National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) held its 2007 Spring Conference and welcomed representatives from six international fluid power associations. Short presentations each society provided a number of priorities for the fluid power industry in their home countries and worked with NFPA Board of Directors to recognize areas of common concerns.

Attracting qualified workers into the industry is the most pressing concern worldwide. In response to the concern, a working collaborative between NFPA and the international societies to promote a stronger fluid power industry worldwide, especially to engineering students and those considering engineering careers.

“It was very revealing to hear each of the international fluid power societies talk about the issues they were grappling with,” said Marwan Kashkoush, Chairman of the NFPA Board of Directors and Corporate Vice President for Worldwide Sales and Marketing at Parker Hannifin Corporation. “It demonstrated quite clearly that the development of a better educated and better prepared workforce for fluid power is truly a global issue.”

An international marketing and outreach program for fluid power was discussed and all societies sharing responsibility for its development and execution. This discussion will continue during the next fluid power summit, planned in conjunction with the Motion, Drive and Automation (MDA) exhibition in Hannover, Germany, April 16-20, 2007.

For more information, visit www.nfpa.com