The hydraulic sector needs to be more advanced, not just more powerful. The future of hydraulics with intelligent, connected, sustainable, and efficient hydraulic systems with less waste to help industries work more efficiently. The new sustainable and intelligent designs give new opportunities to industrial leaders to improve performance without added complexity.

Rather than seeing these systems as the old and slow, it is more accurate to reflect on hydraulics as a modern, sophisticated, and integrated system of electronics, software and data. The following trends demonstrate the fluid power industry’s evolution and the broad benefits these systems are likely to provide on your next project or plant enhancement.

1. Enhanced hydraulics systems with data and sensors

All hydraulic systems are “blind” no more. They can “feel” what is happening internally and communicate wirelessly.

• Purpose-built electronic sensing systems can detect and communicate information on system state and performance.
• Some small system issues like blocked filters or leaky valves can be detected and resolved before they escalate to serious failures.
• Maintenance actions can be scheduled in advance based on system data to avoid emergency, failure-driven reactions.

2. Electrohydraulic Systems: Power with Control

One of the strongest trends in the future of hydraulics is the rise of electrohydraulic systems: hydraulics controlled by electronics.

• Electric drives and controllers adjust pump speed and valve positions with great accuracy.
• Power is provided only when needed (heat and thermal waste reduction).
• Movements become smoother, faster, and easier to repeat, which is ideal for automation and robotics.

3. Green and Eco-Friendly Hydraulics

There is an expectation of environmental responsibility and this is now core and not an optional add on. Hydraulics is adapting to this reality fast.

• There are eco-friendly hydraulic fluids which are designed to be less harmful when leaks are present, and most of them are biodegradable as well as safer for the soil and water.
• New designs reduce internal leakage, improve sealing, and lower friction so less energy is used.
• There are energy saving circuits and during specific movements power is captured and reused which also lowers electricity costs and emissions.

4. Connected Hydraulics in Smart Factories

With hydraulics also joining the family of digitally integrated factories, there are a variety of connected systems.

• These systems can be integrated with factory networks allowing the flow of information from pumps, valves and cylinders to be visualized on dashboards.
• Engineers are then able to analyze the data and identify trends and patterns over time, such as the effect a temperature change has on performance.
• With remote access, support for these systems can come from anywhere, which is particularly valuable for large and international plants.

5. Compact, Quiet, and Flexible Designs

Hydraulic systems of the future are designed to be integrated seamlessly into new and modern workplaces.

• The components of these systems will be designed to be more compact, and as a result, more strength will be achieved, which will free up more space around the machines.
• The working environments will become more peaceful with less noise and vibration as a result of better design and material choices.
• With a change in demand, lines will be more easily expanded or reconfigured, which will be a direct result of the modular units and flexible layouts.

What This Means for Your Next Project

All of these developments in the future of hydraulics point in the same direction: innovation, efficiency, and continuing to improve the lifetime value of the equipment.

When considering value in your layout or update, try to remember:

• Could a decrease in unplanned downtime be achieved with the help of sensors and data?
• Do speed, safety, and precision improvements come with electrohydraulic control?
• Do energy-saving and fluid-efficient alternatives exist that are also climate-friendly, cost-cutting, and sustainable?
• How easily can your hydraulic system interface with the various plant networks and digital ecosystems?

Collaborating with skilled Hydraulic Cylinder Manufacturers will enable you to implement these concepts into actual machines that will work for you, consistently and reliably over the long term.