by Andrea Vacca, avacca@purdue.edu; and Antonio Esquivel Puentes, hesquiv@purdue.edu

Purdue's Maha Fluid Power Research Center, the largest hydraulics lab in academia, welcomed hundreds of fluid power researchers as part of their annual conference.

Attendees were an even split of academic researchers and industry participants, with about 45 companies represented. More than 55 technical presentations were given, sharing the latest industrial and academic developments in the field of fluid power and its applications over the three-day conference. Keynote presentations were delivered by leaders from flagship companies in the field, including Bosch-Rexroth (CEO Steffen Haack), Caterpillar (CTO Otto Breitschwerdt and Global Hydraulics VP Mandi Henderson), Case New Holland (Head of Technology Strategy Francesca Protano), Parker Hannifin (President Motion Systems Group Berend Bracht), and Bobcat (CTO Scott Schuh). Other keynotes were given by leading scholars Juergen Weber (TU Dresden), Giorgio Rizzoni (Ohio State), William Robertson (California Air Resource Board), and by our Purdue-Maha faculty Andrea Vacca and Lizhi Shang.

For the first time, an exhibition session accessible by the Purdue community took place at the Purdue Memorial Mall, showcasing the latest trends in vehicle electrification, energy efficiency improvements, as well as software developments, novel measuring devices, educational initiatives, and additive manufacturing applied to fluid power and its wide range of applications, featuring 18 companies and their representatives.

Purdue's Memorial Mall showcased hydraulic vehicles both large and small from industry partners — from massive tractors, combines, and cranes, to unique vehicles like a hydraulic-powered bicycle.

One of the key moments of the conference was dedicated to honoring the founder of the Maha Fluid Power Research Center, Dr. Monika Ivantysynova, through the awarding of a medal to two Purdue alumni with an impactful career in the fluid power technical field. These individuals, Dr. Germano Franzoni and Dr. Robert Rahmfeld, both Maha alumni, were the first ever awardees of the Monika Ivantysynova Medal.

Dr. Germano Franzoni and Dr. Robert Rahmfeld, both Maha alumni, were the first ever awardees of the Monika Ivantysynova Medal.

Maha's role as a bridge between industry and academia was highlighted during the recruiting session with the support of the National Fluid Power Association, where companies participating in the conference engaged with not only Purdue students but also students from other institutions attending the event.

The conclusion of the conference coincided with the tour of the Maha Fluid Power Research Center, where all the main research projects, test stations, and prototype vehicles present in the lab were showcased to the conference delegates.

Finally, the best paper award, sponsored by the Global Fluid Power Society was assigned to the best peer reviewed paper, which was a contribution by Purdue (PhD student Dinghao Pan) on fundamental aspects of aeration in hydraulic components.

Purdue Ph.D. student Dinghao Pan received the Best Paper Award, sponsored by the Global Fluid Power Society.

"On behalf of the Maha faculty, we would like to thank all the attendees, sponsors, keynote speakers, exhibitors, and everyone who helped with the preparation and execution of the conference," said Andrea Vacca, the director of the Maha Fluid Power Research Center. "We look forward to welcoming you back to Purdue for the 2026 International Maha Fluid Power Conference. Boiler Up and Hammer Down!"