NFPA’s Advanced Hydraulics Conference Confirmed for iVT EXPO USA

iVT EXPO is an annual exposition for the off-highway vehicle design and engineering community, which first took place in the United States in 2022. The event is focused on all types of industrial and off-highway vehicles, with exhibits that are highly focused on a number of key technologies, including new powertrains, electric and hybrid systems, control systems, sensors, and autonomous technologies. With hydraulics serving as a key enabling technology for these vehicles and many of these systems, iVT EXPO offers an ideal platform for growth and expansion of hydraulics, both in its affiliated education program and on its show floor.

The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) will be convening and co-locating an advanced hydraulics conference for off-highway vehicle and fluid power engineers at the upcoming iVT EXPO, to be held August 21-22, 2024, in Chicago, IL. The bulk of presentations for this one-of-a-kind event have now been confirmed and will include:

Improved Design & Control of Hydraulics on Electrified Off-Highway Vehicles

• Advanced Modeling Techniques and Performance Comparisons of Electrohydraulic Systems
• Digital Proportional Control Technology – Advancing Hydraulic System Design
• Innovative Control Systems: Beyond a Commodity – Unlocking the Hidden Potential of Hydraulics
• Silent Efficiency: Hydraulics for Electrified Machines
• Smart Integrated Solution with CAN bus Combines Boom and Outrigger Control in One Block
• Connected Controls Optimize and Right-size Hydraulic and Electric System Controls

Improved Hydraulic Performance Through Data Utilization

• Enhancing Performance through Hydraulic Data: Collection and Utilization Strategies for System and Machine Optimization
• Optimizing and Maintaining Hydraulic Efficiency on Mobile Machinery
• Hydraulic Cartridge Flow Meters for Data Acquisition

Functional Safety Requirements for Hydraulic Systems

• Demystifying Functional Safety in Mobile Hydraulics
• ISO 13849 Safety Methodology & What It Means for Off-Road Equipment OEMs

Increased Hydraulic Efficiency for Longer Duty Cycles

• The Importance of Efficient Hydraulics and the Impact on E-motor and Battery Selection and Life
• High Performance Hydraulic Components Extend Battery Life in Mobile Hydraulic Equipment
• Innovations in Hydraulic Valves Improve Energy Efficiency
• A Dive Into Adaptive Load Sensing and Energy Recovery Solutions
• Electrification Revolution: Enhancing Efficiency of Hydraulics System Through Electrification
• Improving Battery Life in Electrified Off-Highway Vehicles by Utilization of High-Performance Energy Efficient Hydraulic Oils

Improved Thermal Management of Electrified Vehicle Systems

• Active Heat-pump Based Thermal Management for Off-highway Vehicles and How the Tesla Octovalve Changed the Game

A full list of speakers and presentation details can be found on the iVT EXPO USA website at: https://www.ivtexpo.com/usa/en/speaker-list.php

A large majority of the presenters are technical experts from NFPA’s many member companies. “NFPA member companies represent the cutting-edge technologies that vehicle engineers increasingly need to incorporate into their machine systems and designs,” said NFPA President/CEO Eric Lanke. “And, as expected, they are heavily represented as presenters in our education conference. Combining that technical content with hands-on demonstrations of their technologies on the iVT EXPO show floor will provide a unique educational experience for their primary customers.”

Registration is also now open for the conference – which will include access to all the educational sessions planned for iVT EXPO, including many general sessions and a second track of programs planned by the iVT EXPO organizers and focused on “Electrification, Hybrid and Alternative Fuel Sources” and “Autonomy, Cab Design and the Evolving Digital Interface.”  Combined with NFPA’s hydraulics conference, this is clearly a can’t-miss event for off-highway vehicle and fluid power engineers.

Tony Robinson is the Chairman of UKI Media & Events, the producers and organizers of iVT EXPO. When asked for comment on the partnership with NFPA, he said, “We are honored to have now been chosen to partner with the National Fluid Power Association of America. These are interesting times when electrification and automation are simultaneously both drivers and complexities of the off-highway vehicle industry and we warmly welcome NFPA to our event. The partnership will offer a greater opportunity for like-minded experts in design and engineering to work alongside one another at the event, and for member companies, there will be significant opportunities to participate as exhibitors.”

Full conference and trade show details are on the iVT EXPO USA website at: https://www.ivtexpo.com/usa/en/index.php