draft 2021 nfpa technology roadmap draft

2021 NFPA TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP

IMPROVING THE DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND FUNCTION OF FLUID POWER COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS

© 2021, National Fluid Power Association

DRAFT – Not for dissemination or replication 1





TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background and Introduction ................................................................................................................ 3‐6

Roadmap Elements ................................................................................................................................... 7

Roadmap Update Process and Timeline................................................................................................. 8‐9

Customer Markets ............................................................................................................................. 10‐11

Customer Drivers ............................................................................................................................... 12‐16

Fluid Power’s Alignment with Customer Drivers ................................................................................ 17‐19

Capability Improvements ................................................................................................................... 20‐21

Capability Improvement Focus Areas ...................................................................................................... 22

Connections Between Capability Improvements and Customer Drivers ............................................ 23‐24

Definition of Pre‐Competitive Research .................................................................................................. 25

Research Areas .................................................................................................................................. 26‐27

Connections Between Research Areas and Capability Improvements .................................................... 28

Research Targets ................................................................................................................................ 29‐32

Full Technology Roadmap Schematic ...................................................................................................... 33

Related Projects and Activities ................................................................................................................ 34

Committee and Working Groups ....................................................................................................... 35‐41





BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

Technology Roadmap for the Fluid Power Industry

In August 2009, the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) published the Technology Roadmap for the Fluid Power Industry. The purpose of the Roadmap was to provide NFPA member companies and their research partners with an industry‐wide consensus regarding the research and development needs of the fluid power industry.

The Roadmap was the result of a facilitated process among representatives from 20 organizations in the fluid power industry, and it charted a ten‐year research and technology development agenda to realize industry‐elevating advancements in mobile hydraulics, industrial hydraulics, and pneumatics. In creating the Roadmap, the representatives specifically focused on advancements they thought would help the industry meet the future needs of its customers, expand fluid power into new customer markets, and attract the best and brightest students to the field.

Since its publication, the Roadmap has been used by the NFPA Education and Technology Foundation and the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) to guide their respective research efforts, and by numerous NFPA members and other industry partners to inform decisions about research partnerships and product development.

A Pre‐Competitive Research Agenda for the Fluid Power Industry

In 2012, NFPA convened a task force of industry representatives to review and update the Technology Roadmap for the Fluid Power Industry. Their report, A Pre‐Competitive Research Agenda for the Fluid Power Industry, was published in January 2013, and addressed several shortcomings of the original Roadmap. The updated report:

Expanded the use of end market customer perspectives and drivers in determining the fluid power research challenges to be met and objectives to be achieved.

Defined “pre‐competitive” for the purposes of the report and NFPA’s future use. The report’s research agenda is targeted in areas that are broad enough that they are unlikely to be pursued by individual companies for competitive advantage but targeted enough that they are likely to result in technological advancements that can assist wide industry sectors.

Reviewed and incorporated the research successes and progress of the CCEFP in the identification of future research objectives.

Made specific recommendations for supporting market education and standardization efforts that will complement and help advance the research agenda.





The 2012 report has again been used by the NFPA Education and Technology Foundation and the CCEFP to guide their respective research efforts, and again by numerous NFPA members and other industry partners to inform decisions about research partnerships and product development. It has also been used by NFPA to guide its market education and standards development work.

NFPA Roadmap Committee

In 2014, NFPA launched the NFPA Roadmap Committee, a volunteer structure tasked with developing, maintaining, and supplementing the NFPA Technology Roadmap, the industry consensus‐based document which identifies the areas of pre‐competitive research needed to increase fluid power’s competitive position in the marketplace, open new markets for fluid power, and attract the best and brightest students to the field.

The Committee published its first report in August 2015. It was an update to the task force report published in January 2013, reviewing and updating a pre‐competitive research agenda for the fluid power industry. Because many of the challenges to be addressed in this agenda deal with the design and function of fluid power components and systems, the report was titled the 2015 NFPA Technology Roadmap: Improving the Design and Function of Fluid Power Components and Systems.

In completing that work, the Committee utilized many of the same processes and objectives identified by the 2012 task force, including the use of end market customer perspectives and drivers, the definition of pre‐competitive research, the incorporation of CCEFP research successes and progress, and the inclusion of market education and standardization recommendations.

The Committee now repeats this function on a biennial basis, updating the Roadmap as needed to reflect the evolving needs of fluid power component and system manufacturers and their customers. It published an updated Roadmap in August 2017.

Fluid Power Advanced Manufacturing Consortium (FPAMC)

The FPAMC was established in 2015 through a federal grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Administered by the CCEFP, the purpose of the FPAMC is threefold: (1) Identify the key enabling manufacturing technologies necessary to improve the manufacture and function of fluid power components; (2) Transcribe the research necessary to improve these technologies for fluid power’s use onto manufacturing roadmaps; and (3) Establish a sustaining, interdisciplinary consortium focused on creating, maintaining, expanding and facilitating implementation of these advanced manufacturing roadmaps for the U.S. fluid power industry.

