The most recent iVT Off-Highway Expo was a remarkable success. With hundreds of exhibitors, thousands of attendees, and dozens of speakers representing every corner of the industry, the event delivered valuable insights, meaningful connections, and cutting-edge innovation. Year after year, iVT continues to expand its reach and strengthen its influence across the off-highway sector.
NFPA Turnout
NFPA members once again demonstrated the industry's strong presence at iVT Off-Highway Expo. With 50 exhibiting companies spanning the entire fluid power value chain, and many additional representatives exploring the show floor, the fluid power community was exceptionally well represented. Exhibiting companies included:
Advanced Cylinders, LLC, Aeration Measurement Technologies (AMTech), AKG of America, Inc, AMETEK APT / ICVS, Anfield Sensors Inc., Applied Engineered Systems, Bailey International, Bosch Rexroth Corporation, Canimex Group Inc., Caplug, Cross Company, Deltrol Fluid Products, Elevat, Enovation Controls, Essentra Components, Famic Technologies Inc., Fluid Systems Components, FluiDyne Fluid Power Corporation, FORCE America Inc./Valve Division, GS Global Resources, Hengli America Co., Inc., HUSCO, HYDAC/Schroeder Industries, HydraForce, Hydro Electronic Devices, Inc. (HED®), Hydro Leduc NA Inc., IC Flow Controls, Inc., IFP Motion Solutions Inc., J.R. Merritt Controls, Kraft Mobile Systems, KYB Americas Corporation, Leggett & Platt Hydraulics, Magnet-Schultz of America, Inc., MP Filtri USA Inc., Murrelektronik, Inc. (Data Panel), OEM Controls, Inc., Omni Powertrain Technologies, Parker Hannifin Corp., QCC - Quality Control Corp, Scanreco, Inc, Settima, Stucchi S.p.A., Sun Hydraulics, Terzo Power Systems, LLC., Thomas Magnete USA, LLC, Trelleborg, Tuson Corporation, Vis Hydraulics North America, Wandfluh of America, Inc., and Webtec LLC.
Building on this year's momentum, we anticipate an even stronger event in 2027. Make plans to attend and ensure your company is part of one of the industry's premier gatherings for technology, innovation, and collaboration.
iVT Bites
While the energy of iVT Off-Highway Expo is best experienced in person, not everyone has the opportunity to attend. To bring the event to a wider audience, NFPA invited member companies to stop by our booth and discuss what they were seeing on the show floor, the trends capturing attention across the industry, and the technologies they were showcasing.
The result is iVT Bites 2026, the latest installment in NFPA's live show-floor interview series featured on the Fluid Power Forum podcast. Hosted by Ben Brown, the series highlights conversations with members representing a wide range of industries, technologies, and expertise. Whether you're interested in components, systems, automation, or emerging technologies, iVT Bites 2026 provides a firsthand look at the innovations shaping the future of fluid power.
NFPA's Advanced Hydraulics Conference
Returning to host the Advanced Hydraulics Conference, NPFA once again partners with iVT Off-Highway Vehicle Technology Expo to deliver programming and experts within a two-day summit that focused on the innovators and engineers that explore the latest technologies shaping the future of off-highway equipment. The Advanced Hydraulics Conference has become a key destination for OEM engineers, vehicle designers, and hydraulic specialists during their iVT Expo experience – as NFPA is the leading association representing the fluid power industry, NFPA member organizations presented on a variety of topics such as machine performance, efficiency, and automation.
This year’s Conference started with a panel discussion facilitated by NFPA president / CEO, Eric Lanke, about AI-enabled and automated machines, and what is means for OEMs and hydraulic solutions. Panelists included Jon Frey, Head of Product Area New Business (Bosch Rexroth Corp USA), Congmin Niu, Senior Engineering Manager (Komatsu USA), Jason Looman, President (Scanreco North America, USA), and Keith Simons, President (OEM Controls, USA).
Panelists emphasized that while automation, AI-enabled controls, connected systems, and other intelligent functions are advancing quickly, hydraulic solutions must still be designed around real-world machine requirements, duty cycles, safety expectations, and customer readiness:
- A systems-thinking approach is essential by linking components, sensors, controls, software, and data so performance can be measured, optimized, and validated across the full machine.
- That integration must also prove its value: advanced functionality should improve productivity, efficiency, safety, serviceability, or operator experience in ways that justify the investment.
- Adoption will vary by application, equipment type, and end-user expectations, especially as OEMs balance affordability, total cost of ownership, data volume, cybersecurity, and operator safety.
- Develop more U.S.-based engineering talent with cross-disciplinary knowledge in hydraulics, electronics, software, controls, data, and machine safety.
- Strengthen integration practices so that suppliers, integrators, and OEMs can align hardware, software, communication protocols, and performance requirements earlier in the design process.
- Support scalable paths for smaller OEMs, recognizing that limited budgets and longer machine lifecycles can slow adoption of advanced automation and connected functionality.
- DJ O’Konek of Nott Company discussed an electro-hydraulic skid steer that uses distributed hydraulics, an intuitive operator interface, and a digital backbone to improve energy efficiency and performance.
- Scanreco USA’s Jason Looman and Andy Gray presented on the “Convergence of Safety, Cybersecurity, and Connectivity in Modern Fluid Power Machines,” examining how variations in technology and machine lifecycles create challenges for advancing connectivity while aligning with operator preferences.
- Luka Korzeniowski highlighted Leggett & Platt Hydraulics’ latest sensor innovation, Integrated Radar Measurement (IRM), which sends radar signals through hydraulic oil within the cylinder to support simpler construction and next-generation sensing technology.
- Reinhold Herrman of IFP Motion Solutions Inc. closed the second day of presentations by comparing traditional load-holding valves with advanced solutions for electrified mobile equipment, with a focus on evolving requirements and simplified circuit designs.
When asked how the industry can continue moving forward, panelists pointed to the capabilities needed to bring intelligent hydraulic systems from concept to reliable deployment:
To wrap up the panel, the group advised that data and cybersecurity are also growing factors, and that global laws will dictate compliance requirements, especially safety and performance issues, and to increase resiliency. This was especially crucial around the topic of software and communications, and the demand for an agnostic software stack to allow small OEMs to more effectively compete.
In the presentations that followed over the next two days, speakers focused on recent research, innovations, and practical ways the industry can adopt new technologies to improve machine performance. Several sessions highlighted components, machine designs, and scalable solutions featured on the iVT Expo show floor, including:
NFPA thanks all Advanced Hydraulics Conference presenters for sharing their expertise, thought leadership, and insights into the latest applications available in the market.
As fluid power systems continue to advance, NFPA is pleased to host the “Advancing Technologies for Fluid Power: New System Architectures for Greater Efficiency and Productivity” webinar on October 19 from 10–11 a.m. CT. Building on knowledge shared at iVT Expo, the webinar will highlight how fluid power systems are evolving to improve the efficiency and productivity of mobile machines, particularly as manufacturers electrify powertrains. This focus reflects NFPA’s latest technology roadmapping efforts and insights shared by industry experts on the Fluid Power Forum Podcast.
Register today and join the conversation on October 19 | 10–11 a.m. CT.
