2023-07-01 19:00:20
In Figueres, and throughout the Empordà, everyone knows Can Padrosa. For their trucks, for their spectacular cranes or, simply, “to pass in front” of their endless installations in Hostalets de Llers. One hundred years after, in 1923 and at just 15 years old, Pere Padrosa Simón took charge of Benet Dausedas’ company of transporters, couriers, converting it into “Transportes Generales Pedro Padrosa”. The Padrosa Group is a leading logistics company in the midst of a growth phase thanks to its commitment to the construction of truck parking throughout Europe. Yesterday, Grup Padrosa celebrated the “Centenary Party” to “explain to everyone what we do in here” in the words of Pere Padrosa Pierre, third generation at the head of the company after his grandfather, Pere Padrosa Simón, and his father, Pere Padrosa Puignau.
“I think our region knows us by name, ‘yes there is Can Padrosa’ they say when they pass by, but we think it is good for people to know and recognize the talent and commitment to technology that exists in our territory, seeing what a technology company looks like from the inside”, says the grandson of the founder and current chief executive of a logistics firm. A firm that has just opened a lorry park in Calais, less than a kilometer from the tunnel and port connecting France and mainland Europe to the UK. The one in Calais, and another close to Paris, are the first two of the seventeen truck parks that the Padrosa Group plans to open in the first phase of the project. Right now there are six more under construction in France, Holland, Italy and Slovenia. In a few years, this line of business, services for trucks throughout Europe, should account for 80% of the group’s turnover, leaving the firm’s classic specialist crane and transport services in the remaining 20%.
“Explaining a hundred years means explaining many good things and many bad things. We went from having 400 employees and billing 50 million euros in 2012, to billing 6 in 2013 and 50 employees. At the moment, we are back to more than 200 workers, we are over 50 million and we understand that in 2027 we will go from 120 or 130 million”, explains the third Pere Padrosa.
With the intention that this will be, “only”, the “first” of the centenaries of the group, the celebration of the anniversary had one of its high points today, with the party in Hostalets de Llers.
motorcycles and music
Open to everyone, the party included a trial exhibition by the junior world champion, Arnau Farré. The trial morning – organized by Club Motorista Figueres – has been complemented by the exhibition of members of the club
This was followed by a visit to the company’s facilities, to get a closer look at the company’s infrastructure of trucks, cranes and vehicles, including an extensive collection of historic trucks.
The day did not lack music, with concerts by artists such as Beth Rodergas, Joina, Clima, Penélope, Alverd Oliva and Dj Ryna.
In a more academic context, but within the centenary events, on September 28 a thematic conference is planned to reflect on the opportunities offered by logistics in Figueres, which will take place in the Caputxins auditorium.
In addition, two books are scheduled to appear this year. The first, about Padrosa’s first centenary, explains and documents the years of the company’s existence. The second will be an edition on logistics which, collecting part of the contents of the exhibition and the reflections of the day, aims to become a tool that proposes fields of research, gives ideas and motivations, and serves as stimulus to better understand and project logistics in Figueres as an activity not only economic but also cultural and social.
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