Danfoss names Andrew Smulski president of fluid conveyance

NORDBORG, Denmark—Just less than two years removed from Danfoss Co.'s $3.3 billion acquisition of Eaton Corp.'s hydraulics segment, and the combined assets are proving to be as intellectual as they are industrial.

Danfoss Power Solution's fluid conveyance unit has a new leader in Andrew Smulski, who came from Eaton following the 2021 purchase.

Smulski's appointment to president of the fluid conveyance division—one of four market segments within DPS, which itself is one of two major business divisions of Danfoss A/S—is effective immediately, Danfoss said April 18.

"Andrew's demonstrated passion for leading global teams, partnering with customers to solve their most challenging machine problems and collaboratively growing with our distribution partners will be a great asset to fluid conveyance," said DPS President Eric Alstrom. "He has the competencies to take this division to the next level, and I look forward to seeing how his contributions position the team and our customers for continued success."

Based in Eden Prairie, Minn., where a DPS hydraulics component manufacturing facility is located, Smulski will continue to serve as a key member of the DPS leadership team and report directly to Alstrom.

"I look forward to working with the talented, passionate colleagues behind our industry-leading brands," Smulski said. "I've partnered with our fluid conveyance team for years because our hoses, fittings and couplings are an essential component of our distributors' business.

"I'm excited to now lead the FC team and grow that business, and I'm grateful I'll still have the opportunity to work with our wonderful distribution partners."

In his previous role as senior vice president of distribution sales with DPS, Smulski merged and developed a sales organization focused on international distribution partners.

He has more than two decades of leadership experience in the fluid power and electrical industries, and has an executive leader certificate from Harvard University.

Smulski is evidence of the regional approach taken by Eaton, and its benefits to the more globally focused Danfoss.

"Where they looked to us in North America, we looked to their channels in Europe," Tony Welter, president of the hydrostatics division of DPS and an executive in the former Ireland-based Eaton Hydraulics branch, told Rubber News in August 2022. "They bring Europe into the mix for us."

Smulski has a proven track record, Alstrom said, in leading large organizations and implementing strategies across regions. At Eaton, Smulski served in various leadership positions within sales, program management and marketing.

This experience will be helpful as Smulski takes responsibility for fluid conveyance activities globally, Danfoss said, something he gained initial experience with in his senior VP role with DPS.

With Eaton Hydraulics on board, DPS now has distinct fluid conveyance (hose and tubing), industrial hydraulic (an entirely new market segment for Danfoss that came with the Eaton division), hydrostatic (pumps and motors) and power control (valves and fittings) divisions.

One of the most difficult markets to penetrate is Japan, and the fact that Eaton has manufacturing facilities there makes Alstrom bullish on the prospect, the DPS executive told Rubber News last year.

The future for the combined Eaton Hydraulics-DPS footprint in off-highway and on-highway electrification remains bright, Alstrom added.

Overall, Danfoss A/S Group increased by about one-third with the acquisition and the overall number of Danfoss employees stands at about 38,000, with between 17,500 and 18,000 employees now within DPS.

DPS added roughly 30 former Eaton Hydraulics locations to its existing 24 locations, bringing the total to 54 manufacturing locations for DPS.

Besides Japan, of note are manufacturing sites gained in the U.S., South Korea, Mexico, Europe, Singapore and China for Danfoss.