hydraulics is serving as an event host. They will host a final competition at their facility in Sarasota, FL. 

Sun Hydraulics, a global leader in hydraulic solutions, has been setting industry standards since 1970 with its innovative screw-in, floating cartridge construction and cavity design offering precise, reliable performance in demanding high-pressure and flow rate applications. Operating as a wholly owned company under Helios Technologies since 2018, Sun Hydraulics sells its products globally, primarily through independent distributors, to a broad range of mobile and industrial equipment manufacturers.

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2025 Final Competition Winners

The NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge final competition took place in Rockford, IL, Ames, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA.

The winners at the Rockford Final Competition are:

1st Place: SUNY Polytechnic Institute

2nd Place: University of Utah

3rd Place: University of Alabama at Birmingham

The winners at the Ames Final Competition are:

1st Place: Northern Illinois University

2nd Place: Cleveland State University

3rd Place: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

The winners at the Cedar Rapids Final Competition are:

1st Place: University of Akron

2nd Place: South Dakota State University

3rd Place: California Polytechnic State University

FPVC map 2025
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How It Works Learn about how the program works, access info on prior teams and watch educational webinars.
Ready to Compete?

We welcome new teams from across the country each year. Contact us at workforce@nfpa.com to get started.

Learn more in our latest FPVC Project Proposal.

Become a Sponsor

Sponsorship options are available to Pascal Society Donors. Click here to see if your company supports the NFPA Foundation. For more information on sponsoring the Vehicle Challenge, contact us at workforce@nfpa.com.