Exhibit 99.1

Sun Hydraulics Reports First Quarter Earnings of $0.03 per Share on $25.2 Million in Sales

SARASOTA, FLA, May 4, 2009 – Sun Hydraulics Corporation (NASDAQ: SNHY) reported financial results for the first quarter 2009 as follows:

(Dollars in millions except net income per share)

“First quarter sales were what we expected and we were able to do a little better than we anticipated on the earnings side,” reported Allen Carlson, Sun’s CEO and President. “Cash flow remains positive, allowing us to continue taking actions that will improve our place in the market when demand rallies. This spring we also released new automated design software that has been in development for four years. This web-based software will stimulate increased cartridge sales around the world.”

Continuing, Carlson offered, “It is my sense that we are getting close to, and may have, reached the bottom of this difficult economic cycle. There are some positive signals out there, most notably the Purchasing Manager’s Index, which has now reported four consecutive months of upward movement. While the magnitude is small, upward is the right direction and this index has proven to be a reliable directional indicator of our business. Our strong financial foundation enables us to maintain our readiness, continue paying our dividend and prepare for the next expansion. This is a result of being diligent in managing our business throughout the business cycle.”

Outlook

Sun’s 2009 second quarter sales are expected to be approximately $21 million, a 60% decrease in revenue compared to last year, and earnings are expected to be slightly below breakeven.

“We have taken steps to mitigate the effects of declining demand including curtailing non-essential spending. Our priority remains to invest in capability, capacity, quality, productivity, product development and expanding the Sun brand globally. Any actions to balance production with demand will not compromise our long term objectives at the expense of quarterly results. We know from previous business cycles that our market share grows and earnings benefit by maintaining a steady course at the bottom of the cycle,” concluded Carlson.

Webcast

Sun Hydraulics Corporation will broadcast its Q1 financial results conference call live over the Internet at 9:00 A.M. E.T. tomorrow, May 5, 2009. To listen to the webcast, go to http://investor.sunhydraulics.com/eventdetail.cfm?eventid=67790.

Webcast Q&A

If an individual wishes to ask questions directly during the webcast, the conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-852-6573. Questions also may be submitted to the Company via email at investor@sunhydraulics.com. Sun management will then answer these and other questions during the Company’s webcast. A copy of this earnings release is posted on the Investor Relations page of our website under “Press Releases.”

Sun Hydraulics Corporation is a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance screw-in hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds for worldwide industrial and mobile markets. For more information about Sun, please visit our website at www.sunhydraulics.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain oral statements made by management from time to time and certain statements contained herein that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, because such statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, including those in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations, estimates or projections of the Company, its Directors or its Officers about the Company and the industry in which it operates, and assumptions made by management, and include among other items, (i) the Company’s strategies regarding growth, including its intention to develop new products; (ii) the Company’s financing plans; (iii) trends affecting the Company’s financial condition or results of operations; (iv) the Company’s ability to continue to control costs and to meet its liquidity and other financing needs; (v) the declaration and payment of dividends; and (vi) the Company’s ability to respond to changes in customer demand domestically and internationally, including as a result of standardization. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the anticipated results will occur.

Important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other items, (i) the economic cyclicality of the capital goods industry in general and the hydraulic valve and manifold industry in particular, which directly affect customer orders, lead times and sales volume; (ii) conditions in the capital markets, including the interest rate environment and the availability of capital; (iii) changes in the competitive marketplace that could affect the Company’s revenue and/or cost bases, such as increased competition, lack of qualified engineering, marketing, management or other personnel, and increased labor and raw materials costs; (iv) changes in technology or customer requirements, such as standardization of the cavity into which screw-in cartridge valves must fit, which could render the Company’s products or technologies noncompetitive or obsolete; (v) new product introductions, product sales mix and the geographic mix of sales nationally and internationally; and (vi) changes relating to the Company’s international sales, including changes in regulatory requirements or tariffs, trade or currency restrictions, fluctuations in exchange rates, and tax and collection issues. Further information relating to factors that could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated is included but not limited to information under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 28, 2009, and under the heading “Business” and particularly under the subheading, “Business Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2008. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SUN HYDRAULICS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands except per share data)

SUN HYDRAULICS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

SUN HYDRAULICS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)