Brennan Industries, the Ohio-based hydraulic fittings manufacturer, has accelerated its international expansion with three strategic acquisitions across Mexico, Brazil, and Australia since May 2025. The 72-year-old family-owned company now operates across four continents, positioning itself as a global supplier to industrial customers expanding their own international footprints. This aggressive growth strategy comes amid increasing supply chain challenges and rising trade protectionism worldwide.
From Cleveland Roots to Global Presence
Founded in 1953 by Mike Brennan in Cleveland, Ohio, the company began as a single manufacturing facility serving local industrial markets. Under David D. Carr’s leadership beginning in 1973, Brennan expanded across North America, adding warehouses in the Southeastern United States, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest during a single year in 1986. The company established its international sales division that same year, laying groundwork for future global ambitions.
Today, Brennan operates six distribution centers across the United States and five facilities in Canada, maintaining its suburban Cleveland headquarters as its production and distribution hub. The company’s transition to third-generation leadership under current Chairman and CEO David M. Carr has marked a significant shift toward international markets. According to McKinsey’s analysis of acquisition strategies, companies pursuing strategic international expansion typically achieve 2-3 percentage points higher revenue growth than peers focused solely on domestic markets.
Strategic International Expansion Timeline
Brennan’s global journey began in earnest with its first Chinese office in 2010, followed by manufacturing establishment in China four years later. The company’s acquisition strategy accelerated in 2016 with the purchase of Truflow Hydraulic Components in western England, then expanded with the 2019 acquisition of Miric Engineering in Britain’s Midlands region. These European footholds provided Brennan with established manufacturing capabilities and local market knowledge.
The company’s recent international moves demonstrate a calculated approach to global supply chain diversification. In May 2025, Brennan opened a distribution hub in central Mexico near Santiago de Querétaro, positioning itself to serve the growing North American manufacturing corridor. November 2025 brought the acquisition of Brazilian manufacturer Coterflex Industrial, establishing Brennan’s first South American presence. The August 2025 acquisition of Aussie Adaptors & Hydraulics in Melbourne marked the company’s entry into the Australian market, completing its four-continent footprint.
Driving Forces Behind Global Expansion
Brennan’s international strategy responds directly to customer needs and global supply chain realities. As CEO David M. Carr explained in the company’s Mexico expansion announcement, “As our customers expand their production facilities into different parts of the world, the demand for a nearby, dependable supplier becomes crucial.” This customer-following approach aligns with findings from Deloitte’s Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index, which highlights proximity to customers as a critical factor in industrial supplier success.
The company’s expansion also addresses growing supply chain resilience concerns. According to World Economic Forum risk analysis, supply chain disruptions rank among the top five global business risks for 2024-2025. By establishing manufacturing and distribution capabilities across multiple regions, Brennan reduces dependency on any single geographic area while improving delivery times and reliability for international customers. The company’s strategic positioning in key industrial regions enables it to navigate trade barriers and logistical challenges more effectively than competitors with concentrated operations.
Industry Context and Future Outlook
Brennan’s expansion occurs during a period of significant transformation in the global hydraulics industry. The global hydraulic components market is projected to grow from $47.2 billion in 2023 to $60.8 billion by 2028, driven by increasing industrialization and infrastructure development worldwide. However, this growth comes amid rising trade tensions and supply chain reconfiguration following pandemic-era disruptions.
Industry analysts note that Brennan’s multi-continent approach positions the company advantageously for future market shifts. According to Boston Consulting Group research, companies with diversified global footprints demonstrated 15-25% better financial performance during recent supply chain crises compared to geographically concentrated competitors. Brennan’s established presence in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia provides natural hedging against regional economic fluctuations and trade policy changes.
The company’s family-owned structure has enabled long-term strategic planning uncommon among publicly traded competitors. As Harvard Business Review analysis indicates, family-owned manufacturers often outperform in international expansion due to their ability to prioritize long-term market development over quarterly earnings pressures. Brennan’s 72-year history and third-generation leadership suggest this patient capital approach will continue driving measured international growth.
References
- McKinsey: The New Rules for Growth Through Acquisitions
- Deloitte Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index
- World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2024
- MarketsandMarkets Hydraulic Components Market Analysis
- Boston Consulting Group: Building Supply Chain Resilience
- Harvard Business Review: Family Business Competitive Advantages
