Hydrotech, Inc. - Full History

Hydrotech, Inc. was formed as Hydrotech Engineering Company on April 8, 1967. The "Dolphin" logo was adopted from the outset, with the connotation being "Intelligent Fluid Power". In February 1968, Hydrotech Engineering Co. was incorporated in the state of Ohio as Hydrotech, Inc.

In the beginning, Hydrotech, Inc. operated as a fluid power distributor/agent for approximately seven (7) fluid power manufacturers. In October, 1969, Hydrotech merged with another sales company to enhance both growth and opportunity. With continued growth, other lines were added as those opportunities occurred, including the entry into the design and sale of lubrication systems and components. The first branch office was opened in Columbus, Ohio in 1972.

Delivery and service requirements were necessitating investment in inventory and larger facilities were needed. In 1973, the Company purchased a building located in the Cincinnati suburb of Rossmoyne. This building was comprised of offices only, so two warehouse spaces were rented nearby for inventory and for testing and assembly of lubrication systems. The lubrication portion of the business was growing rapidly, and this prompted the opening of our Cleveland office in September, 1977. Additional office space and a small warehouse was added to the Cincinnati building in 1978. The first computer system was installed in 1982. The bulk of the customer base was represented by machine tool manufacturers and with the recession of 1982, attention was given to expanding the customer base to offset the dependency on the machine tool market.

With the continued growth, many opportunities for the upgrading of product offerings were realized. The increase in the number of sales and office personnel was commensurate with the additional geographical areas that were being covered. The Louisville, Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio offices were added in 1979. Growth continued and the business was moved to a 15,000 sq.ft. building that was purchased in June 1983, located in the Cincinnati suburb of Blue Ash. With the increased warehouse space that was now available, the focus was directed toward value-added services, and the assembly and testing of packaged lubrication systems, hydraulic assemblies and power units began in earnest. The trend was toward total motion control capabilites, especially with the representation of Rexroth Corporation (beginning in 1979), and the representation of their other divisions dictated this need as well. We were then accessing new markets with system integration capabilities on the electronic side, and this opened the way for total hydraulic system responsibility and turnkey systems.

These facilities were outgrown, and being landlocked, the Company then purchased the present site in June 1995 located at 10052 Commerce Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45246, and moved to this location in August 1995. The move was well executed, since we had just installed and started a new in-house computer system on June l, 1995.

The present facility is a modern 48,500 sq.ft. building situated on 5.3 acres, with exceptional access to the Interstate highway system. Hydrotech serves a four state region. Inventory is located in our Cincinnati and our Cuyahoga Falls (Akron area) facilities.

Another division, EnPro, was added in June 1996. EnPro Division is involved in environmental and process products, including aviation fuel filtration, aviation fuel nozzles and components, oil/water separation, tramp oil/ coolant separation and filtration, air/oil separation, and chemical separation of fluids.

In June, 1998, Hydrotech also entered the meter/mix field, and supplies both components and systems for precisely metering and mixing various materials for adhesives, epoxies, lubricants, etc. The systems supplied are turn-key, with custom software development for accurate electronic control.

The two newer divisions are gaining an impressive customer base in these market areas, with exciting opportunities for accelerated growth.

We have developed an established service and repair capability, and enjoy an enviable and earned reputation of servicing what we sell. Hydrotech has factory-qualified personnel for servicing and repairing all hydraulic components, including servo and proportional valves. We design and build complete hydraulic power units, systems, and provide installation and commissioning services.

Hydrotech is a leading edge company in the utilization of computer systems, with direct computer link to all locations, EDI capability, E-Mail, CAD utilization, Digital Image Processing capability accessible from individual terminals, Web Page address with linkage, and our own HydroNet internal informational network, covering everything from order history with digital pictures of assemblies to Hydrotech corporate policies.

Communication capabiltiy is key at Hydrotech and we are always looking into the future to expand and grow our business.  We put the customer first in everything we do, and their priorities are always placed ahead of ours.