2026 Maha Conference Program

PROGRAM OF EVENTS (DRAFT)

Download the full program here: Maha Conference 2026 Program (Link TBD).

The PDF version of the presentation slides and the photos can be downloaded here (Link TBD). The password for accessing the files will be shared to conference delegates and maha members.

The peer-reviewed published papers of the conference are available from this link (Link TBD).


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
13:00 ROOM TBD OPENING AND REMARKS EXPO SETUP
13:15 ROOM TBD KEYNOTE LECTURE
Jean-Charles Mare (INSA Toulouse, France) - Trends in Actuation for Aerospace
Jurgen Weber (TU Dresden, Germany) - Digitalization in Fluid Power
Eric Lanke (NFPA, USA) - Future Trends in the U.S. Fluid Power Industry
14:45 ROOM TBD BREAK
15:15 ROOM TBD KEYNOTE LECTURE
Tatiana Minav (Tampere University, Finland) - EMA Implementation and Its AI-Based Condition Monitoring/Predictive Maintenance
Jim Van De Ven (University of Minnesota, USA) - Investigation of Alternative Powertrains for Mobile Machines: Agricultural Sprayer Case Study
Noah Manring (University of Missouri, USA) - Using Nondimensional Analysis to Model, Design, and Test Hydraulic Control Systems
Christian Geis (VDMA, Germany) - Research-Industry Collaboration in Europe
17:30 ROOM TBD SOCIAL EVENTS
18:30 ROOM TBD DINNER
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
08:30 ROOM TBD KEYNOTE LECTURE
Steffen Haack + Enrique Busquets (Bosch Rexroth, Germany) - AI in Fluid Power Technology
Shawn Horner (Parker Hannifin, USA) - Future Trends in Motion and Control Technology
Jeff Herrin (Danfoss, Denmark) - When Technology Leadership Is Not Enough - The Kings of Collaboration
EXPO
10:15 ROOM TBD BREAK
10:45 ROOM TBD KEYNOTE LECTURE
John Tuntland + Mandi Henderson (CAT, USA) - How Caterpillar Advanced Technology Is Enabling Safer Outcomes and What It Means for Hydraulics
Alberto Frulli + Stefano Fiorati (CNH, Italy/USA) - Transforming Off-Highway Machines Through Advanced Fluid Power Technologies
Corey Quinnell (Husco, USA) - Why the Best Engineering Does Not Always Win
EXPO
12:30 ROOM TBD LUNCH
13:30 ROOM TBD EXPO
14:30ROOM A (TBD)GEAR AND VANE PUMPS
Session Chair: TBD
ROOM B (TBD)NOVEL TECHNOLOGY IN OFF ROAD VEHICLE
Session Chair: TBD
EXPO REMOVAL
Parth Tawarawala, Harsh Kulkarni, Dinghao Pan and Andrea Vacca (Purdue University, USA)
Analysis of Efficiency and Axial Compensation in Continuous-Contact Helical Gear Pumps through Multiphysics Lubrication Modelling and Experimental Validation
Paul Michael (Milwaukee School of Engineering, USA)
Influence of Fluid Properties on Hydraulic System Losses in Dynamometer and Excavator Field Testing
Carlo Maria Vescovini (Casappa, Italy)
Enhanced Multi-Objective Multi-Physics Optimization of Pump Timing Applied to a Dual-Flank Contact Helical Gear Pump
Xin Tian (CNH, Italy/USA)
Off-Road Vehicle Performance & Fluid Power: From Concept Sketch to Hi-Fi and Real-Time Modeling
Jinglun Qu, Andrea Vacca and Sri Krishna Uppaluri (Purdue University, USA and Veljan Denison Limited, India)
Design and Optimization of Fluid Supply Flow Paths for a Balanced Twin-Lip Vane Pump
Zihao Xu, Andrea Vacca (Purdue University, USA)
Research Progress on Multi-Chamber Cylinder Adopting Multi-Pressure Rail Technology
Jeff Blasz, Joseph Giangreco Marotta (Moog, USA)
High Speed Tungsten Carbide Stacked Vane Pump
Timir Rajendra Patel, Andrea Vacca, and Charlie Young (Purdue University, USA and Bobcat, USA)
High Efficient Independent Metering System with Energy Recuperation: The Case of a Mini-Excavator
15:50 ROOM TBD BREAK
16:10ROOM A (TBD)PISTON PUMPS AND MOTORS
