Main Filter
Main Filter, now part of Hengst Filtration, manufactures and distributes OEM-replacement hydraulic and lubrication filters in North America, operating from Ontario and North Carolina with a cross-reference database covering 254,000+ elements across 60+ OEM brands, sold primarily via e-commerce and phone channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersSault Sainte Marie, Canada
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Main Filter does
Main Filter, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Sault Sainte Marie, Canada, is an industrial filtration manufacturer specializing in OEM-replacement hydraulic and lubrication filters. Following its 2024 acquisition by German filtration company Hengst Filtration, the company operates as Hengst's North American manufacturing and e-commerce arm, with production facilities in Ontario, Canada and North Carolina, USA. Its principal asset is a cross-reference database covering more than 254,000 hydraulic and lube filter elements across 60+ OEM brands, including Pall, Parker, Hydac, Caterpillar, Donaldson, WIX, Baldwin, Mann & Hummel, Vickers, and others, allowing maintenance buyers to identify compatible aftermarket replacements. The product portfolio spans 60,000+ high-pressure elements, 54,000+ return and suction elements, 10,000+ low/medium-pressure elements, 7,000+ hydraulic and lube spin-on elements, 3,000+ suction strainers, and 1,000+ air/oil separators and compressor intake filters, plus Allison Transmission Kits and fuel spin-on filters.
Main Filter sells primarily through a self-serve e-commerce storefront at mainfilter.com, supported by phone sales (1-800-465-6246) and a distributor recruitment program, with global shipping capability. Pricing is per-unit in USD with volume discounts scaling from 10% at 10 units to 30% at 30+ units; typical unit prices range from approximately $22 to over $500. The company holds ISO 9001 quality management certification and serves industrial manufacturers and heavy equipment operators as a horizontal, long-tail customer base rather than concentrated enterprise accounts. Leadership is led by Andrew Perkel, President and CEO.
Main Filter firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Main Filter
- Legal name
- Hengst Filtration
- Website
- https://mainfilter.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Main Filter, now part of Hengst Filtration, manufactures and distributes OEM-replacement hydraulic and lubrication filters in North America, operating from Ontario and North Carolina with a cross-reference database covering 254,000+ elements across 60+ OEM brands, sold primarily via e-commerce and phone channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Main Filter is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sault Sainte Marie
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Main Filter business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Filter Product Sales: Direct B2B and B2C sales of hydraulic and lubrication filter products through e-commerce platform and phone sales. Volume discount tiers available (10-14 pieces: 10% off, 15-24: 15% off, 25-29: 25% off, 30+: 30% off). Products sold under Hengst Filtration branding with Hengst Filtration logos.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual filter unit pricing with volume discounts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Main Filter product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Main Filter manufactures and distributes hydraulic and lubrication filters for industrial machinery and heavy equipment, producing direct OEM-equivalent replacement elements. The company maintains an industry-leading cross-reference database covering 254,000+ filter elements from 60+ OEM brands, enabling customers to identify compatible replacement filters across manufacturers. Operations are based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, with additional manufacturing capacity in North Carolina, U.S.A.
Product overview
Main Filter, now operating under Hengst Filtration, offers a comprehensive portfolio of over 254,000 hydraulic and lube filter elements across multiple product lines. The core offering centers on an online hydraulic filter cross-reference tool that enables customers to find Hengst Filtration replacements for OEM filters from brands including ZINGA, WOODGATE, WIX, VICKERS, and WESTERN FILTER. The product range includes High Pressure elements (60,000+), Return & Suction elements (54,000+), Low & Medium Pressure elements (10,000+), Hydraulic & Lube Spin-on elements (7,000+), Suction Strainers (3,000+), and Air Oil Separators & Compressor Intake Filters (1,000+). Additional offerings include Allison Transmission Kits, Hydraulic Spin-on Filters, and Fuel Spin-on Filters. The company operates as an e-commerce platform with rapid shipping capabilities serving the North American market from facilities in Ontario and North Carolina.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 254,000 hydraulic and lube filter elements available for cross-reference
Companies that use Main Filter
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Main Filter technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Main Filter partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Hengst FiltrationcoreHengst Filtration, a German filtration company, acquired Main Filter in 2024 as part of its North American expansion strategy. Main Filter operates as part of Hengst Filtration's North American operations, manufacturing hydraulic filters in facilities in Ontario and North Carolina, and serving as the company's US/Canada e-commerce sales platform under the Hengst Filtration brand.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Main Filter competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Baldwin Filters: Baldwin Filters is a North American heavy-duty filtration manufacturer covering hydraulic, lube, fuel, air, and coolant filters. Its broad product line and heavy equipment customer base directly overlap Main Filter's hydraulic spin-on and lube filter offerings.
