About HydraForce
About HydraForceHydraulic Cartridge Valves
HydraForce was founded in 1985 near Chicago by Jim Brizzolara, Dick Fontecchio, and Ron Reuter, who identified the mobile equipment industry's need for quality hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds delivered with greater responsiveness than existing suppliers offered. The founders consulted closely with industry insiders before targeting the cartridge valve market with innovative designs focused on performance and manufacturing speed.
The company built its business around the engineering advantages of cartridge valves and hydraulic integrated circuits, which offer cost-effective, space-saving alternatives to traditional valve assemblies while allowing greater design flexibility for mobile and industrial equipment manufacturers. By 1999, that focus had made HydraForce the world's number one manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves.
HydraForce has since grown to operate multiple manufacturing locations across North America, Europe, and Asia, supported by a network of 120 stocking distributors worldwide, with offices opened in South Korea and China in 2005 and the 2017 acquisition of Hydraulic Designers Co., Ltd. in São Paulo, Brazil. The company was acquired by Bosch Rexroth in 2022, and ChatMRO helps mobile equipment OEMs and fluid power distributors source HydraForce cartridge valves by matching exact cavity size and valve function against verified stock.
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Frequently asked questions
Who founded HydraForce and when?
HydraForce was founded in 1985 near Chicago by Jim Brizzolara, Dick Fontecchio, and Ron Reuter. The founders targeted the hydraulic cartridge valve market after identifying a need for more responsive manufacturing in the mobile equipment industry.
What is a hydraulic cartridge valve?
A hydraulic cartridge valve is a compact valve design that screws into a manifold cavity, offering a cost-effective and space-saving alternative to traditional valve assemblies. HydraForce built its business around these valves and the hydraulic integrated circuits they enable.
When did HydraForce become the top cartridge valve manufacturer?
By 1999, HydraForce had become the world's number one manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves. This milestone followed 14 years of focused engineering and manufacturing investment since the company's 1985 founding.
Who owns HydraForce today?
HydraForce was acquired by Bosch Rexroth in 2022, strengthening its position within a larger fluid power technology organization. The acquisition followed decades of independent growth, including international expansion into South Korea, China, and Brazil.
How many distributors support HydraForce products worldwide?
HydraForce is supported by a network of 120 stocking distributors that provide local support across the globe. This distribution network complements the company's manufacturing locations in North America, Europe, and Asia.