Holmbury Limited Forms Strategic Partnership With German-Based Voswinkel

David French, founder and owner of Mentor, Ohio-based Holmbury last week announced that his company has partnered with Voswinkel, a German-based manufacturing company, and one of the largest producers of fittings, steel tube assemblies and couplings to further advancements of hydraulic quick disconnect couplings and hydraulic components.

Voswinkel, founded in Rönsahl, Germany, by brothers Arthur and Hugo Voswinkel in 1928, is a leading European manufacturer of hydraulic components.

In setting the stage for this partnership, Holmbury analyzed competitive couplings, spoke to customers, and developed a design for the ultimate hydraulic coupling in terms of performance, durability, corrosion resistance and value. Holmbury was well aware of Voswinkel’s reputation as a high-quality, value-added company. “Everyone knows about German precision,” French said. “In a global marketplace, cost is a big issue that gives countries like India and China an edge.”

Voswinkel analyzed the situation and determined that it could eliminate the low cost labor advantage held by other countries simply by developing special-purpose machines and automating its manufacturing and assembly processes. The result is Holmbury’s new HQ line of hydraulic couplings.

In other company news, Holmbury announced it has reached the milestone of 25 years in business.

French founded Holmbury in 1983 after beginning his career in England as an apprentice in electromechanical engineering. He worked as a salesman for several tooling and hydraulic companies before founding Holmbury. “At a trade show I was given a flat faced coupling with serious defects. I redesigned it, and in the process founded Holmbury,” he said.

With the help of a subcontractor, and a few further modifications the design caught the eye of companies such as JCB, Caterpillar, and other heavy equipment manufacturers.

Today, Holmbury is a worldwide provider of hydraulic quick disconnects and hydraulic components. In addition to its central warehouse and headquarters in Great Britain and distribution outlets worldwide, Holmbury’s North American operations and central warehouse are located in Mentor, Ohio.