PennAir

What PennAir does

PennAir is a York, Pennsylvania-based industrial distributor and value-added manufacturer of pneumatics, hydraulics, and automation solutions, founded in 1968 by Jim and Mary Conrad and operating today as a subsidiary of The Conrad Company (formed 2022). The company sells fluid power components from more than 30 tier-one suppliers—including Festo, ABB, Dorner, 80/20, IMI Norgren/Bimba, Sheffer, ASCO, SEW-Eurodrive, SCHUNK, and Graco—while delivering custom engineering, robotics integration, UL 508A certified control panel manufacturing, precision sheet metal fabrication (Mazak Hyper Turbo-X510 laser cutting, CNC machining, TIG welding), automatic lubrication through its GreasePoint brand, and field service from a 100,000+ sq ft headquarters and production facility.

PennAir serves manufacturing and construction customers across the Mid-Atlantic (PA, NJ, MD, DE, WV, VA), with primary segments in industrial manufacturing and construction/heavy equipment, plus exposure to data center infrastructure (aluminum extrusion containment) and food and beverage processing (sanitary conveyors and instrumentation). Distribution channels include a direct field sales organization, a walk-in industrial store at headquarters, and an IMI-branded e-commerce storefront. Pricing is quote-based across the project and services business, with product availability through online ordering.

Revenue is generated through a mix of hardware sales (components, fittings, tubing, cylinders, conveyors, robotics) and professional services (custom fabrication, assembly and kitting, hydraulic and pneumatic repair, installation, preventive maintenance, engineering and design, and UL certified panel builds). The business has been built through a sustained roll-up under The Conrad Company umbrella, with sister brands including Hanover Conveying Systems (conveyors, acquired 2020), Compressor Maintenance Co. (2021), Allied Hydraulic Service (2021), Capitol Tool (2022), Valley Fluid Components (2022), Lubromation (2023), and CVL Technical Sales (2025) extending the platform into adjacent capabilities and geographies.

Name

PennAir

Legal name

PennAir and Hydraulics Corp.

Website

https://pennair.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PennAir is a Mid-Atlantic industrial distributor and value-added manufacturer of pneumatics, hydraulics, and automation solutions, founded in 1968 in York, PA, serving manufacturing and construction customers through fluid power distribution, custom fabrication, robotic integration, and field service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Fluid Power Distribution and Automation

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydraulic, Pneumatic & Fluid Power Systems MRO (Cylinders, Pumps, Valves, Hoses) (TLAKAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hoses, Tubing & Fittings (Hydraulic/Pneumatic Lines & Connectors) (IMAHAGAH), Pneumatic Air Preparation & Distribution (FRL assemblies, manifolds, air headers) (IMAHAGAD), Industrial MRO Supplies for Vehicle/Equipment Workshops (Bearings, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Fasteners) (TLAKAOAK)

Keywords

• Industrial fluid power distribution
• Pneumatic and hydraulic components
• Industrial automation systems
• Robotic integration services
• Precision contract manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Fluid Power Product Sales: PennAir generates revenue through the sale of pneumatic, hydraulic, automation components, and related industrial products from their extensive inventory and supplier network. Products include valves, actuators, cylinders, fittings, tubing, conveyors, and robotics components.
2. Precision Manufacturing & Fabrication Services: Custom fabrication, CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, laser cutting, welding, and assembly services delivered from their 100,000 sq ft production facility. Includes kitting, assembly, and production services.
3. Service, Repair & Installation: Comprehensive service offerings including hydraulic/pneumatic repairs, cylinder repair, hose assembly, preventive maintenance, on-site field service, and installation services. Includes walk-in counter service for industrial supplies.
4. Engineering & Design Services: Application engineering, system design, product specification, motion control systems design, and automation project assistance. Includes component selection support and troubleshooting optimization.
5. UL Certified Panel Building: Design and certification of industrial control panels to UL 508A standards, including custom panel builds, contract assembly, and inventory control for automation applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PennAir distributes and integrates pneumatic, hydraulic, and automation components, and manufactures precision fabricated parts, robotic work cells, UL 508A certified control panels, and aluminum extrusion structures for manufacturing and construction customers. The company pairs distribution with engineering, installation, field service, repair, and preventive maintenance from a 100,000+ sq ft facility in York, PA, supported by sister brands covering lubrication, conveying, hydraulics repair, compressed air, and precision machining.

