Free Hydraulic and Pneumatic Motion Technology Workshops

Benji Grubel, Connector Specialist
The Hope Group



I thought I would mention that as a result of acquiring Connecticut Fluid Power last year, we have increased our presence in Connecticut significantly. As part of the continuing growth in this area the company has announced that it will open a brand-new Parker Store in North Haven, Connecticut on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. The event of the opening will be marked by an Open House, a series of Technical Seminars that you can sign up for, and a Technical Trade Show featuring a wide range of Parker and other major product brands.

This store is the eighth store that The Hope Group has opened over the past several years. We now have three stores in Maine, two stores in Massachusetts, and one each in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Each of the stores features over 3,000 parts on hand for hydraulic hose, pneumatic fittings, and other industrial components. The most important feature for many customers is the “while-you-wait” replacement of ruptured hose assemblies. It’s a feature that will be welcome, I’m sure, in the North Haven area.

You can learn more about the Technology Seminars and the Open House by visiting the website.

The Hope Group Offers Powerful, Wireless Diagnostic Tool

Benji Grubel, Connector Specialist
The Hope Group


If you are still using mechanical gauges and wired monitoring devices, you are not utilizing all the modern resources for diagnostic and condition monitoring. According to Parker’s recent blog on the subject, the last generation pressure tracking systems are prone to issues that include providing inaccurate measurements, damages to the device’s wiring by the machinery, and hand-written records that lead to human error. Parker’s SensoControl® product line is a powerful diagnostic solution for pneumatic and hydraulic applications. And now, one of their most popular devices, ServiceJunior™CONNECT is wireless.

ServiceJunior ™ CONNECT has many features that include:

·         Digital pressure monitoring

o   Capture minimum/maximum pressure changes at a rate of 10 ms

o    Digital readout more accurate than mechanical

o    Exportable records and proof-of-work statements

o   Set alarms, create/view trend graphs, create asset records

·         Wireless operation

o   Powered by SCOUT Mobile Software

o   Fast accurate readings

o   No more wiring or hoses getting caught in machinery

o   Line of sight is not needed to obtain measurement

o   Allows users to be away from machinery while in use and under full load, reducing safety risks

·         Scalable and expandable

o   Increase or decrease the total number of gauges used

o   No need to reconfigure wired infrastructure

o   Works with SensoNODE™ Blue sensors via SCOUT Mobile

“Diagnosing a problem before it occurs is the primary objective. For this, having a steady flow of data that can be analyzed is crucial to help maintenance technicians make informed predictions of when something needs attention.” - Tad Orstad, Applications Engineer

The SensoControl ServiceJunior CONNECT digital sensor offers better performance and diagnostics than mechanical gauges ever could. If you would like more information, feel free to contact me at 508-351-1861 or by email. (BGrubel@thehopegroup.com).

The Hope Group Offers Various Markets with Water Purification Products

Benji Grubel
Fluid Connector Specialist


When dealing with the removal of contamination from liquids and gases, The Hope Group provides filtration products for markets including Mobile and Marine, Food and Beverage, Life Sciences, and Industrial & Process. I would like to share with you some examples of how we help those market types.

Seafari Compact converts sea water
to fresh water on your yacht

Desalination for Marine, Military, Work Boats, Fishing Vessels, Pleasure Crafts - Using reverse osmosis water makers, the wide variety of Parker desalination systems can produce potable water from brackish wells or sea water. We provide filtration, pumps, pre-filters, and separators to serve the mobile/marine industry.

Drinking Water, Beer/Wine, Soft Drinks, Liquid Dairy Products, Juices, Syrups - We provide various filters that can remove dirt, silt, debris, fine particles, bacteria, and other contaminants as well as filters that remove undesirable tastes and smells. These liquids go through a variety of purification and supplementation processes before you drink them.

Laboratory Practices, Medical Procedures, Pharmaceuticals - The variety of filters we offer can produce high purity water that is needed to prevent the spread of diseases, help patients that are immunocompromised, and improve the performance of health products.

Industrial Cleaning, Heating, Cooling, Conveying - Most industries need a suitable supply of water for cleaning, heating, cooling, conveying, and as an element in paints and other liquid products. We provide filters to keep your production flowing and also that remove particles from high-purity water to protect certain equipment.

In addition to filtration products, we also offer fittings, valves, and seals that are used in water purification systems as well as design and engineering services. Visit our Marine Page to view our wide range of products. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by calling 508-351-1861 or email me at bgrubel@thehopegroup.com.

