WELCOME: Rafael Fuertes shakes hands with new colleagues at the Expral plant, as business sector president Johnny Undeli looks on. (All photos: Kåre Foss)

Perhaps the best part of the "first day" was that there was no production. No work. Instead, Hydro management invited their more than 90 employees at the Pinto-based plant Expral to a "free" day - and their first impression of the new company was a fine one.

PPE: On their first day, employees received personal protection equipment.

Sitting in chairs in their sparkling plant, which was decorated for the occasion with posters and pullups related to Hydro Way values and the company's mission statement, the employees were treated to speeches from company executives as well as from operators from the Spain organization's sister plant in La Roca, near Barcelona.

Between the speeches, employees viewed videos related to the Hydro Way, the company's integrated aluminium operations, and to safety.

Johnny Undeli, who is president of the Extrusion Eurasia business sector, opened the full-day event with warm words of welcome and a strong message about the company's commitment to safety. Rafael Fuertes - the head of the new Hydro Aluminium Extrusion Spain -  gave a short speech about  Hydro's extrusion activities and the main targets for the new company in Spain, also with a strong focus on safety.

The managers also greeted each and every employee, shaking their hands and welcoming them to the company.

New boss, new colleagues

Eduard Canet, on his first day as plant manager for the Expral site, followed up by introducing himself and spending most of his time explaining safety rules, and why the employees should use personal protection equipment. Much of the equipment was not required previously.

EVENT: The Expral plant was dressed up for the occasion.

Capping off the event, the new Hydro colleagues listened to two of their peers from La Roca, operators who were invited to participate. They talked about their experiences and feelings when Hydro acquired in the La Roca plant in 1991, when they had many of the same fears and uncertainties, and later, how Hydro took over and made an outstanding change.

Today, the La Roca plant is one of the best performers - in safety, and financially - in the Extrusion Eurasia business sector.

"Our main target of the day - giving the new employees a strong image about Hydro and communicating our main messages, like safety - was successfully achieved," says Fuertes. "We all appreciated our first day at the plant."

At the end of the day, employees received their new safety equipment and were able to put the gear, together with various communication materials, in their new Hydro backpacks. And production started again on April 22.