The need for technical training in Fluid Power technology sparked the development of the Fluid Power Society. Joe Votrobeck, an instructor in the Detroit Public School system, recognized the need for technical training in hydraulics and arranged for Vickers, Inc., to present what developed into a 22-week course for 23 Detroit and Flint, MI, area instructors during the 1956-57 school year. The course was taught by George Altland, Vickers’ Manager of Customer Training.

The course was so successful — and the camaraderie so strong — that the group agreed to continue to meet periodically. After two or three informal get-togethers, the group formally organized at a meeting that was held on 25 October 1957 at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, MI, with Dudley Pease (Henry Ford Community College) as Chairman. On 1 November 1957, Francis L. Mackin (General Motors Institute), with the help of George Tinetti and Dick Handwerker of his staff, hosted a meeting at GMI where the group adopted the name Industrial Hydraulics Training Association (IHTA). Officers for the group were George Tinetti, President; Dudley Pease, Vice President; and Dick Handwerker, Secretary/Treasurer. Within the first year, the IHTA had grown to include more than 100 Detroit and Flint, MI, area individuals.

In early 1959, the success of the IHTA drew the attention of The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA), a business league of manufacturers of Fluid Power products and systems. NFPA’s President Jack Marsh (Rivett) and Executive Vice President Barrett Rodgers proposed to the IHTA that their success in the Detroit and Flint areas became the model for other areas and that this be accomplished through a new individual member educational organization to be called the Fluid Power Society. It was further proposed that the IHTA become Detroit Chapter #1 of IFPS. Dudley Pease who had left Henry Ford Community College to become Technical Director for NFPA facilitated this proposal.

The IHTA became IFPS Chapter #1 in the plant conference room at the Chevrolet V-8 plant in Flint, MI, on 20 May 1960. George Altland became the first President of the Detroit Chapter. Key participants in that first meeting were George Tinetti, Toivo Lind, Ed Trevaskis, Max Covert (Macomb Community College), and John Pippenger (Double A).

On 1 July, NFPA’s incoming President Lynn Charlson (Char-Lynn Co.) and NFPA Executive Vice President Ted Pearce (who replaced retiring Barrett Rodgers) set out to provide national headquarters services for IFPS and to support IFPS Chapter formation in all industrial areas.

The NFPA viewed IFPS as the ideal forum for advancing industry technical educational efforts at the national and local levels. NFPA Member Companies assisted IFPS growth directly and encouraged their employees and the network of distributors with whom they were affiliated to do the same.

Milwaukee Chapter #2 was organized in August 1960 with Russ Henke (Racine Hydraulics) elected President. Chicago became Chapter #3 and Cleveland (today Northeast OH) became Chapter #4. Within one year, IFPS had more than 1,000 members in 17 Chapters. The Society continued to grow until it had active Chapters in all major U.S. industrial areas — and Chapters in England, Canada, and Australia. Later, Student Chapters were formed at Alexandria Technical College (MN), Chippewa Valley Technical College, Gateway (WI) Technical College, Hennepin (MN) Technical College, Macomb (MI) Community College (WI), Milwaukee School of Engineering (WI), Northampton County Area Community College (PA), Oklahoma State University (OK), Purdue University (IN), Sheridan Community College (WY), Southwestern Vocational Institute (MN), and Western Illinois University (IL).

FPS became a nationally recognized organization and provided membership support and leadership for the growing network of local Chapters. By 1979, IFPS Membership had grown to 4,500.

Although IFPS concentrated on Chapter development and regional activities, the Society also has made two significant contributions to Fluid Power on the national level. The first was a series of two Summer Institutes in 1964 and 1965 for teaching Fluid Power technology to educators who would conduct similar sessions in their own territories for other educators at the 2-year community and technical college levels. The Institutes were funded by the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and were held on the campus of Wayne State University in Detroit. Instructors were volunteers from the industry. Almost all of today’s U.S. Fluid Power educational centers can trace their roots to these Institutes.

The second very significant national IFPS activity is the Fluid Power Specialist Certification Program. Through this program, qualified individuals who pass the written Certification test (written by educators and managers from the Fluid Power industry) are Certified by the Fluid Power Certification Board as Fluid Power Specialists. Tests are conducted at educational institutions throughout the U.S. under the supervision of educators Accredited by the Society for this purpose.

In January 1989, Professor James A. Sullivan, Southern Illinois University, received the go-ahead from the Fluid Power Certification Board, Chairman Ray F. Hanley, to begin developing the Fluid Power Mechanic Certification Program and the Mechanic test was released in 1991. At that time, the Mechanic Program was divided into two stages, Mechanic I and II with Mechanic II being a higher level Certification, featuring separate tests for hydraulics and pneumatics. Plans to split the Mechanic Certification program into three separate specialty areas — Industrial Hydraulic, Mobile Hydraulic, and Pneumatic — got underway in 1992.

