Aluminium solutions for automotive and building sectors

Sapa President & CEO Egil Hogna recently witnessed new developments related to both sectors at company sites in Gloucester and Tewkesbury, both in the UK.

The visits were part of Hogna’s 100-day programme, in which he is travelling to company locations and meeting employees around the world. He joined Sapa as its chief executive on September 1.

First at the Gloucester plant, which employs 140 people, one of the first stops made by Hogna (pictured in orange helmet) and local management was to examine the facility’s fabrication processes and quality tracking system. The majority of the work done at the site is for the automotive market, and includes extruded aluminium roof rails, trim pieces and tread plates. Product and process innovation are priorities at the plant.

In the quality lab, he was shown the various coating assessments done to roof rails and trim accessories. “This should be the ‘temple’ of the plant,” said Hogna.

Customer service

Sapa’s facility in Tewkesbury is about 30 minutes from the Gloucester plant – and it is vastly different.
The site is part of Sapa’s aluminium building systems business area, providing customers with branded solutions that add value. These include doors, windows and curtain walling products.

Together with managing director Nigel Sissons and operations director Nigel Eley, Hogna walked through the facility starting from kit assembly. He also spent time listening to the company’s comprehensive customer service strategy.