The FPAMC published its first report in May 2017, which focused on enabling the fluid power industry’s use of coatings, micromachining, composites and engineered plastics, sintered metals, additive





manufacturing, batch‐free heat treating, robotics, hybrid manufacturing, metrology, and in‐process sensing, feedback and control.

The 2017 NFPA Technology Roadmap incorporated some of these elements, but the two reports – the 2017 NFPA Technology Roadmap focused on the design and function of fluid power components and systems and the 2017 FPAMC “Manufacturing Roadmap” focused on the manufacture of fluid power components – are best viewed as separate documents with distinct purposes.

2019 NFPA Technology Roadmap

In the third publication of the NFPA Roadmap Committee, published in August 2019, an attempt was made to combine the findings of the two 2017 roadmaps into one comprehensive report. As such, the report was titled the 2019 NFPA Technology Roadmap: Improving the Design, Manufacture and Function of Fluid Power Components and Systems.

2021 NFPA Technology Roadmap

In this, the fourth publication of the NFPA Roadmap Committee, the focus on improving the design, manufacture and function of fluid power components and systems has been maintained.

In its preparation, the NFPA Roadmap Committee was expanded to include a wider diversity of stakeholders across the fluid power supply chain, and several surveys of stakeholders in the broader fluid power customer and motion control industries were utilized to better inform the discussions and decisions of the Committee.

The Committee worked via email, conference call, and virtual meeting from January to July 2021 to complete this report. Although the report contains information regarding the consensus and individual opinions of the Committee members, and represents their most up‐to‐date thinking on the state‐of‐the‐art, the report should not be interpreted as the single or wholly comprehensive agenda for the fluid power industry.

This document is the intellectual property of NFPA. It is not for reprint, resale, or redistribution, in whole or in part, without the written permission of NFPA.

The 2021 NFPA Technology Roadmap is a tool that can be used, with permission obtained from NFPA, by organizations that wish to pursue projects of importance to the fluid power industry. These organizations include both research institutions and companies across the fluid power supply chain. By aligning their activities with the challenges, objectives, and proposed projects described in the Roadmap, they will all play a role in positively shaping the future of fluid power technology.





NFPA will continue to use the Roadmap to shape and direct the research efforts of the NFPA Education & Technology Foundation and the CCEFP. It will also use the Roadmap as a vehicle by which to attract and organize additional funding for the projects and initiatives it describes.

By putting forth this Roadmap, representing a broad consensus of industry players, and focused on pre‐competitive initiatives that will help develop new technologies to benefit the industries, markets, and people served by fluid power, NFPA demonstrates a commitment both to collaboration and to long‐term growth and sustainability.





ROADMAP ELEMENTS

The 2021 NFPA Technology Roadmap is comprised of four primary elements, each connected to the next in an interdependent chain.

1. Customer Drivers are the business or technology objectives of fluid power customers. They help them serve the needs of their own customers and are not necessarily connected to their use of fluid power.

2. Capability Improvements describe the ways in which fluid power systems must improve if they are to meet or better meet the customer needs described by the Customer Drivers.

3. Research Areas are the broad areas of pre‐competitive investigation that could assist in bringing about the Capability Improvements.

4. Research Targets are the objectives that quantify or otherwise describe successful strategies for pursuing the Research Areas.

EXAMPLE:





ROADMAP UPDATE PROCESS AND TIMELINE

The following process and timeline were used to update the NFPA Technology Roadmap and produce this report.

Phase 1 – Customer Drivers

Nov 12, 2020 Launch of survey on Customer Drivers

Dec 17, 2020 Deadline to respond to survey on Customer Drivers

Jan 21, 2021 Virtual committee meeting to discuss, define and prioritize Customer Drivers

Phase 2 – Capability Improvements

Jan 28, 2021 Meeting report sent with prioritized Customer Drivers and setting the stage for fluid power alignment and Capability Improvements

Launch of survey on fluid power alignment and Capability Improvements

Feb 18, 2021 Deadline to respond to survey on fluid power alignment and Capability Improvements

Mar 4, 2021 Virtual committee meeting at NFPA Regional Conference to discuss, define and prioritize Capability Improvements

Phase 3 – Research Areas and Targets

Mar 11, 2021 Meeting report sent with prioritized Capability Improvements and setting the stage for Research Areas and Targets, including process for defining working groups for each Capability Improvement

Launch of survey on Research Areas and Targets

Apr 1, 2021 Deadline to respond to survey on Research Areas and Targets

Apr/May 2021 Virtual working group meetings to discuss and prioritize Research Areas and Targets for each Capability Improvement

Jun 3, 2021 Virtual committee meeting at NFPA Regional Conference to review and harmonize Research Areas and Targets for each Capability Improvement





Phase 4 – Final Roadmap Document

Jun 2021 Draft Roadmap document written

Jul 8, 2021 Draft Roadmap document sent for review and comment

Jul 22, 2021 Deadline to return comments on draft Roadmap

Aug 17, 2021 Final Roadmap document published and presented at NFPA Industry and Economic Outlook Conference





CUSTOMER MARKETS

Fluid power technology is used in hundreds of applications in dozens of specific customer markets. Generally speaking, all of fluid power’s customer markets can be grouped into two general areas: those that are served by hydraulics and those that are served by pneumatics.

