Parker Hannifin Recognized for Innovative Technology

Parker has been named one of the nation's most innovative users of corporate information technology (IT) in a recent ranking of 500 IT leaders by InformationWeek (IW). Top companies this year were distinguished by crisp and efficient tech strategies that cut costs and optimize productivity. This is the eighth consecutive year Parker has been named to the IW 500 ranking.

In addition to the US ranking, InformationWeek Brasil named Parker to its Top 100 IT Innovators ranking for the first time. The company was ranked second in the Steel Mill & Metal Industry category, and 40th among the top 100 companies.

Parker was also the recipient of the Microsoft .NET Award from Start Magazine. Parker was honored for its use of the Microsoft .NET architecture in the development of its RCard Online, a browser-based system for managing products that are repaired and/or refurbished.

"Each of these awards is a testimony to Parker's continued commitment to innovation," said William G. Eline, Parker Hannifin's vice president and chief information officer. "Not only are we contributing to the company's growth and profitability goals, we're also providing enhanced solutions for our employees, customers and distributors."

The annual InformationWeek 500 survey, a prestigious listing of the most innovative IT users across the country, identifies the best technology and business practices of companies that demonstrate patterns of technological, procedural and organizational innovation. Top companies have made corporate governance a focus and taken the guessing out of ROI. Corporate accountability is one of the key differentiators that emerged from InformationWeek Research's survey of core areas of operation, including IT budgets, technology deployment, business strategies, and staffing practices at the organizations on this year's list.

Start Magazine, in cooperation with Microsoft Corp., recognizes end-user companies and their vision for implementing technology to solve business challenges. Each year the publication enrolls an independent panel of industry experts and financial analysts to choose the award winners.

With annual sales exceeding $7 billion, Parker Hannifin is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of commercial, mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. The company employs more than 48,000 people in 46 countries around the world. Parker has increased its annual dividends paid to shareholders for 48 consecutive years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index.

InformationWeek helps more than 440,000 business-technology professionals who buy, build and manage technology drive business innovation powered by technology.

Start Magazine, the voice of the manufacturing executive, provides executives with a balance between the technology issues and the greater business management issues facing executives today.