BLOOMFIELD, Conn.—Kaman Corp.'s distribution segment has acquired Western Fluid Components Inc., a full-time distributor for the Parker Hannifin Corp.'s fluid connector group.
Western is one of the largest fluid connector distributors in the state of Washington. Its line includes hydraulic, pneumatic and industrial hose, tubing, fittings and related accessories.
"The acquisition expands our authorizations throughout the state of Washington and adds four more Parker stores to our network and just increases the amount of business that we're doing together," said David Mayer, Kaman's vice president of marketing and services.
Kaman's network of Parker stores stands at 17, with four in Puerto Rico, five in Chicago and eight in Washington.
Western is Kaman's third acquisition this year. Kaman purchased Ohio Gear & Transmission Inc. in Eastlake, Ohio, earlier in August. In May, Kaman bought Northwest Hose & Fittings Inc., another authorized hose distributor of Parker, based in Washington.
"We feel strongly about the construction market and the forest products," Mayer said. "The housing market is returning, and there are a number of good strong accounts up in that market (Washington). It's also a diverse market from an industry standpoint. It's also a market where we had a rather low presence in market share."
Western is the third acquisition of a Parker distributor since Kaman formalized its relationship with Parker on a national scale in December 2011, when Kaman acquired Catching Fluid Power Inc., based in the Chicago area. Mayer said the purchase established the formation of a national resale agreement that gave Kaman access to Parker's hydraulics, pneumatics and fluid connector group products.
"We've had a relationship with Parker for many years, both from companies that Parker has acquired and from companies that Kaman has acquired. It dates back to some acquisitions that we made in the early 2000s," he said.
"We have access to the maintenance repair operation markets that many of their existing distribution channels do not, including an array of national account customers that we have under contract," Mayer said. "It's not been an area that Parker has been as strong in, so it's a really good fit."
He said Kaman will continue to look for opportunities to grow its presence in the future.
Mayer said his company has both product and geographic acquisition strategies in place.