According to NFPA’s latest data, the 20 largest customer markets represent nearly 77% of all hydraulic and pneumatic product sales.

When referencing customers and their needs, the 2021 NFPA Technology Roadmap therefore defaults to customers in these 20 markets, namely:

Construction Machinery

Agricultural Machinery

Automotive and Light Trucks

Material Handling

Oil and Gas Machinery

Class 4‐8 Trucks

Lawn and Garden Equipment

Mining Machinery





Metalworking and Machine Tools

Power Generation

Food Processing

Plastics Machinery

Paper Machinery

Packaging Machinery

Medical Equipment

Semiconductor

Sawmill and Woodworking Machinery

Aerospace

Printing Machinery

Chemical Processing





CUSTOMER DRIVERS

Customer Drivers are the business or technology objectives of fluid power customers. Generally speaking, fluid power customers are the companies that build machines that incorporate fluid power components and systems. In this report, we will therefore sometimes refer to these customers as “machine builders.” The Customer Drivers help these machine builders serve the needs of their own customers (the companies or people that purchase and use the machines) and are not necessarily connected to their use of fluid power.

In the 2019 NFPA Technology Roadmap, the following eight Customer Drivers were identified as those of highest importance to the majority of fluid power customer markets:

Increased availability and up‐time

Increased productivity and performance

Compliance with safety regulations and machine directives

Lower capital and operating costs

Easier and more predictable maintenance

Greater integration of technologies, including data acquisition, utilization and ownership

Weight reductions and increased power density

Autonomous operation

NFPA conducted a survey in December 2020 to determine the current importance of these Customer Drivers in the 20 largest fluid power customer markets, and to determine if any new Drivers had emerged in these markets since the time of the 2019 NFPA Technology Roadmap. The survey received responses from 113 individuals across the fluid power supply chain, including a large percentage from the NFPA Roadmap Committee.





Respondents were asked to rank the importance of each Customer Driver in each of the customer markets with which they were familiar. Some variations in importance emerged for particular markets. In the aggregate all the Drivers were ranked as at least somewhat important.





The aggregate prioritization of these Customer Drivers, from highest to lowest importance, was assessed to be:

1. Increased availability and up‐time 2. Increased productivity and performance 3. Compliance with safety regulations and machine directives 4. Lower capital and operating costs 5. Easier and more predictable maintenance 6. Greater integration of technologies, including data acquisition, utilization and ownership 7. Autonomous operation 8. Weight reductions and increased power density

It may also be helpful to look at the top ranked Drivers in each customer market. In the list below, we have included either the highest‐scored Driver, or any Driver that scored 4.500 or higher. Organizations focused on these markets may be well served in focusing their attention on the appropriate Drivers.

Aerospace


Agricultural Machinery


Automotive and Light Trucks


Chemical Processing


Class 4‐8 Trucks


Construction Machinery



Food Processing



Lawn and Garden Equipment






Material Handling


Medical Equipment


Metalworking and Machine Tools



Mining Machinery



Oil and Gas Machinery




Packaging Machinery



Paper Machinery



Plastics Machinery



Power Generation



Printing Machinery








Sawmill and Woodworking Machinery


Semiconductor




Survey responders also provided suggestions for new Customer Drivers which had emerged since the time of the 2019 NFPA Technology Roadmap. These suggestions were reviewed by the NFPA Roadmap Committee at its January 21, 2021 meeting, and again at its March 4, 2021 meeting. Recognizing that some overlap existed among both the established and suggested Customer Drivers (i.e., that efforts to address one Customer Driver could also serve as a method for addressing the needs representing by other Drivers), the Committee identified the following list of final Customer Drivers for use in the 2021 NFPA Technology Roadmap.

These Customer Drivers are listed in priority order.





FLUID POWER’S ALIGNMENT WITH CUSTOMER DRIVERS

NFPA conducted a survey in February 2021 to determine fluid power’s current ability to meet the needs representing by the Customer Drivers. The survey received responses from 70 individuals across the fluid power supply chain, including a large percentage from the NFPA Roadmap Committee.

Respondents were asked how often hydraulic and pneumatic technologies are used by machine builders when delivering each of the benefits described by the Customer Drivers to the buyers and users of their machines.





The weighted average reflects that, according to NFPA’s latest data, hydraulics represent 84% and pneumatics represent 16% of all fluid power component sales. It was noted that fluid power is generally aligned with the needs expressed by the Customer Drivers. Fluid power appears most often used to help machine builders deliver increased productivity & performance and increased availability & up‐time, and least often used to help machine builders ensure on‐time delivery of the machine and compliance with environmental and safety regulations. Gap Analysis – Importance vs. Alignment

Survey respondents were also asked to rank how important each of the Customer Drivers are for machine builders in markets typically served by hydraulics and in markets typically served by pneumatics. It is often helpful to look at the gap between the importance of a Customer Driver and the frequency with which fluid power is used by machine builders to deliver its benefits to their customers. The results of this “gap” analysis are shown below.

