Actuant Corporation
June 1, 2011 – 2:58 pm
Business Profile
Actuant Corporation is a company, which is into manufacturing of range of industrial products and various systems and their distribution. The company has its head quarter in Butler at Wisconsin. It was incorporated in 1910. The two broad strategies of company are to promote branded tools and position/motion control. The company has divided its entire business into two groups namely Engineered Solutions and Tools & Supplies. The company has lot of products which are number one in market and they cater to 80% of total sales.
The company’s net sales reached $1.2 billion which is 23% more than that of net sales registered in year 2005 i.e. $976 million. Net sales increased by $176 million from acquisitions, while actual sales increase was 9% compared to previous year.
The company during fiscal year 2006 acquired BEP (B.E.P. Marine Ltd.), Precision (Precision Sure-Lock), Ricci (D.L. Ricci), and Actown (Actown-Electrocoil, Incorporate). These companies formed the part of Speciality Electrical, Industrial Tools, Joint integrity and Professional Electrical business segment respectively.
The company during fiscal year 2005 acquired following companies:-
• Yvel (Yvel S.A.)
• KCI (Key Components, Incorporate)
• Sperry (A.W.Sperry Instruments, Incorporate)
• HydratightSweeney (Hydratight Sweeney Ltd)
• Hedley Purvis (Hedley Purvis Holdings Ltd)
One out of six KCI frims and Yvel formed part of Truck Actuation segment of business while three out of six KCI companies formed part of other engineered solutions segment. Sperry was taken as part of North American Electrical segment. Hydratight Sweeney and HedleyPurvis formed part of Joint Integrity business segment. While balance two segment of KCI became part of Professional and Specialty Electrical segments.
The company has primarily two business segments namely Tools & Supplies Group and Engineered Solutions Group. Find below description of two business segments.
Tools & Supplies Group:
Industrial Tools
It provides hydraulic tools and various supplies used in industries like oil & gas, industrial, automation market and construction. The company designs, produces and sells tools under brand names of PrecisionSure-Lock, Enerpac and Actuant China Hydraulic. The following are four industrial tools:
Hydraulic tools. The segment produces high-force tools which operate at high pressure of approximately 5,000 to 12,000 pounds per sq inch. These tools have application in mining, construction, steel mill, railway, cement, oil and gas, and general purpose maintenance companies.
Workholding. These products hold parts in particular position while metal cutting which machining is conducted. These products are sold through distributors to various automotive, fixture and machine tool markets.
Customized / Integrated solutions. This segment of company builds customized solution to construction companies or to OEMs. The company works in close collaboration with client to build the product which is specific to customer and industry.
Tensioning products. Precision Sure-Lock business of the company manufactures products which include one-time tool, chucks & wedges, jacks and anchors etc.
Joint Integrity
This business helps in providing solutions to oil & gas and power sector companies under brand name of D.L. Ricci brand and Hydratight. Products are normally torque wrenches operated hydraulically, tensioners, machining equipment etc. These are distributed through service provider or given on rent to end-users.
North American Electrical
This segment is supplier of tools for electrical work. Its customers are in North America in form of retail home center, retail after market for automotive and hardware co-operatives. The brands are Del City, Gardner Bender, Calterm and A.W. Sperry. The main products are:
• Conduit bending and fishing
• Staples, Cable ties, fasteners & wire control
• Electric cable and wire
• Lugs and solderless, Wire connectors
• Sockets and Plugs
• Hand Electrical tools
• Electrical meters and testers
European Electrical
This segment provides electrical tools and caters to market of Benelux, Autria, German retail centers, distributors, and OEMs. It also caters to markets in Poland, Hungary, Poland, Russia and the CzechRepublic. The main brands are Dresco and Kopp. Its products include:-
• Circuit breakers
• Wall receptacles and switches
• Surge Protectors and multiple socket plug-in
• Hand Electric tools
• Staples, Cable ties, fasteners & wire control
• Electric cable and wire
Specialty Electrical
It manufactures electrical products and sells under brand names of Marinco, Ancor, AFI, Guest, BEP and Nicro. It caters to markets in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The products include
• Chargers, switches and battery distribution
• Electrical receptacles switches, plug and accessories
• Control Panels and digital monitoring systems
• Hand Electric tools
• Staples, Cable ties, fasteners & wire control
• Electric cable and wire
Professional Electrical
This segment manufactures dry type single-phase transformer. It has market primarily in North America and the United States. The major brands are Actown, Acme Electric and Amveco.
Engineered Solutions Group:
Truck Actuation Solution
This segment designs and manufactures motion control systems and customized position. They are make products which are required by OEMs in heavy duty truck sector. The company works alongwith customers to build solutions very specific to customer.
Actuation Systems for Recreational Vehicle
It designs and manufactures hydraulic and electric leveling system and slide out systems.
Automotive Actuation
It is manufacturer of electro-hydraulic and hydraulic motion control equipments which are used by OEMs in automotive segments.
Additional Engineered Solutions
It provides various products and solutions to various niche markets. Few examples are:
• B.W. Elliott manufactures flexible shaft and assemblies, which are used for transmissions.
• Milwaukee Cylinder manufactures range of pneumatic and hydraulic tie-rod cylinders for various applications in productions, machine tool etc.