Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 World in Motion Fall/Winter 2023The official publication of the Canadian Fluid Power Association Your SPECIAL ISSUE Industry The at Your FingertipsCanadian Fluid Power Association ❚ Fall/Winter 2023 ❚ 5 contents Published For: Canadian Fluid Power Association 146 Delarmbro Drive Erin, ON N0B 1T0 Phone: (519) 833-7417 info@cfpa.ca www.cfpa.ca Published By: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Return all undeliverable addresses to: 309 Youville Street Winnipeg, MB R2H 2S9 Toll-Free: (866) 999-1299 Toll-Free Fax: (866) 244-2544 sales@matrixgroupinc.net www.matrixgroupinc.net President & CEO Jack Andress Operations Manager Shoshana Weinberg sweinberg@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Publisher Jessica Potter jpotter@matrixgroupinc.net Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Editor Alexandra Kozub akozub@matrixgroupinc.net Editor / Social Media Manager Jenna Collignon Finance / Administration Lloyd Weinberg, Nathan Redekop accounting@matrixgroupinc.net Director of Circulation & Distribution Lloyd Weinberg distribution@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Manager - Winnipeg Neil Gottfred Sales Manager - Hamilton Jeff Cash Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Account Executives Colleen Bell, Rob Gibson, Jim Hamilton, Scott Hendren, Touhid Kahn, Frank Kenyeres, Sandra Kirby, Cheryl Klassen, Charlie Langsford, Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Shaun Minett, Caitlin Nakamura, Vlada Radchenko, Wilma Gray-Rose, Luke Stevens, Julie Welsh Layout & Design Kayti McDonald Advertising Design James Robinson ©2023 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. 09 Use a Powerful Digital Platform for Optimizing WAGES 12 Simulations Reveal Valuable Information About Fluid Power Components 15 In the Know: A Report from the CFPA’s Board of Directors FEATURES VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2 UP FRONT 06 Letter from the President 07 Four Reasons Why You Should Become a Volunteer with the CFPA 08 Benefits of CFPA Membership 14 Join CFPA at the 2024 AGM! YOUR GUIDE TO THE FLUID POWER INDUSTRY 16 CFPA Members: Alphabetical List 17 CFPA Members: Capabilities 28 CFPA Members: Buyers’ Guide 34 Index to Advertisers Write for a future issue of Your World in Motion! Turn to page 27 to learn more.6 www.cfpa.ca • Volume 5, Issue 2 The feedback we received from the workshops at our fantastic 2023 AGM in St. Andrews by the Sea, Nova Scotia, made it clear that our membership has a very clear and passionate identity; we are fluid power professionals, and we want to be known as such. Letter from the President H ello fluid power industry professionals and interested parties. The feedback we received from the workshops at our fantastic 2023 AGM in St. Andrews by the Sea, Nova Scotia, made it clear that our membership has a very clear and passionate identity; we are fluid power professionals, and we want to be known as such. We want to be inclusive of all technologies, but we do not want to dilute our identity by incorporating a change to our association name just because fluid power is evolving to include more electronics and automation technologies and content. In fact, we might want to “double down” on our identity, as one member put it, and honour our roots while changing the perception that fluid power is somehow archaic and dirty. We need to bring our message that with fluid power, “we touch everything.” As a result of these discussions and other input, I think it is time for the Canadian Fluid Power Association (CFPA) to pivot our focus slightly and change our priorities for providing value to the fluid power market in Canada; not a wholesale change, just one that aligns our efforts better with the needs of the membership. Each of us as members – and even potential members – share one common need these days: people. But we don’t just need people, we need qualified, skillful, trained people. As a result, our number one focus needs to be on providing people and skills, which to me means skills development that leads to certification, training for new employees, and awareness and education for students – all need to have our focus. In this space we have good momentum. We have the Grade 8 Fluid Power Challenge, and we have the ongoing activities and development of the Micro-credentials Fluid Power Courses at our Colleges. But we need more activities at the high school level to make students aware of the fluid power industry and the opportunities it provides. We also need specific skills development and ongoing education for those already in positions who need development; think skills in component repair, or troubleshooting, etc. that could be provided by skilled professionals who are already in our industry. We need development in these areas to create a comprehensive path to education and skills development in the fluid power sector. We have always had a strong focus on market statistics, and they should still remain part of our value, but they are not universal to all members because some want / need / can use them, but for others this is less so. Where they have had