Again, the weighted average reflects that, according to NFPA’s latest data, hydraulics represent 84% and pneumatics represent 16% of all fluid power component sales.

For all seven Customer Drivers, the gaps between importance and use of fluid power are positive numbers, meaning that the frequency of fluid power use scored lower than the importance of the Driver.





The Customer Drivers can be ordered from largest to smallest gap like this:

On‐time delivery of the machine (0.83)

Increased availability and up‐time (0.71)

Compliance with environmental and safety regulations and machine directives (0.57)

Lower capital and operating costs (0.43)

Easier and more predictable maintenance (0.40)

Increased productivity and performance (0.22)

Increased energy efficiency (0.08)

Since the larger the “gap” number, the greater the distance between the importance of the Driver and the frequency with which fluid power is used to address it, this suggests that fluid power should focus on Capability Improvements that would help address the top drivers on this list.





CAPABILITY IMPROVEMENTS

Capability Improvements describe the ways in which fluid power systems must improve if they are to meet or better meet the customer needs described by the Customer Drivers.

In the 2019 NFPA Technology Roadmap, the following eight Capability Improvements were identified as those of highest importance for the fluid power industry to pursue in order to meet or better meet the customer needs described by the Customer Drivers.

Improve fluid power control systems (including through electrification)

Monitor, gather and use data generated from working fluid power products to add value

Provide greater fluid power expertise

Improve fluid power's reliability and durability

Increase fluid power's energy efficiency

Increase fluid power's power density

Reduce the environmental impact of fluid power components and systems

Reduce lead time for fluid power components and their control elements

In the survey NFPA conducted in February 2021, respondents were also asked to assess the usefulness of these Capability Improvements in helping fluid power meet the needs described by the final Customer Drivers and to suggest any new Capability Improvements had may have emerged since the time of the 2019 NFPA Technology Roadmap.





The weighted average reflects that, according to NFPA’s latest data, hydraulics represent 84% and pneumatics represent 16% of all fluid power component sales.

It was determined that these results show that each Capability Improvement would be extremely or very helpful in improving fluid power’s ability to help meet the customer needs expressed by at least one of the Customer Drivers.

In addition to ranking the helpfulness of the existing Capability Improvements, survey participants were also asked to suggest any additional Capability Improvements that they would have ranked as “Extremely Helpful” or “Very Helpful” for each Customer Driver. These suggestions were reviewed by the NFPA Roadmap Committee at its March 4, 2021 meeting.

In reviewing these suggestions, the Committee noted that many of them would require market‐based rather than technology‐based improvements in order to be effective, and therefore may not be appropriate for incorporation into a technology development roadmap. The Committee therefore identified the following list of final Capability Improvements for use in the 2021 NFPA Technology Roadmap.

These Capability Improvements are NOT listed in priority order.

It should also be noted that “Provide greater fluid power expertise” was removed from this list. The Committee agreed that, although it represented an important area of market and student education, it is not a technology‐based improvement to fluid power systems, and it is therefore an outlier in a technology‐based development roadmap for fluid power.





CAPABILITY IMPROVEMENT FOCUS AREAS

A series of Working Groups, one for each Capability Improvement, was established by the NFPA Roadmap Committee. The task of each Working Group was to review data from multiple surveys, to determine meaningful connections between its Capability Improvement and the Customer Drivers, and to determine Research Areas and Targets to help bring about the advancements described by its Capability Improvement.

Multiple Working Groups recognized an interplay between the Capability Improvements, acknowledging that advancement in one area could serve as a mechanism to make advancements in others. This interplay suggests the organization of the Capability Improvements into three co‐equal Focus Areas.

Advances in each Focus Area will make a unique contribution to fluid power’s ability to meet the needs expressed by the customer drivers.

Advances in each focus area will also have the potential to “cross‐fertilize” to either support or benefit from advances in the other two.





CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CAPABILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND CUSTOMER DRIVERS

The following connections have been identified between the Capability Improvements and the Customer Drivers. THICK lines indicate a SIGNIFICANT connection, meaning that advancements in the area of Capability Improvement will have a significant impact on a machine builder’s ability to deliver the benefits described by the Customer Driver. THIN lines indicate a lesser connection, likely applicable in some, but not all customer markets and applications.





