Custom Hydraulics & Design

What Custom Hydraulics & Design does

Custom Hydraulics & Design (CHD) is a family-owned fluid power and fluid conveyance distributor and service provider founded in 1981 by Kelly and Sherry Watkins in the Charlotte, North Carolina metropolitan area. The company sells hydraulic, pneumatic, and industrial hose assemblies, fittings, couplings, valves, pumps, manifolds, seals, filtration products, diagnostic instrumentation, and related MRO supplies from a catalog exceeding 10,000 SKUs spanning more than ten distributed manufacturer brands, including Danfoss (Platinum Partner), Webtec, Hose Master, PT Coupling, Argo-Hytos, Dixon, Donaldson, DMIC, Kanaflex, Waltech, and Fuchs.

Operations span three Charlotte-area facilities — two retail Hose Centers in Charlotte and Mooresville and a centralized production and warehouse facility in Cherryville — supplemented by a mobile on-site service truck and an account-gated e-commerce storefront. Beyond component resale, CHD generates revenue from value-added services including custom hose assembly fabrication with a stated sub-10-minute retail turnaround, CNC tube bending and 3D laser-scanned steel tube assemblies, systems engineering and hydraulic power unit design, component kitting, private-label labeling and packaging using Autobag AB180 equipment, and Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs that embed CHD staff in customer facilities.

CHD serves at least nine end markets — construction, food & beverage, oil & petroleum, transportation, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, power generation, and agriculture — with a Southeast US geographic focus. Pricing is account-based and not publicly disclosed; the company markets through its own website, an industry-focused blog, NAHAD and NFPA/Pascal Society memberships, and an IDCO industrial distribution cooperative affiliation established in July 2023. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding, M&A activity, or headcount.

Name

Custom Hydraulics & Design

Legal name

Custom Hydraulics and Design

Website

https://customhydraulicsdesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Custom Hydraulics & Design is a family-owned, Charlotte-based fluid power distributor founded in 1981, selling 10,000+ hydraulic and industrial hose SKUs and offering custom hose assembly, CNC tube bending, VMI, and mobile service to industrial customers across the Southeast US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Fluid Power Distribution

NAICS

Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912), Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing (326220), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

Gaskets, Packg & Sealg Devices & Rubber & Plastics Hose (3050), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Hoses, Tubing & Fittings (Hydraulic/Pneumatic Lines & Connectors) (IMAHAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydraulic Components (Pumps, Motors, Cylinders) (IMAHAGAA), Industrial Hoses & Tubing (Rubber/Elastomer) (IMANALAA), Hydraulic, Pneumatic & Fluid Power Systems MRO (Cylinders, Pumps, Valves, Hoses) (TLAKAHAI)

Keywords

• Hydraulic hose distribution
• Fluid conveyance components
• Custom hose assembly
• Industrial fittings and couplings
• Fluid power services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cherryville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fluid Conveyance Products: Sale of hydraulic hoses, industrial hoses, hose fittings, adapters, connectors, quick disconnects, valves, pumps, manifolds, seals, and related fluid power components through retail stores and online e-commerce platform with account-based pricing.
2. Custom Hose Assemblies: Custom fabrication of hydraulic, pneumatic, and industrial hose assemblies to customer specifications with production capability up to 10 inch hose I.D., including crimping and welding/fabrication services.
3. Component Kitting: Curated component kit solutions for workflow efficiency, combining multiple parts into ready-to-use kits for production, retail, or maintenance efforts.
4. Systems Engineering Services: Design and optimization of hydraulic systems including custom-built hydraulic power units, troubleshooting, maintenance, and fluid power system design from conceptualization to implementation.
5. Steel Tube Assemblies: Custom tube bending, flaring, and forming services for high-quality steel tube assemblies including CNC and manual bending up to 2 inch diameter.
6. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI): Comprehensive inventory management solutions with dedicated team members routinely visiting customer facilities to manage inventory levels and streamline operations.
7. Mobile On-Site Service: Fully equipped service truck delivering on-site hydraulic hose services including inspections, repairs, fabrication, fluid management, filter replacement, and accumulator charging at customer locations.
8. Labeling & Packaging Services: Private labeling and packaging solutions including retail bagging, component bagging, and barcode labeling using Autobag AB180 equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Custom Hydraulics & Design distributes hydraulic, pneumatic, and industrial fluid conveyance components — including hoses, fittings, couplings, valves, manifolds, quick disconnects, and filtration — sourced from major manufacturers such as Danfoss, Webtec, Hose Master, PT Coupling, Argo-Hytos, Dixon, Donaldson, and DMIC. The company complements this distribution with custom fabrication services covering custom hose assemblies (up to 10 inch I.D.), CNC tube bending and forming, component kitting, systems engineering, labeling and packaging, vendor managed inventory programs, and mobile on-site service. Operations are anchored by two retail Hose Centers in the Charlotte metropolitan area and a production facility in Cherryville, NC.

