Filtration of operating fluids circulating in fluid power systems is required to reduce particulate contamination level to the maximum level acceptable to guarantee safety, reliability, accuracy, durability and other benefits of the system. Since, in itself, filtration is both a direct (cartridge cost) and indirect (system stops for replacement of cartridge) operation cost, all measures taken to make filters only "safety belts" (when not useless) are studied by several requiring large hydraulic system end users, e.g. a robotised automotive assembly lines. This "ideal" situation may be achieved by managing particulate contamination from the very early design of the components through to the first operation of the system and then by optimizing the choice of hydraulic filters. This is made everyday easier thanks to the renewable offer of global filter manufacturers developing new concepts and using new filtering media with significantly improved performance. But on the other side, the globalisation and opening of industrial market to low cost producers, often less familiar with loyal practices, can introduce "copies" with claimed but not achievable qualities and characteristics.
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