US-based
Bailey International, a leading manufacturer of hydraulic components and electronic controls, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1976, the company has grown from a small regional supplier into a global authority in manufacturing and distribution, serving key sectors including agriculture, construction, and transportation.
The company’s origins trace back to Owosso, Michigan, where Adrian and Mary Bailey established the business as a family-run operation selling overstock and surplus items. Recognising a growing demand for high quality hydraulic components, Bailey shifted its focus to designing and manufacturing its own hydraulic cylinders, power units, and related products. This move laid the foundation for decades of innovation and expansion. Today, Bailey’s portfolio includes advanced electro-hydraulic components such as manifolds, high-volume pumps and motors, valves, and electronic controls and sensors.
Bailey now employs more than 340 people across five global locations: Knoxville, Tennessee; Victoria, British Columbia; Montreal, Quebec; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Chennai, India.
This 50-year milestone coincides with a period of strategic transformation. The company has recently consolidated its subsidiary brands, Sure Grip Controls and Hydrolico, under the Bailey name, creating a unified identity and streamlining the customer experience. This integration enables Bailey to deliver a comprehensive product range, from hydraulic cylinders and custom pumps to sophisticated joysticks and electronic controls, fulfilling its ‘fingertip-to-tooltip’ promise.
Putting customer operations firstBailey CEO Ken Baker said: “A lot of companies in today’s market focus almost exclusively on internal operations. Bailey, on the other hand, has always put its customers’ operations first, a belief that has supported 50 years of growth for us.”
Looking ahead, Bailey is investing heavily in its future. The company has expanded its work truck product lines and strengthened its sales structure with enhanced technical support. It is also breaking ground on a new ‘state of the art’ electronics facility in Victoria, British Columbia, which will unite its electronics teams and accelerate innovation in custom control solutions.
David Clark, chief financial officer, concluded: “Our sustained growth and ability to innovate rapidly are the results of having a dedicated team and the trust of our customers. As we enter our 50th year, we are not just celebrating our past achievements, but actively investing in a future that promises even greater value and service to our partners and stakeholders.”