These connections suggest the following objectives for machine builders seeking to deliver the benefits described by the Customer Drivers:

Machine builders that wish to…

Should definitely work with their fluid power suppliers to…

And, depending on the application, should consider working with their fluid power suppliers to…

Increase availability and up‐time Monitor, gather and use data generated from working fluid power products to add value

Improve fluid power’s reliability and durability


Reduce lead time for fluid power components and their control elements

Increase productivity and performance Improve fluid power control systems (including through electrification)


Increase fluid power’s power density


Increase fluid power’s energy efficiency

Provide on‐time delivery of the machine Reduce lead time for fluid power components and their control elements

Lower capital and operating costs Increase fluid power’s energy efficiency Improve fluid power control systems (including through electrification)



Increase fluid power’s power density Comply with environmental and safety regulations and machine directives

Reduce the environmental impact of fluid power components and systems



Increase fluid power’s energy efficiency Provide easier and more predictable maintenance




Increase energy efficiency Increase fluid power’s energy efficiency Improve fluid power control systems (including through electrification)



Increase fluid power’s power density Reduce the environmental impact of

fluid power components and systems





DEFINITION OF PRE‐COMPETITIVE RESEARCH

Pre‐competitive research is performed at the time in the technology development cycle when interested, but potentially competitive parties agree that there is value to be gained from a collaborative rather than a competitive approach.

It generally resides in the middle ground between fundamental basic research conducted mainly in universities and proprietary research performed or directed mainly by companies. It can be performed to develop new technologies or to determine the market readiness of new technologies.

For the purposes of developing the Research Areas and Targets included in this report, Roadmap Committee members focused on pre‐competitive activities and recommendations.





RESEARCH AREAS

Research Areas are the broad areas of pre‐competitive investigation that could assist in bringing about the Capability Improvements. Research Targets are the objectives that quantify or otherwise describe successful strategies for pursuing the Research Areas.

Following the identification of the final Capability Improvements for the 2021 NFPA Technology Roadmap, the NFPA Roadmap Committee established seven Working Groups, one for each Capability Improvement, and tasked each with identifying a prioritized list of pre‐competitive Research Areas and Targets that could best assist in bringing about its Capability Improvement.

To assist the Working Groups with this task, NFPA conducted a survey in April 2021 to rank the importance of the Research Areas identified in the 2019 NFPA Technology Roadmap for each of the Capability Improvements, and to determine is any new Research Areas had emerged since the time of the 2019 NFPA Technology Roadmap. The survey received responses from 72 individuals across the fluid power supply chain, including a large percentage from the NFPA Roadmap Committee.

The results of these Working Group discussions were presented to the NFPA Roadmap Committee at its June 3, 2021 meeting. In reviewing the 21 Research Areas and 35 Research Targets collectively identified by the seven Working Groups, several clear themes emerged, which the Committee adopted as the final Research Areas to include in the 2021 NFPA Technology Roadmap.





These Research Areas are NOT listed in priority order.





CONNECTIONS BETWEEN RESEARCH AREAS AND CAPABILITY IMPROVEMENTS

The following connections have been identified between the Research Areas and the Capability Improvements. Organizations that wish to pursue research projects that may help bring about the advancements described by each Capability Improvement, should focus on projects that align with the connected Research Areas shown below.





RESEARCH TARGETS

Research Targets are the objectives that quantify or otherwise describe successful strategies for pursuing the Research Areas. In many cases, the NFPA Roadmap Committee identified Research Targets to provide additional guidance for organizations that wish to pursue research projects of importance to the fluid power industry.

In the outline below, Capability Improvements are shown in RED type, Research Areas are shown in GREEN type, and Research Targets are shown in BLUE type.

Focus Area 1: Data and Control

I. Improve fluid power control systems (including through electrification)

A. Improve the controllability of fluid power systems 1. Explore artificial intelligence as a way to improve controllability of fluid power systems

(learn from how electrical systems generate and process data) 2. Develop simulations and models that show ways to achieve improved performance

B. Advance sensor technologies used in fluid power systems 1. Develop more cost‐effective sensors and intelligent controls, and use them to create

more reliable and robust controllability

C. Explore novel fluid power system architectures 1. Develop simulations and models that show ways to achieve improved performance 2. Consider impact of self‐contained fluid pressure generation 3. Assess capabilities of electromechanical and “electrified” fluid power systems (from

control signal through and including actuation) and identify ways to leverage strengths of electromechanical for fluid power

D. Develop new fluid power components 1. Consider impact of self‐contained fluid pressure generation

II. Monitor, gather and use data generated from working fluid power products to add value

A. Advance sensor technologies used in fluid power systems 1. Sensors that measure: real‐time fluid conditions, pressure, temperature, position (e.g.,

pump swash plate angle), flow, and torque 2. More cost‐effective (e.g., adapt lower‐cost automotive sensors to fluid power

systems) without reducing effectiveness 3. Embedded (must be easy to repair or be failure‐proof)





4. Simple to use and apply to legacy systems 5. Develop maintenance‐free (no need to replace batteries or recalibrate, self‐

diagnosing) wireless sensors

B. Improve use of data analytics in fluid power systems 1. To automate functions/operation 2. To perform end‐of‐life prediction and preventative maintenance

