Even in the midst of the biggest public health crisis in living memory , a company such as Husqvarna can never stand still . It has to be constantly adapting , embracing the very latest technological advances , and looking to the future .
Having taken over the plant from Flymo in the 1990s , the company started producing robotic lawnmowers at Aycliffe in 2005 . The cynics claimed they would never catch on , but a million had been produced by 2017 and , with artificial intelligence emerging fast , the technology is opening up all kinds of new opportunities , many of which remain under wraps for now .
“ If we want to be market leaders , and stay ahead of the competition , we have to be continually developing our products , and invest heavily in research and development ,” says Tony .
And so , a company that began by making rifles for the Swedish monarchy in the 1600s , is now at the cutting edge of robotics in 2021 and employing hundreds of people in the heart of County Durham .
It ’ s a fascinating success story that ’ s been centuries in the making . And Rufus Ayre , the uncertain boy who grew up down the road in Crook , is proof that there are exciting opportunities for anyone who wants to be part of the chapters yet to come .
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 19