IFPE is proof positive that our industry is flourishing

My big takeaway after 2-½ days on the IFPE show floor (plus a couple of hours on the CONEXPO-CON/AGG lots), was simply, WOW. The energy and vibe that lived in the building last week, March 14-18, was electric. Companies and individuals were thrilled to be together again, and it showed.

The show hit record numbers, drawing more than 139,000 construction and fluid power professionals from 133 countries to Las Vegas — making it the largest trade show in North America with roughly 2,400 exhibitors from 36 countries spread out over 3 million sq-ft of exhibit space.

The number of folks that stopped me in the aisles to say hello, offer compliments on all the great work Fluid Power World is doing, or just to introduce themselves was amazing. We have assembled the hardest working team in the industry and it showed last week, as we worked to cover as much technology on as many platforms as possible — print, digital, social media and video. All our IFPE coverage on new systems and technologies is yet to come. Not pictured is Ken Korane, who spent three days out in the lots, learning about all the machine updates on autonomy, electrification, and more.

I have never received so many hugs on a trade show floor before in my life — clearly, everyone was thrilled to be together again, and it showed. There has been talk off and on the past three years that maybe we didn’t need trade shows or in-person calls. IFPE squashed all those thoughts with the exuberance of a toddler on Christmas morning.

And clearly, fluid power manufacturers were busy over the past three years. Although they’ve spent a lot of time catching up on perhaps the busiest times in their businesses as they dealt with high orders and supply chain crunches, the innovations didn’t disappoint.

We’ll be covering all those product innovations here in our Fluid Power Network of www.mobilehydraulictips.com, www.hoseassemblytips.com, www.sealingandcontaminationtips.com, www.pneumatictips.com (where relevant), and of course, www.fluidpowerworld.com. Stay tuned for a post-show wrap-up video as well, where we’ll talk about some of the coolest tech we saw last week.

Watch out for stories about how new technologies from Bosch Rexroth, Danfoss, Hydac, Parker Hannifin, and others are working within systems to create functionally safe, efficient, and safe machines that can be powered by diesel engines, electric-hybrid, and all- electric designs. Learn about new technologies like Rexroth’s Hägglunds Quantum motor, the company’s most compact, most efficient, and most powerful high-speed design. Or discover Hallite’s three new hydraulic seal designs, which boast industry-leading sealing while being more sustainable designs.

Stay tuned for controls and valve news from Wandfluh, Aidro, HAWE, and Sun Hydraulics. Learn how Moog is changing the way mobile machines are controlled with precision automation controls. On the hose side, learn about new-to-market Hose Box Inc., which packages hydraulic fittings in easy-to-use kit solutions; Python’s newest Diamondback Lite hose sleeve; and Ryco’s Workbench on Wheels, a complete saw and crimping system. These are just some of the stories we covered, and there will be more to come in the days to follow.

If time allowed, we would have visited every hydraulics manufacturer on that show floor. But one thing I noticed when I cruised by booths is that they were always busy — and while it’s great to catch up with our friends in the industry, meeting their current and potential clients is more important to our clients than catching up with us. So please do reach out if we missed you and you have new technology to share. We’ll be working on post-IFPE updates for the next few weeks. You can always reach me at mgannon@wtwhmedia.com.

The next CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE will be held March 3-7, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. We’ll see you there. In the meantime, keep reading!