Focus Area 2: Functional Performance Outputs

III. Improve fluid power’s reliability and durability

A. Explore novel fluid power system architectures 1. Develop fluid power systems that are easier to maintain 2. Explore novel system architectures that are more reliable/durable 3. Reducing fluid power's sensitivity to contamination in the system

B. Develop/apply new materials in fluid power components and systems 1. Improve surface finish and substrate properties (e.g., strength, hardness, anti‐friction,

anti‐wear and corrosion‐resistant properties)

C. Optimize the use of fluids and lubrication in fluid power systems 1. Stretch viscosity range of oils so they don't have to be changed due to

temperature/seasons

D. Optimize the use of seal technologies in fluid power systems 1. Improve sealing technology to reduce leakage and contamination ingression, to allow

for higher rotational and linear velocities, to provide better temperature and chemical resistance, and to lower frictional characteristics

IV. Increase fluid power’s energy efficiency

A. Improve the controllability of fluid power systems 1. Use real‐time data (including across the machine) to optimize component sizes and

effectively decide/activate machine/system modes

B. Explore novel fluid power system architectures 1. Improve energy storage/recovery methods, such as use of batteries 2. Increase energy conversion efficiency, such as electrification efforts

C. Develop new fluid power components





1. Improve energy storage/recovery methods, such as use of batteries 2. Increase energy conversion efficiency, such as electrification efforts

V. Increase fluid power’s power density (i.e., reduce component size/weight without reducing operating pressure and flow, create smaller/more integrated components or systems without reducing pressure and flow, or use higher pressure or additional flow without increasing component size/weight)

A. Explore novel fluid power system architectures 1. Develop better simulation modeling and predictive tools to assess and enable high

power‐dense designs

B. Develop new fluid power components 1. Develop novel component architectures that deliver higher power density

C. Develop/apply new materials in fluid power components and systems 1. Use higher‐strength, lighter‐weight materials (including composites) in the

construction of fluid power components (for example, decreasing component weight with composite or engineered plastic materials that replace metals/castings)

D. Optimize the use of fluids and lubrication in fluid power systems 1. Optimize fluid to system requirements

E. Develop/apply new manufacturing technologies for fluid power components and systems 1. Apply additive manufacturing (for example, produce high pressure capable

components and develop improved design tools for the additive manufacturing of fluid power components)

VI. Reduce the environmental impact of fluid power components and systems

A. Explore novel fluid power system architectures 1. To maximize efficiency and reduce contributions to greenhouse gases

B. Develop/apply new materials in fluid power components and systems 1. Develop bio‐sourced and sustainable sources for the materials that comprise fluid

power components (including the fluid) 2. Develop environmentally friendly components (including the fluid) to reduce or

eliminate toxic chemicals in the disposal of fluid power products

C. Optimize the use of fluids and lubrication in fluid power systems 1. Use fluids that optimize the efficiency of the fluid power systems





2. Optimize lubrication management of the system to reduce NVH to levels lower than the prime mover

D. Optimize the use of seal technologies in fluid power systems 1. Improve seal technologies (optimizing use of materials and geometries) to eliminate

external leakage

Focus Area 3: Manufacturing

VII. Reduce lead time for fluid power components and their respective control elements

A. Develop/apply new materials in fluid power components and systems 1. Develop advanced materials (composites, plastics, etc.) and bonding processes that

meet or exceed current pressure rating and other relevant standards

B. Develop/apply new manufacturing technologies for fluid power components and systems 1. Investigate methods to apply coatings or integrate the benefits of coatings during the

production process 2. Investigate alternate energy sources for individual heat treating at the work center 3. Investigate alternative methods for casting that provide improved properties at a

reduced lead time 4. Design innovative additive manufacturing design solutions (for existing products) that

eliminate complex manufacturing requirements 5. Use additive manufacturing to increase production speed and size of castings 6. Use additive manufacturing to produce finished parts using near net shape process to

meet finished part tolerance and surface finish requirements





FULL TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP SCHEMATIC

A schematic of the full 2021 NFPA Technology Roadmap, showing all the connections between the Customer Drivers, Capability Improvements, Research Areas, and Research Targets is shown below. Some of the Research Targets have been abbreviated to accommodate the size requirements of the schematic. A hi‐res version of this schematic is available upon request from the NFPA office.





RELATED PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

In the course of developing the 2021 NFPA Technology Roadmap, the NFPA Roadmap Committee explored and discussed a wide variety of issues of importance to the fluid power industry. Several were not included in the 2021 NFPA Technology Roadmap because, although important, they do not represent or otherwise relate to the research and development of fluid power technologies. A list of these related projects and activities is included below. Future Roadmap Committees should consider these issues in the development of future Technology Roadmaps.

Supply Chain

Several strategies for increasing the efficiency of and interactions across the fluid power supply chain were discussed, primarily as ways to advance the Capability Improvement focused on lead time reduction for fluid power components and their control elements. In particular, the development of more collaborative and more modular design processes were proposed. It was agreed that future roadmapping efforts should include individuals with expertise in this area and that recommendations in this space should be included.

