MICO, Inc.
ZF Off-Highway Solutions Minnesota Inc. (formerly MICO, Inc.) designs, manufactures, and sells hydraulic and electrohydraulic braking components, controls, and brake systems for off-highway vehicles, serving OEMs in construction, mining, agriculture, forestry, and related industrial sectors worldwide since 1946.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersMankato, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What MICO, Inc. does
MICO, Inc., legally operating as ZF Off-Highway Solutions Minnesota Inc. since 2021, designs, manufactures, and sells hydraulic and electrohydraulic braking components, controls, and brake systems for off-highway vehicles worldwide. Founded in 1946 as Minnesota Automotive, Inc. and headquartered in North Mankato, Minnesota, the company holds the MICO trademark (registered 1950) and has built a 70-plus-year track record in hydraulic brake engineering for harsh-environment applications. Its product portfolio is organized into five categories: Brakes (515, 520, 530 Series caliper disc brakes and multiple disc brakes), Brake Actuation (master cylinders, boosted master cylinders, air/hydraulic actuators, slave/wheel cylinders, remote actuators, and brake lock systems including the 691 electrohydraulic brake lock), Valves (accumulator charging valves, modulating valves, relay valves, park brake valves, dual power brake valves), Controls/EH (electronic pedals, electrohydraulic brake valves or EBVs, pressure and pressure differential switches), and Related Products (pressure testing devices, hydraulic throttle controls, fluid reservoirs, in-line residual check valves). Operations include the North Mankato headquarters and ISO 9001/14001-certified manufacturing facility, a 2006-opened manufacturing plant in Empalme, Sonora, Mexico, and a 2011-opened electrohydraulic R&D facility in Shakopee, Minnesota; the company also maintains a West Coast subsidiary (MICO West / ALMICO, Inc.) and a South African joint venture (MICO SA). It serves OEMs in heavy construction, mining, agricultural, forestry, oil and gas, airport support, municipal, material handling, marine, railroad, crane/swing boom, trailer, and wind power applications.
The company generates revenue through hardware sales of custom and catalog hydraulic and electrohydraulic brake systems, with quotation-based pricing and no public price list. Its go-to-market combines an extensive multi-tier distributor network spanning four U.S. regions and international markets (Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Singapore, India, Australia) with direct enterprise engagement via product application engineers, account managers, and a customer service helpline. The MICO MOBEUS (Mobile On Board Energy Utilization System) family, launched in 2012, represents its strategic entry into integrated electrohydraulic brake solutions. Following WABCO's 2016 acquisition and ZF Friedrichshafen AG's May 29, 2020 acquisition of WABCO, MICO now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary within ZF Group, a global technology company with approximately 162,000 employees across roughly 260 locations in 41 countries; the MICO brand was formally transitioned to ZF in 2021. Leadership is anchored by CEO Brent-Bob McGrath.
MICO, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MICO, Inc.
- Legal name
- ZF Off-Highway Solutions Minnesota Inc.
- Website
- https://mico.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- ZF Off-Highway Solutions Minnesota Inc. (formerly MICO, Inc.) designs, manufactures, and sells hydraulic and electrohydraulic braking components, controls, and brake systems for off-highway vehicles, serving OEMs in construction, mining, agriculture, forestry, and related industrial sectors worldwide since 1946.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MICO, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Off-Highway Hydraulic Brake Components
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing (33634), Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (336330)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hydraulic Brake Systems (Master Cylinders/Calipers/Lines/Boosters) (IMACAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Proportional & Servo Hydraulics (Electrohydraulic Valves, Servo Systems) (IMAHAGAF), Brake Friction & Rotors (Pads/Shoes/Discs/Drums) (IMACAIAE)
Keywords
Where MICO, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mankato
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
MICO, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hydraulic Brake Components and Systems: Sale of hydraulic and electrohydraulic brake components and systems for off-highway machines including caliper disc brakes, multiple disc brakes, master cylinders, brake actuators, valves, and electronic controls. Products designed and manufactured for harsh environments in construction, mining, agriculture, forestry, and other off-highway applications.
- Custom Solutions and Engineering: Custom engineering of products for specific applications that meets or exceeds customer specific requirements. Application engineering support to select suitable brake components designed to meet application needs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom quotation-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels4 records
MICO, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MICO, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells hydraulic and electrohydraulic brake components and actuation systems for off-highway vehicles. Their product portfolio includes caliper disc brakes, multiple disc brakes, master cylinders, brake valves, electronic pedals, and electrohydraulic brake controls, serving OEMs and equipment operators in construction, mining, agriculture, forestry, material handling, and related heavy-equipment industries.
