Company History
Sun celebrates 50+ years
of fluid power innovation
Ask our partners, our customers and our people and they will tell you—it's not business as usual here. In the year 1970 we began as trailblazers. Everything about the company—from how we engineer, manufacture and distribute products to the way we foster leadership and collaboration—was ahead of its time. And 50 years later, it still is. See for yourself by exploring through our company history pages.
1970 - We've got an idea
A 40-year-old visionary named Bob Koski hand writes the Sun Hydraulics business plan. The plan describes a methodical approach to product development and a company culture of curiosity and collaboration. Bob co-founds the company in Sarasota, Florida with friend and fellow engineer, John Allen.
1971 – Our first products
We sell our very first product: a gauge snubber - a shut-off device used in laboratory settings. Series 2 cartridges are released and initial standard manifolds include sandwich bodies, demonstrating the suitability of our cartridges for use in high pressure, high duty cycle industrial applications.
1972 – We're in the black
Sun is profitable—a tradition we've maintained every year since 1972.
1978 – The first of many new products
We release our Series 1 cartridges, a downward expansion of the product line. This is the start of a product extension that will lead to one of the most comprehensive lines of screw-in hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds in the world.
1980 – We're going to need more room
A new 60,000 square foot factory is built in Sarasota—even though there are only 50 employees. We close the year with $4.7 million in sales.
1982 – Hello Sun UK
Our first operation outside the U.S. is in Coventry, England. As with all global expansions that followed, we find the right local people and let them lead the way.
1983 – Sun product expansion & Sun Switzerland
We introduce the Series 3 cartridge and launch operations in Switzerland.
1985 – Another Sun product expansion
We expand the product line again with our Series 4 cartridge. We now offer screw-in hydraulic valves in four flow capacities.
1986 – Manufacturing in the UK & Sales in Asia / Pacific
We build a factory in Coventry, England to manufacture ductile iron manifolds. We also begin establishing distribution in the Asia / Pacific market.
1989 – Enhancing quality with in-house heat treatment
We move heat treatment in-house to improve delivery times and quality control.
1990 – Hello, Sun Germany
We launch operations in Germany and close the Swiss operations. We end the year with $28.2 million in sales.
1995 – Another product line expansion
Series 0 cartridges are introduced. We now have five sizes of cartridges.
1997 – IPO
Sun has its IPO on January 9, 1997 (1.9.97) and pays a dividend its first quarter as a public company. SNHY is listed on the NASDAQ exchange. We open new factories in Sarasota and Germany.
1998 – Hello, Asia
We acquire Korea Fluid Power, Ltd.—our exclusive Korean distributor, and begin a joint venture with our Taiwanese distributor, Taiphil, to establish distribution and manifold manufacturing in mainland China.
2000 – Hit $80M in Sales
We reach $80 million in sales.
2002 – Sun UK expands
We double the size of our UK facility to keep pace with demand.
2003 – Sun France, US expansion & electro-hydraulic valves
We open a sales office in France and a facility in Lenexa, Kansas to produce ductile iron manifolds. We also begin to release a line of electrically actuated cartridges.
2005 – A stake in WhiteOak Controls
We take an equity position in WhiteOak Controls, a manufacturer of proprietary and unique digital amplifiers that we embed directly into our cartridge valves.
2007 – Sun India & Investment in High Country Tek
We add a sales operation in Bangalore, India and make an equity investment in High Country Tek, a designer and manufacturer of electronic controls.
2008 – Shared Distribution
We create a share distribution program that shares profits amongst employees and shareholders.
2011 – Hello Sun China & HCT
We sell the joint venture in China and open a sales office in Shanghai. We complete our acquisitions of HCT.
2012 – US expansion in the works
To meet rising demand, we announce plans for a third US factory in Sarasota, Florida.
2013 – Sun moves into third Sarasota facility
We close our Lenexa, Kansas facility and consolidate all U.S. manifold activities in new factory at 803 Tallevast Road, Sarasota.
2014 – Sun introduces new website
Sun releases a freshly updated and more user-friendly website filled with many new features including the Sun Media Center, videos, and Application Case Studies.
2016 – New CEO takes the reins
Sun Vice Chairman Wolfgang H. Dangel takes over as President and CEO of the company. Dangel has been a Director of the Company since June 2009, and Vice Chairman of Board since December 2012. He succeeds Allen J. Carlson, who remains on the Board of Directors.
2016 – Sun Hydraulics acquires Enovation Controls
Sun Hydraulics acquires Enovation Controls, a leader in electronic control, display and instrumentation solutions, expanding Sun's reach into more markets and strengthening the company's position in electronic controls in a wide range of applications.
2018 – Sun Hydraulics acquires Faster Group
Faster is considered the global reference in quick-release hydraulic couplings, casting solutions and multi-connection for mobile off-highway applications. Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Faster joins the Sun family with more than 65 years’ experience in the hydraulic industry.
2018 – Expansion to Australia with acquisition of Custom Fluidpower
We increase our global presence yet again with a corporate acquisition of Custom Fluidpower. CFP is Australia's largest independently owned fluid power solutions and services provider and long-time Sun authorized distributor.
2018 – New factory opens in Incheon, South Korea
To further serve the demand of the Asia-Pacific region, we complete the construction of a new Sun Korea factory. The new factory grows to 50,000 square feet, almost doubling in size of the previous facility.
2018 – New corporate name: Sun Hydraulics Corporation becomes Helios Technologies
With several operating companies under one umbrella, we establish Helios Technologies Corporation (SNHY) as the new corporate holding company name. We are now Sun Hydraulics LLC, a Helios Technologies company. Other Helios subsidiaries include Enovation Controls, Faster Group and Custom Fluidpower.
2019 – Raj Menon named CEO of Sun Hydraulics, LLC
Wolfgang Dangel names Raj Menon as the new CEO at Sun Hydraulics LLC to head up operations for our company. Raj joins Sun after more than 25 years at Cummins Inc. in a variety of global capacities.
2019 – New factory opens in Kunshan, China
Sun increases capacity in the Asia-Pacific region yet again with the completion of a 40,000 square-foot facility in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China.
2020 – Sun Hydraulics celebrates 50 years of fluid power innovation
As the company enters its 50th year in business, Sun continues to innovate, improve and grow the business, expanding our electro-hydraulics product offerings, creating new off-the-shelf systems solutions, and providing hydraulics expertise and systems support across the globe.
2020 – Josef Matosevic named President and CEO of Helios Technologies
Josef Matosevic is named as the new President and CEO at Helios Technologies. He brings over 26 years of global business experience to Helios, a diverse global experience, technological vision, and history of operational excellence, including Lean Six Sigma.