Hydraflow is helping California strengthen its aerospace and defense sector by partnering with the Orange County Regional Consortium (OCRC) and community colleges across the region.
Founded in 1961 and now led by the family’s second and third generations, Hydraflow specializes in designing and manufacturing fluid transfer systems for aerospace applications. The company engineers and produces products that support water, waste, oxygen, fuel, ECS and coolant systems across commercial and defense platforms.
“We design and build everything in-house,” shares Ramsey Ayloush, Project Manager and third-generation leader at Hydraflow. “It keeps our team connected to the quality and purpose behind what we create.”
Partnering with OCRC to Strengthen Regional Collaboration
Hydraflow’s partnership with OCRC is helping rebuild the talent pipeline and sparking earlier interest among students, Ayloush says.
The collaboration began when Hydraflow recognized a concerning trend: not enough new machinists were entering the field. For decades, the company relied on external partners for its machining needs, maintaining only a small in-house shop for R&D or urgent projects.
After several years in management, Ayloush realized the shortage had become impossible to ignore.
“There just weren’t many young machinists coming into the trade,” he says. “Most people we relied on were already retired or even came out of retirement to help. It wasn’t sustainable.”
He also noticed a shift in how students were viewing their career pathways.
“For years, high schools pushed the message that everybody needs a four-year degree when that’s not always the best option for every student across the board,” he explains. “The trades provide strong career opportunities plus the satisfaction of creating something tangible.”
The Community College Edge
Today, Hydraflow continues to deepen its relationships with OCRC and local community colleges, notably Fullerton College’s engineering and manufacturing programs.
The company values the strong foundational skills and hands-on experience that community college students bring and often hires them straight out of the program, sometimes even bringing them on while they’re still finishing school.
Whenever students encounter a challenge on the job, they can bring their questions back to class, get real-time support from their instructors, then return to work and apply what they’ve learned.
“We love hiring students early,” Ayloush says. “When a student comes in with certifications from a community college, it tells me they’re committed, excited about the industry, and already have working knowledge of how things are done. And if someone shows potential, we’re all in on helping them grow.”
Looking Ahead
Hydraflow expects its partnership with OCRC to expand as manufacturing technologies continue to evolve.
“Manufacturing has been slow to change in the past,” Ayloush says. “But with the right partners and training programs, we can integrate new technologies and keep improving. We want young people to see that manufacturing is quickly growing, and it needs them.”
Together, Hydraflow and OCRC are helping shape the next generation of aerospace talent through supporting student success while strengthening the region’s manufacturing future.
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