With the growth of its Certification programs, IFPS began publishing the annual Certification directory in 1992. Significant improvements were also made in the annual membership directory that included adding information on Chapters and Chapter programming. Physical expansion also made Headquarters relocation a necessity in July 1992. That year, Headquarters moved to its current facility, which provided improved telephone, fax, mail, and EDP capabilities.

In 1992, the Fluid Power Certification Board organized Advisory Boards for Fluid Power Engineer, Specialist, Mobile Hydraulic Mechanic, and Hydraulic and Pneumatic Technician Certification. These Advisory Boards are composed of experts within the Fluid Power industry who provide guidance and feedback for IFPS’s programs.

In October 1992, Fluid Power Certification received a major boost when three Fluid Power occupations were officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor in its Dictionary of Occupational Titles (D.O.T.). This recognition came after years of preparation and more than 15 months of negotiation. The FPCB’s Mechanic, Technician, and Specialist Certification tests were based upon the knowledge and skill requirements listed in the D.O.T. job descriptions.

FPS made some landmark advances in 1993 with the establishment of the IFPS Education Institute. The IFPSEI was charged with developing all materials related to Fluid Power education, Instructor Accreditation, and Review Training for the FPCB Certification tests. Since its inception in May 1993, more than 50 Fluid Power related corporations have shown their support for the IFPSEI and its programs by becoming Corporate Members and this number is continuing to grow.

In October 1993, IFPS, the FPCB and the Advisory Board for Fluid Power Engineer Certification chaired by Russ Henke, PE, realized a long-time goal with the release of Phase I of the Fluid Power Engineer Certification program. Phase I, Certification based on education and experience, was originally scheduled to close in May 1994. But due to an overwhelming response from Fluid Power Professionals, Phase I was extended through the end of August 1994, at which point more than 330 Professionals had applied for this new Certification. The FPCB is continuing to approve through an application process, Certification based on examination is progressing.

FPS sponsored its first Salary and Benefits Survey in 1993 to give Fluid Power Professionals an idea of the average salaries and benefits associated with jobs in the industry. All IFPS Members were given the chance to respond via a survey card included in the Professional Report newsletter. The results of the survey revealed that continuing education and Certification are very important to those in the Fluid Power industry.

In January 1994, IFPS launched another unprecedented undertaking with the introduction of the Fluid Power Journal. The Journal is a unique publication dedicated to advancing the careers of Fluid Power and Motion Control Professionals. With articles on professional career growth, training, and education, Fluid Power technology, advancement, and more, the Journal is an extremely valuable resource to those in every sector of the industry.

In 1994, the IFPS Board of Directors voted to establish the Regional Representatives Board (RRB) to bring the benefits of Chapter participation to an increased number of Fluid Power professionals. The RRB was chaired by Thomas A. Pawlyn (Vickers, Inc.), IFPS Vice President-Chapter Support and is working to bring the benefits of Chapter Membership to all IFPS Members regardless of whether an IFPS Chapter is active in their area.

In May 1994, the FPCB further expanded its Certification offerings with the release of the Mobile Hydraulic and Pneumatic Mechanic Certification tests. This introduction marked the completion of the FPCB’s ambitious program to separate the original Mechanic Certification test into three specialty areas — each with its own self-study guides, answer books, and pre-tests.

In May 1994, the FPCB marked another major milestone with the Certification of its 2000th Fluid Power Professional. By gaining Certification as a Fluid Power Specialist, Richard E. Hunn, an Account Manager with B&T Hydraulics, West Sacramento, CA, became the 2000th Professional to prove his technical proficiency and enhance his career by taking advantage of the FPCB Certification program. As testament to the increasing importance of Fluid Power Certification, the 1994 Certification Directory grew some 50 percent over the previous year’s edition and included the names of a record 2,171 Certified Professionals and their 428 employers.

The FPCB’s Certification program gained an additional measure of credibility when the Certification procedure was adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in May 1994. The standard, ANSI/FPS/CS-1 1994, covers procedures followed by the FPCB in the Certification of Fluid Power Mechanics, Technicians, Specialists, and Engineers.

Separate Certification tests for Hydraulic and Pneumatic Specialists were released in 1998 and 1999. The Hydraulic Specialist test and the Job Performance test were completely redone and released 2004 and that the Connector & Conductor test has been released.

We are researching the need for and the design of advanced motion control certifications that tie in the relationship between Electronics and Fluid Power.  The Board recognizes the need for broader knowledge in expertise as the technology advances.

FPS (now IFPS) is poised on the brink of continued growth in the years to come. With a hard-working Headquarters staff, dedicated Board of Directors and Committee members, and an ever-expanding Membership base, IFPS is continuing to meet the needs of Professionals working in all segments of the Fluid Power and Motion Control industries.