FPDA, IFPS and NFPA: 

Nfpa And Ifps And Fpda Revised 2016 04 18 1

Three Associations Connecting to Address Distinct Needs in the Fluid Power Industry

NFPA, FPDA and IFPS - What's the difference?

The FPDA Motion and Control Network, The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA), and the International Fluid Power Society (IFPS) work collaboratively around a common framework that contains two important dimensions.

First, while all three organizations pursue a number of strategic priorities in order to fulfill their missions, the nature and scope of those priorities vary by organization.

  • FPDA is largely focused on shaping the forum in which its members learn and connect;
  • NFPA is largely focused on shaping the marketplace in which its members exist;
  • IFPS is largely focused on shaping the skills and knowledge of technical fluid power professionals.

Second, while all three organizations connect with many different types of companies and professionals, each has a primary focus within that diverse industry network.

  • FPDA’s focus is on sales and marketing professionals at fluid power distributors and system integrators;
  • NFPA’s focus is on company executives at fluid power component and system manufacturers;
  • IFPS’focus is on fluid power technicians and engineers at companies across the supply chain.

Viewing the three organizations along these lines helps to delineate their distinct zones of focus and influence, and emphasizes the reason three organizations make sense for the fluid power industry. The intersection points where collaboration serves the interests of FPDA, NFPA, and IFPS members also becomes much clearer. As our three organizations continue to pursue their own strategies, we will work together where it makes sense to do so according to this framework.

Download a PDF document to help you better understand our efforts.

 

A Message from FPDA Past President Mike Hamzey

FPDA or NFPA

The 2014 NFPA Annual Conference was a great opportunity to network with our colleagues across the fluid power supply chain. During this meeting, the members of the FPDA leadership met with members of the NFPA leadership for the second time to discuss how we can enhance our working partnership for the benefit of the industry. As a result of this, we shared with you our joint message to our respective memberships.

FPDA and NFPA initially discussed and defined the unique role that each association plays in the fluid power marketplace. We recognize that confusion exists as to the purposes and the intersections of these two organizations. Together, we have been working to build a common framework and to use it to shape and define appropriate areas of collaboration. In essence, this framework breaks down along two dimensions.

First, when we consider organizational focus, it is fair to think of NFPA as having broader reach than FPDA. FPDA is focused on the sustainability of its distributor organizations by enhancing their relationships with manufacturers and vendors. While NFPA’s focus certainly includes the distributor/manufacturer relationship, it also includes other relationships across the fluid power supply chain. Suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, machine builders, and machine users are all part of the long-term organizational vision that NFPA is pursuing.

Secondly, when it comes to technology focus, it is also fair to think of FPDA as having broader reach than NFPA. NFPA is focused squarely on hydraulics and pneumatics and how those technologies can grow and compete in the marketplace. While FPDA’s focus certainly includes hydraulics and pneumatics, it also includes other technologies that are important to the automation, motion control and power transmission needs of our customers.

Viewing the two organizations along these lines clearly delineates their distinct zones of focus and influence—and emphasizes the reason two organizations make sense for the fluid power industry. The intersection point where collaboration serves the interests of both FPDA and NFPA members also becomes much clearer.

Below you will find a link to a short Power Point visual to help you better understand our efforts.