The NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge – IFP gives presentation to 70 participating students January 28, 2022April 17, 2020 by IFP The NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge is a competition that challenges college engineering students to redesign a traditional bicycle using hydraulics as the mode of power transmission. This program was designed to support teams of undergraduate students through a senior capstone design project or extracurricular project. Students develop a fluid powered vehicle without the use of chains or belts. NFPA member industry professionals serve as mentors and judges. The 2017 competition was hosted by NFPA member, Danfoss in Ames, IA on their test track. Students competed for cash prizes in three separate races -0 Sprint, Efficiency, and Reliability. The NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge provides students with experience in real world engineering under strict deadlines for designing, building, testing, and demonstrating their designs. This year it was all done virtually with multiple online meetings. The competition is usually held in Colorado at IMI Norgren. Sixteen different teams competed in the challenge held on April 12-18, 2020 and will consist of judged final student presentations as well as information sessions from supporting companies for students. On April 16th, IFP President Jim Kaas and Sales Territory Manager, Dean Eberhardt delivered an online presentation – “The Role of Distributors in Fluid Power” to approximately 70 students participating in this year’s event. Each student who joined the presentation received a complimentary IFP “I am Fluid Powered” cup. The benefit for the NFPA Pascal Society participating members and sponsoring companies is to have an opportunity to address future engineering employees and fluid power customers by learning about the opportunities that exist in the growing Fluid Power industry.
