A 50 Year Journey
Over 50 years ago, Powauto began its journey in the Australian market with a vision of building the toughest PTO, tough enough to handle Australian conditions, renowned to be the harshest on the planet.
Today Powauto is far more than just a designer of PTOs. Our company has established a long tradition of innovation by consistently setting the industry standard. Our Australian design & development team has extensive knowledge in transport hydraulics and is driven to continually strive to raise the bar on our competitors by offering comprehensive, tough and reliable hydraulic solutions aimed at delivering maximum performance, whatever the application.
New designs are fully developed and tested in Australia’s harsh environment before being exported to markets across the world.
Powauto is owned globally by David Brown, a specialist gear manufacturer and one of the world leaders in mobile hydraulics. As a world leader in Hydraulics we are further strengthened by our parent company Clyde Blowers.
Our Heritage
Powauto was acquired by David Brown Hydraulics in 1997. Before that time however, the company, product and brand had a long and colourful history.
Powauto, a world leading brand in Power Take-Offs (PTOs) & Transport Hydraulics, began its journey in the Australian market in 1959. The vision was to build the toughest PTO, tough enough to handle Australian conditions, renowned to be the harshest on the planet.
A partnership between Arthur Skelsey a businessman, Ray Bryden a vehicle bodybuilder & EG Bishop a general engineering workshop was set up under MIL (Manufacturing Investments Limited) to make PTOs for the Transport Hydraulics market in Australia.
The business was successful and in 1972, Dana Corporation acquired a 35% share in MIL which was subsequently re-acquired by MIL in 1978. MIL was then acquired in 1979 by Clyde Industries.
Between 1979 & 1992 the business expanded adding Thomas Winch in 1985 & LM Hydraulics, a company producing telescopic hoists in 1986. The business also expanded it market coverage opening branches in Singapore, UK, Indonesia, Thailand & New Zealand.
In 1993 manufacturing in Australia ceased and production was moved to Thailand. R&D & Engineering remained in Australia.
In 1997 Powauto was acquired by David Brown a specialist gear manufacturer & world leader in mobile hydraulics & David Brown Engineering & Hydraulics (DBEH) was formed.
DBEH is the combination of two leading businesses (Powauto & David Brown Hydraulics) and focussed on the provision of products, systems & services to the Transport & Mobile Hydraulics sectors.
History
1928 EG Bishop established as general manufacturing engineers
1959 Powauto was formed as a partnership between Arthur Skelsey,
1960 Ray Bryden (Commercial Vehicle Body Builder) & EG Bishop as a
business making PTOs for the Transport Hydraulics market.
1960 The three businesses (general machining, bodybuilding & Powauto)
were combined under "Manufacturing Investments Limited" (MIL).
1972 Dana Corporation bought a 35% share in MIL
1978 MIL bought out the Dana stakeholding
1979 MIL (Powauto) bought by Clyde Industries.
1985 Opened Branch in Singapore to target the SE Asian market
1985 Powauto acquires the Thomas Winch business from Winch of
Queensland.
1986 Powauto acquires LM Hydraulics to expand its product portfolio
to include telescopic hoists
1987 Opened branch in the UK
1992 Opened branch in Indonesia
1993 Manufacturing moved to Thailand whilst maintaining R&D &
Engineering in Australia.
1995 Opened branch in New Zealand
1997 Powauto acquired by David Brown Corporation of Australia
1998 David Brown acquired by the Multinational Corporation, Textron
1999 Production relocated to India
2000 Business restructured developing a platform for growth moving
into the 21st century
2007 Opened ofice in USA with Hydreco
2008 Opened office in India at Bangalore
2008 Acquisition of the David Brown business from Textron by Clyde Blowers