About Us

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Welcome to Hydraulics Online! Come on in and get to know who you could be working with if you choose to become part of our story…

Hydraulics Online was 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, Hydraulics Online has since grown to be recognised and trusted by customers in over 130 countries worldwide.

Today, this forward-thinking company is known for being a multi award-winning provider – offering a leading hydraulic design consultancy service and sourcing products from an extensive portfolio of hydraulic manufacturers. Furthermore, the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade has recognised the brand’s global footprint and achievements by honouring Hydraulics Online with its coveted ‘Export Champion‘ status every year since 2019.

The utmost accolade came when Helen was awarded an MBE in The King’s Birthday Honours List for services to Business and to Exports, as announced in the London Gazette on 15th June 2024.

 

Royal Recognition
UK Export Champions

Our mission, vision and values

Our mission is simple:

Offer personal service, impartial technical advice and unrivalled choice. Every time.

Our vision is crystal clear:

To be the world’s leading provider of fluid power solutions; an independent and agile ‘hub’ connecting a fragmented, product-led marketplace.

Our values are uncompromising:

Deliver customer-centric solutions; drive quality and innovation; collaborate widely and inspire others.

Hydraulics Online are the only company we’ve come across where we are able to give them these problem scenarios and they come back to us with a solution. They have a vast knowledge of their technology and of system design and, because they are independent and not tied to any one manufacturer, I know they are giving us the best solution and the best products for that solution.

ChrisTechnical Director, Original Equipment Manufacturer

Hydraulics Online at a glance: a hydraulics 'hub' offering you thousands of possibilities…

Customer Centric

Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Browse our library of customer testimonials to see what others have to say about us in their words, not ours.

View Testimonials

Design Consultancy

Harness our knowledge and expertise to bring your ideas to life. Our collaborative approach provides a confidential environment to explore new systems designs.

Discover more

Technical Know-How

As one customer once said, we ‘don’t just shift boxes’. Our technical team know their stuff; delivering world-class products, systems and solutions to customers from all walks of life.

Explore Markets

Independence

We are 100% independent, providing unbiased access to a vast portfolio of hydraulic brands and offering the optimal solutions for our customers. Every time.

View Brands

Global Reach

We have supported customers in over 130 countries from a vast range of industry sectors. As Export Champions we are viewed as the UK’s hydraulic solutions gateway to the rest of the world.

EXport Champions

Negotiation Power

Our integrated partnership with over 150 suppliers provides us with choice and flexibility in terms of pricing and lead times. We pass these benefits on to our customers.

View Case Studies

British Quality Standards

You’re in safe hands. Our business is built on quality and driven by continuous improvement. Read more about why our ISO 9001 accreditation matters to us here.

ISO 9001

Award Winners

Our story, approach to business, commitment to service excellence and achievements have been widely recognised by many over the years. Read more here. 

Awards & Recogition

Community Action

We ‘pay it forward’ to schools, universities and others in education and work closely with the wider business community and its networks to provide inspiration and support to others.

Discover how

So, now you’re here… how can we help?