Parker Hannifin Parts & Automation Components

Parker Hannifin was founded on March 13, 1917 in Cleveland, Ohio, as the Parker Appliance Company by Arthur L. Parker, an electrical engineer who had patented a pneumatic truck braking system. After Parker's death in 1945, his widow Helen invested his life insurance payout to keep the company running through a difficult period, and the business recovered by focusing on new product development and aircraft hydraulics as aviation expanded. In 1957 the company acquired Hannifin Corporation, a hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder and valve manufacturer, forming Parker Hannifin. Today the company is a global leader in motion and control technologies, spanning hydraulics, pneumatics, filtration and aerospace systems, with revenue of roughly $19.9 billion and nearly 58,000 employees.