Did you know that the medals given out to athletes during the Olympics aren't made of solid gold, silver, or bronze?

Interestingly, the last solid gold medals were given out at the 1912 Stockholm Games. This fact is fascinating, considering the global significance of the Olympics. This evolution reflects the innovative approaches taken to celebrate excellence while ensuring practicality. So... what are the benefits of plating these medals?

From an industrial manufacturing standpoint, we can provide a probable answer based on the reasoning and benefits of why we plate the materials used for our very own fittings. Let’s dive into how this change in the purity of Olympic medals connects to manufacturing and why plating is so important in both arenas.

Regulating the Production of Metals 

After World War I, rising costs and the growing popularity of metal plating swayed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to regulate the production of Olympic medals, specifying that medals should be plated, which was made mandatory in 1920. Today’s Olympic medals must follow the composition ratios below:

• • • • •  Gold Medal: Composed of 92.5% silver and plated with 6 grams of 24K gold
        • Silver Medal: Composed of silver with at least 92.5% purity
        • Bronze Medal: Composed predominantly of copper alloyed with tin and zinc
          Image: Rectangle, solid gold, silver, and bronze medals presented to winners at the 1900 Paris Olympics. By Sailko.

Like the IOC, industrial manufacturers discovered plating enhances the durability and resistance of industrial fittings and components. Fast forward, and manufacturers today play by the rules set by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) for metals production. Yes, the Olympics regulates the composition of just three medals, while the ASTM regulates more than 12,000 metal parts. Still, everyone’s in it for the same thing: durability, improved performance, and corrosion resistance, which leads us to our next point. 

What Are the Benefits of Plating Metals?

So, what makes plating the go-to solution against corrosion and premature wear f

The year 2023 witnessed a notable shift marked by the increased integration of advanced technologies. In this blog, we aim not only to briefly recap the year but also to delve into the reasons behind the surge in electrification in 2024—a trend that has significantly impacted various industries.As electrification undergoes further evolution, significant transformations in machinery are on the horizon, directly impacting daily life. This blog will examine key aspects, including stricter emission standards, the transition towards electrification, effects on traditional hydraulic equipment and the broader environmental implications associated with this transformative trend.

The hydraulic equipment industry covers components such as valves, fittings, hoses, pumps, motors, cylinders, filters and accumulators. End-use industries comprise primarily of aerospace and defense, automotive, machine tools, material handling, hydraulic presses, shipbuilding, construction, oil and gas, agriculture, forestry and plastics.

Looking back at 2023, sustainability and eco-friendliness have risen as key influences across various industries, and the hydraulics sector reflects this trend. Withenvironmental concerns regarding energy usage and resource consumption, the hydraulic industry confronts rising demands to embrace sustainable technologies and practices. These initiatives aim to decrease emissions, minimize waste and reduce environmental impact throughout the entire product life cycle.

In this blog post, we delve into the significant advancements and trends possibly shaping hydraulic solutions in 2024. These developments are driven by the industry's heightened focus on adopting green initiatives that resonate on a worldwide scale.

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The carbon tax is a tax on the emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide. The tax burden is determined by units of carbon dioxide released. The more carbon dioxide a company releases into the atmosphere, the more money it must pay the government. The rates fluctuate based on the estimates of current damage by greenhouse gases and desired outcomes for lower emissions.

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Many are questioning where global manufacturing is headed. With ever-present changes due to continually evolving technology and supply chain disruptions, it is natural to have some concerns. 

The hydraulics industry shows significant promise in staying strong as inflation continues to increase costs worldwide. According to Technavio, the hydraulic equipment market is slated to grow by over $15 billion by 2025.

Automation and Training

With faltering economic recovery, companies are scrambling to deal with continued supply shortages, increasing commodity prices and higher wages triggered by labor shortages. In 2021, the producer price index (PPI) rose 10% in the industrialized world. The PPI measures the postproduction prices of goods and is a barometer of the pressures on corporations. The last time there was this level of increase in PPI was in the first half of 2008. Enough said.