Hydraulics in the age of specialization

Today's hydraulics are to earlier systems as Sim City is to Lincoln Logs. Increasing sophistication has changed the way companies such as Eaton and Caterpillar build equipment, while users' expectations and regulators' demands keep rising.

Power density. Flexibility. Efficiency. These were the advantages hydraulics brought to equipment when they replaced chains and cables. For 40 years, these advantages were enough.

All that changed in the mid-1990s as electrohydraulics became more prevalent. Pilot controls were replaced with joysticks, and hydraulic systems were integrated with engine-control modules and system buses. It was no longer enough that hydraulics were wonderful; they now had to be absolutely stunning, which doesn't come easy. To remain competitive, equipment manufacturers have had to rethink the way they do business.