Session Chair: TBD
ROOM B (TBD)SUSTAINABLE FLUID POWER
Session Chair: TBD
Roman Ivantysyn and Jürgen Weber (TU Dresden, Germany)
Ultra Compact High-Speed Axial Piston Pumps for Electrified Mobile Machinery: Optimizing and Testing Tribologic Gaps for 10000 RPM
Olivier Reinertz, Christian Bertram and Katharina Schmitz (Institute for Fluid Power Drives and Systems (ifas), RWTH Aachen University, Germany)
How Fluid Power Research Can Contribute to a More Sustainable Construction Industry
Julien Ntede Florent, Ishan Suvarna, Lizhi Shang, Andrea De Pascale, Davide Moro and Alberto Gatti (University of Bologna, Italy, Purdue University, USA, and Bonfiglioli S.p.A., Italy)
Numerical Analysis of the Influence of Ball Joint Clearance on the Elastohydrodynamic Performance of Slipper Interfaces in Axial Piston Motors
Justin Hernan (Parker Hannifin, USA)
Electrification-Enabled Hydraulic Architecture: Improving Efficiency and Total Cost of Ownership
Pierre Bernard (Poclain Hydraulics, France)
Increasing Tool Productivity by Re-Engineering Radial Pistons Cam-Lobe Motors
Scott D. Sudhoff (Purdue University, USA)
Title Soon to Be Announced
Jinhwan Lee, Lizhi Shang (Purdue University, USA and Poclain Hydraulics, France)
Transient Thermo-Elasto-Hydrodynamic Model for Multi-Lobe Radial Piston Motor
Medhat Khalil (Milwaukee School of Engineering, USA)
Energy Saving Strategies in Hydraulic-Driven Machine Design
17:30 ROOM TBD SOCIAL EVENTS
18:30 ROOM TBD DINNER
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
08:30ROOM A (TBD)DRIVE AND STEER-BY-WIRE
Session Chair: TBD
ROOM B (TBD)HYDRAULIC COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY
Session Chair: TBD
Timothy Opperwall, Federico Zappaterra, Ben Holter (Husco, USA)
Steer by Wire Safety: Preserving Steering Under Fault Conditions Through Physics Driven Design
Elton Bishop (Purdue University Fort Wayne, USA)
Novel Poppet Valve for Digital Hydraulic Transformer
Matthias Krug (Thomas Magnete, Germany)
Development of a Demonstrator for a Full Steer-by-Wire Solution
Austin Zapata and Andrea Vacca (Purdue University, USA)
When Orifice Flow Must Consider Extensional Effects
Qadeer Ahmed (Ohio State University, USA)
Powertrain-Aware Explainable Reinforcement Learning Energy Management in Off-Road Vehicles
Ishan Suvarna, Lizhi Shang (Purdue University, USA and Bosch Rexroth, USA)
Wear Prediction of Swashplate Axial Piston Pump
Barun Acharya (Parker Hannifin, USA)
Electrified Traction Architectures for Off-Highway Mobile Equipment: A Decision Framework
Samuele Nizzardo, Andrea Vacca and Alberto Benato (University of Padova, Italy and Purdue University, USA)
Full 3D CFD and FEM Validation of Surrogate-Optimized Hydraulic Manifolds Designed via the MOThEA Framework
Lasse Schmidt (Aalborg University, Denmark)
Electro-Hydraulic Drive Networks for Next-Generation Working Machines - Design & Results for an Excavator
Shanmukh Sarode and Howard Zhang (Parker Hannifin, USA)
Sustainability Driven Advanced Hydraulic Pump Designs and Global Fluid Qualification Processes
10:10 ROOM TBD BREAK
10:40ROOM A (TBD)SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS & SIMULATION
Session Chair: TBD
ROOM B (TBD)SENSORS
Session Chair: TBD
Stefano Li Veli, Luca Romagnuolo, Emma Frosina, Valerio Di Cosmo and Adolfo Senatore (University of Sannio, Italy and University of Naples, Italy)
Experimental Characterization and Numerical Modelling of an Electric Vehicle Thermal Management System Integrating a Screw-Type ePump
Massimiliano Ruggeri, Sara Baldoni, Chiara Gialluca, Christopher Rosi, Matteo Ferri and Luca Belsito (STEMS - Institute for Energy and Sustainable Mobility of the CNR, Italy and VIS Hydraulics Srl, Italy)
