“We are now ready to meet double the demand”
Hydria Water is investing SEK 30 million in its production facility in Viared, Sweden. The investment includes a new laser cutting machine, an automated storage system and a press brake. The new production line will enable the company to meet a doubling of demand from the wastewater and water treatment market.
“This is a historic investment – the single largest investment we have ever made in our machinery. At the same time, it is fully aligned with the growth we expect and our continued expansion in both the Swedish and international markets,” says Tobias Barrstrand, CEO and owner of Hydria Group.
According to Svenskt Vatten (the Swedish Water & Wastewater Association), investments of at least SEK 560 billion will be required by 2040 to replace ageing infrastructure, meet stricter EU regulations and secure future drinking water supplies. Across Europe and many other parts of the world, increasing investment and higher performance requirements are also expected. At the same time, the growing focus on foreign interests in critical infrastructure and an increasingly complex security landscape continues to shape the industry. For Hydria Water, this shift has been evident for several years.
“Projects of this kind naturally have very long lead times, but we are clearly seeing more municipalities and utilities accelerating their investment plans and moving forward with projects,” says Henrik Ulvan, Sales Director at Hydria Water.
Tobias Barrstrand agrees:
“We have always prioritised owning the entire value chain ourselves. As a wholly Swedish, family-owned company, that gives us significant advantages in today’s market.”
Swedish manufacturing is a competitive advantage
Although Hydria Water is a relatively small player, the company’s equipment is installed at almost every wastewater treatment plant in Sweden, as well as at facilities around the world.
“From the very beginning, we have focused on engineering excellence, highly durable equipment and a long-term perspective. That commitment has paid off. Today, we have a product portfolio that has proven to perform even better than we promise. Swedish quality and engineering enjoy an excellent reputation far beyond the Nordic region, and we have now launched a more focused expansion into Europe with our own employees based in several countries,” says Tobias Barrstrand.
To meet growing demand, continued expansion and increasing international business, Hydria Water is now investing in what the company describes as “a factory within the factory.”
“During the spring, we have rebuilt parts of our production facility to make room for a new laser cutting machine, an automated storage system and a press brake. We have also invested in large storage tents to increase our logistics capacity. With this new production line and improved workflow in place, we are ready to double our production capacity and are well prepared for the future – not least with the new product range that we will be launching shortly,” says Kristoffer Lindberg, COO of Hydria Group.