Hydraulic Controls, Inc. has been a premier fluid power distributor in the Pacific Southwest for over 50 years and has 14 employee-owned branches located throughout California, Utah, Arizona, Idaho and Colorado. Headquartered in California, HCI serves as an Elite System Integrator for Enovation Controls.
Providing a wide range of industrial and mobile hydraulic products as well as a full electronics line, HCI has proven to be a highly reliable source for fluid power products.
HCI has multiple certified fluid power hydraulic specialists and experienced repair technicians on staff. Each facility keeps an inventory suited to the local market, whether it is custom harvesting equipment for California agriculture, oil drilling in Colorado, mining in Utah and Arizona or industrial applications in major metropolitan areas.
We spoke with HCI President Aaron Piper to learn more about how HCI works to provide the right products and superior service for their customers.
What advantages does your company culture provide the marketplace?
Aaron: HCI is an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) which in many ways separates us from other distributors, as each and every person at HCI has a stake in our company. Our business model is to support the local market with inventory as well as technical expertise. As an ESOP, ownership culture is present at all levels from the warehouse to management. Customer satisfaction is a top priority for everyone at HCI.
What unique needs do your customers have and how do you solve them?
Aaron: We find that a large number of customers are in need of assistance when it comes to hydraulic systems as well as mobile controls. As a full-service fluid power distributor, we can assist with all aspects of a system including the wire harness. HCI is truly a one-stop shop. When you get a complete system from HCI, you know exactly who to talk to when there is an issue – no finger pointing here.
What is a competitive advantage you provide your customers?
Aaron: Service, inventory, technical help and payment terms. We believe that we are committed to our customers as more of a partnership than a supplier. We work to develop deep relationships with customers that go well beyond a parts supplier.
What trends do you find important for 2020, and how do you use Murphy products to address those needs?
Aaron: Obviously we believe technology is significant, but the people side of the equation is just as important. We realize that no one person, no matter how smart, can have the answer to every question. That is why we have a team of hydraulic specialists as well as mobile control specialists to help with any application. Where we may not have the answer, we can lean on our trusted suppliers, such as Enovation Controls, for product specific information. Our partnership with manufacturing is just as important as our partnership with our customers.
Why do you tell your customers to use Murphy products?
Aaron: Simply put, they work. You can trust that HCI and Murphy products will support your needs.
How does your company conquer complexity by integrating Murphy products into system solutions?
Aaron: We have two facilities that each house application specialists. Both locations work together on projects. One is a small team that handles one off applications, the other team (MCDS) handles repeatable OEM projects for projects of a larger scale.
Visit Hydraulic Controls Inc. at World Ag Expo this February to learn more about their upcoming projects!
World Ag Expo
Hydraulic Controls, Inc.
Booth I29, North Exhibits
February 11-13, Tuesday & Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
To learn more about Hydraulic Controls Inc., visit their website at https://www.hydraulic-controls.com/