Hydro's employees around the world were asked to nominate a colleague to be a Hydro Ambassador, based on their personal qualities and how they live the company's values. Then a group was chosen representing each of the business areas on a trip to the recently acquired bauxite, alumina and aluminium businesses in Brazil.
As they traveled around the state of Pará to the three sites, they received a tour of the operations – and most importantly – met with groups of employees at each location.
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| REFORESTATION: Ricardo Caruso, environmental supervisor, explained the visiting Hydro Ambassadors how the mining area is reforested after the bauxite has been extracted. (Photo: Craig Johnson) |
What they found was that for all of the exotic nature of their surroundings – the landscape, the climate, the colors, the food, the language – they felt very much at home with their new colleagues. In fact, they felt that the integration of the new operations into Hydro would go well.
Impressed in Paragominas
The first stop was the bauxite mine in Paragominas. The group toured the extensive site, learning about how the important mineral is extracted and processed for shipment to the Alunorte alumina refinery over 200 kilometers away.
"I'm really impressed with Brazil," said Andrew Walker, who works at the aluminium plant in Kurri Kurri, Australia, and is Ambassador for Primary Metal. "It's a very big country, like Australia, with lots of natural resources. I was also very impressed by the Paragominas bauxite mine.
"I was very impressed with the standard of housekeeping and the focus on safety and the environment, about The Hydro Way and the Hydro values and their embracing being part of the Hydro organization."
A "Hydro Way workshop" with a dozen or so employees from Paragominas allowed everyone to share what was important to them about how Hydro operates as a company and how employees relate to each other and their work.
The Brazilian employees had already received a lot of information about The Hydro Way and the company's values of courage, cooperation, foresight, determination and respect, so they had a lot to talk about.
Similar values
What they found was much of The Hydro Way appealed to them, and was similar to their own set of personal values. And they really appreciated the opportunity to meet more Hydro employees from around the world.
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| GOOD: "It's good that the Hydro Ambassadors came to Paragominas and learned about the challenges we face every day," said Valdemir Santos, who works at the Paragominas bauxite mines. |
"It's good that you came here and learned about the challenges we face every day," said Valdemir Santos, who works at Paragominas.
"During the transaction, there was uncertainty and a lack of knowledge. Now we are quite happy. Working together, we will achieve our goals."
After Paragominas, the Ambassadors spent a day at Alunorte and the Albras metal plant in Barcarena, several hours' bus ride from the bauxite mine. There, they also toured the facilities and got to meet with local employees.
Of course, the Ambassador trip was just a start. Many employees in Brazil said they were looking forward to learning even more about how they will fit in with Hydro, and in fact want improved lines of communication. That's in the works, as teams are now in place to strengthen ties with the latest additions to Hydro.
Bonding experience
It wasn't all work and no play for the group, which had traveled so far to experience Brazil. They enjoyed a "friendly" soccer game between the national teams for Brazil and Argentina (Brazil won 2-0) in Belém stadium, which holds nearly 50,000 spectators; a river boat trip from Belém, the capital of Pará where Hydro has a regional office; and some sightseeing in Rio de Janeiro on the way back home.
The Ambassadors all agreed it was a great experience. Andrew Walked summed it up for the group: "I think we all bonded together well."