Product overview
MICO, Inc. (now ZF Off-Highway Solutions Minnesota Inc.) is a manufacturer of hydraulic and electrohydraulic braking components and systems for off-highway vehicles. The company offers a comprehensive product portfolio organized into five main categories: (1) Brakes including Caliper Disc Brakes (515, 520, 530 Series) and Multiple Disc Brakes; (2) Brake Actuation including Master Cylinders, Boosted Master Cylinders, Air/Hydraulic Actuators, Slave/Wheel Cylinders, Remote Actuators, and Brake Lock systems (691 Brake Lock System, Lever, Twist, Cable, Electric locks); (3) Valves including Accumulator Charging Valves, Modulating Valves, Relay Valves, Park Brake Valves, and Dual Power Brake Valves for steering assist; (4) Controls/EH (Electrohydraulics) including Electronic Pedals, Electrohydraulic Brake Valves (EBV), and Pressure/Temperature Switches; (5) Related Products including Pressure Testing Devices, Hydraulic Throttle Controls, Fluid Reservoirs, and In-Line Residual Check Valves. The products are designed for demanding off-highway environments serving markets in construction, mining, agriculture, forestry, material handling, marine, and other industrial applications. The company also offers custom engineering services to design products for specific customer applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MICO MOBEUS®: Mobile On Board Energy Utilization System - family of electrohydraulic brake components launched in 2012
Products and services
- Caliper Disc Brakes Hydraulic caliper disc brake assemblies offered in 515, 520, and 530 series configurations for off-highway mobile equipment applications.
- Multiple Disc Brakes Multi-disc brake systems designed for heavy-duty off-highway vehicles requiring high torque braking capacity.
- 691 Brake Lock System Spring-applied hydraulic release brake lock system for holding parked off-highway equipment.
- Brake Locks (SMV, MTV, MKV, MDV configurations) Brake lock assemblies available in Single Modulating Valve (SMV), Manual Transmission Valve (MTV), Manual Kit Valve (MKV), and Manual Double Valve (MDV) configurations for various parking and holding applications.
- Master Cylinders Hydraulic master cylinders for converting mechanical pedal input into hydraulic pressure in off-highway brake systems.
- Boosted Master Cylinders Power-assisted hydraulic master cylinders that reduce pedal effort in heavy-equipment braking systems.
- Air/Hydraulic Actuators Actuators that convert air pressure into hydraulic pressure for applying off-highway braking systems.
- Slave and Wheel Cylinders Hydraulic slave and wheel cylinders used at brake locations to actuate drum or disc brakes on off-highway equipment.
- Remote Actuators Remotely mounted hydraulic actuators for applying brake mechanisms located away from the operator station.
- Accumulator Charging Valves Valves for charging hydraulic accumulators that store pressure for braking and other hydraulic functions.
- Modulating Valves Pressure-modulating valves that control and proportion hydraulic brake pressure in off-highway systems.
- Relay Valves Relay valves that amplify and deliver air-over-hydraulic pressure signals to remote brake chambers quickly.
- Park Brake Valves Valves specifically designed to control parking brake actuation on off-highway vehicles.
- Dual Power Brake Valves Brake valves providing dual power brake circuits for redundancy in off-highway braking systems.
- Electronic Pedals Electronic pedal assemblies that convert operator brake input into electronic signals for electrohydraulic brake systems.
- Electrohydraulic Brake Valves (EBV) Electrohydraulic brake valves that combine electronic control with hydraulic actuation for precision braking in off-highway applications.
- Pressure Switches Pressure-sensing switches that monitor hydraulic pressure levels in off-highway brake and hydraulic circuits.
- Pressure Differential Switches Switches that detect pressure differences between two hydraulic circuits for diagnostic or control purposes.
- Pressure Testing Devices Instruments used to test and verify hydraulic pressure in brake and hydraulic systems.
- Hydraulic Throttle Controls Hydraulically actuated throttle controls for engine speed management in off-highway equipment.
- Fluid Reservoirs Hydraulic fluid reservoirs for storing and supplying hydraulic fluid in off-highway brake and hydraulic systems.
- In-Line Residual Check Valves In-line check valves that maintain residual pressure in hydraulic brake circuits.
- Brake Actuators for CNH Drive Axles Custom-engineered brake actuators designed for integration with CNH (Case New Holland) drive axles.