Product overview

Custom Hydraulics & Design is a family-owned fluid power company founded in 1981, operating as a regional distributor and service provider for industrial hydraulic and pneumatic components. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of products including hydraulic and industrial hoses (Danfoss/Aeroquip, Kanaflex, Hose Master), fittings and couplings (PT Coupling, Dixon), valves and filtration (Argo-Hytos, Donaldson, DMIC), and diagnostic equipment (Webtec). These core product lines are complemented by value-added services including custom hose assembly fabrication with 10-minute retail turnaround, component kitting, steel tube assembly with CNC precision bending, systems engineering, vendor managed inventory programs, and mobile on-site service. The company operates multiple retail Hose Centers in the Charlotte, NC metropolitan area and serves mission-critical industries including construction, manufacturing, food and beverage, oil and petroleum, and transportation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Hose Assembly Service Fabrication of custom hydraulic, pneumatic, and industrial hose assemblies to customer-specified dimensions and components, with crimping capability up to 10 inch hose I.D. and retail turnaround of 10 minutes or less. For industrial and OEM customers requiring made-to-order hose assemblies.
• Component Kitting Service Curated component kits combining multiple parts into ready-to-use kits for production, retail, or maintenance workflows. For manufacturers and maintenance operations seeking pre-assembled kits to streamline assembly and MRO activities.
• Labeling & Packaging Service Private labeling and packaging solutions including retail bagging, component bagging, and barcode labeling using Autobag AB180 OneStep print-on-demand bagging with database-integrated barcode labeling. For manufacturers and distributors needing branded or traceable packaging.
• Systems Engineering Service Fluid power system design, troubleshooting, maintenance, and optimization for hydraulic and pneumatic systems, including custom-built hydraulic power units, from conceptualization through implementation. For industrial clients requiring engineered fluid power solutions and ongoing system support.
• Steel Tube Assembly Service High-precision tube assemblies with CNC bending up to 55mm (2.17 inch) diameter, variable radius roll bending for large-radius curves, 3D laser scanning inspection, flaring, and hydraulic tube forming using the Danfoss WalformConnect system. For OEMs and industrial customers requiring precision steel tube assemblies.
• Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) Inventory management solution with dedicated CHD team members routinely visiting customer facilities to manage fluid conveyance stock levels and streamline operations. For industrial customers seeking to reduce inventory overhead and ensure continuous parts availability.
• Mobile Service Truck Fully equipped service truck delivering on-site hydraulic hose services, including inspections, repairs, on-site fabrication, fluid management, filter replacement, and accumulator charging at customer locations including construction sites, industrial facilities, and manufacturing plants. For mobile equipment operators and industrial sites requiring field service.
• Danfoss Hydraulic & Pneumatic Hoses and Components Distribution of Danfoss hydraulic, pneumatic, and industrial hoses and components including Aeroquip, Winner, and Waltech brands — adapters, fittings, quick disconnect couplings, tube connectors, and hose assemblies. For industrial OEM and MRO customers requiring premium fluid power components.
• Webtec Hydraulic Measurement Products Distribution of Webtec hydraulic measurement and control equipment including digital hydraulic multimeters, portable testers, flow meters, hydraulic data loggers, test stand instrumentation, pressure gauges, sensors, and condition monitoring systems. For diagnostic and preventive maintenance applications in hydraulic systems.
• Hose Master Metal Hoses & Expansion Joints Distribution of Hose Master corrugated metal hoses, stripwound metal hoses, and metal expansion joints designed for extreme temperatures, high pressures, and harsh chemicals, with custom cutting and welding services. For industrial customers in high-temperature, high-pressure, or corrosive service applications.
• PT Coupling Quick Connect Products Distribution of PT Coupling quick connect and disconnect fittings, hose fittings, adapters, reducers, coupling systems, accessories, and truck-mounted products for industrial hose applications. For transportation and industrial customers requiring rapid-connect hose solutions.
• Argo-Hytos Hydraulic System Solutions Distribution of Argo-Hytos valves, pressure switches, hydraulic drives, manifolds, filtration systems, and quick-connect systems. For industrial hydraulic system integrators and OEMs.
• Dixon Fluid Handling Products Distribution of Dixon hose couplings, valves, dry disconnects, swivels, cam and groove fittings, brass components, and fluid transfer control products. For industrial customers requiring reliable and durable fluid handling components.
• Donaldson Filtration Products Distribution of Donaldson air filters, liquid filters, dust collection systems, and customized OEM filtration solutions. For industrial and mobile equipment customers requiring air, hydraulic, and process filtration.
• DMIC Hydraulic Components Distribution of DMIC ball valves, check valves, flow controls, power unit accessories, and custom hydraulic components for fluid power applications. For power unit builders and fluid power system integrators.
• Kanaflex Industrial Hose Products Distribution of Kanaflex flexible, durable industrial hoses including vacuum hoses, suction and discharge hoses, and material handling hoses for agriculture, construction, petroleum, food and beverage, and chemical processing applications. For industrial customers requiring flexible specialty hose solutions.
• Aeroquip EDGE Series Hose Danfoss Aeroquip EDGE Series hydraulic hose with DuraTUFF+ premium abrasion cover, rated up to 6500 psi pressure and +275°F temperature, with 1 million impulse cycle durability. For industrial and mobile equipment customers requiring high-performance hydraulic hose.

