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Hewlett Packard's Catalonia facility is a global benchmark for printing technology
The major cluster of talent and know-how in certain specific areas has led Hewlett Packard to create a worldwide business run from Catalonia, based primarily on added value activities, while production has moved on to Asia.
Catalonia is HP's global hub for the large format printing business. The Global Business Centre run by the company in Sant Cugat is responsible for a number of operations in Europe and indeed worldwide. This facility also houses the firm's sales unit for Spain. The Centre employs over 2,500 workers involved in research and design, and is in charge of bringing onto the world market the entire range of printers and large format printing solutions for the brand HP Designjet.
There is a major element of innovation at the Centre attested to by the key role of the R+D facility staffed by more than 400 engineers, which have made it a worldwide reference point in printing technology. The talent cluster in this specialised sector has led to HP opting to base several other related businesses in the Catalan facility. Among these, are enterprises such as the Demonstration and Training Centre for HP graphics clients, which draws over 6,000 visitors from the entire European Economic Area per year, or the European Graphic Arts Headquarters of the company.
Increasing strategic relevance
It is clear that the Catalan Centre has come increasingly to the fore since its beginnings in 1985, when HP opted to set up their European plotter production facility in Sant Cugat del Vallès. According to Santiago Morera, “the reason behind this decision was both economic and strategic and included: availability of quality land, good communications with the rest of Europe, nearness to reputable seats of learning and a competent network of local suppliers“.
By the year 2000, the encouraging results of the facility prompted the company to transfer production to Asia, but hang onto worldwide management of the different aspects of the business run from Catalonia, with special emphasis on high value-added activities.
“At this point a number of the reasons which were behind our original decision to locate here came into play, such as the knowledge cluster in areas which were both clearly focused on and fundamental to the development of our business,” Morera adds.
At present, HP's Catalan headquarters is behind worldwide sales of over €1 billion- constantly bringing onto the global market innovations which are set revolutionise the world of printing technologies. The company V-P ventures that, “As long as we stay ahead of the field in innovation and competitiveness, the company will continue to rely on our expertise.”
When it comes to defining the challenges the future may hold in terms of providing incentives for new enterprise, and the entrepreneurial spirit of this land, the General Manager of Hewlett-Packard points out the need to create the closest and strongest possible links between the work undertaken in universities and private businesses. He also stressed the importance of, “working together and encouraging younger people to lose their fear of setting up businesses, because,” as Santiago Morera concludes, “just as with any other company, HP works much better when it is surrounded by a healthy climate of innovation and creativity.”
Santiago Morera, Vicepresidente y Director General HP Hewlett Packard