Also, The Hope Group will be displaying products for yacht owners at the Commercial Marine Expo in Providence RI on March 15, 2017 and the Maine Boatbuilders Show in Portland ME on March 24, 2017. Read more about our upcoming Boat Shows on our website!

The Hope Group Provides Customer Support from Design to MRO Services

Steve Torigian, Service Manager
Hope Service


Here at The Hope Group, we are more than a parts supplier shipping off products to customers in New England. As a Parker Hydraulic Technology Center distributor, we offer a high degree of hydraulic service capability. We also offer expertise in value added services such as total system design, fabrication, installation, trouble-shooting, and MRO Services.

I came across an article posted by Parker Hannifin that explains in depth the benefits of choosing a supplier that is also deemed a Parker Hydraulic Technology Center distributor for total hydraulic solutions. The nature of the HTC distributors leads to greater reliability, reduced downtime, better efficiency, cost effectiveness, and better engineering in general.

“For the customer, post-design benefits are as important, if not more so, than an integrated solution. Increased productivity through enhanced machine performance saves cost and maximizes competitiveness in the market place. Similarly, well-designed integrated automation solutions are likely to be more reliable than separate elements linked together. Other aspects that can be optimized are energy efficiency (a known payback of an integrated solution), precision and security.” - Eric Zany, Parker Hannifin, Channel Manager (Read the full Parker article)

Other great benefits of doing business with a Parker HTC distributor, like The Hope Group, are that we provide local services including emergency repair, condition monitoring, hose replacement, cylinder repair, and hydraulic training. We are also experts in other technologies including, but not limited to, automation, electro-mechanical parts, filtration, electronic controls and machine intelligence.

If you have any inquiries give me a call at 508-351-1831 or send me an email (storigian@hopeair.com). Also, you can check out our field service page for more information.

New Clear Bowls are a Solution for Parker Racor Spin-on Filters

Dani Morse, Fuel Filtration Specialist
The Hope Group


An important topic I’ve come across in the Marine industry is the compatibility of spin-on filters with clear bowls when the formulation of gasoline changes. In a recent Parker Racor article, I read that the most recent change is the 10% ethanol that has been added to the gasoline.  

“Racor has performed extensive testing using the new E10 fuel and found the current bowls retained clarity and stability, after prolonged exposure. However, it was found that ethanol concentration exceeding 10% caused adverse material changes; including loss of clarity, crazing, and shrinkage, eventually causing the bowl to separate from the filter.” – Parker, Engine Mobile Filtration Team

Other factors can also impact the clear bowls such as age, temperature, ultraviolet light and fuel additives. Check out the Parker Racor article to learn what you should be inspecting and when you should replace your parts. They conveniently give you a visual of what to look for when inspecting and list the part numbers next to the replacement bowl numbers.

If you would like help with selecting the correct replacement or would like more information, please contact me at (508-351-1888) or by emailing me (dmorse@thehopegroup.com) Or, visit the Filtration page on our website.

When Operator Safety and "Safe" Failure is a Necessity …Rod Locking Cylinders is a Solution

Ray McCann, Sales Engineer
The Hope Group


I came across a Parker Hannifin Blog entry that was focusing on rod locking cylinders as a safety solution for machinery operators. It occurred to me that this information would be helpful to some of the companies that I come in contact with to reduce risk to the products they are manufacturing/assembling, as well as to the operators themselves.

Depending on what type of system you are running, a stop in your process is usually caused by an interruption to the power driving the system. If this happens to your machine and a "safe" fail is a priority, rod locking cylinders is one solution.

In their article, Parker explains how the P1D Series of ISO cylinders are designed to hold the loads safely in place if the compressed air supply fails. They provide cylinders for both dynamic and static applications.

"When an air failure occurs, causing a loss of signal pressure, the force from a set of internal springs pushes the mechanism to lock the piston using jaw clamps. It is important to note that these can only be used in dry piston rod applications as any grease, lubricants or coolants will reduce the effectiveness of locking." Franck Roussillon, Parker Pneumatics Division

To understand more about how rod locking cylinders can help make your process safer, read the Parker Pneumatics blog entry. You will be informed about the benefits it has specifically pertaining to dynamic applications or static designs.

If you would like to have a conversation about this topic, please contact me directly by phone, 508-351-1876, or email me at RMcCann@TheHopeGroup.com.

Are You Killing Your Machinery?

Benji Grubel, Connector Specialist
The Hope Group

The Hope Group Introduces Parker’s SensoNode Blue and SCOUT Mobile Software to help plant managers with their condition monitoring challenges.

