Parker Hannifin - Statistics & Facts
Parker Hannifin Corporation (formerly Parker Appliance Company) started out in Cleveland, Ohio in 1917 as a small manufacturer of pneumatic break systems for trucks, trains, buses, and industrial machinery. Some years later, the company expanded its business into the aviation sector. The Second World War triggered the USAF's (U.S. Air Force) increasing need for equipment, and soon became a driver of growth. However, despite growing demand, the company nearly went bankrupt after its founder Arthur Parker passed away in 1945. His wife Helen assumed control and refocused its operations on civilian manufacturing, saving the company from closing down.
