About Us
The Heritage of Hydreco
Hydreco is now part of the David Brown Hydraulics organisation, which it has been since 1996. However, there is a long history before that event took place, both in the product itself and the name that the company now bears.
 
Hamworthy Hydraulics, today the David Brown Hydraulics, had a licence agreement from Hydreco already in 1954 on pumps and valves production and sales.
 
Structure
Hydreco Inc in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. is a wholly owned subsidiary of David Brown Hydraulic Systems Ltd.

David Brown Hydraulics has wholly owned companies in Bologna, Italy; Copenhagen, Denmark; Dusseldorf Germany; Helsinki, Finland; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA and Sydney, Australia. It also has a sister company selling David Brown products in Oslo, Norway.
 
Manufacture
Hydreco and David Brown Hydraulics has an extensive range of low noise helical gear, aluminium and cast iron gear pumps, as well as standard spur gear models. Its valve range covers multi-spool sectional and monoblock models with electro-hydraulic, hydraulic and lever control.
 
Dual axis, stackable, and single axis hydraulic pilot valves are also available with an extensive range of handle options including ergonomic handles with many switches and button options. The valves are available with spring centred and electric detent options. David Brown Italy produces all pilot valve products for the group.
 
David Brown also produces and sells its own range of transport hydraulics under the name of David Brown Powauto. The product range covers power take-offs, pumps valves and accessories for on road vehicles. The Powauto range of products is produced by David Brown Australia.
 
History
1936 Hydraulic Equipment Co. (Hydreco) founded in Cleveland, Ohio
1951 Hydreco Division purchased by New York Air Brake
1954 Hydreco signs License agreement with Hamworthy Engineering in UK.
1956 Relocates manufacturing to Kalamazoo, MI
1968 General Signal Corporation purchases New York Air Brake.
1978 Hydreco Division is relocated to Augusta, GA
1987 Hydreco Division is sold to MagnaPower (IFP).
1988 Hydreco gear pumps and motors are moved to Franklin Park, IL. Valve, piston pump and filter lines were not moved.
1991 Valve products sold to Danfoss Inc. in Easley, SC. Piston pump products sold to Delta-Q in GA. Filter products discontinued.
1995 Hamworthy Hydraulics business changed its name to David Brown Hydraulics
1996 IFP in Chicago, IL purchased to become part of David Brown Hydraulics Inc. These pumps are the same design “License” that began the Hamworthy Hydraulics originally.
1998 Textron purchases the entire David Brown Group.
1999 DBH US facility divided and moved to Greenville, OH and to Poole in England.
2001 Textron closes Greenville plant and moves Hydreco products to Charlotte, NC. Hydreco division moves into existing Maag Pump Systems location.
2002 David Brown Hydraulics became part of Fluid Handling division of Textron.
2004 The FHP and the TPT groups were consolidated into Fluid & Power Inc. Group containing besides David Brown Hydraulics also Maag Pump Systems, David Brown Engineering Ltd and Union Pump (Guinard Pumps, Union Pumps and David Brown Pumps).
2008 Clyde Blowers acquires Textron Fluid & Power Inc.