Technology

The axial piston pump and motor (APM) was invented in 1907 and was the foundational product for the oil hydraulics power and motion industries of today. Although the axial piston pump has proven its utility in oil hydraulics for more than 100 years, it was not until the invention of modern composite and ceramic materials and precision manufacturing technologies that the axial piston design could be used with plain water as the lubricating fluid.

For the first time, OPT’s unique ceramic bearing systems make the APP capable of tolerating particulate material in the process water. Compared to other axial piston pumps which require an extraordinary 10 micron absolute filtration (2-3 micron nominal), OPT’s APP can tolerate a wide range of particulate loading found in open waters without any need for pre-filtration.