Made in Group member Hydrastore held a best practice event today at their facility in Doncaster, where over 40 members gathered to network and share best practice.
Hydrastore offers a comprehensive range of hydraulic components, as well as complete hydraulic and control solutions and have done so for the past twenty-five years. They combine technical knowhow with premium brand components providing their customers with the most well-suited technical and commercial solutions available. Today, Made in Yorkshire and Made in the Midlands members had the opportunity to look around their facility and learn more about the company.
Guests began arriving at 8:30 am and were greeted by refreshments and snacks in the networking area based in the company’s showroom. At around 9:15 am members were invited to a presentation by Steve Owen, Managing Director of Hydrastore, who spoke about the continuous development of the company. Part of this involved getting staff to participate in the changes they were undertaking, Steve said:
“The people are part of the change. We have involved staff from start to finish when their department is being developed, it is really about them as they are there doing the most and being active. We gave them responsibilities such as looking at how we can improve in terms of the quality process, efficiency and 5 s’s. Then we introduce them to the working group that helps redesign the factories.”
Steve then went on to talk about the company’s products, capabilities and partnerships. Steve said:
“We are a combination of industrial and mobile hydraulic components. We are multinational manufacturers mainly based in Europe. We have a vast range of pumps and valves to motors and coolers.”
“Our applications can be seen in a range of industries, anything from a car carrier that goes down the motorway to the entertainments industry and the agricultural sector. We can do anything for anybody more or less”
Over the next twelve months, the company will undergo massive changes due to the extension of its facilities. The electrical side of the business is the fastest growing and therefore they will be converting the new offices and electrical workshops to be specialised for this sector.
Tackling the supposed skills shortage in the manufacturing sector, Hydrastore started an apprenticeship plan thirteen years ago. Now, 50% of those apprentices are still within the business as managers and technical engineers. When they join as an apprentice, they are placed on a three-year plan and have the potential to increase their salary after.
“We provide apprentices with the education and the support that they need at the same time we get members of staff and promote within.”
This is supported by the company having a training facility to undertake the correct training for their staff.
After, members were taken on a tour of the company’s facility where they were able to gain insight into the what happens in the company offices as well as have a look at some of the products they manufacture. This included a look at the specialised machines they produce to cut grass on the side of motorways, in which they designed, projected managed and wrote software for. The event finished with more networking in the company’s showroom, giving members the opportunity to ask Hydrastore staff questions they may have had.
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