Steve Skinner started his career-long association with hydraulics as a Student Apprentice with the Dowty Group in the late 1960s. After graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bath he joined hydraulics company Vickers Sperry Rand firstly as a Technical Assistant then subsequently as Applications Engineer and Customer Engineer. During this time he became responsible for both the design, commissioning and troubleshooting of hydraulic systems including a 5-month secondment to a large steelworks complex in Mexico. In 1979 he took over responsibility for the Vickers’ Hydraulic Training School, then located in Birmingham, UK before moving to an International Training role in 1985. He continued as European Training Manager when Eaton acquired the company in 1999 and in later years also took on Product Management responsibilities for the company’s vane pump and heavy duty transmission products.
He has been a member of several British Fluid Power Association committees including Vice Chairman of their Education and Training committee and has authored several books on such subjects as Hydraulic System Troubleshooting, Basic Electronics, Proportional Valves, Closed Loop Control Systems and Variable Displacement Pump Controls. A recently published book on the history of hydraulic fluid power has resulted from his keen interest of industrial history. He is now semi-retired but continues to offer training services to the hydraulics industry and supports the excellent work carried out by the National Fluid Power Centre in Worksop, UK where he remains a member of their Advisory Committee.