Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1 World in Motion Spring/Summer 2023The official publication of the Canadian Fluid Power Association Your CFPA’s AGM Book Your Spot at and Explore St. Andrews by the Sea!Canadian Fluid Power Association ❚ Spring/Summer 2023 ❚ 5 On the cover: Explore the charming streets of St. Andrews, New Brunswick, while in town for CFPA's AGM. Register at https://cfpa.ca/ cfpa-events. 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, Frank Kenyeres, Sandra Kirby, Cheryl Klassen, Flora Korkis, Charlie Langsford, Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Caitlin Nakamura, Jaime Schroeder 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. UP FRONT 06 Letter from the President 07 Four Reasons Why You Should Become a Volunteer with CFPA 08 Benefits of CFPA Membership 09 Improving Industrial Sustainability Through Smart Pneumatics 12 Wireless Pneumatic Solenoid Valve Interfaces: Solutions to Wiring Problems 14 In the Know: A Report from the CFPA’s Board of Directors FEATURES VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS HYDRAULIC AND PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS AND COMPONENTS Higginson Equipment Inc. ................inside front cover HYDRAULIC FILTRATION, CONTAMINATION MONITORING, PRESSURE SENSORS, FLUID POWER COMPONENTS AND PUMPS MP Filtri Canada Inc. ...............................................13 INDUSTRIAL HYDRAULICS Bosch Rexroth Canada .............................................3 INDUSTRY EVENTS Global Energy Show.........................inside back cover The International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE) 2023 ............................................................4 MOBILE HYDRAULICS H.P. Hydraulique Inc. ................................................14 MOTION AND CONTROL, INDUSTRIAL FILTRATION, AND AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS SUPPLIES Wainbee Ltd. .................................outside back cover MOTION AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES Parker Hannifin Canada ...........................................11 REVERSIBLE FANS FOR RADIATOR CLEANING Cleanfix North America...........................................10 SAE MOUNTED CAST IRON HYDRAULIC GEAR PUMPS AND ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS Gear Pump Manufacturing - US ..............................10 SUPRESSORS AND ACCUMULATORS Wilkes & McLean ....................................................106 www.cfpa.ca • Volume 5, Issue 1 Fluid power is not going away; as we all know there will always be applications that require its power density and ability to provide sheer brute force, but it is definitely evolving and incorporating new and existing technologies into new products and capabilities that will change its application and usefulness in the future. Letter from the President W hile many of you have heard of ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence systems that have recently emerged into the public domain, I had not until a recent conversation with colleagues. It is completely fascinating to me what this technology can do. As an example, I was thinking of this article and so I asked it specifically for the following: “Write a 600 word address from the president of the Canadian Fluid Power Association about the current state of the North American fluid power industry.” And it wrote a complete, coherent address that could have been written by a human. This is it, verbatim, without any editing. “Ladies and gentlemen, As the president of the Canadian Fluid Power Association, it is my pleasure to address you today about the current state of the North American fluid power industry. First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude for the hard work and dedication of all of our members and industry partners. The fluid power industry plays a vital role in the North American economy, and it is through your efforts that we have been able to achieve the level of success that we have today. In recent years, we have seen a steady growth in the demand for fluid power products and services. This is due in large part to the increased use of fluid power in a wide range of applications, including manufacturing, construction, and transportation. The reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of fluid power systems make them an attractive option for many industries, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years. Despite this growth, the industry is facing a number of challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the ongoing shortage of skilled workers. The fluid power industry requires a highly skilled workforce, and the shortage of workers with the necessary skills and training is a major concern. This is something that we, as an industry, need to address through increased investment in education and training programs. Another challenge that we are facing is the increasing cost of raw materials. The cost of steel, aluminum, and other metals used in the production of fluid power components has been rising in recent years, and this has had a significant impact on the cost of our products. We are working closely with our suppliers to find ways to mitigate these cost increases and to ensure that our products remain competitive in the market. Despite these challenges, the outlook for the North American fluid power industry is positive. The demand for fluid power products and services is expected to continue to grow, and the industry is well-positioned to meet this demand. We are seeing a number of new technologies and innovations that are being developed to improve the efficiency and performance of fluid power systems, and these advancements will help to drive the industry forward. In conclusion, I would like to thank all of our members and industry partners for their continued support and dedication. The fluid power industry plays a critical role in the North American economy, and I am confident that we will continue to grow and thrive in the years to come. Together, we will meet the challenges that we face and continue to build a strong and prosperous industry. Thank you.” Isn’t that amazing? And a little scary? Clearly it is quite generic and not nearly as colourful as what a human could write, but for a coherent and on-topic article it is quite amazing. This technology is called a large language model because the AI is trained by consuming immense