Last week's NFPA Annual Conference brought together representatives from 125 different member companies for a week focused on leadership, innovation, and industry collaboration. Attendees explored the trends shaping fluid power while strengthening the relationships that continue to move the industry forward.
A special thank you goes to our gold sponsors, Endeavor AI and IFP Motion Solutions, Inc., for their leadership support. We also recognize our six silver sponsors, (Certified Power Solutions, Continuum, Eagle Hydraulic, eShipping, Fluid System Components & Hydrotech, and White Cup Solutions) along with our eleven bronze sponsors (Festo, Hallite, HYDAC, Hydra-Power Systems, Interlynx Systems, Leggett & Platt, Moseys Production Machinists, National Tube Supply, QCC, ROSS Controls, and Stucchi). Their support helped make this year’s event a success.
Educational sessions throughout the conference provided valuable insight into leadership, economic outlooks, and the evolving role of technology. Brent Gleeson of EXCELR8 shared strategies for building resilient organizations and leading with emotional intelligence in an AI-driven environment. Alex Chausovsky (3DM Consulting), Eugene Chausovsky (New Lines Institute), and Maksym Tereschenko (Mantis Analytics) led an interactive session exploring geopolitical disruption through AI-driven intelligence simulation. Rob Tiffany (IDC) and Adam Livesay (Elevat) discussed how companies can strengthen their digital capabilities, while Lauren Seidel Baker of ITR Economics delivered a forward-looking economic forecast for the industry. Suneel Gupta closed the program with an inspiring session on leading with energy and sustaining momentum.
A special moment during the conference celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge. The milestone highlighted the program’s growing impact on workforce development by featuring eight alumni who have since been hired by NFPA member companies. Their stories reflected the program’s role in connecting students with real-world career opportunities while strengthening the industry’s future talent pipeline.
The conference also featured a strong tabletop exhibitor presence, showcasing innovative technologies and solutions from companies and organizations across the fluid power supply chain, including Aeration Measurement Technologies, Anchor Harvey, Charter Dura-Bar, Continental Hydraulics, Continuum AI, Endeavor AI, Enlighten.Net, Epicor, Hanel Manufacturing, IC Flow Controls, IC-Fluid Power, IFPS, Interlynx Systems, Leverage AI, Moseys Production Machinists, Murrelektronik, NFPA Education and Technology Foundation, Rota Limited, Saporito Finishing Company, Stauff Corporation, Sugino Corporation, Temposonics, TraceParts, Tribute, Inc., and White Cup Solutions.
Beyond education and networking, attendees demonstrated their commitment to the future of the industry by helping raise $15,250 for the NFPA Foundation. Two Foundation fundraisers added energy and excitement to the week: golf at TPC Louisiana, supported by Eagle sponsors OEM Controls and Scanreco and Birdie sponsors Hydra-Power Systems and National Tube Supply, as well as mini-golfing and racing go-karts at NOLA Motorsports Park with event sponsor OEM Controls.
Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, exhibited, and contributed to this year’s Annual Conference. The conversations, ideas, and connections built during the event will continue to shape the future of fluid power in the months ahead.