Domin was recently featured in the German magazine O+P Fluidtechnik following an interview with CEO Marcus Pont about the company’s innovations and mission in the transformation of motion control.
Here is the translated interview:
Companies around the world are working on innovations, including in hydraulics. In the UK, Domin has focused on combining the latest technologies to gain market share for hydraulics, even in applications where force density is not the primary focus. O+P Fluidtechnik spoke with founder and CEO Marcus Pont about hydraulic innovations from the past 5,000 years.
Mr. Pont, you are CEO of Domin, a British hydraulics company. What was your path into hydraulics?
My path into hydraulics stems from a desire to make a difference in the world. Through our relationship with Andrew Collins, Domin’s co-founder, and the discovery of 3D metal printing, we realised there was a real opportunity to do this. We saw the opportunity to revolutionise an industry that had remained relatively unchanged for decades. Combining our expertise in engineered motion control, the opportunities offered by 3D metal printing, and an industry hungry for change, we saw hydraulics as the ideal sector to drive change and innovation. Every step of this journey has validated the importance of this decision. Over the past decade, our developments and the customers we support have repeatedly confirmed the transformative potential of our work. A touch of luck played a role, but now we’re in the industry and remain determined to help shape the future of hydraulics.
In a white paper, you say that hydraulics still relies on “inefficient products that powered our world in the 1950s.” Is that really the case?
Yes, and the evidence is all around us. Compare aircraft hydraulic pumps, for example: If you compare an Arden from an old Boeing 747 with an Arden from a modern Airbus A380, they are almost identical in design. A specialist might notice subtle improvements, but these changes are nowhere near as significant as the leaps we’ve seen in other technologies, such as computers. The basic manufacturing processes have remained the same—many hydraulic components are still manufactured using traditional casting methods, just as they were decades ago. While these old products have proven reliable, they have also contributed to stagnation in the industry. When hydraulics emerged, it was so advanced for its time that it took decades for new technologies to overtake it. Our observation is that hydraulics has experienced minimal innovation compared to other sectors.
You compare hydraulics with other sectors like electronics or the automotive industry. What have they achieved that hydraulics hasn’t?
Other industries have introduced continuous and radical innovations. Computers, for example, have evolved from room-sized machines to devices that fit in the palm of your hand or even on your wrist. In the automotive industry, vehicles are now more efficient, safer, and more powerful—engine efficiency has improved from around 30% to over 40%, which is obviously a significant leap. In contrast, hydraulic systems have largely remained the same. While pump efficiency has improved slightly, the basic system architecture hasn’t changed to the same extent. Precision engineering and manufacturing in electronics have advanced to the nanometer scale, while hydraulics still uses manufacturing technologies that—and I’m only slightly exaggerating—were developed 5,000 years ago. Furthermore, modern vehicles are seamlessly integrated with technology—your phone can now act as a car key, remotely control functions, and provide real-time diagnostics. This level of integration is largely lacking in hydraulics, where digital advancements have been slow to make inroads. While there are signs of progress, widespread adoption remains elusive.
Why hasn’t hydraulics achieved this? Is there a way to close the technological gap?
A key factor is industry consolidation. A small number of dominant vendors have historically had little incentive or real opportunity to drive innovation. Until recently, there have been no groundbreaking technological advances compelling enough to disrupt the market. Metal 3D printing has changed this dynamic. It has created the opportunity to rethink hydraulic design and manufacturing, much as Moog’s servo valves once defined an era of hydraulic innovation. However, in times of technological stagnation, industry consolidation tends to discourage new entrants. The advent of 3D printing is resetting the evolutionary clock and enabling new standards to be set. Closing this gap is already underway, and we believe Domin is at the forefront of this change. Many companies try, but innovation requires both the technology and the willingness to embrace change.
You mention several new technologies – is it about linking them together?
Absolutely. 3D metal printing alone isn’t enough; it provides the foundation for rethinking design, but real solutions emerge from combining it with other modern technologies. Innovation occurs when multiple advances are integrated into a cohesive system. 3D metal printing is our springboard, but real change requires a holistic approach. We do this by combining 3D metal printing with other tools such as advanced motors, Hall-effect sensors, modern onboard electronics, and modern design and simulation tools – all of which result in products that overcome the limitations of conventional hydraulic systems.
Do you have examples of applications where your vision has already been largely realised?
Yes. One example is our work with Ineos Britannia. This case study demonstrates how our approach to hydraulic systems has enabled groundbreaking performance improvements. We created the hydraulics for a high-tech sailing vessel competing for victory in the world’s most prestigious sailing competition. There is a strict rule that all energy for propulsion and steering of the boat must be generated solely from human power. In order to move certain parts of the boat hydraulically, we had to manufacture a very special valve that had to be extremely energy-efficient. We achieved this using cutting-edge methods such as 3D printing.
So you see a future for hydraulic power transmission in areas where power density isn’t the primary focus?
Absolutely. The core technologies we’ve developed are paving the way for more compact, efficient, and intelligent hydraulic power transmission systems. These advances open up possibilities beyond traditional heavy machinery, enabling the use of hydraulics in a broader range of industries. We believe that hydraulics can play a significant role in new and future applications by improving efficiency, reducing size, and enhancing digital integration.
You can read the original article in German on the O+P Fluitechnik website here.
