How a shared culture, engineering excellence, and unmatched support formed a partnership built for long-term success.
About Hydro
Hydro is a global leader in aluminum and renewable energy, committed to creating more sustainable solutions that shape industries and society. With more than a century of Nordic innovation, Hydro is recognized for its strong engineering heritage, environmentally responsible manufacturing, and dedication to circular, low-carbon production. The company’s culture emphasizes teamwork, transparency, and long-term partnerships, ensuring that every investment supports both operational excellence and strategic growth. Hydro Extrusion Denmark entered its latest machining investment with these values at the forefront. They sought a supplier whose technology and culture aligned with their ambitions for efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability.
We spoke with Kristian Kvistgaard-Persson, Director of Fabrications at Hydro Extrusions Denmark, who shared insights about their experience with MODIG.
Kristian Kvistgaard-Persson, Director of Fabrications at Hydro Extrusions Denmark.
Why Hydro Chose MODIG
When Hydro Extrusion Denmark set out to invest in a new machining solution, the company conducted an open and rigorous benchmark across several leading machine tool brands. With new parts entering the market, Hydro needed a partner that could provide not only performance, but also flexibility and trust.
From the first interactions, MODIG distinguished itself.
Kristian Kvistgaard-Persson explains that MODIG “aligned perfectly with our priorities when it comes to efficiency, flexibility, and cultural fit.” With more than twenty years of experience in Hydro’s production environment, he immediately recognized in MODIG the same values Hydro upholds, including transparency, commitment, and a strongly solution-oriented mindset.
Performance That Set a New Benchmark
While cultural alignment mattered, performance was the non-negotiable requirement. MODIG’s cycle-time studies not only outperformed all competitors, but later exceeded MODIG’s own initial time studies once production began.
Kristian continues: “You won on efficiencies. Your takt time and cycle time were better than the competition, and the speed of feedback was really, really fast compared to the rest.”
During the first visit to MODIG’s factory, Hydro’s technical team conducted a detailed inspection, reviewing components, labels, cables, and spindles. Their conclusion was immediate and confident. They saw only premium hardware, top-tier components, and build quality they trusted right away.
A Supplier Who Acts Like a Partner
Another decisive factor was MODIG’s responsiveness. Throughout the evaluation phase, Hydro submitted many technical requests. MODIG responded at exceptional speed, providing clear, detailed, and highly actionable feedback.
“The feedback was absolutely benchmark. Exceptionally fast and far more detailed than the competition.”
Leadership involvement further set MODIG apart. Even with multiple machines already on the production floor, MODIG’s CEO personally participated in customer meetings, ensuring Hydro consistently felt like a top-priority partner.
“Even though there was a big customer with nine machines in front of ours, we still felt like the most important client.”
This combination of technical excellence and partnership mindset confirmed to Hydro that MODIG was the right long-term choice.
The Partnership: Collaboration, Culture, and Commitment
When asked to describe their experience with MODIG in three words, Kristian chose:
“Exceptional. Flexible. Supportive.”
From project kickoff to installation, MODIG’s team delivered what Kristian repeatedly described as “outstanding” support. MODIG’s technicians, installers, and project leaders stood out not only for their competence but also for their attitude. During the takeover in Kalmar, we encountered some challenges caused by a third-party sub-supplier, but we managed to overcome them together as one team.
“You feel the Modig spirit, even from the people drilling the holes in our factory floor. A fantastic team of cooperative, very good people.”
The Project Manager received particularly strong praise:
“Absolutely brilliant. Magnificent support. Proactive, flexible, exceptional.”
The Results: Proven Productivity With the Mill-Ex
Although the Mill-Ex was purchased for a specific customer project that later evolved into a simpler operation, the machine delivered exceptional performance across all metrics. Hydro describes the Mill-Ex as a high-efficiency machining center offering extremely effective material removal, surface finishes above standard quality, and cycle times that outperformed MODIG’s original time studies. Hydro runs two parts simultaneously, maximizing throughput even with a simplified part design. “We were skeptical about the cycle times, but they were proven even better than originally evaluated.”
Looking Ahead: A Partnership for Future Growth
When asked if Kristian and Hydro would choose MODIG again for future machining investments, the answer was clear and emphatic: “Absolutely. Definitely. MODIG would be my first choice.”
Kristian sees MODIG’s combination of flexibility, responsiveness, and technical excellence as unmatched in the market. These strengths support not only their current production goals but also the company’s long-term manufacturing strategy.
David Modig, Chairman of Modig Machine Tool, adds: “As Hydro continues to lead in sustainable aluminum solutions and MODIG continues to push the limits of machining innovation, our partnership shows how advanced manufacturing and responsible production strengthen one another. By aligning cutting-edge machining with shared values of quality, resilience, and collaboration, Hydro and MODIG are proving that Nordic industry will continue to set global standards in precision manufacturing.”
Conclusion
Kristian highlights that the investment in MODIG’s Mill-Ex has delivered measurable productivity gains, outstanding support, and a partnership built on shared values and collaboration. What began as a competitive benchmark across top machine tool brands has grown into a long-term strategic alliance.
MODIG combines technical excellence with a partnership mindset a combination Hydro believes is “the right choice for long-term success.”
Want to see how our solution can work for you?
Get in touch with our team to explore the details, ask questions, and discover how we can support your goals.