For hose distributors and users, specifying, designing and selling multiple assemblies can be a time-consuming task, as one must review multiple pieces of data before creating a full order. But a new software program, the Goldleaf App, promises to transform the way distributors and OEMs manage, configure, and quote their hydraulic hose assemblies. The app provides a seamless experience for technicians and engineers tasked with navigating multiple catalogs and website pages, reducing errors and improving operational efficiency.
Created by a mechanical engineer with years of experience in machine design and hydraulic hose distribution, Goldleaf is the culmination of over a decade of industry knowledge, hands-on expertise, and a drive to innovate beyond the traditional tools and processes that have defined the hydraulic hose sector for decades.
Grant Holohan, P.Eng., President, GoldLeaf App Inc., began his career in mechanical engineering, focusing on machine design for industrial and mining equipment. After time living overseas, he wanted a career that was more hands-on, so he transitioned into the hydraulic hose distribution business. Joining a company now known as Multiflow Solutions, he initially worked as an engineering manager before expanding his role to include business development. It was there he saw the confusion and complexity of specifying hose assemblies across multiple brands, sizes and fittings.
“I remember having to flip through three different catalogs just to configure and assemble a single hose,” he recalled. “I’d have to cross-reference specifications from one, compatibility details from another, and then crimp specs from a third catalog. It was unnecessarily complicated and time-consuming. I kept thinking: Why isn’t there an easier way?”
This drove him to work with management to build a tool to simplify the process. The initial prototype proved invaluable for his team at Multiflow and served as a steppingstone to Goldleaf. After several years there, Holohan felt the call to try something new so decided to take the idea he’d created for one distributor and hone it into a more encompassing product that went farther than most ERP tools currently available.
Using modern software technologies, he built Goldleaf and launched in June 2023. Goldleaf is a web-based platform designed to simplify and standardize the hose specification and assembly process. It addresses critical pain points in two major market segments: OEMs with high-volume, repetitive hose configurations, and counter repair services that handle diverse and unique requests.
The tool’s standout feature is its ability to centralize and streamline data management. This means taking a list of hose requirements — whether they come in a spreadsheet, email, or even scribbled on a napkin — and turning it into a structured, repeatable system. For repair services, it ensures new team members can spec and assemble hoses with the same accuracy and consistency as seasoned experts.
“Hose distributors often rely on one or two key people who know everything — compatibility, stock levels, crimping specs — and when those people are unavailable or leave, it creates a bottleneck,” Holohan said. “Goldleaf eliminates that bottleneck by storing all that knowledge in one accessible system.”
The app includes all pertinent data, such as hose brands, sizes, fittings and adapters. It also allows you to include items like hose sleeves and wraps, hose burst testing data and proper saw data. You can also create bills of material, data sheets and price breakdowns.
Key features include:
- Customizable product libraries: Goldleaf allows distributors to define their specific product offerings, stock levels, and pricing structures. This ensures users can select from pre-approved materials, minimizing the risk of quoting or configuring items they don’t actually carry.
- Integrated pricing and quoting tools: Whether users price assemblies based on cost-plus-margin, list prices with discounts, or other methods, Goldleaf supports detailed and customizable pricing models. It even accounts for labor costs and scrap rates, providing a comprehensive and accurate quote for customers.
- Automated data sheet generation: With the click of a button, users can generate professional, PDF-formatted data sheets for their customers — complete with all the critical specifications and details for each hose assembly.
- Cross-brand compatibility checks: Goldleaf simplifies cross-referencing between hose brands, making it easier for distributors to offer alternative options to customers loyal to specific manufacturers.
- ERP integration: The tool integrates with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, such as Profit 21 by Epicor, enabling seamless data flow between Goldleaf and other business management systems.
Unlike older systems that often require multiple disconnected tools or clunky spreadsheets, Goldleaf is fully web-based and accessible from any device with an internet connection. There’s no need for software installations or cumbersome updates — everything runs smoothly through a browser.
The user interface is designed with practicality and efficiency in mind. For example, if a user starts specifying a hose configuration and later realizes they need to change the hose size, Goldleaf automatically recalculates the corresponding crimp fittings and cut lengths. This prevents users from having to re-enter data, saving time and reducing frustration.
Additionally, Holohan said, another new feature is the ability to define a hose-assembly by its description. Instead of having to select from a variety of fields, users can type things like, 100R17 1/2 in. hose with FJX and FJX90 ends, 45.3 in. or 797TC-12 with ORFS on each end, 8ft or even 6 ft 1 in. hose, 6,000 psi with code 62. From the text description, the app can identify the components and design the hose assembly.
A key highlight is its ability to adapt to on-the-ground needs. Field technicians working on the shop floor can use their phones or tablets to enter part numbers or descriptions into Goldleaf, which then converts these entries into standard parameters used by the distributor. This feature bridges the gap between technical expertise in the field and back-office precision.
“People are often surprised by how much time they waste on simple lookups and cross-referencing,” Holohan said. “Goldleaf takes all that guesswork out of the equation, giving users confidence that they’re configuring hoses correctly every time.”
Goldleaf is preloaded with catalog data from major hydraulic manufacturers, and its library is continuously updated to reflect the latest products and specifications. The development team also monitors industry updates to ensure customers always have access to current information.
For example, during testing, a Parker distributor flagged a missing hose from the global catalog. The Goldleaf team had it added within a day. Such responsiveness has earned the platform early praise from clients who appreciate its agility and customer-focused development approach.
New features are being added regularly, and the team is already exploring integrations with other ERP systems and expanding brand compatibility options. “There’s a lot we can still do,” Holohan said. “Our goal is to keep refining Goldleaf until it becomes the industry standard for hydraulic hose assembly management.”
Goldleaf App Inc.
www.goldleafapp.com
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