a primary place in our pillars, I believe they should take a secondary place in our value offering. Outreach, and connecting with adjacent technologies and like-minded industries will become more important as our technology evolves. We need more focus here and help from the membership with who we should connect with and partner with to make us stronger. Membership and communications support all our efforts. Without member participation we do not get anything done, and without clear communication our messaging is not heard. I believe that we will gain interest and membership growth by focusing our efforts on skills development. And finally, back to the need for clear messaging about fluid power, marketing and communication of our “brand” – the Canadian Fluid Power Association – is essential. The idea that hydraulics touches everything, and is everywhere, along with the need to build a story around our skills, education activities, and the value the association brings to our members will all require more focus on our message to the world. We will need to develop a marketing committee to address these needs. I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback about these ideas and the value we can bring to you, our members. Reach out at info@cfpa.ca to share your thoughts and ideas. up front Ted O’Donnell President Canadian Fluid Power Association8 www.cfpa.ca • Volume 5, Issue 2 he Canadian Fluid Power Association (CFPA) is committed to finding and delivering value to association members. Run by a dedicated and passionate board of directors, the CFPA champions our nation’s fluid power industry to ensure not only relevance in a changing world, but also growth and prosperity. Recently, the association’s growth has been accelerating. Expanding on successful programs such as our Fluid Power Challenge and yearly attendance records of our AGM and golf tournament, the CFPA is poised to take the next leap. Through expanded market insight, a steady eye on industrial relations, growth of education and career initiatives, and communication through relevant social media and technological channels, we will provide even greater value and satisfaction to membership. The four pillars of the CFPA express our value proposition, and, in conjunction with our membership and regional events committees, are the foundation of the association. INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES A prominent businessman once said, “Every man owes part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged. No man has the moral right to withhold his support from an organization striving to improve conditions within his sphere.” Navigating the industry regulatory requirements and standards can be daunting. The CFPA helps keep member companies current with relevant requirements and standards, preserving association strength. The second part of the committee deals with outreach. There are numerous opportunities to expand our reach and bring experts from sister associations into our association to provide additional insight on end user industries. We are currently looking for a chair for this important pillar! MARKET INSIGHT Market insight is often cited as the defining pillar members are influenced by to join the association. Economic data is important for strategic decisions, such as sales staffing, marketing resources, and emerging product lines. The CFPA is the only source in the world for Canadian fluid power industry economic data, and only members have access. The CFPA works hard to provide relevant market and economic data, which is collected from member companies. The association also publishes its quarterly market report and the “gut check” executive report, which are the perennial staples provided to contributing members. The CFPA Compensation and Benefits report has been greatly expanded and polls members on specifically targeted salaried positions in the Canadian fluid power industry. Find out if you are trending ahead or behind by joining the association and contributing your own data. The pillar of market insight is overseen by an ardent committee of members from the CFPA. Most of CFPA’s directors are high-level managers and executives at their businesses, which means they’re able to identify what is important to you and the association. The data collected and shared provides relevant industry information – important information to help you make better strategic decisions. This year, we have formed a new relationship with Oxford Economics to provide Canada- centric economic forecasts on fluid power markets, and members also have access to their regular economic webinars. COMMUNICATIONS Communications is the pillar of the CFPA dedicated to both internal and external sharing of information, news, and data. The CFPA has made in-roads with social media in recent years and is now active on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Also, the association is providing more and more bilingual content. The CFPA stays connected to its membership with regular newsletters, regional meetings, and webinars. We are excited to bring members a brand new website in 2023, which will provide even more industry