Parker Hannifin Corporation Company Profile

Components of a simple fluid power system include one or more pumps which generate pressure, one or more valves which control the fluid's flow, one or more actuators which translate the pressure from the fluid into mechanical energy, one or more filters to insure proper fluid condition and numerous hoses, couplings, fittings and seals. Electromechanical control involves the use of electronic components and systems to control motion and precisely locate or vary speed in automation and aerospace applications. In addition to motion control products, the Company also is a leading worldwide producer of fluid purification, fluid and fuel control, process instrumentation, air conditioning, refrigeration, electromagnetic shielding and thermal management products and systems.

Also, through Astron Buildings ('Astron'), the Company designs and manufactures custom-engineered buildings and through Wynn Oil Company and its subsidiaries (the 'Wynn's Specialty Chemical Group'), the Company develops, manufactures and markets specialty chemical products and maintenance service equipment.

Motion control systems are used throughout industry in applications which include moving materials; controlling machines, vehicles and equipment; and positioning materials during manufacturing processes. Motion control systems contribute to the efficient use of energy and improve industrial productivity.

The approximately 390,000 customers who purchase the Company's products are found throughout virtually every significant manufacturing, transportation and processing industries.

Major markets for products of the Fluid Connectors, Hydraulics, Automation and Seal Groups of the Industrial Segment are agricultural machinery, analytical instrumentation, automotive, construction machinery, electronic equipment, fabricated metals, food production, industrial machinery, pulp and paper, machine tools, marine, medical devices, mining, mobile equipment, chemicals, robotics, semi-conductor equipment, telecommunications, textiles, transportation and every other major production and processing industry. Major markets for products manufactured by the Instrumentation Group of the Industrial Segment are power generation, oil and gas exploration, petrochemical and chemical processing, pulp and paper, and semi-conductor manufacturing.

Major markets for products of the Filtration Group of the Industrial Segment are industrial machinery, mobile equipment, diesel engines, process equipment, marine, aviation, environmental and semi-conductor manufacturing. Sales of Industrial Segment products are made to original equipment manufacturers and their replacement markets.

Aerospace Segment sales are made primarily to original equipment manufacturers in the commercial, military and general aviation markets and to end users for maintenance, repair and overhaul.

Products manufactured by the Climate & Industrial Controls Segment are used principally in mobile air conditioning systems, industrial refrigeration systems, residential and commercial air conditioning systems and equipment and industrial fluid control markets. Sales of the Climate & Industrial Controls Segment are made to original equipment manufacturers and their replacement markets.

Astron of the Other Segment produces pre-engineered single and multi-story buildings that serve industries throughout Europe. The Wynn's Specialty Chemical Group of the Other Segment develops and manufactures a wide variety of specialty chemical car care products that are marketed to automobile service technicians and consumers.

Competition. All aspects of the Company's business are highly competitive. No single manufacturer competes with respect to all products manufactured and sold by the Company and the degree of competition varies with different products. In the Industrial Segment, the Company competes on the basis of product quality and innovation, customer service, manufacturing and distribution capability, and competitive price. The Company believes that, in most of the major markets for its Industrial Segment products, it is one of the principal suppliers of motion control systems and components. In the Aerospace Segment, the Company has developed alliances with key customers based on the Company's advanced technological and engineering capabilities, superior performance in quality, delivery, and service, and price competitiveness, which has enabled the Company to obtain significant original equipment business on new aircraft programs for its systems and components and, thereby, obtain the follow-on repair and replacement business for these programs. The Company believes that it is one of the primary suppliers in the aerospace marketplace.

In the Climate & Industrial Controls Segment, the Company competes on the basis of product quality and innovation, customer service, manufacturing and distribution capability, and competitive price. The Company believes that it is one of the principal suppliers in the climate and industrial controls marketplace.

In the Other Segment, the Company competes on the basis of product quality and performance, strong brand recognition (Wynn's) and competitive price. The Company believes that through Astron it is one of the primary suppliers of steel buildings in Europe and through Wynn's it is one of the principal suppliers of specialty chemicals and related services in the transportation marketplace.