Illinois-based HydraForce continues to expand its global hydraulics manufacturing capabilities with a key acquisition in Brazil. The leading independent manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves, manifolds and electro-hydraulic controls recently signed an agreement to acquire its current distributor and global systems integrator, Hydraulic Designers Ltda. This acquisition will give HydraForce a greater presence in the burgeoning South American off-highway equipment market.
“We’ve been strategic partners with Hydraulic Designers for several years now, and this acquisition is the natural progression of our successful business relationship,” says Jim Brizzolara, President of HydraForce. “For 15 years, Hydraulic Designers has been providing advanced technical solutions to equipment builders in Brazil, and HydraForce is very fortunate to be able to expand upon that partnership,” he adds. “We’ll be leveraging the talents of both companies to bring greater value and capability to customers not only in Brazil but throughout South America.”
The Hydraulic Designers Ltda. plant in Taboão da Serra, State of São Paulo employs over 100 people who design and build custom hydraulic manifolds, primarily for original equipment manufacturers in the agricultural and construction industries. The newly acquired company will continue to use all HydraForce design tools, including i-Design hydraulic schematic software, Automation Studios simulation software, ANSYS FEA for finite element analysis, and Pro-E for drafting. The application engineering team will maintain its local field work in prototype design. Manufacturing capabilities will continue to include machining, assembly and testing, automated quality inspection, a wash-down lab for cleanliness testing, and local sourcing of extrusions.
“This will be a seamless transition,” says Aldo Bisson, General Manager of the acquired company. “Our operation will continue to directly support all sales, engineering and manufacturing activities in Brazil. Having local capabilities and engineering support can streamline the sourcing process for the HydraForce global customers who are building equipment here in Brazil and throughout South America.”