resources, and we will be providing more ways for members to showcase their companies to the fluid power industry as a whole. CAREERS AND EDUCATION No matter where we roam in Canada, a common thread of complaint exists for all association members; replacing an aging workforce with talented and devoted young professionals. The CFPA is committed to the engagement and growth of students entering STEM careers. Because the association firmly believes in this mission, it dedicated more resources to its Fluid Power Challenges than any other initiative. Recently, the CFPA has expanded its Fluid Power Challenge outside of Toronto and now has a National Challenge, which leaves fewer students out of such an important program for our industry. The growing success of the CFPA’s education program is ensuring the pipeline is filled with talented fluid power employees for the association to recruit in years to come. The association is further supplementing its Challenges with promotion and growth of its scholarship program, providing member companies with prospects direct from college. Career growth is important for both an employee and the company they work for. Relevant skills pertinent to the fluid power industry must be upgraded and kept current to ensure our industry remains competitive. The CFPA has been working with the International Fluid Power Society to bring hydraulic specialist training and certification to members. Through the one-week program, students review CFPHS requirements and write the exam on the final day. With fewer venues for testing in Canada, the CFPA is proud to be a key partner for the IFPS in the north. MEMBERSHIP Membership growth contributes to industry growth. Growing the association is a top priority. To encourage membership growth, the CFPA provides memorable events in as many formats and locations as possible. The association’s regional events committee provides something for everyone, and the CFPA is proud of its streak of record-attendance events; the Western Meeting, the AGM, and our golf tournament are growing exponentially. Mark your calendar for the 2024 AGM, June 5-8, 2024, at the Westin Resort in Blue Mountain, Ontario. Make sure to check the CFPA website often for other event updates as they become available. up front Benefits ofCFPA MembershipCanadian Fluid Power Association ❚ Fall/Winter 2023 ❚ 9 feature hile every company strives to maximize operational efficiency, the best ways of doing so are not always clear. However, most experts realize that one of the top approaches is to optimize the consumption of resources and energy, including water, air, gas electricity, and steam (WAGES). Successful WAGES optimization boosts return on investment, minimizes equipment wear and maintenance requirements, and reduces the company’s carbon footprint to improve eco-sustainability. Enterprises using fluid power in their manufacturing processes will realize tangible benefits if they can develop a plan for paying close attention to the relevant WAGES details, and then establish effective methods for taking action. Managing energy in traditional ways via manual data inspection and spreadsheets is labour intensive and prone to errors, sometimes By Chiara Ponzellini, Emerson introducing significant delays to the point where data becomes available too late to act on it in a useful manner. Integrating and automating these tasks are a much better alternative. A comprehensive digital energy management platform is essential to make the endeavor a reality. Because WAGES are related to an incredibly wide variety of company-wide systems, such a platform must be open, easily connected, and able to deliver rapid results (Figure 1). Too many companies have been thwarted in their efforts to get WAGES under control by trying to coordinate disparate systems, or by choosing platforms which simply can’t deliver the near-real-time industrial-grade performance necessary to drive the optimization of people, machinery, resources, and materials. This article examines how choosing the right platform of hardware and software can catapult these companies into the future by helping them flexibly increase efficiency, at any scale, while realizing additional benefits of improved quality and sustainability. CASTING A WIDER NET For a single machine, a localized pneumatics system, or one hydraulic skid, it can be relatively straightforward to monitor the associated power consumption, or perhaps the air usage. But scaling up data acquisition efforts to encompass main incoming utilities, secondary utilities such as air compressors and steam generation, and then all consumption throughout the site is a different matter. At a sitewide scale, for example, a water main for a facility can be monitored by a single flowmeter, if the site is fortunate enough to have one in place. But other equipment like electrical switchgear can have multiple incoming lines and Powerful Optimizing WAGES Platform Use a Digital To monitor and analyze all supply and consumption of resources and energy within a facility, designers need an industrial-grade software solution that can connect with, visualize, and analyze a wide array of data sources. forNext >