Mark your calendars for March 19–21, 2024, as the Bearing Show—colocated with Lubricant Expo—descends upon Huntington Place in Detroit. As North America’s premier exhibition and conference dedicated to bearings, this free-to-attend event promises to be a groundbreaking convergence of industry leaders, technological advancements, and invaluable networking.

As the world transitions towards sustainable energy solutions, the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is rapidly growing. This shift not only highlights the importance of reducing carbon emissions but also underscores the critical role of mining in supporting the infrastructure needed for this green revolution. From lithium-ion batteries to rare earth metals, mining plays a pivotal role in powering the future of transportation. The intricate relationship between mining and EV infrastructure highlights challenges, opportunities, and the path forward.

While the factory has received a modern makeover in recent years, it’s no surprise various industrial segments are taking advantage of digital tools to promote efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. The farming and agriculture community has embraced automation, robotics, IIoT, drones and autonomous vehicles to address global food demands and production limitations.

Anticipation vs. reaction is the name of the game in fluid power, hydraulics, and pneumatics. The organizations embracing mechatronics, digital toolsets, AI and the electrification movement will be in a much better position moving forward. Here are a few of the trends/technologies to consider relating to fluid power and motion control today:

AI is everywhere.

It’s impacting every phase of life, and every business. Take this issue of Power Transmission Engineering, for example. We have articles about AI in hydraulic systems, automation systems and maintenance (p.15); smart farming and mobile robotics (p. 18); plus mentions of AI sprinkled throughout the rest of the issue.

NTN Bearing Corporation, the parent company of BCA Bearings and Bower Bearings, is pleased to announce the addition of Kevin Huckins to the automotive aftermarket sales team. Huckins is joining NTN’s automotive aftermarket business unit as regional sales manager, western region.

The Modex 2024 exhibition will be open March 11th – 14th at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. Nord Drivesystems will be in attendance to showcase their latest innovations for intralogistics applications. Nord has thousands of drives installed across the world and offers complete drive solutions specialized for intralogistics handling such as simple commissioning, Plug-and-Play capabilities, standardization, energy savings, and more.

Netzer introduces the new VLM-60 multi-turn, hollow shaft absolute rotary encoder, the ideal solution for smooth and continuous production with limited space.

Schaeffler announces the expansion of its operations in the U.S. with the addition of a new manufacturing facility focused on producing automotive electric mobility solutions. This announcement represents the company’s commitment to innovation and growth in the Americas region.

Linear guides can function reliably in challenging environments — such as Li-ion battery manufacturing — with careful selection, protection, and proper lubrication. IKO has extensive expertise and a wide range of protective accessories available to create a custom product that will perform trouble-free.