amounts of text from the internet, and then it can understand descriptive written instructions and create written language that seems very human like based on those instructions. Why do I bring this up? This issue of Your World in Motion is our IFPE 2023 issue, and I know many of you will be watching closely, and hopefully attending the show. I wanted to bring your attention to the emerging technologies that will be on display and encourage you to be curious, investigate what is happening in the fluid power industry, and observe the changes that we are experiencing as a result of these technological advancements. Fluid power is not going away; as we all know there will always be applications that require its power density and ability to provide sheer brute force, but it is definitely evolving and incorporating new and existing technologies into new products and capabilities that will change its application and usefulness in the future. If you have ideas, comments, suggestions, or questions about how new technologies like AI are affecting the fluid power industry, attend IFPE 2023 in Vegas in March, and reach out to us at the CFPA. We would love to hear from you. up front Ted O’Donnell President Canadian Fluid Power Association8 www.cfpa.ca • Volume 5, Issue 1 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 are sourcing an economist to provide Canada-centric insight to members on key end user industries. We will begin with mining, food and beverages, and material handling. 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. This year’s events will include our “must attend” AGM, a western regional event which will include a golf tournament, another Quebec regional meeting, and the annual golf tournament to be held on September 20, 2023, at King’s Forest Golf Club in Hamilton, Ontario. up front Benefits ofCFPA MembershipCanadian Fluid Power Association ❚ Spring/Summer 2023 ❚ 9 dvances in smart technology are making it possible for industrial manufacturers of all sizes to reliably track and achieve their most challenging goals. For many manufacturers, that means reaching sustainability and decarbonization targets. Success lies in integrating smart technologies and using the valuable data collected to make meaningful changes that reduce resource use and emissions. The latest smart sensors can clearly show manufacturers how they’re using energy and provide insights and diagnostics that can help operators make informed decisions about its use. One process that uses a considerable amount of electricity – about 10 per cent for a typical facility – is generating compressed air. By installing smart pneumatic technologies in their plants, manufacturers can collect data about process parameters that can help operators identify if and where the pneumatic system is using more energy than it needs. Using this information, operators can quickly make decisions that improve energy efficiency. REDUCING ENERGY WASTE Wasted energy in pneumatic systems can be staggering. To put a number on it, manufacturing plants typically lose 30 per cent of compressed air just due to leakage alone. This wasted energy leads to machine downtime and, of course, increased energy use. Compressed air is used throughout industrial facilities, and its prevalence makes it pivotal to lower year-over-year energy costs. Improvements in the compressed airflow of a plant’s machinery of as little as a few percentage points can mean tens of thousands of dollars saved in energy costs each month, depending on the size and nature of the equipment. That can translate to hundreds of thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions saved. By using smart pneumatics like software monitoring and notification solutions to detect leakages, manufacturers can often reduce their compressed air energy spend by 10 to 20 per cent and reduce their CO 2 footprint by 10 per cent. However, for many manufacturers, this transformation remains a goal rather than a reality. While they may acknowledge the Through Smart Pneumatics IDEAS IN ACTION A global producer serving the automotive industry partnered with Emerson to monitor and measure the amount of energy one existing production line lost through compressed air leakage. This production line included various legacy equipment from different suppliers and a limited number of Ethernet access points. To meet the needs of this complex setup, Emerson recommended its AVENTICS TM Series AF2 Sensor, an easy-to-use airflow sensor that measures flow, pressure and temperature, and monitors air consumption in pneumatic systems. With IO-Link and Ethernet communication options, the compact AF2 is easy to assemble and can be installed on existing machines and pneumatic systems. The sensor can be integrated into air preparation units and gives manufacturers the option to operate as a stand- alone version. With a coloured, rotatable LED display that provides clear feedback, the AF2 sends notification alerts to users when it detects a leak. This flexible sensor allowed the company to invest in energy savings while keeping installation time and costs to a minimum. In addition to the AF2, the company chose Emerson’s PACSystems TM RXi2-BP Edge Computing Device, which digitizes then translates incoming AF2 sensor data into straightforward, user-friendly information that’s displayed on a live, web-based dashboard and gives users even more energy insights without additional software. The all-in-one, energy-saving, sensing, and edge computing solution Emerson provided monitors pneumatic air consumption and generates and interprets machine data, giving the automotive producer actionable insights and a more complete picture of what’s happening in its plant. As a result, the company has found areas for improvement, including reducing peak power consumption, optimizing maintenance costs, and avoiding downtime, and plans to continue optimizing its machines to use less energy. feature By Robert Brezni, Global Account Manager, Fluid Control & Pneumatics at Emerson Improving Industrial Sustainability By monitoring key parameters, Emerson’s AVENTICS AF2 Series airflow sensor gives operators a clear picture of compressed air consumption in pneumatic systems and allows them to identify and address leaks quickly. By translating incoming sensor data, Emerson’s PACSystems RXi2-BP Edge Computing Device makes data easy to understand and use. (Photos Courtesy of Emerson) Continued on page 10Next >