Sponsors, Judges, Mentors
The NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge is underway and we are actively expanding this program to include more students from more universities. Contributing sponsors provide teams with the needed technology to efficiently participate in the competition all year long or help to create a space during the final competition event for emerging engineers to network with fluid power representatives and be hired into our industry.
Made Possible by Industry
The Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge is made possible through the generous support of Pascal Society donors. Thank you to the many companies that contribute to the Pascal Society of the NFPA Education and Technology Foundation.
Get Involved
Judges
A team of industry judges is responsible for guiding student teams, evaluating documentation and assessing the vehicle on-site at the Final Competition, using the FPVC Assessment Rubric.
Mentors
At least one industry mentor is assigned to each team to coach throughout the year. Student teams check in with their mentor at least four times about things like their vehicle design, component selection, assembly and testing and final adjustments before the final competition.
Marshals
A team of marshals will be responsible for ensuring teams are operating in a safe and sportsmanlike way during the entire event, and in particular, during the Sprint Race, Efficiency Challenge and Endurance Challenge.
Timekeepers
A small team of timekeepers will be responsible for the clock, recording time, and submitting data.
Industry supporters may fill a number of other roles for the program — an ambassador of the initiative, a corporate sponsor, or component donor. Questions about serving as an industry volunteer may be directed to workforce@nfpa.com.
Current Program Sponsors
Applied Fluid Power is serving as a Program Sponsor.
Applied Industrial Technologies distributes a variety of fluid power and fluid handling products, including air compressors, FRL's, dryers, valves, cylinders, hose, tubing, fittings and pumps. Hydraulic products include power units, filtration, heat exchangers, pumps, valves, cylinders, motors, lubrication products, hose and fittings, gauges and other accessories.
Brennan Industries is serving as a product supplier.
Since 1953, Brennan Industries has supplied customers worldwide with the highest-quality, critical flow components. They offer over 120,000 different styles of hydraulic connectors and accessories.
Danfoss Power Solutions is serving as a Final Competition Event host. Danfoss will host half of the participating teams at their facility in Ames, Iowa in April.
Danfoss Power Solutions is a global industry leader in providing mobile hydraulics and a complete range of energy-efficient hydraulic, electronic, and electrical solutions for the construction, agriculture, and other off-highway vehicle markets.
Famic Technologies Inc. is a Product Supplier.
For over 35 years, Famic Technologies Inc. has proudly offered Automation Studio™ to thousands of schools worldwide. This intuitive software enhances students’ understanding of hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, PLC, and robotic systems through an intuitive visual learning approach. It enables users to design, simulate, and troubleshoot systems effectively, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Helios Technologies is a Product Supplier.
Helios Technologies is a global industrial technology leader that develops and manufactures solutions for both the hydraulics and electronics markets.
HYDAC is serving as a Product Supplier.
HYDAC is a manufacturer of hydraulic, filtration and electronic components and systems. Products include Accumulators, Filters and Elements, Filtration Carts, Offline Filtration Units, Cartridge Valves and Manifolds, Air and Water Coolers, High Pressure Ball, Needle and Flow Control Valves, Compact Power Units, Fluid Analysis Kits, Tube and Hose Clamps, Reservoir Accessories, Pressure Transducers and Switches and Diagnostic Instruments to measure contamination, Pressure, Temperature and Flow.
IFP Motion Controls Inc. is serving as a Final Competition Host and Program Sponsor.
IFP Motion Solutions Inc. is a distributor of hydraulic power units and automation systems. They specialize in field service, repairs, engineering and electronic integration. They provide a complete line of industrial and mobile hydraulics and pneumatics.
IMI plc will host participating teams at their facility in Rockford, Illinois in April.
IMI plc, the specialist engineering company, designs, manufactures and services highly engineered products that control the precise movement of fluids. Its innovative technologies, built around valves and actuators, enable vital processes to operate safely, cleanly, efficiently and cost effectively.
Lubrizol is serving as a Product Supplier.
Lubrizol is a global fluid technology company concentrating on high-performance chemicals, systems and services for industry and transportation. Its products are found in the hydraulic fluids, circulating, turbine, engine, transmission, and gear oils, metalworking fluids and greases used in the fluid power industry.
Parker Hannifin is recognized as the Founding Sponsor. The NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge is based on the Chainless Challenge program, pioneered and managed by Parker Hannifin Corporation from 2004-2016.
Parker Hannifin is a diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of commercial, mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. Parker has more than 800 product lines for hydraulic, pneumatic and electromechanical applications used by the industrial and aerospace markets worldwide.
Source Fluid Power is serving as a Product Supplier.
Source Fluid Power designs and manufactures custom hydraulic products, manifolds, cylinders and valves for the medical, industrial, agricultural, and mobile OEM markets. Source Fluid Power is a solutions partner, and can handle everything from the design to the completion of the final product.
SunSource is serving as a Program Sponsor.
SunSource provides solutions to customers in the areas of industrial and mobile hydraulics, pneumatics, motion control, electronics, lubrication, fasteners and related technologies. It offers total on-site integrated materials management of MRO and “class C” OEM products. Other services include systems design, application engineering, repair services and proactive plant maintenance.
Become a Sponsor
Sponsorship options are available to Pascal Society Donors. Click here to see if your company supports the NFPA Foundation. For more information on sponsoring the Vehicle Challenge, contact us at workforce@nfpa.com.