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M. Joseph Loughran founded Airline Equipment Company to distribute pneumatic tools and accessories in Philadelphia. At that time, the city had a vibrant industrial manufacturing economy with companies like Baldwin Lima Hamilton, Midvale Heppenstall, Westinghouse Electric and Philco employing thousands of workers. All of these companies bought air tools from our Company, at that time named "Airline Equipment Company" because we sold equipment used in conjunction with the air lines in factories. The Company was very successful and, with its growing reputation, Airline Equipment Company became referred to simply as "Airline". "Call Airline for the tools you need."
1967
The Company was offered the exclusive distribution rights for the Vickers line of hydraulics, which nearly doubled the size of the Company overnight. At the time, Vickers was the worldwide leader in hydraulics.
1968
Joseph E. Loughran pictured above.
M. Joseph Loughran's son, Joseph E. Loughran, joined the Company.
1981
Joseph and his brother, Robert Loughran, purchased the Company stock from their father, who retired from the business.
As the demand for hydraulic and pneumatic products and services grew, branch operations were established in York, PA; Bethlehem, PA and Edison, NJ. As our capabilities and positive reputation grew, customers demanded solutions to a wider array of machine problems, so Airline further broadened its product offering to include automation products such as sensors, PLC's and motion control products from Omron Electronics, SMC Pneumatics and many others.
1998
Mannesmann Rexroth (now Bosch Rexroth) appointed Airline as their distributor in the Mid-Atlantic States. Both Airline and Rexroth made major commitments to be the leading provider of fluid power and automation equipment in the region. Airline's investment in sales and engineering resources was rewarded when Rexroth eventually consolidated their distribution network in the Northeast and expanded Airline's sales territory.
2002
As part of an asset purchase agreement, Airline acquired the services of key personnel at Weinman Pump and Supply in Pittsburgh, PA and New York State. As a result, our Pittsburgh branch office was opened and Bosch Rexroth and other manufacturers named Airline as their distributor in this marketplace.
2008
Airline acquired certain assets of Phoenix Automation in Rochester, New York and T Motion, also located in Rochester. Airline was appointed exclusive distributor for all Rexroth automation products and opened a branch location in Rochester, NY.
2010
Joseph A. Miceli was named as the new Chief Executive Officer of Airline Hydraulics Corporation. Former CEO, Joseph Loughran, remains as Chairman of Airline's Board of Directors.
2012
Airline completed the acquisition of Innovative Automation & Controls Inc., an electrical controls and automation components distributor located in Owings Mills, MD.
Later that year, Airline acquired Fluid Power Service Corporation located in Lancaster, NY, near Buffalo. Fluid Power Service has been in business since 1981, providing hydraulic system solutions and the service, repair and installation of industrial and mobile hydraulic machinery.
2017
Airline’s Bensalem, PA headquarters and six other company locations received ISO 9001:2015 certification, an upgrade from Airline’s previous ISO 9001:2008 certification.
In April of 2017, we launched our new e-commerce website allowing customers to order products, access product information, check on their orders, and chat with our experts!
In September, Airline’s Board of Directors appointed Mark Steffens as the Company’s new CEO following the retirement of Joseph Miceli. Mark has been with Airline for 22 years, having risen through the ranks to his prior position as Business Unit Manager of Airline’s Automation Group.
1953
As the local industrial economy diminished, so did the strong need for air tools. Airline then shifted into the pneumatics business, selling air valves and cylinders to a greater geographic area. Airline also started to branch out into other technologies to better serve our industrial customers.
The name Airline Equipment Company would not do justice to this new activity of selling hydraulic equipment, but we did not want to give up the name "Airline," since that name was so well known by our customers. So we adopted the new name "Airline Hydraulics Company" to indicate our new direction. Later, we changed from "company" to "corporation" arriving at our current name - Airline Hydraulics Corporation.
1972
Joseph E. Loughran opened the Company's first branch in Baltimore, MD.
1986
Joseph bought out his younger brother's interest in the business to become sole shareholder.
Airline launched our Marine and Mobile Systems group in Ocean View, NJ. As a distributor of Braden, Gearmatic, and Pullmaster winch products, Airline Marine and Mobile Systems also provides customized systems and excellent field service capabilities for the marine and mobile hydraulic markets.
2000
Airline was asked by Rexroth to increase market share in New England, resulting in the creation of our Fitchburg, MA office which relocated to North Billerica, MA in January 2007.
2005
Airline and JLS Automation of York, PA enter into an asset purchase agreement whereby Bosch Rexroth transferred the distribution rights of their motion control product line to Airline. To emphasize our electric drives, motors, and motion control products and services, we officially introduced our Electro Drive & Control Group as a division of Airline Hydraulics Corp. 2005 was also the year when Airline Hydraulics became a 100% employee-owned company (or ESOP Company).
2009
Airline formed an independent Board of Directors whose initial task was to provide guidance in the selection process of a new CEO.
2011
Airline acquired the shares of Fluid Power Automation LLC, a technology distributor of pneumatic and electric machine automation products located in North Kingston, RI. Our distribution agreements with SMC and Omron were extended throughout New England shortly thereafter.
Airline received ISO 9001:2008 certification after an extensive analysis of its quality systems. This achievement underscores Airline’s commitment to consistently provide customers with quality products and services.
2015
Airline Hydraulics Corporation acquired Hanover Controls & Supply Corporation, an automation and industrial controls distributor located in Ashland, VA.
Today, Airline has branches and sales offices from Maine to Virginia providing local customer service and technical expertise.
