80 Middle School Students Set to Compete in NFPA Fluid Power Challenge

Nov. 19, 2008 - PRLog -- With the completion of a wildly successful full-day pre-competition workshop—which allowed 80 middle school students from Wisconsin and northern Illinois to practice skills needed for the design and construction of fluid power mechanisms—the Milwaukee School of Engineering is set to host the NFPA Fluid Power Challenge from 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2008.  

During the Challenge event, twenty teams of four 8th-graders each will build fluid power mechanisms that they have designed to pick an object from one platform, rotate and place it on another. In addition to the number of pick-and-place cycles a team’s mechanism completes, a review of each team’s design approach and teamwork skills will be used to judge the competition’s winners.

The NFPA Fluid Power Challenge provides middle school students with information about fluid power technology and hands-on experience building a fluid power mechanism with real world applicability. The program is designed to introduce the students, and their teachers, to the world of engineering and fluid power careers. NFPA hopes to encourage students to select more mathematics and science courses in their high school curricula to keep their options open for technology-based post-secondary studies.

The different and unique designs shown in the last competition included some very innovative gripping mechanisms. Ryan Nihoris, a Kettle Moraine Middle School team member from the last Challenge, said “This opens up more opportunities for engineering and careers kids aren’t aware of. It’s fun...you develop teamwork and leadership skills and meet kids from different schools.”

Representatives of the media are invited to attend the NFPA Fluid Power Challenge on December 12.  To learn more about the Challenge, please contact Tammy Molter, NFPA Workforce Development Program Manager at (414) 778-3349.

NFPA provides a forum for the fluid power industry’s channel partners—manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, customers and educators. Its 335+ U.S. and multinational members work cooperatively in advancing hydraulic and pneumatic technology through the association’s many programs and initiatives.

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NFPA provides a forum for the fluid power industry’s channel partners—manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, customers and educators.