Product overview

PennAir is an industrial distributor offering a unified portfolio of fluid power and automation products and services. The core offering spans three main areas: Pneumatics (components, air prep, compressed air systems), Hydraulics (components, power units, cylinders, repairs), and Automation (controls, motion systems, robotics, UL-certified panels). These are supported by specialized divisions for aluminum extrusion, automatic lubrication, conveyors, electro-mechanical solutions, manufacturing/fabrication, process instrumentation, production/kitting, and comprehensive field service. The company operates as part of The Conrad Company, with sister brands including GreasePoint (lubrication), Allied Hydraulic Service (hydraulic repair), Capitol Tool (precision machining), Compressor Maintenance Co. (compressors), Hanover Conveying Systems (conveyors), and Valley Fluid Components (Virginia market) that collectively address the full spectrum of manufacturing and construction fluid power needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PennAir Automation: Division focused on automation systems, robotics, and motion control solutions
• PennAir Aluminum Extrusion
• PennAir Service

Products and services

• Pneumatics Technical expertise and inventory for pneumatic components including air logic controls, compressed air audits, compressor sales and service, pneumatic components, and hose assemblies to reduce downtime and improve equipment reliability for industrial customers.
• Hydraulics Engineered hydraulic solutions including components, cylinders, hose assembly, repairs, power unit assembly, installations, oil analysis, predictive and preventive maintenance, and system design to maximize efficiency and productivity for manufacturing customers.
• Automation Industrial automation solutions including project assistance, motion control systems, UL certified panels, and robotic applications to improve productivity, quality, traceability, and safety while reducing operating costs for manufacturing customers.
• Aluminum Extrusion (T-Slot) 80/20 T-slot aluminum building system for custom framing, machine bases, safety guarding, workstations, and automation applications with services from planning and design to fabrication and installation for industrial and data center customers.
• Automatic Lubrication Precision and consistent flow lubrication systems through the GreasePoint brand for heavy-duty trucks, trailers, machinery, off-road equipment, and yellow iron to extend equipment life and reduce maintenance costs for construction and industrial customers.
• Conveyors Industrial and sanitary conveyance solutions including fabric belt, modular belt, and flexible chain conveyors from Dorner configured as straights, curves, inclines, declines, and Z-frames for accumulation, diverting, merging, and indexing applications for manufacturing, food, beverage, and pharmaceutical customers.
• Electro-Mechanical Customized electro-mechanical solutions combining electrical components with technical expertise including custom electrical panel building, harness assemblies, machine control design, motion control, PLC programming, and support for manufacturing customers.
• Precision Manufacturing & Fabrication Precision manufacturing and fabrication services including sheet metal fabrication (cutting, bending, welding), laser cutting with Mazak Hyper Turbo-X510, TIG welding, CNC machining, and assembly and kitting from a 100,000 sq ft production facility for manufacturing customers.
• Process Instrumentation Process instrumentation products including valves, automated valves, process heating, steam systems, filtration, purification, and instrumentation for measuring temperature, pressure, flow, and level in industrial facilities.
• Production (Assembly & Kitting) Assembly and kitting services leveraging nearly 100 years of combined expertise and a 100,000 square foot state-of-the-art production facility for sub-assembly, soldering, wiring, labeling, and quality control for manufacturing customers.
• Robotic Applications Integration Robotic application integration for automation including articulating 4-axis, cartesian, collaborative 7-axis, delta, external axis, industrial, and SCARA robots from ABB Robotics, plus SCHUNK grippers for pick-and-place and material handling for manufacturing customers.
• Field and Counter Service Field and counter service for compressed air, hydraulics, and pneumatics including hose repair, assembly, walk-in industrial store, cylinder repair, motor repairs, pump repairs, preventive maintenance programs, and installation services for manufacturing and construction customers.
• UL 508A Certified Panel Shop UL 508A certified industrial control panel design and manufacturing for panels operating at or under 1000 volts, serving manufacturing, food processing, material handling, and packaging industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced downtime through millions of dollars in on-site inventory and vendor managed inventory programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Capitol ToolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Capitol Tool joined The Conrad Company in 2022, acting as an extension of customer workforce providing precision machining and fabrication services to reduce risk and boost confidence.
• Valley Fluid ComponentscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Valley Fluid Components joined The Conrad Company in 2022, marking PennAir's entry into the Virginia market with technical support and service for pneumatics, hydraulics, and automation.
• Compressor Maintenance Co.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Compressor Maintenance Co. joined PennAir in 2021, offering products and services for compressed air systems including air compressors, vacuum pumps, air dryers, filters, and more.
• Allied Hydraulic Service Co.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Allied Hydraulic Service Co. joined the PennAir family in 2021, specializing in the repair, rebuild, and replacement of hydraulic motors, pumps, valves, cylinders, and hydrostatic systems.
• Hanover Conveying SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020PennAir acquired Hanover Conveying Systems in 2020, a company highly focused on designing and manufacturing American-made conveying systems that are heavy-duty and long-lasting, ensuring an attractive ROI.
• GreasePoint (Advanced Lubrication Systems)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Advanced Lubrication Systems joined PennAir in 2019, becoming GreasePoint, an automatic lubrication brand extending the life of heavy-duty trucks, trailers, machinery, off-road equipment, and yellow iron with precise and consistent flow lubrication.
• 80/20 Inc.coreTechnology or Integration80/20 is known for modular T-slot aluminum framing that makes it fast to design and build machine bases, safety guarding, workstations, carts, and custom fixtures. PennAir supports 80/20 applications with help selecting profiles, fasteners, panels, and accessories for durable structures.
• ABB RoboticscoreTechnology or IntegrationABB delivers industrial automation solutions supporting productivity, consistency, and safer work cells. Their lineup spans robotics and automation technology for material handling, assembly, machine tending, and other repeatable processes.
• FestocoreTechnology or IntegrationFesto is a global leader in pneumatic and electric automation, with products supporting everything from simple cylinder applications to advanced motion and controls. PennAir helps customers select and size Festo components.
• DornercoreTechnology or IntegrationDorner provides conveyor systems and material handling solutions to move products through production, packaging, and assembly. PennAir helps choose the right conveyor type, belt style, and accessories.
• IMI Norgren / IMI BimbacoreTechnology or IntegrationIMI is a global fluid power leader with brands supporting pneumatic automation, motion control, and fluid management. IMI Bimba is known for actuators while IMI Norgren complements with valves and air preparation.
• SheffercoreTechnology or IntegrationSheffer manufactures hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders designed for industrial use where durability and consistent performance are essential. PennAir helps with selection based on bore, stroke, mounting, and operating conditions.
• Nidec Control TechniquescoreTechnology or IntegrationNidec Control Techniques focuses on motion and machine control products including drives and motor control solutions used across industrial automation environments.
• SEW EurodrivecoreTechnology or IntegrationSEW-EURODRIVE provides gearmotors, gear reducers, motors, and drive solutions to power conveyors, material handling, and industrial machinery with dependable torque and speed control.
• SCHUNKcoreTechnology or IntegrationSCHUNK provides gripping systems, robotic accessories, and clamping technology used in automation and machining environments to improve repeatability in part handling and workholding.
• TolomaticcoreTechnology or IntegrationTolomatic specializes in electric linear motion solutions such as rod and rodless actuators, plus supporting motors and controls. PennAir helps customers match Tolomatic motion to load, speed, and duty cycle requirements.
• GracocoreTechnology or IntegrationGraco produces lubrication equipment and systems designed to deliver grease and oil accurately and consistently. Automated lubrication helps reduce wear and extend machine life.
• LeuzecoreTechnology or IntegrationLeuze offers industrial automation sensors and related components for detection, identification, and reliable machine operation, supporting quality, safety, and throughput.
• Continental HydraulicscoreTechnology or IntegrationContinental Hydraulics manufactures hydraulic valves, pumps, and power units supporting pressure regulation, directional control, and system flow management in industrial applications.
• CPC (Colder Products Company)coreTechnology or IntegrationCPC is a leading name in quick disconnect couplings for liquid and air, helping make connections cleaner, faster, and safer with designs to reduce spills, simplify maintenance, and speed up changeovers.
• ASCOcoreTechnology or IntegrationASCO is a leading provider of solenoid valves and fluid automation solutions offering precision and reliability in controlling liquid and gas flows for industrial automation applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Applied Industrial Technologies: Large public industrial distributor with a substantial fluid power and bearings portfolio serving manufacturing MRO customers. Closest national comparable to PennAir's core fluid power distribution and hydraulic/pneumatic MRO business, but operating at materially greater scale and national reach.
• Cross Company: Regional fluid power and automation distributor/integrator in the Southeast US with similar mix of pneumatic, hydraulic, and automation integration plus panel build. Closely comparable business model to PennAir as a regional value-added fluid power specialist.
• Kaman Fluid Power (now part of Applied Industrial Technologies): Fluid power distributor specializing in hydraulic and pneumatic components and engineered solutions. Highly comparable product mix to PennAir's core fluid power distribution, though now absorbed into Applied Industrial's broader platform.
• SunSource (Applied Industrial Technologies): Specialized fluid power, motion control, and engineered solutions distributor (now folded into Applied Industrial). Highly comparable legacy model to PennAir — regional value-added fluid power distribution with technical sales, repair, and integration services.