- Pall Corporation: Pall is a global leader in industrial filtration, particularly hydraulic and lube filtration for aerospace, industrial, and process applications. Pall OEM part numbers are directly cross-referenced on Main Filter's site, making it a primary direct competitor in the aftermarket hydraulic filter category.
- Mann+Hummel: Mann+Hummel is a global filtration leader serving automotive, industrial, and aftermarket channels. Its industrial filtration business competes with Main Filter's hydraulic and lube filter portfolio, and its brands (e.g., Purolator, WIX) are explicitly cross-referenced on Main Filter's site.
- Donaldson Company: Donaldson is a major industrial and hydraulic filtration manufacturer with extensive OEM and aftermarket presence in North America. As a 60+ brand cross-reference target and competitor, Donaldson competes head-to-head with Main Filter for hydraulic filter replacement business.
- Parker Hannifin: Parker Hannifin's Filtration Group is one of the largest global manufacturers of hydraulic and lube filtration products. Main Filter's cross-reference database explicitly supports Parker part numbers, indicating direct competition for aftermarket replacement sales of comparable hydraulic filter elements.
- Hydac: Hydac is a German-headquartered specialist in hydraulic filtration, fluid conditioning, and electronics for mobile and industrial machinery. With Hydac branded filters explicitly cross-referenced by Main Filter, the two companies compete directly for hydraulic filter element sales in North America.
- Fleetguard (Cummins Filtration): Fleetguard, the filtration arm of Cummins, manufactures heavy-duty and industrial filtration including hydraulic filters. As a cross-referenced brand on Main Filter's site, it competes directly for heavy equipment and industrial hydraulic filter replacement business.
- WIX Filters: WIX Filters is a major North American manufacturer of automotive and heavy-duty filtration products, including hydraulic and lube filters. As an explicitly cross-referenced brand on Main Filter's site, WIX is a direct aftermarket competitor in shared customer channels.
Broad incumbents
- Hengst SE: Hengst SE is the German parent that acquired Main Filter in 2024. As a broad industrial and automotive filtration incumbent, Hengst provides the technology, product portfolio, and capital backing that now drives Main Filter's North American operations — making it the controlling peer and platform.
- Bosch Rexroth: Bosch Rexroth is a global leader in hydraulic systems and components, including hydraulic filtration. As a major OEM whose hydraulic systems drive demand for filter replacement, it both sources and competes with aftermarket filter suppliers like Main Filter.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Main Filter social profiles
Digital presenceMain Filter compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Main Filter financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Main Filter leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Main Filter funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Main Filter M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Main Filter
What does Main Filter do?
Main Filter manufactures and distributes hydraulic and lubrication filters for industrial machinery and heavy equipment, producing direct OEM-equivalent replacement elements. The company maintains an industry-leading cross-reference database covering 254,000+ filter elements from 60+ OEM brands, enabling customers to identify compatible replacement filters across manufacturers. Operations are based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, with additional manufacturing capacity in North Carolina, U.S.A.
Is Main Filter a public or private company?
Main Filter is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Main Filter founded?
Main Filter was founded in 1989. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Main Filter based?
Main Filter is headquartered in Sault Sainte Marie, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Main Filter make money?
One revenue line is on record: filter Product Sales.
Who are Main Filter's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Baldwin Filters, Pall Corporation, Mann+Hummel, Donaldson Company, Parker Hannifin, Hydac, Fleetguard (Cummins Filtration) and WIX Filters. Broad incumbents are Hengst SE and Bosch Rexroth.
Does Main Filter have an API?
No public API is recorded for Main Filter.