Standardization

Several initiatives to standardize practices or technologies of importance to the fluid power industry were discussed. These initiatives included the adoption of standardized safety protocols in order to better guide efforts to improve fluid power controls systems, and the adoption of standardized communication protocols to assist in the collection and use of data from across fluid power and machine systems. It was agreed that these ideas should be shared with the ISO committee responsible for fluid power standards for possible implementation.

Market Education

Several topics in educating the market on best practices in fluid power design and maintenance were discussed, especially as ways to improve the reliability and durability of fluid power systems and the machines on which they reside. These topics included the application of existing metrology practices, “smart” tools, and hybrid manufacturing processes, and the application of existing maintenance practices regarding filtration and the detection of component degradation. It was agreed that NFPA should look for ways to incorporate these topics in its education programs.





COMMITTEE AND WORKING GROUPS

The following individuals served on the NFPA Roadmap Committee and participated in the various meetings and working groups it convened to help complete this report.

Chair

Mike Betz, Danfoss

Vice Chair

Bradlee Dittmer, Norgren

Participants at Roadmap Committee Meetings

Representative Organization 1/21/2021 3/4/2021 6/3/2021

Brian Rhode Afton Chemical Corporation X X

Blake Cawley AMETEK APT X X X

Ada Leung Anfield Industries Inc. X

Robert Haun ASCO Numatics X

Benjamin Moses Association for Manufacturing Technology

X X

Nathan Weaks Automatic Feed Company X

Cory Geers BDI X X X

Jon Frey Bosch Rexroth Corporation X X X

Jeff Watts Bucher Hydraulics X X X

Christian Eitel Bucher Hydraulics X X X

Todd Harmon Canfield Industries, Inc. X X

Kim Stelson Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power

X X

Jeff Ayers CIM‐TEK Filtration X X X

Michael DeFrancesco

Classic Coil Company Inc. X X

Lane Boger Comer Industries Inc. X X X

Zach Christianson Continental ContiTech X X X

Raffaele Invrea Continental Hydraulics X

Mike McVay Cross Company X

Dominic Catanzarite

Daman Products X X X

Matthew Giloth Daman Products X X X






Mike Betz Danfoss X X X

Kevin Lingenfelter Danfoss X X

Jason Palmer Delta Computer Systems X X X

Jerry Weber Delta Power Company X X

Ivan Sheffield Des‐Case X X

Jason Parr Dura‐Bar X X X

Chris Heczko Dura‐Bar X X X

Jamie LeClair Eaton X X

Adam Livesay Elevat X X

Jonathan Gamble Enfield Technologies X X

Ben Wallis eShipping, LLC X X

Thomas Marino Exotic Automation & Supply X X

Joel Edwards Faster Couplings X X X

Mitchell Wiese Faster Couplings X X X

Michael Guelker Festo Corporation X X X

Bert Martinez Fluid Power Concepts X X

Matt Loeffler FORCE America X X X

Todd Pinkelman Gates Corporation X X

Derrick Dunn Geartek X X X

Mark Paxton HANSA‐FLEX USA X X

Tim Erickson HED X

Chris Kolbe HYDAC X

Scott Nagro Hydraforce X X

Russ Schneidewind Hydraforce X X X

Mark Bokorney Hydra‐Power Systems X X

Narendra Gupta Hyster‐Yale Group X X

Rex Wetherill IoT Diagnostics X X

Brian Steward Iowa State University X X X

Mitchell Baker JARP Industries X X X

Joe Jackan JARP Industries X X X

Jeff Bauer John Deere X X X

Paul Marvin John Deere X X

Tom VanderMeulen

Kawasaki Precision Machinery X X X






Brian Thiel Komatsu X X

Gary Dostal Komatsu X X X

Patrick Green Kraft Fluid Systems Inc. X

Russell Luzinski Linde Hydraulics X X

Kevin Hein Master Pneumatic‐Detroit, Inc. X X

Rick Bush Micromatic X

Douglas Lacina Milwaukee Cylinder X X

Paul Michael Milwaukee School of Engineering X X X

Tom Wanke Milwaukee School of Engineering X X X

Ari Almqvist Moog X X X

Dave Geiger Moog X X

Bob Mosey Mosey's Production Machinists, Inc.

