Hydraulic power has been the backbone of industry for generations, from stamping presses in heavy manufacturing to automated assembly in modern factories. Yet, in today’s era of electrification, it’s easy to assume that hydraulic systems have become relics of a mechanical past.
However, this view misses a core truth: Despite the present surge in electrification, hydraulics are still indispensable for the most demanding applications.
The Case for Hydraulics: Power Density and Durability
While electric mechanical actuation has surged in popularity, transforming small-scale and precision tasks with fast, clean, and programmable motion, hydraulic control remains unrivalled for high-force, high-duty applications. No electric alternative can match hydraulics for durability and power density – the ability to move large loads with compact components, absorb shock, and thrive in continuous heavy-cycle environments. In critical sectors such as industrial manufacturing, marine operations, and large-scale material handling, the performance envelope of hydraulics is unrivalled:
- Sustained force at industrial scale, where power-to-size and durability are mission-critical requisites
- Superior shock resistance and overload protection, extending both equipment and operational life
- Reliable motion under the harshest conditions, including extreme temperatures, heavy contaminants, and round-the-clock duty cycles typical of industrial environments
While electrification can make sense for some robots, for pick-and-place machinery, and for light-duty automation, many industrial operations still require the raw power of hydraulic muscle.
Electric vs. Hydraulics: Striking the Right Balance
Electric actuation does offer real strengths: Low maintenance, accurate position control, and plug-and-play digital integration. These benefits make it ideal for targeted roles within modern automation. But, when applied to heavy machinery, rapid high-force cycling, or vibration-prone operations, electric actuators can struggle with heat, wear, or over-complex gearing.
That’s why leading OEM and Research and Development teams are not abandoning hydraulics. Instead, they’re integrating both systems; deploying electric wherever it creates value but relying on fluids for their unique strengths in power, shock handling, and proven longevity.
Electric vs. Hydraulic Actuators at a Glance
| Feature | Electric Actuators | Hydraulic Actuators |
| Components | Electric motor, mechanical transmission system, controller | Hydraulic cylinder, pump, fluid reservoir, control valves |
| Functionality | Converts electrical energy into mechanical motion | Creates mechanical motion through pressure applied to fluid |
| Benefits | Precision, easy integration, clean operation | High force in compact design, smooth motion, strong reliability |
| Challenges | Less torque for same size, heat generation, vibration | Potential for leaks, needs regular maintenance, more components |
| Key Industries | Robotics, medical equipment, aerospace | Industrial, marine, automotive, aerospace, robotics |
The most efficient systems of the future – across a wide range of industries – will combine the strengths of both electric and hydraulic motion control. To enable this, hydraulics must evolve, and that’s where Domin excels.
Domin Transforming Modern Hydraulics
We’re setting the standard for hydraulic systems in the digital age:
- Compact, high-performance valves: Domin’s patented direct drive servo valves deliver exceptional control in standard ISO footprints, streamlining upgrades for manufacturers
- Digital intelligence: Integrated sensors, smart controllers, and connectivity put actionable data in engineers’ hands, enabling both predictive maintenance and real-time system optimisation
- Efficiency at every step: Using advanced metal 3D printing, Domin components minimise friction, leakage, and mass, improving energy use while increasing operational life
- Compactness: Domin Valves are smaller and lighter than comparable alternatives
- Plug-and-play upgrades: Standard ISO footprint compatibility allows easy retrofitting, enabling legacy assets to be updated with minimal downtime
Domin solutions deliver what automation engineers, OEMs, and research leaders need most: Flexibility, scalability, and lower cost-of-ownership.
Looking Forward: Electrohydrostatic Systems and Emerging Trends
The future of fluid power isn’t just about analogue pressure and flow, it’s about convergence. Electrohydrostatic actuation, which blends electric responsiveness with hydraulic power density, is redefining what’s possible for manufacturing and automation. Domin is a leader in this new field, developing valves and systems that give customers both the controllability of electric and the might of hydraulics in a single, digitally-orchestrated package.
Electrohydrostatic platforms enable next-generation assembly lines with precise, highly efficient motion control. They also support adaptive systems essential for industrial presses, forming, and material handling. Strategically, this delivers key business benefits through energy-saving motion control, resulting in significantly lower operating costs for customers.
Fluid Power Efficiency: Doing More with Less
Efficiency is the new currency of industrial performance. Domin’s approach to motion control is focused on delivering higher output from every drop of energy, ensuring that businesses remain competitive amidst rising costs and demanding environmental regulations.
Domin’s advanced system architecture minimises friction to cut energy use, reduce leakage, and lower emissions, delivering a cleaner and more efficient operation. These benefits can also extend service intervals and support predictive maintenance, reducing total lifecycle costs and maximising long-term performance.
The Domin Difference: Combine Strengths, Don’t Compromise
No company embodies the evolution of hydraulics like Domin. Our engineering teams work at the intersection of fluid power and digital technology, answering the call for world-leading reliability, control, and efficiency. For automation engineers or R&D leaders comparing electric and hydraulic options, Domin simplifies the equation:
- Benchmark-setting direct drive servo valves, compatible with legacy and modern systems.
- Real-time digital control and monitoring for optimised, worry-free operation.
- Off-the-shelf compatibility with rapid Lead Time Zero delivery.
Rather than viewing electrification as a threat, Domin embraces this technology as a vital partner. We understand that the future of motion control won’t rely on binary choices, but on the smart synthesis of both hydraulic and electric strengths.
For more information on this topic or to speak to your local partner, contact our team.
