Oilpath Hydraulics has successfully transitioned into a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at the Tonsley Innovation District in South Australia—marking a major step forward in the company’s growth and capability.
“The local John Hart team handled the move exceptionally well. What stood out most was their planning and control of the process—there was a clear structure to how each stage was executed, which allowed us to maintain production with minimal disruption. The communication throughout was strong, and the team showed a real understanding of what mattered to our operation."
Ron Agnew, Executive Director of Oilpath.
To support this move, John Hart was engaged to relocate a complex suite of equipment, including a Mazak Variaxis 5 axis machining centre with Palletech FMS and 120 Tool Magazine, a Mazak HCN4000 with a Multi Pallet Pool system, a twin pallet Mazak HCN 5000, two Mazak VCN530’s - one with an Agile Flex collaborative robot loading system, and three Mazak lathes with bar feeders.
The relocation was carefully executed over a 12-week period, allowing Oilpath to maintain production throughout. A staggered and highly coordinated schedule ensured minimal disruption to manufacturing commitments while maintaining operational continuity.
Beyond logistics, the project demonstrated John Hart’s broader capabilities—not only in machine supply but also in application expertise, planning, and technical support—helping Oilpath confidently take its next step forward.
The success of the move was strongly attributed to the performance of the local John Hart team based in Pooraka, South Australia.
Ron Agnew, Executive Director of Oilpath, commented: “The local John Hart team handled the move exceptionally well. What stood out most was their planning and control of the process—there was a clear structure to how each stage was executed, which allowed us to maintain production with minimal disruption. The communication throughout was strong, and the team showed a real understanding of what mattered to our operation.
“We’ve had a long-standing relationship with John Hart that goes back many years through machine supply, service and support. That history has built a high level of trust. They’ve consistently delivered not just on equipment, but on backing it up with reliable technical support and people who understand our business, which is why we continue to work with them.”
Stephen McKee, CEO of Oilpath, added: “After five decades at our Edwardstown site, supporting a wide range of hydraulic applications across Australia, our business had simply outgrown the space. The new 3,000 m² facility allows us to scale operations and bring our engineering, technical support, R&D and quality teams closer together—ultimately delivering better outcomes for our customers.
“Built to meet defence industry standards, the facility positions Oilpath to support more complex projects while continuing to deliver reliable hydraulic solutions and contribute to the future of Australian manufacturing.”
Left to right: Executive Director of Oilpath Ron Agnew, John Hart Service Engineers Tim Almand and Bryan Schiller, and John Hart SA Branch Manager Kym Browning.
About Oilpath Hydraulics
Oilpath Hydraulics designs and manufactures integrated hydraulic control systems, specialising in manifolds utilising HydraForce cartridge valves to deliver high-performance solutions. In 2016, Oilpath became the fifth largest HydraForce distributor globally.
Founded in the mid-1970s, Oilpath identified a gap in the Australian market for better delivery of directional control valves—leading to the development of the OP20, which quickly became an industry benchmark. By 1993, the company had expanded into hydraulic control manifold design and manufacturing, establishing itself as a leader in the field.
Headquartered in Adelaide, Oilpath supports customers nationwide through a network of distributors and remains proudly Australian owned and operated. The company combines strong local innovation with a global supply chain, working with leading partners such as HydraForce, the world’s largest hydraulic cartridge valve manufacturer.
“We’ve had a long-standing relationship with John Hart that goes back many years through machine supply, service and support. That history has built a high level of trust. They’ve consistently delivered not just on equipment, but on backing it up with reliable technical support and people who understand our business, which is why we continue to work with them.”
Ron Agnew, Executive Director of Oilpath.