The history of Hewlett-Packard in Queensferry
About
Hewlett-Packard (HP) was a major blue chip employer in the area of central Scotland then known as Silicon Glen. In the first part of the event, Hugh Walker will cover the history of the HP factory, how they came to Queensferry, the site's growth over the years, the products it made and some key events up to the year 2000, when the facility employed over 2000 people.
Over refreshments there will be a unique opportunity to view and operate three generations of Telecommunication Test Sets. These then "State of the art" units were defined, designed and manufactured in Queensferry. The units are in working order (or were the last time they were switched on). Hugh and James will be on hand to discuss the equipment in detail and discuss their leading-edge design and manufacture.
The second part of the event will be a shorter talk by James Gentles, covering the run down of the facility in the period 2000-2010, the site’s re-birth as housing and how this whole story was captured in three books, a 1200 page History of HP Queensferry. Information on how to access electronic copies of the books will be provided.
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Continuing Professional Development
This event can contribute towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours as part of the IET's CPD monitoring scheme.
03 Sep 2024
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Organiser
- Scotland South East Local Network
Registration information
Registration is essential. If you do not register we cannot guarantee entry to the event. If you register and subsequently cannot attend, please cancel you registration to allow someone else to attend.
Speakers
Hugh Walker
Retired
Hugh Walker (66699) joined HP at South Queensferry as a design engineer in October 1970. He had various design and management assignments in the R&D department, before moving toproduct marketing in 1982 where he had responsibility for analogue and digital transmission test.
After a stint in the newly formed European Marketing Centre, he moved into marketing communications including PR in the late 1980s and spent the remainder of his career mainly in this activity. In the late 1990s, he also assisted the management team with market research.
After taking early retirement at the end of 2001, he spent a few years as a freelance consultant in technical marketing.
James Gentles
Retired
James Gentles (73250) joined HP in June 1982, starting as a Manufacturing Engineer, and held various engineering and management positions in Manufacturing, working on Telecommunication Test Equipment to meet the needs of both analogue and digital systems.
After time as a Production Manager he returned to engineering management to spend the latter part of his career managing the smooth transition of new products from R&D designs into manufacturable products.
After a short period as a contractor James left HP (then called Agilent) in August 2010 and was on the Queensferry site for the last working day. He then ran a microbusiness making photographic and camera accessories for the professional camera and film industries until he retired three years ago.
Programme
1400 - History of HPQ 1966-2000
1500 - Refreshments and equipment demonstration
1530 - History of HPQ 2000-2010
1600 - Event ends