The project that started in a small neighbourhood workshop is now present in more than 120 countries.

As if it were one of the great technology companies born in a garage in Silicon Valley, Seville also has its own story of entrepreneurship and vision for the future. To many it may be familiar, to others it may not, but the company of humble origins that triumphs halfway around the world has a name: Hidral.

What started as a small workshop in the city of Seville has become a global company with a presence in more than 120 countries and approximately 70% of its production is destined for international markets.

Half a century ago, in 1975, in the basement of a family home in the San Jerónimo neighbourhood, Florencio Chacartegui Vázquez and his partners launched a project that would change the industrial lifting sector. Thus was born, discreetly and quietly, the largest industrial lifting company in Andalusia, Hidral.

At that time, the lift sector was in the midst of transformation and Seville had the necessary talent to be part of that change. Florencio Chacartegui, an engineer with an almost visionary entrepreneurial vision, saw the opportunity and founded Hidral with a clear objective: to offer innovative elevator solutions adapted to the needs of the market.

In 2025, Hidral celebrates 50 years of history and its lifts are present in infrastructures all over the world. "Our growth has been the result of constant effort, innovation capacity and commitment to quality. We not only export lifts, we export confidence", explains Florencio Chacartegui, Hidral's general manager.

A company with global DNA and local roots

It is well known that no one is a prophet in their own land, and perhaps Hidral has been a bit like that. If we were to take a survey on the street, few would be able to place it on the map, but its seal is present in a multitude of elevators in companies, shopping centres all over the world... And, of course, in the specialised sectors of the international lift industry: its name is synonymous with quality and innovation. 

Branding problems aside, the apparent anonymity of its acronym has not slowed down the company's path to success. Since its beginnings, it has had a clear vocation for expansion that goes beyond selling products abroad. A pioneer of private label, it now has sales offices in France, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Russia, as well as a network of distributors and strategic partners in key markets.

In fact, if we were to line up every single lifting solution Hidral has manufactured over its 50 years, the distance travelled would be around the world. From small loading platforms to large capacity lifts, with over 2,000 units produced annually, Hidral has not only elevated structures, but also opportunities, taking its technology to the furthest corners of the globe.

But if there is one thing that defines Hidral, it is its link with Seville and its people. A high percentage of its almost 300 employees are from Seville, some of them with decades in the company. Here, the commitment is mutual: Hidral generates employment and opportunities in its land, and its human team more than repays that trust, making the company a big family where everyone rows in the same direction.

Looking to the future: substance and commitment

From its first forays into the market to its consolidation as a global benchmark, each stage has been a stepping stone to success.

To ensure its continuity and expansion, a strategic shift took place in 1998 that laid the foundations for a new era. In 1999, Florencio Chacartegui Jr. took over as general manager, at a key moment in which the company disassociated itself from its partners and consolidated its identity as a family company. With this, the founding values that had made the company grow were reinforced.

However, the spirit of broadening the scope of the company's business had already been set in motion long before that. In 1994, it had crossed borders for the first time by participating in the international lift trade fair in Brussels, a milestone that marked the beginning of its global expansion. From 2000 onwards, with a clear strategy, it began a process of professionalisation and a firm commitment to internationalisation, establishing its presence in the world market.

The road to excellence did not stop there. In 2017, a new qualitative leap was made with the creation of a Board of Directors that incorporated independent external directors. This decision not only provided a more strategic vision, but also guaranteed decision-making based on experience and knowledge of the sector.

Every step along the way has been a testament to resilience, growth and ambition. But unlike fictional stories where family businesses are embroiled in power struggles and internal conflicts worthy of a TV series, at Hidral everything has developed naturally. The Board of Directors leads with judgement and objectivity with a long-term vision and the consolidation of a corporate identity that continues to look to the future.

Today, with more than 28,000 m² of facilities, Hidral continues to evolve and is, in a way, a tireless reflection of the Andalusian character. The commitment to digitalisation, energy efficiency and connectivity in lifting systems reinforce its position as a benchmark in the sector. 

In Chacartegui's words: "Hidral's growth has no ceiling. We continue to invest in innovation, talent and new markets so that our Sevillian brand continues to raise projects all over the world".

After 50 years, Hidral not only celebrates its history, but also looks to the future with determination. Its aim is to continue growing, innovating and raising projects all over the world. And it will do so with the same spirit with which it began: with effort, with vision and with the pride of taking the Andalusian seal to the top.