Custom Hydraulics & Design (CHD) is a North Carolina-based distributor and manufacturer specializing in hydraulic and industrial hose assemblies, tube assemblies, and complete hydraulic systems. Operating across three locations in the Charlotte metropolitan area, CHD serves customers in equipment manufacturing, transportation, and defense. The company was founded in 1981 and has since established itself as a trusted partner in high-performance fluid power solutions.
For over ten years, Custom Hydraulics & Design has relied on Finn-Power crimping machines to produce hose and tube assemblies and hydraulic systems for customers in demanding sectors – such as equipment manufacturing, transportation, and defense. Because CHD delivers solutions for critical applications, quality is a key driver in their choice of production equipment.
“Before Finn-Power, we used machines from various manufacturers, but over time, challenges with slow pick-up speeds and limited durability pushed us to look elsewhere. Our first Finn-Power crimper is still in service today and has proven so reliable that we’ve since expanded to more than a dozen Finn-Power machines. Their durability and quality support our ability to manufacture durable, high-quality products”, says CHD President and Owner Adam Watkins.
CHD’s current Finn-Power fleet includes three FP120s, an FP140, an FP170, a P50Z, and several CM75 hose cutters. Their latest additions feature the ICC4 graphical quality control system, enabling even more precise and efficient quality management.
“We see the quality management system as a tremendous opportunity”, Watkins notes.
Efficiency Through Repeatability and Ease of Use
Watkins points to several operational advantages that Finn-Power equipment brings to CHD’s production. With the machines’ excellent repeatability and ease of use, CHD is able to reach optimized throughput and production efficiency.
“Repeatability in particular is huge for us. Once we get set up on a part, it stays consistent throughout the production round. That is a big bonus. The machines’ easy-to-navigate visual controls make both operator training and daily machine operation that much easier. We can easily set up the machines and monitor the quality coming off of them.”
A Value-Generating Investment
For Watkins, the key differentiators of Finn-Power machines – durability, repeatability, and ease of use – translate directly into value. Durable machines that produce reliable results help streamline production and maintain cost efficiency. Watkins also points out that thanks to the broad capacity of the machines, CHD is able to serve multiple customer industries efficiently.
“As a business owner, I look for value in every investment. By delivering all of these qualities, for us, Finn-Power is a value-generating investment. We also recommend Finn-Power to others – whenever a customer
is looking for a crimper that’s not tied to a specific hose supplier and wants maximum manufacturer support, we recommend Finn-Power.”
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