Quantifiable outcome

• High quality retail hose assemblies in 10 minutes or less
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DanfosscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDanfoss Platinum Partner status - the highest tier of partnership. Custom Hydraulics and Design operates multiple fully stocked Danfoss Aeroquip Hose Centers in the Charlotte area. Supplies premium hydraulic, pneumatic, and industrial hoses and components including Aeroquip, Winner, and Waltech brands. Danfoss manufactures hoses, tubing, fittings, connectors, motors, pumps, valves, and electronic controls.
• WebteccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial authorized distributor of Webtec products. Stocks comprehensive lineup including control valves, condition monitoring systems, portable hydraulic testers, hydraulic data loggers, test stand instrumentation, mobile condition monitoring solutions, sensors, and accessories. Webtec has over 60 years experience in hydraulic measurement and control equipment.
• Hose MastercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading distributor of Hose Master's metal hoses and metal expansion joints. The Cherryville location offers custom cutting and welding services. Hose Master is the top producer of metal hoses and expansion joints in North America.
• PT CouplingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes the full line of PT Coupling products including quick connect/disconnect fittings, hose fittings, adapters, reducers, coupling systems, accessories, and truck-mounted products manufactured at five U.S.-based facilities.
• Argo-HytoscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes all Argo-Hytos products including valves, pressure switches, hydraulic drives, manifolds, filtration systems, and quick-connect systems. Argo-Hytos has over 75 years of experience as a worldwide hydraulic system solutions provider.
• DixoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes Dixon's full product line including hose couplings, valves, dry disconnects, swivels, and fluid transfer control products. Dixon is a leading manufacturer known for reliable and durable fluid handling products.
• Donaldson FiltrationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes all Donaldson filtration products including air filters, liquid filters, dust collection systems, and customized OEM solutions. Donaldson has over 100 years in the filtration industry.
• DMICcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaster distributor for DMIC products including ball valves, check valves, flow controls, power unit accessories, and custom hydraulic components for the fluid power industry.
• KanaflexcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCarries the full line of Kanaflex hoses - the world's leading name in flexible, durable hose technology. Kanaflex has over 60 years of excellence since founding in the 1950s in Osaka, Japan. Products include vacuum hoses, suction/discharge hoses, and specialty industrial hoses for agriculture, construction, petroleum, food & beverage, and chemical applications.
• IDCO (Industrial Distribution Co-op)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDCO is an industrial distribution cooperative that Custom Hydraulics joined in July 2023. Provides collaborative opportunities, best practices sharing, and industry networking for independent industrial distributors.
