New hydraulics center puts visions in motion

By JoANNE VIVIANO
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A new Hydraulics Research and Education Center at Youngstown State University was touted Friday as the first of its kind in the nation.
"We could go on and on talking about how exciting hydraulics can be. This step the university is taking is one of the boldest steps being taken by any university in this country," said John Gilchrist, former group vice president of operations for Parker Hannifin-Youngstown Operations. "Being a graduate of YSU, I'd like to see YSU be the best in hydraulic research for the future."
"And we will be," answered Dr. Cynthia Hirtzel, dean of YSU's Rayen College of Engineering and Technology.
Partnership makes it possible
The state-of-the-art center was made possible through a partnership between the university and Parker Hannifin Corp. Gilchrist and other members of the Parker Hannifin community visited YSU Friday to watch a demonstration of the research being conducted by university faculty and students.
While there, Lew Kasper, business unit manager of the company's Youngstown operations, presented university President David C. Sweet with a Parker Foundation donation toward YSU scholarships.
The new center will seek to advance fluid-power technology through research and applications. A main feature is a computer-controlled hydraulics laboratory to test the capacity, power and efficiency of various hydraulic cylinders and other equipment and systems. Parker has donated the equipment and committed engineers to work with faculty and students both at the university and in the field.
Kasper said the equipment will help test the real-world capabilities of newly designed Parker Hannifin hydraulic components.
Overseas facilities
Before the YSU-Parker Hannifin collaboration, this type of hydraulics research facility could be found only overseas, Gilchrist said.
"It's a unique university-corporation interaction. It's good for our students because it provides them additional education opportunities and hands-on experience with sate-of-the-art equipment," Hirtzel said. "And it's good for economic development. The more programs the college of engineering can offer, the more we will be able to attract additional students, and also add jobs to the area."
Hydraulics at work
A few examples of "hydraulics at work" were compiled by Dr. H.W. Shawn Kim, professor and chair of YSU's department of mechanical and industrial engineering: Hydraulics are used in clothes-washing machines; elevators and escalators; sump pumps; bulldozers, forklifts and dump trucks; and in various systems of vehicles, including braking and steering.
Parker-Hannifin Corp. also was involved in the hydraulics that sank the film industry's "Titanic" and helped create special effects in "Jurassic Park" and "A Perfect Storm," Gilchrist said.
YSU programs
Kim said the university has also launched a mechanical engineering program in hydraulics and is working toward a graduate program. Research is already taking place, and goals include more industry collaboration, an associate degree and certificate programs, more internships, more external research grants and an endowed chair position in fluid power and control.
"With everything that's gone wrong in the area, I think the university is a bright spot," he said. "This type of research is going to draw industry back into the area. We have factories closing down; this is a way to open them back up."