‰ notable words
Publisher Innovative Designs & Publishing, Inc. 3245 Freemansburg Avenue, Palmer, PA 18045-7118 Tel: 800-730-5904 or 610-923-0380 Fax: 610-923-0390 | Email: AskUs@ifps.org www.FluidPowerJournal.com
To Be or Not to Be… Certified ‰
Certification adds a third dimension to your portfolio; education and experience are the other two. In baseball, we look for a player with the complete package—one who can throw, bat, catch, run, and be smart enough to make the many quick decisions that inevitably impact the outcome of a game. Certification in our industry mimics this complete package. It lets people know that you have, in addition to experience and education, specialization in fluid power and that you have taken the time to document your expertise. It lets the world know you are a critical member of the “team.” Fluid power has had many innovations since the 1980s. Probably the most significant is proportional controls. Fast forward 30 years and all of a sudden we are dealing with programmable Bert Martinez, CFPE, logic controllers, motion controllers, analog and CMfgE, Sun Hydraulics Corp. digital drivers, load cells, linear variable displacement transducers (LVDT), proportional integral derivative (PID) controllers—the list goes on and on. These innovative technologies require in-depth knowledge of electronics in addition to basic hydraulics. Fluid power isn’t just for log splitting anymore. In addition to electronics, advances in proportional valve technology and servo valve technology have allowed fluid power to reach into applications that used to be reserved for the electromechanical industry. Again, applying these valves requires knowledge of frequency response technology and closed-loop controls. Certification is a key way of keeping up with this technology and letting your industry know that you have the fundamental knowledge necessary to apply it. When I first heard of fluid power certification in the early 90s, I was very interested. I saw it as a way to achieve a higher level of accomplishment. Monetary gain was not the main motive. For me, it was more about pride and bragging rights. Since then, I have had many discussions with colleagues about the benefits of being certified. It’s funny how almost everybody who isn’t certified doesn’t feel the need to certify, whereas those who are certified are always looking for new certifications to add to their portfolios and other ways of growing professionally. Recently, a group of young engineers that I work with decided to take the certification test. They were also joined by a few senior engineers motivated by the younger group. I met with them several times when they were preparing for the test. I reminded them that taking the test is not like running a race—it’s more like achieving a goal. So, if you don’t pass the first time, there’s no shame in going back and taking the test again and again. And again, until you
Associate Publisher: Marc Mitchell Editor: Kristine Coblitz Technical Editor: Dan Helgerson, CFPS, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPJPP, CFPMT, CFPC&C Account Executive: Bob McKinney Art Director: Quynh Vo VP Operations: Lisa Prass Accounting: Donna Bachman, Debbie Clune Publishing Assistant: Sharron Sandmaier Circulation Manager: Andrea Karges International Fluid Power Society 1930 East Marlton Pike, Suite A-2, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003-2141 Tel: 856-489-8983 | Fax: 856-424-9248 Email: AskUs@ifps.org www.ifps.org 2013 Board of Directors President & Chairperson Mark Perry, CFPHS - Fitzsimmons Hydraulics Immediate Past President Patrick J. Maluso, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPS, CFPMHM Western Hydrostatics, Inc. First Vice President Tom Blansett, CFPAI, CFPS, CFPIHT, CFPCC - Eaton Corporation Vice President Education Marti Wendel, CFPE, CFPS - Sprague Products Treasurer Dan Helgerson, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPSD Cascade Steel Rolling Mills, Inc. Vice President Membership & Chapter Support Richard Bullers, CFPPS - SMC Corporation of America Vice President Certification Rance Herren, CFPECS, CFPSD, CFPMT - National Oilwell Varco Vice President Marketing & Public Relations Justin Sergeant, CFPS, CFPMHM - Western Integrated Technologies Vice President Educational Foundation Jimmy Simpson, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPS, CFPMM Nusim Associates Fluid Power Consultant Directors-at-Large Mike Anderson, CFPS - Motion Industries, Inc. Bill Jordan, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPMHM, CFPMHT - Altec Industries Jose Garcia, CFPHS - Purdue University Jim Lane, CFPAI, CFPS - Motion Industries, Inc. Alan Niesen, CFPS, CFPIHM, CFPMHM - HFI Fluid Power Products D. Dean Houdeshell, PE, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPIHT, CFPMHT, CFPMHM - Sauer Danfoss Kenneth Dulinski, CFPAI, CFPECS, CFPHS, CFPMIH, CFPMMH Eaton Corporation Timothy White, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMIH, CFPMMH, CFPMIP, CFPMT, CFPMM - The Boeing Company Jeff Kenney, CFPIHM, CFPMHM, CFPMHT - Coastal Hydraulics Scott Gower, CFPS - Gulf Controls Company, LLC Honorary Directors Robert Firth Raymond Hanley, CFPE/AI-Emeritus John Groot, CFPPS Robert Sheaf, CFPAI/AJPP, CFPE, CFPS, CFPECS, CFPMT, CFPMIP, CFPMMH, CFPMIH, CFPMM IFPS Staff Executive Director: Donna Pollander, ACA Certification Manager: Sue Tesauro Communications Manager: Adele Kayser Membership Coordinator: Sue Dyson Certification Coordinator: Connie Graham Administrative Assistant: Beth Borodziuk Bookkeeper: Diane McMahon Fluid Power Journal (ISSN# 1073-7898) is the official publication of the International Fluid Power Society published bi-monthly with four supplemental issues, including a Systems Integrator Directory, OffHighway Suppliers Directory, Tech Directory, and Manufacturers Directory, by Innovative Designs & Publishing, Inc., 3245 Freemansburg Avenue, Palmer, PA 18045-7118. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any material in this publication is acceptable with credit. Publishers assume no liability for any information published. We reserve the right to accept or reject all advertising material and will not guarantee the return or
4
safety of unsolicited art, photographs or manuscripts.
www.fluidpowerjournal.com | www.ifps.org