• Waltech (formerly Walterscheid)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaster distributor for Waltech tube assembly machinery and components. Previously known as Walterscheid, Waltech provides tube connector series with leak-free design, high bending and impulse resistance for various assembly methods.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hydraulic Supply Company (HSC): Specialty hydraulic and pneumatic distributor with locations across the U.S. Southeast, offering hose assemblies, fittings, power units, and mobile service. Highly comparable to CHD on product mix (hydraulic hose assemblies, fittings, custom fabrication) and regional overlap in the Southeast.
• Applied Industrial Technologies: Major industrial distributor specializing in fluid power, bearings, power transmission, and industrial rubber products with hundreds of service centers across North America. Directly comparable to CHD's core fluid power distribution and hose/fittings business, with a national footprint CHD lacks.
• Brennan Industries: Manufacturer and distributor of hydraulic fittings, adapters, and flanges with U.S. distribution focused on fluid power resellers. Comparable to CHD's fittings and adapters business, with deeper product specialization in fittings specifically.
• Motion Industries: One of the largest industrial distributors in North America, distributing bearings, power transmission, fluid power, and industrial MRO products. Comparable to CHD as a broad fluid power and industrial component distributor serving maintenance and OEM customers, though at vastly greater scale.

Broad incumbents

• MSC Industrial Direct: Large national metalworking and MRO distributor with a broad product catalog and digital-first ordering. Comparable to CHD on industrial MRO/hose/fittings distribution but operates at dramatically greater scale and is not fluid-power specialized.
• Grainger: Largest broad-line industrial distributor in North America with extensive MRO catalog including hydraulic and pneumatic components. Comparable to CHD as an industrial distribution channel serving maintenance customers, but operates a vastly broader, more digital-first model.
• Parker Hannifin (Hose Products Division): Global manufacturer of motion and control technologies including hydraulic hoses, fittings, and fluid conveyance systems. Comparable to CHD as both a competitor (via direct sales) and a supplier alternative; one of the manufacturers whose brand partnerships anchor CHD's catalog.
• Eaton (Industrial Sector): Diversified industrial manufacturer with a fluid power portfolio including hydraulic hoses, fittings, valves, and power units. Comparable to CHD as an upstream supplier/competitor in fluid power products, and a benchmark for the type of premium brand CHD distributes.

Emerging players

• Hoses & Fittings Direct: Direct-to-customer online distributor of hydraulic and industrial hoses, fittings, and assemblies. Comparable to CHD's fluid conveyance product offering but pursues an online-first, no-account-required model that contrasts CHD's account-based pricing approach.

Regional players

• Power & Motion: Regional fluid power distributor offering hydraulic and pneumatic components, hose assemblies, and repair services in select U.S. markets. Comparable to CHD on core fluid power distribution and custom assembly, with similar mid-sized regional positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chd_charlotte
• Facebookfacebook.com/chdnc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Custom Hydraulics & Design