Continued fluctuations in supply and demand in the oil and gas industry have greatly impacted the global demand for drilling operations, making it more important than ever to design more efficient control systems. Position sensors and motors are critical components in oil and gas equipment that must operate reliably day in and day out under some of the most challenging conditions. High temperatures and pressures, potentially explosive environments, extreme vibration, shock, dirt and moisture are all part of the everyday operating environment in drilling applications.

The rules and standards that affect the development of drilling equipment and systems are also evolving. Engineers designing components for the oil and gas industry need to keep abreast of these changes, which are often complicated by location and government. Depending on the application, products often need to be certified for use in hazardous areas, or specified and tested to operate in a given environment where there is no risk of explosion.