X X X

Alan McCay Motion Industries, Inc. X X X

Larry Wesley Muncie Power Products, Inc. X X

Pete Alles National Fluid Power Association X X

Maddie Parise National Fluid Power Association X X X

Bob Bates National Tube Supply Company X X

Gary Throw National Tube Supply Company X X

Kent Sowatzke NORGERN X X

Brad Dittmer NORGREN X X X

Rob Wuertz OEM Controls X X

Darren Nowicki Pall Corporation X

Brad Bomkamp Parker Hannifin X X

Guillaume Besnouin

Poclain Hydraulics X X

Ron Zielinski PolyMod® Technologies Inc. X

Jose Garcia Bravo Purdue University X

Kevin Brown QP Hydraulics X X

Royal Bush Royal Systems Group X

Allan Scales RSA, Inc. X

Jason Looman Scanreco, Inc X X

Kevin Smith Scott Industrial Systems, Inc. X X X

Allan Stutz Sharon Tube Division of Zekelman Industries

X






Scott McCambridge SMC Corporation of America X X

Jeff Andrasik Smithers X X

Steven Meislahn Sun Hydraulics X X X

Keith Bayer SunSource X

Michael Terzo Terzo Power Systems, LLC. X

X

Zeke Metzler Texcel X X

Andrew Zaske Tolomatic, Inc. X

Rob Zesch TraceParts X

Beth Figliulo Trelleborg Sealing Solutions X X X

Johannes Kunze Trelleborg Sealing Solutions X X

Michael Cook Trelleborg Sealing Solutions X X X

Nancy Getz Trelleborg Sealing Solutions X X X

Tom Zozokos Trelleborg Sealing Solutions X X X

John McLaughlin Trelleborg Sealing Solutions X X X

Ashlie Martini University of California at Merced X

Jim Van de Ven University of Minnesota X X

Scott Jones Womack Machine Supply X X

Working Group 1: Improve fluid power control systems (including through electrification)

Blake Cawley, AMETEK

Benjamin Moses, Association for Manufacturing Technology

Michael DeFrancesco, Classic Coil Company

Mike McVay, Cross Company

Jonathan Gamble, Enfield Technologies

Matt Loeffler, FORCE America

Chris Kolbe, HYDAC

Ari Almqvist, Moog

Rob Wuertz, OEM Controls

Howard Zhang, Parker Hannifin

Kevin Brown, QP Hydraulics

Royal Bush, Royal Systems Group

Allan Scales, RSA, Inc.

Jason Looman, Scanreco

Mike Terzo, Terzo Power Systems

Michael Cook, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions





Working Group 2: Monitor, gather and use data generated from working fluid power products to add value

Ada Leung, Anfield Sensors

Cory Geers, BDI

Jason Palmer, Delta Computer Systems

Jamie LeClair, Eaton Hydraulics

Robby Haun, Emerson

Bert Martinez, Fluid Power Concepts

Mark Paxton, HANSA‐FLEX USA

Tim Erickson, HED

Rex Wetherill, IoT Diagnostics

Mitch Baker, JARP Industries

Alan McCay, Motion Industries

Larry Wesley, Muncie Power Products

Bradlee Dittmer, Norgren

Working Group 3: Improve fluid power’s reliability and durability

Chris Heczko, Dura‐Bar

Jason Parr, Dura‐Bar

Mike Guelker, Festo

Derrick Dunn, GearTek

Jeff Bauer, John Deere

Tom VanderMeulen, Kawasaki Precision Machinery

Brian Thiel, Komatsu Mining

Kevin Hein, Master Pneumatic

Douglas Lacina, Milwaukee Cylinder

Tom Wanke, Milwaukee School of Engineering

Guillaume Besnouin, Poclain Hydraulics

Allan Stutz, Sharon Tube Company

Jeff Andrasik, Smithers

Tom Zozokos, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

Working Group 4: Increase fluid power’s energy efficiency

Brian Rhode, Afton Chemical

Jon Frey, Bosch Rexroth

Christian Eitel, Bucher Hydraulics

Matt Giloth, Daman Products

Jerry Weber, Delta Power





Russ Schneidewind, HydraForce

Gary Dostal, Komatsu Mining

Chris Mileti, Lubrizol

Dave Geiger, Moog

Scott Glodowski, Poclain Hydraulics

John McLaughlin, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

Scott Jones, Womack Machine Supply

Working Group 5: Increase fluid power’s power density

Zach Christenson, Continental/ContiTech

Dominic Catanzarite, Daman Products

Mark Bokorney, Hydra‐Power Systems

Scott Nagro, Hydraforce

Greg Herman, ITT Enidine

Paul Marvin, John Deere

Patrick Green, Kraft Fluid Systems

Kim Stelson, University of Minnesota

Working Group 6: Reduce the environmental impact of fluid power components and systems

Bud Hoffner, Applied Industrial Technologies

Mike Betz, Danfoss

Brad Bomkamp, Parker Hannifin

Beth Figliulo, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

Ashlie Martini, University of California Merced

Working Group 7: Reduce lead time for fluid power components and their control elements

Nathan Weaks, Automatic Feed Company

Jeff Watts, Bucher Hydraulics

Jeff Ayers, CIM‐TEK Filtration

Lane Boger, Comer Industries

Ben Wallis, eShipping

Joel Edwards, Faster/Helios

Todd Pinkelman, Gates

Allen Rasmussen, HECO Gear

Brian Steward, Iowa State University

Bob Mosey, Moseys Production Machinists

Bob Bates, National Tube Supply

Nancy Getz, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions





Staff Organization, Facilitation and Writing

Pete Alles, NFPA

Eric Lanke, NFPA

Maddie Parise, NFPA

draft 2021 nfpa technology roadmap draft

Documents