Quantifiable outcome
- ZF has earned a reputation as a reliable supplier by responding quickly to the needs of customers
Companies that use MICO, Inc.
Customer profileSegments12 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
MICO, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
MICO, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Australian Brake ControlsminorFormer joint venture partner (established 1986) for distribution of MICO products in Australia. MICO sold interest in Australian Brake Controls (ABC) in 1997. Current distributor listed as Australian Brake Controls at 103 Long Street, Smithfield NSW 2164 Australia.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MICO, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Parker Hannifin: Parker Hannifin's Motion and Control Systems division manufactures hydraulic valves, accumulators, and braking components for off-highway equipment, offering a broader portfolio of motion control products beyond braking.
- Brembo: Brembo is a global braking systems manufacturer primarily focused on passenger vehicles and motorcycles, but it has been expanding into commercial and off-highway brake calipers and discs, making it an emerging adjacent competitor.
- Dana Incorporated: Dana's Off-Highway Drivetrain and Brake Systems group produces hydraulic brakes, calipers, and actuation products for construction, mining, and agricultural equipment, providing a broader drivetrain-plus-braking portfolio than MICO's brake-only focus.
Direct peers
- Haldex: Haldex manufactures brake actuators, air brake valves, and hydraulic brake components for heavy-duty trucks and off-highway vehicles, providing direct overlap with MICO's brake actuation product line.
- Bosch Rexroth: Bosch Rexroth manufactures hydraulic components, valves, and brake systems for mobile and off-highway machinery, directly competing with MICO in master cylinders, brake valves, and electrohydraulic actuation for construction, mining, and agricultural equipment.
- Knorr-Bremse: Knorr-Bremse is a global leader in braking systems for commercial vehicles and rail, with growing off-highway presence. It competes with MICO in hydraulic and pneumatic brake systems for heavy-duty mobile equipment.
- Wabtec (Westinghouse Air Brakes): Wabtec produces braking and other rail and industrial products. While primarily rail-focused, Wabtec's industrial braking portfolio overlaps with MICO's hydraulic and pneumatic brake systems for off-highway and material handling applications.
- Husco International: Husco International designs and manufactures hydraulic valves and electrohydraulic controls for off-highway machinery, directly competing with MICO's electrohydraulic brake valves and accumulator charging valves.
- Eaton: Eaton's Vehicle Group produces hydraulic brake valves, master cylinders, and clutch actuation components for commercial and off-highway vehicles, overlapping with MICO's product portfolio in modulating valves and hydraulic brake systems.
Emerging players
- Webb Wheel: Webb Wheel manufactures brake drums, rotors, and hubs for heavy-duty trucks, trailers, and off-highway equipment, providing partial overlap with MICO's caliper disc and multiple disc brake offerings in the medium-duty segment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MICO, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceMICO, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
MICO, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MICO, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
MICO, Inc. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
MICO, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MICO, Inc. 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 MICO, Inc.
What does MICO, Inc. do?
MICO, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells hydraulic and electrohydraulic brake components and actuation systems for off-highway vehicles. Their product portfolio includes caliper disc brakes, multiple disc brakes, master cylinders, brake valves, electronic pedals, and electrohydraulic brake controls, serving OEMs and equipment operators in construction, mining, agriculture, forestry, material handling, and related heavy-equipment industries.
Is MICO, Inc. a public or private company?
MICO, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was MICO, Inc. founded?
MICO, Inc. was founded in 1946. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is MICO, Inc. based?
MICO, Inc. is headquartered in Mankato, United States, in the North America region.
How does MICO, Inc. make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Hydraulic Brake Components and Systems are the primary driver. The others are custom Solutions and Engineering.
Who are MICO, Inc.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Parker Hannifin, Brembo and Dana Incorporated. Direct peers are Haldex, Bosch Rexroth, Knorr-Bremse, Wabtec (Westinghouse Air Brakes), Husco International and Eaton. Webb Wheel is listed as an emerging player.
Does MICO, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for MICO, Inc..
What industry is MICO, Inc. in?
MICO, Inc.'s product category is Off-Highway Hydraulic Brake Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAIAD, Hydraulic Brake Systems (Master Cylinders/Calipers/Lines/Boosters), with a secondary code of IMAHAGAF, Proportional & Servo Hydraulics (Electrohydraulic Valves, Servo Systems). Its NAICS code is 33634 and its SIC code is 3559.