SensoNode Blue is the latest addition to Parker’s condition monitoring product line for plant and equipment managers. It allows users to instantly collect data from the sensors and monitor it through SCOUT Mobile software on his or her mobile device. The sensors accurately track changes in pressure, temperature, and humidity which allows the software to calculate the data into predictive analytics.

The easy-to-use interface allows users to:

• Identify issues before they escalate
• Reduce Downtime
• Decrease Maintenance Costs
• Avoid Dangerous Situations
• Improve Labor Efficiency
• Record Better Information for Better Decision-making

When within range, 1,000 feet with a clear line-of-sight, each sensor is uniquely identifiable for easy association with specific assets and processes, which allows for quick diagnostics. The four available sensors include:

1. High-Strain Sensor
   SensoNode High-Strain Sensors are soft, thin, conformable devices that can take accurate measurements and readings while being strained over 100% for millions of cycles. The sensors, which are made of a tough silicon rubber that can withstand the harshest environments from heat, cold, and shock to dust, vibration and moisture, can be used to measure strain or vibration in machines, vehicles, production lines, plants, and facilities. They are ideal for monitoring elastomer and other high-strain devices that are subject to overload or fatigue failure, such as air and fluid handling. Other applications include:
   
   • Elastomer joints and seals
   • Conveyer systems
   • Linear actuators
   • Hydraulic accumulators
   • Mechanical effectors
   • Pneumatic cylinders
   
   
2. Humidity Sensor
   SensoNODE Blue humidity sensors measure 0% to 100% relative humidity and are ideal for both ambient and inert compressed gas monitoring applications. Humidity sensors monitor in-line and ambient humidity levels, allowing users to track gradual trends of increased facility humidity and better diagnose in-line humidity issues.
   
   - Injection Molding, where increased humidity in storage containers and the process lines can add moisture to the resin and changes the resin’s properties, which prevent it from molding properly.
   
   - Metal forming and fabrication, where moisture can cause corrosion and rust, increased dew point in compressed air lines and increased wear of moving parts.
   
   - Power Generation, where excessive moisture threatens the turbine’s gearbox with corrosion, reduced efficiency and breakdown.
   
   
3. Pressure Sensor
   SensoNODE Blue pressure sensors are designed for accurate monitoring to alert users to any pressure drop and allow workers to diagnose issues early, which minimizes downtime, waste and rework.
   
   - Injection molding, where insufficient pressure can lead to partially filled molds, batch inconsistencies and trapped air or moisture.
   
   - Metal forming and fabrication, where incorrect pressure levels for hydraulically or pneumatically driven tools and assets can lead to overload or failure, overworked assets, and decreased operational efficiency.
   
   - Mobile equipment, where incorrect pressure levels for hydraulic lines can lead to overload or failure, overworked assets and decreased operational efficiency.
   
   - Power Generation, where increased plant fuel consumption and/or reduced output can be telltale signs of compromised integrity of rotary components or turbine structural damage. Sensors can identify turbine issues by monitoring pressures changes in systems such as hydraulic lift pumps, power units, and cylinders, diverter damper controls and nitrogen generators.
   
   - Welding and Industrial Gas, where sudden drops in pressure can lead to multiple issue with efficiency and cost including costly production interruptions, asset operation faults and tank depletion.
   
   
4. Temperature Sensor
   SensoNODE temperature sensors monitor ambient temperatures, diagnose in-line temperature issues and track real-time data on the end user’s mobile device. The sensors applications that include:
   
   - Injection molding, where temperature inconsistencies can lead to part deformity, stress cracks and increased scrap, insufficient pressure can lead to partially filled molds, batch inconsistencies and trapped air or moisture.
   
   - Metal forming and fabrication,where inconsistencies in asset temperatures can have damaging effects that reduce precision and contribute to long-term damage. Mobile equipment, where inconsistencies in machinery temperatures can have damaging effects, including overheating, breakdown and long-term damage.
   
   - Power Generation, where turbines overheat and operate inefficiently so sensors can identify when turbine filters and/or oil needs replacement based on temperature changes in hydraulic lift pumps, diverter damper controls and hydraulic power units.
   
   - Welding and Industrial Gas, where temperatures outside optimal operating conditions can leads to inefficient operation, asset damage and even potentially dangerous situations.
   
   If you are interested in seeing a SensoNode Blue demonstration by one of our Product Specialists, contact The Hope Group by calling 508-393-7660 or email: techsupport@thehopegroup.com.

SensoNODE™ Blue Sensors & SCOUT™ Mobile Software

Condition Monitoring for Predictive Maintenance
Pressure, Temperature and Humidity Sensors with Mobile Monitoring