How NFPA’s Robotics Challenge Sparks Interest in Fluid Power

One of NFPA’s strategic priorities is to increase the number of fluid power educated technicians and engineers. The Robotics Challenge initiative is one workforce development strategy implemented by the NFPA to fill that need. The program aims to bring an awareness of pneumatic applications in robotics to high school students and to stimulate increased use of fluid power products in these competitions. Additionally, the NFPA Robotics Challenge helps encourage high school students to use fluid power in real-world applications while also connecting them to resources that support their pursuit of higher education and fluid power careers. 

This spring, NFPA Workforce Staff traveled to our five Fast Track to Fluid Power Hub regions to support high school robotics activity and promote NFPA workforce development initiatives. A Fast Track Hub centers on a technical or community college with a validated fluid power and mechatronics degree program. The program aims to foster a productive partnership between technical colleges, NFPA’s industry partners, and students and faculty in local middle schools and high schools. These networks create awareness and interest in fluid power and train students along a path that leads to careers in fluid power at NFPA member companies.  

NFPA’s five Fast Track Hubs are in:  

• Suburban Milwaukee, WI at Waukesha County Technical College 

• Suburban Chicago, IL at Triton College 

• Suburban Detroit, MI at Macomb Community College 

• Cleveland, OH at Cuyahoga Community College 
• Suburban Houston, TX at Houston Community College. 
  

NFPA Workforce Staff conducted outreach to over 300 FIRST and VEX teams, which translates to thousands of students, guardians, educators, and community members. Most students we spoke with are seeking out careers in engineering. Teams were encouraged to engage with the NFPA through:  

• Applying to the $2,500 Fluid Power Scholarship Program for high school seniors, and students enrolled at community colleges, technical colleges, and universities. The Fluid Power Scholarship aims to help students pursue their interests in fluid power. Fluid Power industry members are invited to serve on the scholarship review committee.  

• Requesting funds from the $500 Fluid Power Grant program to incorporate pneumatic technology into their competition robot. 

• Hosting an industry professional through the Speaker’s Bureau to learn more about exciting education and career opportunities in fluid power  

• Submitting their resumes to our resume bank to find an internship, job, or co-op. NFPA gathers student resumes from our partner schools and distributes them to our member companies each month. This program is exclusive to members of our Pascal Society.  

• Exploring company profiles through NFPA’s website featuring member companies in the industry. 

If you’re interested in getting involved with any of the programs mentioned in this article, please contact workforce@nfpa.com. Click here to join a Workforce Engagement Group to stay informed of the latest opportunities to recruit and engage with emerging talent in the Fast Track Hub regions.