The new Fluid Power Industrial Consortium at MSOE provides educational and networking opportunities for members of the fluid power industry in a non-compete environment. With a combination of OEMs, manufacturers, SMEs, distributors and more, the consortium provides a platform for networking, problem solving and access to cutting edge technology.

In 1962, MSOE established the Fluid Power InstituteTM (FPI) and has been a leader in fluid power education, motion control, research and evaluation ever since. The FPI is one of the nation’s foremost academic fluid power research laboratories.

MSOE began the Fluid Power Industrial Consortium (FPIC) to further support its industrial partners. The annual membership fee of $2,000 enables member companies to send up to four of their employees to quarterly seminars. Presenters will be leaders from their specific areas of expertise.

Consortium benefits include access to the latest technology advances in fluid power vetted for no-sales pitch; opportunities to educate employees on current advances within the fluid power industry; association and networking with diverse industries; interaction with the FPI’s students, engineers and researchers; and member discount for professional education training.

The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) is a supporting partner of the FPIC. As a result, NFPA member companies are exempt from the annual FPIC membership fee and are able to participate freely in the quarterly seminars. Members of NFPA’s Roadmap Committee, who assist the association in maintaining the NFPA Technology Roadmap, are especially encouraged to participate. It is expected that FPIC seminar topics will provide Roadmap Committee members with an ideal way to stay abreast of the technological advancements that will help meet the future needs of fluid power customers, expand fluid power into new customer markets, and attract the best and brightest young engineers to fluid power.

Visit www.msoe.edu/fpic for more information or contact Sheku Kamara, MSOE dean of applied research, at (414) 277-7416 or Tom Wanke, director of the Fluid Power Institute, at (414) 277-7191. MSOE also will be at the International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE) March 7-11, 2017. Visit Booth SL80036 to learn more about fluid power at MSOE and how the university can assist you.