Fluid Power Fundamentals – Course Kickoff Recap
by: Donna Pollander, ACA

IFPS has officially kicked off its 8th Fluid Power Fundamentals online course—because who doesn’t love a little pressure? (The hydraulic kind, of course.)

Classes are being held from 1:30–3:30 p.m. Eastern on March 30, April 1, 6, 8, 20, 22, 27, and 29. And if you can’t make it this time around, don’t worry—another live session is planned for early 2027. Prefer to learn in your pajamas at your own pace? The full course recording is available on the IFPS Learning Management System.

I’ll be sharing highlights from each session, so you can follow along with what participants are learning—no steel-toed boots required.

Session 1 Highlights

To kick things off, BJ Wagner laid out the roadmap for the course—think of it as the GPS for your fluid power journey. He walked participants through what’s ahead, including fundamentals, symbology (yes, those mysterious symbols will make sense), components, safety, and real-world applications.

BJ also highlighted just how common fluid power systems are. From the car you drive, to construction equipment, to agriculture and manufacturing—fluid power is everywhere. Basically, once you start noticing it, you won’t be able to not see it.

Safety took center stage early on (as it should). BJ shared IFPS safety resources and introduced a video on fluid injection injuries—a serious reminder that high-pressure systems are not something to take lightly. It’s one of those “you’ll never forget this” moments—and that’s exactly the point.

From there, the group dove into the fundamentals: energy conversion, Pascal’s Law, force, pressure, area relationships, and the ever-important concepts of work and power. Don’t worry—this wasn’t just theory. BJ backed it all up with real-world examples and calculations to keep things grounded (and slightly less intimidating).

Finally, participants got introduced to the key players in any hydraulic system—pumps, cylinders, motors, relief valves, and flow controls. BJ also broke down how systems actually function, covering parallel vs. series circuits, pressure measurement, and what happens when things don’t go perfectly (hello, leakage and flow control challenges).

Stay tuned for the next session recap—things are just getting flowing.