Parker tops first-ever ranking of hose makers

The numbers are in, and Parker-Hannifin Corp. sits at the top of the inaugural ranking of global hose manufacturers.

The Cleveland-based company had estimated hose sales just over $2 billion for the past year, with a bit more than 60 percent of that coming from North America, according to information from the firm's annual report and industry estimates.

Parker-Hannifin is considered the top hydraulic hose maker in the market and also has a strong position in the industrial hose sector, along with producing hose for several other sectors as well.

The Danfoss Power Solutions unit of Denmark's Danfoss Co., which had an estimated $1.4 billion in hose sales, with about $750 million coming from North America, ranked second. Danfoss received the high position in the rankings courtesy of its 2021 purchase of the hydraulics business of Eaton P.L.C. All of Eaton's hose business was part of the hydraulics unit, and the firm is one of the leaders in both hydraulic and industrial hose markets.

Rounding out the top five in this first-ever ranking were Gates Industrial Corp. P.L.C. at $1.26 billion, with more than $800 million coming in North America; the ContiTech unit of Continental A.G., with an estimated $1 billion in hose sales, $600 million of that in North America; and Japan's Sumitomo Riko, at an estimated $750 million globally, and $135 million in North America.Denver-based Gates is one of the leaders in hydraulic and industrial hose, and also is a player in automotive. ContiTech is seen as the leader in the industrial hose sector, with a smaller presence in hydraulic, along with automotive business as well. Sumitomo Riko gains the bulk of its hose sales from automotive applications, and the Japanese-based firm claims a global auto hose share of 19 percent, according to its most recent annual report.

This is the first in a series of new data sets offered by Rubber News as part of our ongoing effort to diversify industry-related content that highlights various sectors. A ranking of custom mixers will debut in August, and a new ranking of rubber recycling firms is set to be released in October. Our inaugural ranking of molded goods makers will be released in November.

All of these are in addition to the Global Tire Report, North American Top 50 Rubber Product Makers and the Global Top 50 Non-Tire Rubber Products rankings that are on our publication's editorial calendar each year.

The data for the hose ranking was derived from a number of different sources. Rubber News sent out surveys to hose manufacturers seeking information on how much revenue they derive from their hose businesses, along with information such as products made, end markets served and materials used.

We also derived information from company annual reports, public and industry data, and information from a number of veteran industry sources to come up with the best estimate for what sales were for the leading companies.

Putting together an inaugural ranking in any industry is difficult, and the hose industry is no different. The sector is difficult to rank because it is such a fractured business, with many players not only in North America but around the globe.

A recent Freedonia Group market study noted nearly 200 firms make hoses or belts in the U.S. at 264 locations, and that the eight largest firms make up just over half the business. That means there are about 190 firms fighting for the remaining revenue dollars—and that's just in the U.S.

It's easier to target the leaders of the main hose sectors—hydraulics, industrial and automotive—but that's only a small part of the picture. There are countless sub-categories, such as ducting, tubing, fire hose, garden hose and many others. And just because a manufacturer isn't big in the overall scheme of the hose industry, the firm very likely may be prominent in their niche of the business.

And while not in the league of the tire industry that is the big gorilla of the rubber industry, the hose sector is right at the top of the non-tire product categories of the industry. It's tough to put a number on the overall size of the hose industry, but there are some indicators. Industry data puts the domestic market for industrial hose north of $2.5 billion, with the U.S. hydraulic market slightly south of that figure.

Looking ahead, things appear to be bright for those in the hose market. The Freedonia report said growth is projected through 2026 in both car and various industrial hose markets in the U.S.

In the end, we included 17 companies in our global rankings. We know there were companies such as Hutchinson of France, India's Polyhose, Japan's Bridgestone, Kuriyama and Toyoda Gosei, and others that likely would have been included, but we just didn't have enough data to be able to make an estimate.

To that end, we do appreciate those companies that did return the surveys with financial data, as we know how well-guarded such information is in our industry. Particular thanks go out to three companies that submitted data but weren't large enough to make the final rankings: ZyFire Hose Corp. of China (total revenue of $55 million); NRP Jones ($40 million); and Tubigomma Deregibus S.r.l. ($24.3 million).

Rubber News looks to improve upon the hose rankings in 2023, but we will need your help. If you know your company should be ranked, please participate in our data-gathering next time around. If you have other information on where certain hose producers should be placed or have access to other industry data, let us know.

Or if you have ideas on how better to present this information, contact Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected] or Editorial Researcher Robin Clark at [email protected].