National Fluid Power AssociationTranslation site

The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) is the leading American trade association exclusively dedicated to the advancement of fluid power technology (hydraulics and pneumatics). As a 501(c)6 organization, it serves as the central forum for the entire fluid power supply chain in the United States.

Founding and Organizational Structure

• Establishment: The NFPA was founded in 1953 (with some records citing 1955, though 1953 is widely cited in official profiles).
• Headquarters: The association is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, located at 6737 W. Washington St., Ste. 2350.
• Leadership: The association is led by President & CEO Eric Lanke, who has been instrumental in driving recent strategic initiatives like the technology roadmaps.
• Scale: Starting with 35 companies in 1953, the NFPA has grown to represent over 315 to 340 member companies, encompassing a diverse range of stakeholders.

Membership and Industry Scope

NFPA prides itself on representing the “entire fluid power supply chain.” Its membership includes:

• Manufacturers: Producers of hydraulic and pneumatic components and systems.
• Distributors: Companies that distribute fluid power products.
• Suppliers: Providers of materials and services to the industry.
• Educators and Researchers: Academic institutions and research bodies focused on fluid power technology.

Mission and Strategic Vision

The core mission of the NFPA is to serve as a forum where all fluid power channel partners work together to advance fluid power technology, strengthen the industry, and foster members’ success.

To achieve this, the NFPA focuses on three main strategic visions:

1. Supply Chain Integration: Ensuring the membership reflects the total supply chain (manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, educators) working together to drive costs out and improve service.
2. Competitiveness: Enabling the fluid power industry to better compete against alternative technologies (like electric drives) through research and education.
3. Technology Roadmapping: Creating industry-wide consensus on pre-competitive R&D needs.

Key Initiatives and Technology Roadmaps

The NFPA is highly active in shaping the future of the industry through detailed technology roadmaps and working groups.

2023 Technology Roadmap:

This document outlines the R&D needs for improving fluid power components. It identifies four key customer drivers:

• Improved availability and uptime.
• Improved productivity and performance.
• Lower total cost of ownership.
• Compliance (environmental, safety, etc.).

Customer Strategies:

The roadmap highlights eight strategies machine builders are using, including Autonomy, Compactness, Connectivity, Electrification, Energy Efficiency, Maintenance, Materials, and Noise reduction.

Capability Improvements:

To meet these strategies, the NFPA identifies eight areas for improvement: Data utilization, Ease of use, Energy efficiency, Environmental impact, Noise reduction, Power density, Reliability/Durability, and Safety.

Industrial Focus (2024-2025):

In late 2024, the NFPA launched a specific roadmap for Industrial Applications, defining 14 key markets such as Aerospace Manufacturing, Robotics, Semiconductor Machinery, and Medical Equipment Manufacturing.

Standards Development and Technical Documentation

NFPA plays a critical role in coordinating standards development at the industry, national (ANSI), and international (ISO) levels.

ISO Standards Publication: NFPA manages the publication and distribution of key ISO standards, such as:

• ISO 1219 Series: Covering graphical symbols and circuit diagrams for fluid power systems.
• ISO 6953-3: Regarding test methods for pneumatic pressure regulators.
• NFPA/T3.10.3: Covering hydraulic filters and separators terminology.

Member Benefits: Members receive significant discounts on these technical documents, fostering wider adoption of standardized practices.

Industry Collaboration and Events

• IFPE 2011: NFPA has historically maintained a strong presence at major trade shows like IFPE (International Fluid Power Exposition), co-located with CONEXPO-CON/AGG. The association uses these events as a “gathering place” for members and customers to network and discuss industry trends.
• Workforce Development: Through collaboration with the Fluid Power Education Foundation (FPEF) and the International Fluid Power Society (IFPS), NFPA supports workforce development. Historically, NFPA provided administrative support to the FPS starting in 1960.
• Data Exchange: Initiatives like the Product and Price Information Format (PPIF) aim to standardize data exchange between manufacturers and distributors to increase supply chain efficiency.

Market Outlook

According to NFPA’s Industry & Economic Outlook Conference (IEOC), the association monitors market trends closely. As of late 2023, the outlook suggested that 2024 would be a year of slower growth for fluid power and its customer markets, with a rebound expected in 2025.

Contact Information:

• Address: 6737 W. Washington St., Ste. 2350, Milwaukee, WI 53214, US
• Website: https://www.nfpa.com
• Phone (Standards Orders): 414-778-3344