Hydraulics Online Ltd - Award winninng Exporter
Hydraulics Online - Headlines:
Has exported into 130 countries and been recognised as an official UK Export Champion by the UK Government ‘s Department for Business and Trade, an honour unmatched by any other fluid power distributor
Can count a Formula One team and three Concorde within its customer base (including Concorde G-BOAC on display at Manchester Airport Runway Visitor Park
Won the UK Institute of Customer Services’ national Business-to-Business Customer Focus award in 2024
Website: https://hydraulicsonline.com/
Location: Alsager,
Founding date: 15/12/2004
Sector: Hydraulic/Mechanical Engineering
Leaders: Mark & Helen Tonks
Based in Alsager, South Cheshire, Hydraulics Online is a multi-award-winning, ISO-9001-accredited hydraulic engineering consultancy and equipment provider, founded in 2004 by husband-and-wife team, Mark, and Helen Tonks. Both shared the vision of creating a truly independent and customer-centric company - offering an alternative to the product-led distributors that were dominating the industry.
With a mechanical engineering background and a further 13 years’ hydraulic engineering experience already under his belt at that time, Mark provided the technical expertise and initial industry contacts needed to establish Hydraulics Online. Meanwhile, Helen’s earlier ‘blue-chip’ experience in financial services and strategic change management guaranteed the means to build the brand and business infrastructure that would enable their vision to flourish.
From that blank sheet of paper, the Hydraulics Online brand has since grown to be recognised and trusted by customers on every continent spanning 130 countries and 20 key sectors worldwide, including: agriculture, marine and offshore, civil engineering, oil and gas, manufacturing, mining, renewable energies and recycling and waste management.
Despite the company’s digital presence, sales have ever been made online – the company doesn’t just ‘shift boxes’. ‘Online’ within its name signals how customers find and harness the team’s expertise at the precise time when needed - revolutionary back in 2004. Hydraulic engineering is complicated: a little knowledge can be dangerous or at least lead to a sub-optimal solution. Each enquiry, whether from time-served engineers or absolute beginners therefore receives a bespoke service and response.
“A truly integrated hydraulics supplier, not simply the sales extension of another company.”
Hydraulics Online is completely independent in its product offering to ensure the provision of genuinely brand-agnostic, best advice. The team work with a portfolio of over 200 suppliers, ensuring that technical expertise and agility combine to constantly respond to and prioritise customers’ needs.
The business was ‘born global’, selling overseas within its first month of trading, with exports today accounting for circa 50% of turnover. The company’s clear vision, appetite and achievements in international trade have seen the UK Government's Department for Business and Trade award Hydraulics Online its prestigious ‘Export Champion’ status every year since 2019 – an honour unmatched by any other fluid power distributor.
Hydraulics Online is recognised as a force for good and an exemplar to others. Alongside a number of other external roles, Helen Tonks, sits on the Cheshire and Warrington Business Advisory Board and plays an active role in education and the wider business community. As an acclaimed mentor who is regularly asked to share her entrepreneurial journey, she is a huge advocate for ‘paying it forward’ and ‘being who you needed’. The utmost accolade came in June 2024 when Helen’s work and achievements within and beyond Hydraulics Online saw her recognised with an MBE in The Kings Birthday Honours for Services to Business and to Exports.
One of her favourite quotes?
“When somebody tells you it can’t be done, it’s more a reflection of their limitations, not yours.”