1940s
1949
M. Joseph Loughran founded Airline Equipment Company to distribute pneumatic tools and accessories in Philadelphia. At that time, the city had a vibrant industrial manufacturing economy with companies like Baldwin Lima Hamilton, Midvale Heppenstall, Westinghouse Electric and Philco employing thousands of workers. All of these companies bought air tools from our Company, at that time named "Airline Equipment Company" because we sold equipment used in conjunction with the air lines in factories. The Company was very successful and, with its growing reputation, Airline Equipment Company became referred to simply as "Airline". "Call Airline for the tools you need."
1950s
As the local industrial economy diminished, so did the strong need for air tools. Airline then shifted into the pneumatics business, selling air valves and cylinders to a greater geographic area. Airline also started to branch out into other technologies to better serve our industrial customers.
1960s
1967
The Company was offered the exclusive distribution rights for the Vickers line of hydraulics, which nearly doubled the size of the Company overnight. At the time, Vickers was the worldwide leader in hydraulics.
The name Airline Equipment Company would not do justice to this new activity of selling hydraulic equipment, but we did not want to give up the name "Airline," since that name was so well known by our customers. So we adopted the new name "Airline Hydraulics Company" to indicate our new direction. Later, we changed from "company" to "corporation" arriving at our current name - Airline Hydraulics Corporation.
1968
Joseph E. Loughran and his father, M. Joseph Loughran pictured above.
M. Joseph Loughran's son, Joseph E. Loughran, joined the Company.
1970s
1972
Joseph E. Loughran opened the Company's first branch in Baltimore, MD.
1980s
1981
Joseph and his brother, Robert Loughran, purchased the Company stock from their father, who retired from the business.
1986
Joseph bought out his younger brother's interest in the business to become sole shareholder.
As the demand for hydraulic and pneumatic products and services grew, branch operations were established in York, PA; Bethlehem, PA and Edison, NJ. As our capabilities and positive reputation grew, customers demanded solutions to a wider array of machine problems, so Airline further broadened its product offering to include automation products such as sensors, PLC's and motion control products from Omron Electronics, SMC Pneumatics and many others.
Airline launched our Marine and Mobile Systems group in Ocean View, NJ. As a distributor of Braden, Gearmatic, and Pullmaster winch products, Airline Marine and Mobile Systems also provides customized systems and excellent field service capabilities for the marine and mobile hydraulic markets.
1990s
1998
Mannesmann Rexroth (now Bosch Rexroth) appointed Airline as their distributor in the Mid-Atlantic States. Both Airline and Rexroth made major commitments to be the leading provider of fluid power and automation equipment in the region. Airline's investment in sales and engineering resources was rewarded when Rexroth eventually consolidated their distribution network in the Northeast and expanded Airline's sales territory.
2000s
2000
Airline was asked by Rexroth to increase market share in New England, resulting in the creation of our Fitchburg, MA office which relocated to North Billerica, MA in January 2007.
2002
As part of an asset purchase agreement, Airline acquired the services of key personnel at Weinman Pump and Supply in Pittsburgh, PA and New York State. As a result, our Pittsburgh branch office was opened and Bosch Rexroth and other manufacturers named Airline as their distributor in this marketplace.
2005
Airline and JLS Automation of York, PA enter into an asset purchase agreement whereby Bosch Rexroth transferred the distribution rights of their motion control product line to Airline. To emphasize our electric drives, motors, and motion control products and services, we officially introduced our Electro Drive & Control Group as a division of Airline Hydraulics Corp. 2005 was also the year when Airline Hydraulics became a 100% employee-owned company (or ESOP Company).
2008
Airline acquired certain assets of Phenix Automation in Rochester, New York and T Motion, also located in Rochester. Airline was appointed exclusive distributor for all Rexroth automation products and opened a branch location in Rochester, NY.
2009
Airline formed an independent Board of Directors whose initial task was to provide guidance in the selection process of a new CEO.
2010s
2010
Joseph A. Miceli was named as the new Chief Executive Officer of Airline Hydraulics Corporation. Former CEO, Joseph Loughran, remains as Chairman of Airline's Board of Directors.
2011
Airline acquired the shares of Fluid Power Automation LLC, a technology distributor of pneumatic and electric machine automation products located in North Kingston, RI. Our distribution agreements with SMC and Omron were extended throughout New England shortly thereafter.
Airline received ISO 9001:2008 certification after an extensive analysis of its quality systems. This achievement underscores Airline’s commitment to consistently provide customers with quality products and services.
2012
Airline completed the acquisition of Innovative Automation & Controls Inc., an electrical controls and automation components distributor located in Owings Mills, MD.
Later that year, Airline acquired Fluid Power Service Corporation located in Lancaster, NY, near Buffalo. Fluid Power Service has been in business since 1981, providing hydraulic system solutions and the service, repair and installation of industrial and mobile hydraulic machinery.
2015
Airline Hydraulics Corporation acquired Hanover Controls & Supply Corporation, an automation and industrial controls distributor located in Ashland, VA.
Today, Airline has branches and sales offices from Maine to Virginia providing local customer service and technical expertise.
2017
Airline’s Bensalem, PA headquarters and six other company locations received ISO 9001:2015 certification, an upgrade from Airline’s previous ISO 9001:2008 certification.
In April of 2017, we launched our new e-commerce website allowing customers to order products, access product information, check on their orders, and chat with our experts!
In September, Airline’s Board of Directors appointed Mark Steffens as the Company’s new CEO following the retirement of Joseph Miceli. Mark has been with Airline for 22 years, having risen through the ranks to his prior position as Business Unit Manager of Airline’s Automation Group.
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