70’s design and manufacture of the first oil-hydraulic products
HIDRACAR was founded in 1974 by its current director, Manuel Carcaré Gimeno, a technical engineer who had been working for 5 years in the oil-hydraulic sector for Olaer (Mercier-Greer Group).
Although HIDRACAR started as an importer of oleo-pneumatic accumulators, we soon manufactured our own piston and bladder accumulators and pulsation dampers. The company was established in a commercial premises of 100 m2 in the city of Manresa (Barcelona). In 1978 we also started the manufacture of oleo-pneumatic shock absorbers, and by 1980 we also manufactured oleo-pneumatic tensioners and hydrostatic dynamometers.
Those first products were made using only conventional lathes; and the designs were made on drawing boards. The production and efficiency was limited in our beginnings.
80’s acquisition of facilities and machinery to increase productive activity
After years the difficulties on the beginnings, HIDRACAR grew and accumulated enough resources to begin a new stage. In 1981 we acquired our own 450 m2 industrial building in the Industrial Estate “Les Vives” in Sant Vicenç de Castellet, approximately 11 km from the primary location. It made possible the expansion of the business.
HIDRACAR continued advancing; improving the designs in a daily basis. In 1985 we were already manufacturing oleo-hydraulic starters. The acquisition of two vulcanizing presses allowed us to manufacture our own bladders (previously imported). In 1988 the company began its digitalization; and in 1989 we acquired our first welding table. Step by step HIDRACAR increased its production autonomy, while at the same time expanded its industrial premises and started in1990 the construction of a new industrial building.
90’s technological transformation and export
The 90’s were a period of great progress for the company. The use of computers, firstly for administrative tasks only, and later on for the use of CAD programs to design our products, was a significant productivity improvement. The machinery park was increased and in 1998 we acquired our first CNC lathe. HIDRACAR began manufacturing new products such as membrane and bellows dampers. The most significant advance was the beginning of exports in 1993 which was a big milestone for us.
2000’s, participation in international fairs, modernization of productive machinery
In 2000, HIDRACAR participated for the first time at the ACHEMA fair in Frankfurt. ACHEMA is dedicated to the chemical and process industry. Since then, we have been present in all its editions in addition to attending other national and international fairs.
In the first decade of the new century HIDRACAR continued in the modernization of the company while the construction of the new ship was progressing. Both productivity and quality were increased with the acquisition of vulcanizing presses and CNC machines, and with the purchase, in 2007, of a welding robot with double rotating welding station.
Our product catalog grew with the introduction of the new oleo-pneumatic suspension cylinders; and the consolidation of exports placed HIDRACAR towards the end of the decade among the main European manufacturers of pulsation dampers.
In 2009, the construction of the new 1,000 m2 industrial building was completed. After that, the equipment and the activity of the company was divided between the 2 existing buildings. Since then HIDRACAR has continued with its policy of production improvements, with the acquisition of new machinery, the volume of exports reached the 80% of our total sales.
2010’s years obtaining certificates and increasing production
During the second decade of the 21st century, HIDRACAR obtained the CE certificate for its products, ISO was implemented and the American ASME certification for pressure equipment is also achieved, allowing us to meet the requirements of a wider market.
In the second decade of the 21st century HIDRACAR significant grew. The continuous investment in the acquisition of new machinery and the manufacturing increase make the space available in the warehouses of Sant Vicenç insufficient. For this reason, a land of 6,690 m2 is acquired in the Bufalvent industrial estate, in Manresa. HIDRACAR built a total of 4,245 m2 of industrial buildings and offices.
Year 2017 transfer of our facilities
A great milestone for HIDRACAR was achieved in 2017. We moved to our current facilities located in Manresa with a constructed area of 2,820 m2. Currently the company has 12 lathes 10 of them equipped with CNC (4 of them with robotic loading arm), 1 CNC machining center, 1 welding robot with TIG and plasma technology, 8 vulcanizing presses among many other machines.
The space available in the new facilities together with the possibilities of extension of the same are intended to house the expected growth of the company over the next few years.
