At the Hannover Messe 2018, the VDMA special exhibit Intelligent Power Transmission and Fluid Technology shows how far this development has already progressed. The new IAMD additional format can be found in Hall 23 . The VDMA Fluid Power Association has set up its own topic dossier for this purpose.

An important reality behind this current development is that propulsion systems are among the most important data providers of a networked industry – from it, monitoring and maintenance obtain a large part of the relevant performance data, which in turn is key to all further energy efficiency measures. Fluid technology’s relatively late rise into the focus of digitization is simply owing to the reality that pre-existing systems usually run like winning teams, which should be changed only very carefully.

That technology leaps are possible in this area too is shown by leading suppliers in the hydraulics and pneumatics industry, based on real-world examples. They include the highly compact CytroPac hydraulic power unit from Bosch Rexroth, which is a Sytronix drive complete with frequency converter and Industry 4.0 interface that allows users to save up to 80% energy. Bucher Hydraulics is bringing its Alpha-X demonstrator to the trade fair, where visitors will be able to operate the flexible electric-hydraulic hybrid technology themselves with a joystick, intuitively. Using the Shift in Motion travel drive, Linde Hydraulics uses the example of a wheel loader to demonstrate how wear-free electrohydraulic synchronization works. There are electro-hydrostatic pump units from Moog for decentralized drive structures as well as the cross section through a hybrid tank with integrated sensors for oil condition monitoring, which Argo-Hytos is presenting. The combination of mechanics and electronics also lends some penetrating insights in particular with the “glass bike” from Schaeffler, which includes an automatic Velomatic gearshift that ensures optimum energy-efficient transmission. Also worth a mention in the field of pneumatics, the Smart Pneumatics Monitors from Aventics limit energy consumption and wear by targeted, monitored pressure supply.

The appropriate Forum Motion & Drives focusing on drive and fluid technology will also be exhibited in 2018 in Hall 23 (booth B20). The program of lectures and panel discussions is already online. On Wednesday (April 25) at 10:30 a.m., Hartmut Rauen and Volker Schnittler from the VDMA will present the results of the study “Platform Economy in Mechanical Engineering” together with Dr. Ing. Michael Zollenkop and Martin Lüers of Roland Berger. Participation is free of charge for trade fair visitors.