Ted Dowty formed Hydraulic Services (Cheltenham) Ltd from a disused railway wagon on a farm offering 24/7 breakdown and repair service on tractor hydraulics. The company soon moved to fixed premises in Cheltenham

 

Company moved to bigger premises in Innsworth, Gloucester

 

Name was changed to Hydraulic Equipment Supermarkets, holding company remained Dowco Investments

 

The great fire of '72. Fire destroyed the building, machinery and most of the stock so the company took refuge at the Hydrocuplin Ltd site on the same technology park in Innsworth

 

Finalised the acquisition of Hydrocuplin, who specialised in compression fittings developed by the Dowty Group

 

The first computer system was installed (IBM System 32 upgraded to 34 in 1982 and 36 in 1984)

 

Head Office moved into new (and current) premises on Innsworth Technology Park

 

Megamat carousel retrieval system installed and BS5750 accreditation gained

 

Gained ISO9002 accreditation

 

Dowco International Seals and Hydrocuplin incorporated into HES and a comprehensive mail order catalogue first released

 

Dowco Investments acquires Branch Hydraulic Systems

 

The first website launched and external email system introduced

 

Ted Dowty retired and there was a management buyout by Jim Ruxton, Brian Read and Stuart Diesel.

 

HES Tractec was formed selling Matbro spare parts

 

Dowco Investments rebranded as Group HES and Jim Ruxton retires

 

HES Lubemec was formed selling SKF Vogel lubrication system parts

 

HES Tractec launched the skip loader department and Brian Read retires

 

£10,000 raised for Myeloma, in partnership with Carnaud Metalbox, in memory of Peter Bromley (Leeds office manager)

 

Solar panels installed at Head Office as part of a green energy initiative and the pool of technical experts was consolidated and expanded into a new department to meet the higher level technical demands from customers

 

Group HES celebrates 50 years of operation and launches new Automation and Motion Control Division - HES Automatec. The company also launches an e-commerce and new look website. The 50-year celebrations included an Open Day, a booklet, a boat cruise and finally a Time Capsule being sealed to be opened in 2065.

 

Group HES is nominated at the Cotswold Life EMI Awards for John Cullimore as Employee of the Year and also the Award for Educational Partnership for its commitment to the development of its staff.