Hydraulic and pneumatic equipment are types of industrial equipment that draw energy from sources other than electrical. Electric power tools, as the name implies, run on electricity; hydraulics and pneumatics use what is called “fluid power.” Though these types of equipment are fairly similar, the power source used is different, and the applications of the tools are different as well. Let’s look at the differences between these two types of industrial equipment.

The term pneumatic refers to anything that uses a compressed gas as a source of power. Most types of industrial pneumatics use compressed oxygen as the gas, which has very few safety considerations; gasses used in portable or hand-held tools are more often compressed nitrogen or carbon dioxide, which do have some safety considerations (flammability, asphyxiation risks).

Hydraulic equipment uses liquid as an energy source, specifically hydraulic oil; the oil compresses and expands to create movement of the equipment. The fluid (oil) does not absorb energy, which means that the machinery will operate at full energy. Hydraulics use approximately 1,000-5,000 psi (pounds per square inch); for that reason, most hydraulic equipment is much larger than pneumatic.

Though the way hydraulic and pneumatic equipment work is nearly the same, the applications are different. Pneumatic drills and hammers are often used in the auto manufacturing industry; whereas, hydraulics are used in road construction or land development projects. Both types of equipment have specific advantages and disadvantages; the best way to decide which type will best suit your needs is to spend some time doing some online research about each one.