Broad incumbents

• MSC Industrial Direct: Public national metalworking and MRO distributor serving similar manufacturing customer base. Comparable in customer overlap (manufacturers needing tooling, fluid power, MRO) but vastly larger scale and broader product catalog than PennAir.
• W.W. Grainger: Largest US industrial MRO distributor with a national footprint, digital catalog, and keep-stock programs. Competes with PennAir in MRO lines but at vastly greater scale and through a fundamentally different (catalog/digital-first) go-to-market motion.
• McMaster-Carr: National industrial MRO supplier with an extremely broad SKU catalog and a digital/e-commerce-led model. Competes for the same manufacturing buyers on commoditized fluid power and fittings but lacks PennAir's integration, panel build, and field service capabilities.

Regional players

• RD Industrial: Regional industrial distributor serving the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic with pneumatics, hydraulics, and automation products. Comparable product breadth and target customer profile, but geographically complementary to PennAir's footprint.

Emerging players

• AutomationDirect: Direct-to-customer online automation and motion control component supplier. Adjacent competitor in the automation component layer of PennAir's offering, with a price-leadership digital model that pressures traditional distributor margins on commodity automation parts.
• Acieta: US robotics integration specialist focused on industrial robotic cells and custom automation. Directly comparable to PennAir's robotics applications and ABB-integrated automation work, though narrower in product scope (no fluid power distribution).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOKWWYFHnmhV8mdKIwsUUiw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/9439957
• Xx.com/pennair

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PennAir