Hydraulics & Pneumatics June 2022

NEWS Ashton Seals Ltd has recently extended its agreement to be a distributor for Parker Prädifa, the global solutions provider in the field of designing, developing and manufacturing sealing systems and engineered components made from polymer materials. Since becoming a distributor in 2016, Ashton Seals’ relationship has continued to grow while its customers are able to enjoy the benefits of access to the full range of products and technical support network of Parker Prädifa. Through the agreement, Ashton Seals has strengthened its presence in the sealing technology market over the past 6 years and has enjoyed success in a number of industry sectors including hydraulics, automotive, chemical, food & beverage, haulage and semiconductor. Zoë Fearnley, managing director of Ashton Seals, comments: “This is a fantastic development for both our companies. As a company, we pride ourselves on our second-to-none customer service, which coupled with Parker Prädifa highest quality products and technical support means that our relationship will continue to provide enormous benefit throughout the industry.” 10 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS June 2022 www.hpmag.co.uk Finning, authorised dealer of Cat equipment and parts in the UK and Ireland, has acquired Hydraquip, the UK-based independent provider of mobile hydraulic services. The move complements the company’s extensive product support offering across key customer industries. Hydraquip specialises in providing 24/7 nationwide coverage for hose replacement, assembly and fitting, oil replenishment and general hydraulic servicing. With 130 mobile service vans and highly trained technicians, Hydraquip’s rapid response capabilities mean jobs are typically completed within just three hours of the initial customer call - reducing machine downtime and generating significant cost savings and efficiency gains for customers. Extended reach Tim Ferwerda, managing director of Finning UK & Ireland, comments: “The acquisition of Hydraquip demonstrates our commitment to build on and extend our reach to provide exceptional product support and aftermarket services for our customers. The company is a great fit with Finning, in terms of its family- orientated and customer-focused culture, which complements our current product support service perfectly. The Hydraquip brand name will remain in place as we maintain and build upon the high standards of service it is known for. The business has an established footprint with hydraulic hose specialists focused on industries such as construction, transportation, waste management, utilities, manufacturing, and materials handling. With our extensive joint network in the UK and Ireland, customers will find it even easier to reap the benefits of reduced downtime and operating costs. “I’d like to personally welcome all the Hydraquip employees to the Finning family. We’re looking forward to working side by side to ensure our customers benefit from the most responsive and specialist product service support across all our key sectors.” Headquartered in Kent, Hydraquip employs 270 people and serves more than 4000 customers across a diverse range of industries. Alongside its on-site mobile hose services, the business also sells hydraulic and fluid power products and parts via its website and a network of 27 strategically located branches across the UK. In addition to hydraulic and pneumatic hose products, these branches also carry adjacent inventory of products such as oils and filters. Duncan MacBain, founder of Hydraquip, comments: “Joining Finning is an extremely exciting move for Hydraquip and will prove a critical step in the continued growth of our offering, enabling Hydraquip to recognise its full potential in the UK and further afield. We can see many cultural similarities as well as tremendous opportunities between the companies to give customers an even stronger proposition. “This is down to the quality and commitment of our team, who will remain focused on offering our customers the very best service and support levels – now with the added backing of Finning, its network, and broader aftermarket capabilities. Our joint goals and vision remain to continue to build our market share and expand further from being the largest independent provider of mobile hydraulic solutions to the largest provider overall.” Finning acquires Hydraquip Ashton Seals and Parker Prädifa extend distribution agreement