History Hydram Engineering was founded in 1977 by the late Harry Young with his children John Young, Judith Porter and Gillian Young as the original partners.  The name HYDRAM is made up of family names - Harry (HY), his wife Dorothy (D) and the middle names of the three children, John Robert, Judith Anne and Gillian Margaret.  Funds were very limited at first and the Company started in a 2,700sq ft nursery unit, one of the first to be built in County Durham, on Chilton Industrial Estate.  This unit was across the road from the present site but was demolished in 2003.  Hydram bought the land back from the council in 2005 and it is now the car park. 1977   The Company started production with two small drills, a lathe and a band saw.  Later, power presses, a guillotine, a press-brake and a manual punching machine were added to the plant. Harry Young, Hydram 1978 1985 Hydram had outgrown the nursery unit so the partners had a new 5,250sq ft factory built on land across the road. Harry’s older brother, Bill, and his wife, Hannah, who both gave their time and help to get the business going 1986 Hydram bought its first automatic punching machine and a second pressbrake, and the business grew steadily. 1987 The Company added a 5,250sq ft extension to the premises, the area now covered by the folding section, canteen and design office. 1993 By this time, more machines had been purchased and the original presses were replaced by hydraulic ones.  Once again, the Company needed more space. 1994 An 8,000sq ft extension was completed which now houses the drilling section and upstairs welding section, main office and reception.  Hydram now offered a much wider range of services.  The Company ceased trading as a partnership and became a limited company. 1996 Hydram attained the ISO9002 quality standard and received a best supplier award from Thorn Lighting of Spennymoor.                          1997 Customers were enquiring more and more about parts that were more suited to laser cutting and so, in September of 1997, Hydram launched its new laser cutting service which opened up new market opportunities and reduced lead times.  The machine was soon working to capacity.  Hydram launched its website in this year: www.hydram.co.uk 1998 A second laser-cutting machine was commissioned to provide additional capacity.. Laser 2 in action 1999 A high-speed punching machine, a 170-tonne and an 80-tonne press-brake, and a computer-controlled rolling machine were added to Hydram’s plant. 2000 New dressing equipment was purchased to ensure a better quality finish on components, particularly those manufactured from stainless steel.  Guillotining and press capacity increased and a bulk storage facility for laser cutting gases was installed.  The Company attained the Investor In People award, recognition that a company invests time and money in staff training and welfare.   Manager Andrew Robertson won a RoSPA safety scholarship and, having successfully completed the course in Edinburgh, was awarded a Health and Safety certificate at a presentation lunch in the House of Lords.  Extension work began again which would eventually see the premises increase to 52,000sq ft.   A 10-tonne lift was installed to allow goods to be moved under cover with minimum handling.   2001 Building work was completed.  The land between the main factory and the laser unit was covered and became a spacious cutting and materials storage section, and a large goods in section incorporating an overhead crane.  A powder coating plant and additional office space (nicknamed ‘The Bridge’) were also added.  New plant included CNC rollers able to take items up to three metres long, an additional insert machine to reduce a bottleneck and a third laser-cutting machine.  David Greatorex was appointed Operations Director.   HYDRAM’S MANAGEMENT TEAM L-R: Andrew Robertson (Quality, Health and Safety); Andrew Jordan (Systems); Directors David Greatorex, John Young and Judith Porter; Ivan Russell (Commercial); David Lowes (Purchasing) 2002-The 25th anniversary of the Company At the end of the first quarter of the year, the workforce numbered 82.  The Company ran three delivery vehicles - a new Mercedes 7.5-tonne curtain sider, a Mercedes Sprinter truck and a Mercedes Vito van.   Quality Manager Andrew Robertson joined the Durham and North Yorkshire Safety Group, a body whose members promote best practice with regard to health and safety matters within their organisations.  In May, Hydram achieved the new quality standard ISO9001:2000 at the first attempt. 2003 Hydram bought the premises opposite the front of the factory which had been vacated by Swift Mould and Tool.  Alterations were made to convert the interior to manufacturing and office space for let.  It was named the Eden Business Centre.  In March, the old nursery units where Hydram began trading in 1977 were demolished and landscaped.  Annual health checks were introduced for all employees. 2004 Hydram purchased its first robot welder and a fourth laser-cutting machine. More key staff were appointed to support existing teams:  Barry Edgar to the Quality team, Ian Miller to the Purchasing team and Stephen Beacham to the Production team.  A new venture, Hydram Stainless Products, was launched, a division of Hydram Sheet Metalwork producing a range of stainless steel industrial furniture. 2005 A fourth vehicle was added to the delivery fleet - a Mercedes long wheelbase HGV.  A new automated punching cell from Trumpf was commissioned.  A further extension project saw the floorspace increase to 62,000sq ft and a new 120-space carpark built on the land opposite the factory.     2006 A new tube laser cutting machine was installed to complement the tube bending system - both supplied by BLM.  Second robot welder acquired.     2007 A Trumpf punch-laser combination machine was installed allowing us to part-punch and part-laser cut components.  An oak sapling was planted on the site to mark Hydram's 30th anniversary.  The company began the process of installing a new capacity planning and scheduling software package to sequence production operations on the shop floor.     Hydram is still dealing with many of its original customers and has seen many of them achieve similar growth and success.  Hydram parts have been incorporated into such prestigious contracts as:  the Royal Opera House - Hong Kong airport - the Channel Tunnel - the London Eye - Heathrow Terminal 5 - Boeing aircraft - Eurostar trains and several major construction projects throughout the UK.  Hydram components are also used in earth moving equipment, stair lifts, lighting boxes, train interiors, decorative metal fireplaces and signage.       2008 In the early months of 2008 Hydram added two new press brakes, an insert machine and a spot welder to its machinery capacity. Two new fork-lift trucks were also purchased. The goods-out section was moved to the factory space of the Eden Building in June. This created more space in the assembly section to which the insert machines were moved. Hydram now employs a 130 strong workforce.     2009 Despite a recession in the economy Hydram continued to invest in new machinery with the purchase of a Bystronic BySprint Pro laser cutting machine to replace the existing 12 year old BySprint. Hydram attained the ISO9001:2008 quality standard and planning permission was granted for a 30,000 square foot extension to the factory.   2010 Hydram achieves the ISO14001 environmental accreditation. Improvements in the factory include energy efficient lighting in the laser section and remote controls on the up and over doors. 2 Trumpf TruBend 7036 pressbrakes are added to the folding section to replace older machines. A new Mercedes Benz 13.5 tonne truck replaces an older model. The truck is silver and featrues Hydram's new corporate branding.