New Sensing Method for Cartridge Valves
Pawan Panwar (Milwaukee School of Engineering, USA)
Use of Deep Learning to Predict Speed, Pressure, and End of Life in a High-Pressure Pump
Dale Dietel (DGD Fluid Power, USA)
CFT Cartridge Flow Meter - A Turbine Meter in a Standard Cavity Format
Kailash Choudhary, M. Rigosi, S. Di Domenico, and Andrea Vacca (Purdue University, USA and Casappa, Italy)
Experimental Investigation of Micromotions in Helical External Gear Machines
Karl Stübig, Luca Löding, Frank Geuer, Lars Leonhard, Matthias Liermann, Sumeru Srinivasamurthy, Carsten Fiebing and Robert Rahmfeld (Danfoss, Denmark)
Cylinder Block Deformation as Indicator for Cylinder Pressure in Axial Piston Units: A Novel Method Using Strain Gauges
Jeemon Kurian, Rafael Cardoso (Bosch Rexroth, USA)
Simulation and Experimental Validation of Hydraulic Forces for Swashplate Equilibrium in Axial Piston Pumps
Daniel Gysling, Brian Schreiber (Corvera, USA and HYDAC, Germany)
SONAR-Based Gas Void Fraction Monitoring for Mobile Hydraulic Systems
Brian Steward (Iowa State University, USA)
Title Soon to Be Announced
Annalisa Sciancalepore (Sun Hydraulics, USA)
Valve-Integrated Position Sensing (VIPS) for Flow Estimation and Monitoring in Electrohydraulic Systems
12:20 ROOM TBD LUNCH
13:20ROOM A (TBD)SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE & CONTROL
Session Chair: TBD
ROOM B (TBD)SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY
Session Chair: TBD
Anders Hedegaard Hansen, Per Johansen (Aalborg University, Denmark)
Experimental Investigation of a Novel Load-Holding Valve Technology Enabling Energy Recovery for Safety-Critical Hydraulic Systems
Francesco Corradin (Walvoil, Italy)
Model Based Design Applied to the Software Development of a Fully Digitalised Hydraulic Circuit – Smart Miniexcavator Case Study
Germano Franzoni (Parker Hannifin, USA)
Hydraulic Innovation in the Real World: Why Some Technologies Thrive, Many Stall, and What Comes Next
Naoki Hirose, Seiei Masuda, Yasushi Matsunaga, Fumio Shimizu, Kazuhiro Tanaka and Takeshi Yamaguchi (IHI Corporation, Japan and Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan)
Unsteady CFD Analysis of Alternating Flow Patterns in a Restrictive Orifice of a Pressure Regulator Valve
Liselott Ericson (Linköping University, Sweden)
Electrification of Mobile Machines - Exploiting Increased Degrees of Freedom in System Design
Vignesh Jeganathan, Chris Imholte, Andrew Kleitsch, Ashutosh Pandey and Bipin Kashid (Simerics, USA and Parker Hannifin, USA)
Bridging 1D System Modeling and 3D CFD for Hydraulic Slack Adjuster Design: A Decoupled Co-Simulation Approach
Elena Menegatti, Greg Shaver, Andrea Vacca (Purdue University, USA)
Hydrogen Excavator: Research Progress on Engine Boosting and High Efficient Actuation System
Priyanka Viswanath, Nathan Rosenbaum, Chris Imholte, Ashutosh Pandey and Bipin Kashid (Simerics, USA and Parker Hannifin, USA)
1D System Modeling and 3D CFD Co-Simulation Methodology for Analyzing Transient Behavior in Hydraulic Valves
Christian Bock, Kendal Beaty, Rafael Cardoso (Bosch Rexroth, USA)
Rexroth's Component Digitalization Strategy: How Software Is Redefining Hydraulics
Nicolas Romain (Siemens, France)
Excavator Closed-Loop Simulator: From Fuel to Soil
Kai Ping Qwah, Andrea Vacca, and Matthias Krug (Purdue University, USA and Thomas Magnete, Germany)
Modeling of Rotor Deformation Effects in Gerotor Pumps for High Pressure Applications
15:20 ROOM TBD CLOSURE AND AWARD
15:35 ROOM TBD TRAVEL TO MAHA
16:20 ROOM TBD LAB TOUR AND SOCIAL EVENT