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electrification of the powertrain. It is a business putting its faith in a plan for a world which does not yet fully exist – and a world which could be transformed post-Brexit – in the hope it will be the supplier most ready when the moment comes. “We expect to invest more than £2 million over the next two years,” said Dr Vos. Hydro in Gloucester stands firmly on the foundations of UK company Pressweld and an acquisition of a Swedish company, Thule, which was acquired by SAPA, which is now Hydro. Hydro’s new-build factory and offices look out towards the Hempsted Road over the building plot ready to house the aforementioned expansion, which will see the merging of its Rotherham operation into Gloucester. His passion is even more apparent as we tour the not insignificant operations already here at its Spinnaker Road premises.
Teams of robots tackle aluminium roof rails and features for some of the biggest car marques we are not allowed to mention and blue-overalled staff equipped in compulsory safety gear orchestrate affairs. Steaming baths of chemicals dip, clean, polish, coat and finish, giant rotating muscular sleeves polish. Wooden boxes are carefully packed ready to leave, and their contents adorn production cars nationwide. As we remove our own safety gear post shop floor tour, Dr Vos muses about his desire to not just fill positions at the company, but to embed it in Gloucestershire. “We plan to have a family day next year, to invite our workforce and their families into the workplace and show that we care about their safety and wellbeing," he said. "We are a company which cares about sustainability, its people and the communities we are in.We collaborate and respect each other. "We work hard but we have fun doing it. Hydro wants to be bigger, better greener. We plan to grow in
Gloucester and we are here to stay!” l Visit hydro.com/en/gloucestercomp/ or telephone 01452 502502
10 | December 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com
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