HEREFORDSHIRE company Holden Aluminium Technologies Ltd (HAT) has announced its acquisition of the automotive product manufacturer Hydro Aluminum Worcester Ltd (HAW).

HAW, based in Shrub Hill, makes full body structures and crash management systems for companies including Aston Martin, BMW, Jaguar and Lotus and is Europe's leading independent, bonded automotive structure company.

HAW will now form part of the Holden Group of companies employing 190 staff across the two sites in Worcester and Bromyard.

Holden Aluminum Technologies Ltd is based in Bromyard and its purchase of HAW significantly extends the portfolio and synergies in the automotive sector - and brings an opportunity for substantial new growth for both sites.

Award-winning HAT supplies products to the transport, medical and construction industries. Products are in evidence with Aston Martin, Renault, Morgan Cars, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Channel Tunnel Rolling Stock, Escalators, Stair Lifts, GCHQ and many specialist architectural applications globally.

Jeremy Holden, executive vice-chairman at HAT and son of the company's founder, said: "The combination of Europe's leading bonded automotive structure company, HAW, with the forming expertise of HAT will create a new and dynamic partnership.

"We see the requirements of the weight conscious automotive sector are rapidly expanding and while historically the market has been driven by the needs of high performance sports cars, we now have the additional pressures of CO2 emissions reduction.

"We are looking forward to building strong working relationships with the many staff at Worcester and believe that, together, we can deliver leading products and engineering services to produce a bright, profitable and fun future for both teams."

4 Jeremy Holden, executive vice-chairman at HAT, and Richard Williams, managing director.