Hydraulics is state-of-the-art – we just need to talk about it

Hydraulics mobilises enormous forces with the highest precision and astoundingly little effort. Today’s industry, construction or machinery would be unimaginable without it – and yet hydraulics ekes out a shadowy existence in public perception. A new Hydraulik-Initiative (English: Hydraulics Initiative) aims to boost the image of hydraulics. We speak with Matthias Henke, Head of Sales and Marketing at HANSA‑FLEX, and Ulrich Hielscher, Director of the International Hydraulics Academy (IHA), about the objectives and background of the initiative as well as the necessary positive attitude in the industry towards the future.

Hielscher: The idea took shape in many conversations in professional networks and industry associations. We had seen for years that hydraulics was featuring less and less in vocational and further education. It does not have its own apprenticeship, only training and professional development courses. This leads to valuable knowledge being lost, as many of the boomer generation of experienced hydraulic specialists enter retirement. The gap needing to be filled with new talent is obvious. As it became clear that industry associations were also not actively pushing this issue, Axel Binner from Hydropa provided the decisive impetus: “Then we’ll just have to start our own initiative.”

Henke: We want to arouse enthusiasm for hydraulics, inform people about it and network apprentices, students and companies. The initiative should be a platform on which all participants – from manufacturers and users to educational and training establishments – can work together to restore the high profile of hydraulics. Activities would range from image campaigns right up to practical training opportunities.

Hielscher: Exerting pressure “from outside” on institutions such as industry bodies and chambers of commerce or the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is also important. Training companies must demand still stronger establishment of hydraulics among the other recognised fields of occupation requiring formal training. A declared goal of the initiative is for system partners, service providers, trainers and educators to speak with one voice in future.

Hielscher: Firstly, to retain and communicate knowledge. In our seminars, we are always finding that even an understanding of the basics can no longer be taken for granted. Machinists, industrial mechanics, agricultural machinery technicians – all have less contact than before with hydraulics during their training. Secondly, it is a question of image: hydraulics is state-of-the-art, efficient and versatile, but that message is not communicated enough.

Henke: Image is the problem and the answer. Many people perceive hydraulics as old-fashioned, noisy, oily, inefficient or complicated. These views often stem from a bygone age and are not at all applicable to today’s technology. The initiative is intended to specifically target these misconceptions and show with facts, practical examples and modern messaging how efficient, sustainable and future-oriented hydraulics really is.

Hielscher: If hydraulics is noisy or dirty today, the reason is almost always the lack of knowledge of the people responsible. This underscores how important the objectives of the initiative are.

Henke: For us at HANSA‑FLEX, hydraulics plays a key role in the development of efficient and resource-conserving technologies, and we see our engagement in the Hydraulik-Initiative and in the supporting charitable association as a matter of course. We witness every day how versatile and capable this technology is. And we see how difficult it has become to find qualified hydraulics specialists. With the initiative, we are able to make our contribution to sustainably strengthening the industry and, with that, the German economy.

Hielscher: We started with two people communicating hydraulics knowledge in 2000. Today, we have 18 employees who advise, test and educate. We see it as our task to preserve and pass on know-how. The initiative provides an additional, broad stage for this.

Henke: A huge one. Up to now, hydraulics has missed opportunities to proactively show off its strengths. We need to speak about them more openly. We would like to change this situation by raising the visibility of fascinating innovations and interesting applications in such a way that even people outside the discipline understand why hydraulics is indispensable.

Hielscher: In particular, we must seek out young people and capture their attention. Social media has a central role to play in this. We must succeed in making hydraulics understandable by presenting it in attractive formats and exciting stories. Only in this way can we inspire the upcoming generation. If someone is not aware that hydraulics makes everything possible, then they will not embark on an apprenticeship in this field or place appropriate focus on it in their studies.

Hielscher: We would like to attract further partners, develop training and informational material and present a higher profile to the public. The effect of the initiative will grow as more companies and organisations give it their backing.

Henke: At HANSA‑FLEX, we are in no doubt that hydraulics has a great future. But only if everyone in the industry tackles this issue together. Being genuinely upbeat about the future is more necessary than ever before.

Henke: I would like us to be successful in greatly strengthening the position of hydraulics in the list of recognised occupations requiring formal training and thus create an inflow of enthusiastic new blood to the trade. The widespread popularity of industrial mechanic or mechatronics technician specialising in hydraulics as recognised occupations would be a realistic goal for me.

Hielscher: My wish would be that hydraulics is perceived as what it is: a state-of-the-art, efficient and fascinating technology. If we are successful in sustainably improving the image of hydraulics, then we have laid the foundations for further steps in the future.