There are encouraging signs of recovery in the stormwater business, says Steve Hides, CEO of Hydro International, the Clevedon-based specialist in the control and treatment of stormwater, wastewater and combined sewer overflows.
The company reported in March that it ended 2010 with a record order book of £23.7m – up from £7.8m and pre-tax profits up from £1.8m to £2.3m. Steve Hides said at the time that 2009 had been “a difficult” year.
Bolstered by more upbeat prospects in 2011, Mr Hides said that the focus of long-term strategy is to achieve growth by maximising the opportunities presented in existing territories and seeking to develop new international markets, as demonstrated by Hydro’s recent move into the Mexican marketplace. To accelerate this expansion Hydro has appointed an international business director.
However, the instability throughout the Middle East during the first half of the year has inhibited progress in both Egypt and Saudi Arabia with a number of project timetables slipping out. Egypt in particular has been a key market for Hydro’s grit removal products over the last few years, forming part of the long-term project to introduce wastewater treatment to villages located on the banks of the River Nile.
