CLEVELAND, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Russell Crowe isn't the only star in this soon-to-be released epic adventure. Cleveland-based Parker Hannifin (NYSE: PH) has a behind-the-scenes role, helping the audience experience an adventure aboard a ship at sea as never before.
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Opening November 14, the movie travels to the far side of the world -- from the coast of Brazil to the storm-tossed waters of Cape Horn, to the remote shores of The Galapagos Islands. Concentrated almost completely at sea, state-of-the-art motion picture techniques take the audience on a voyage across two oceans.
The movie's massive tank ship, the H.M.S. Surprise, was placed in the 6.5- acre water tank at the Fox Baja Studios (the tank was originally built for the movie Titanic and also used for filming Pearl Harbor). Parker's custom cylinders and valves were used in a specially constructed 6-axis gimbal that was placed in the tank, 40 feet under water. The 60-ton tank ship was mounted on this gimbal. Parker's powerful hydraulics brought the gimbal to life, facilitating a complete range of motion, duplicating a ship's movements at sea.
"Parker has been working with the entertainment industry for decades," said Steve Camp, hydraulics group regional manager. "Our work in Master and Commander is another example of our ability to provide the precise motion and control solutions needed to bring a sense of reality to motion pictures, as well as other forms of entertainment like amusement parks."
Parker's movie credits include hits such as Titanic, The Perfect Storm and Jurassic Park, and even date back to the clenching bite of Jaws. The Company has also helped simulate motion in the upcoming films The Last Samurai and The Cat and The Hat.
With annual sales exceeding $6 billion, Cleveland-based 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 46,000 people in 44 countries around the world. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.parker.com or its investor information site at www.phstock.com .
SOURCE Parker Hannifin Corporation
-0- 11/13/2003
CONTACT: Media, Sharon Dunlap, Corporate Communications of Parker Hannifin Corporation, +1-216-896-2757, or sdunlap@parker.com
Web site: http://www.phstock.com
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