Nine companies and organisations linked to Robotekin have taken part in the initiative, which brings Álava’s innovation, technology and entrepreneurial talent closer to the public.
Robotics, automation and technological innovation also bear the Álava stamp. This was demonstrated by eight companies and organisations from the Robotekin ecosystem at the latest edition of Made in Araba Day, an initiative promoted by the Provincial Council of Álava to raise the profile of the region’s entrepreneurial talent and introduce the public to its products, projects and technological advances.
Through an exhibition in Plaza General Loma in Vitoria-Gasteiz, BIC Araba, Eurocybcar, i+MED, Loramendi, Mercedes-Benz, Michelin, RPK Group and SMC España showcased some of the milestones that place Álava on the map of international industry and innovation. The initiative was complemented by stands run by partner companies in the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca and Plaza Nueva, as well as visits by young people to companies within the ecosystem.
Among the key figures revealed over the past few days, it is worth noting that BIC Araba has supported more than 1,000 business and technology initiatives since 1991, many of which have established themselves as leading companies in fields such as smart industry, sustainable energy and the biosciences.
Innovation from Álava is also making its mark in the field of vehicle cybersecurity. Eurocybcar has developed a pioneering technology in Álava – protected by a US patent – to assess and certify vehicle cybersecurity in collaboration with AENOR.
In the field of biosciences, i+MED, the world’s first cooperative of scientists, stands out for its 14 technology patents and its position as an international leader in controlled-release systems for medicines and active ingredients using nanotechnology.
Álava’s industry is also present in millions of vehicles on the road worldwide. Loramendi and Aurrenak, international leaders in the design and manufacture of comprehensive solutions for the foundry sector, develop technologies that enable the production of components for cars, lorries and trains, including parts for Porsche engines.
Technology from Álava present worldwide
The exhibition has also highlighted the production and technological capabilities of major companies with a presence in the region. The Mercedes-Benz plant in Vitoria-Gasteiz manufactures models such as the Vito, eVito, V-Class and Marco Polo, as well as the new Mercedes-Benz VLE, a luxury electric MPV with a range of over 700 kilometres and 800-volt charging technology capable of recovering up to 355 kilometres in 15 minutes.
For its part, Michelin is celebrating six decades of operation in Vitoria-Gasteiz, where it set up in 1966. More than 10,100 people have worked at the factory over the years and, currently, eight million high-performance passenger car tyres roll off the production line there every year. The plant also holds the distinction of manufacturing tyres weighing up to 5,000 kilos and measuring over four metres in diameter, a feat recognised with a Guinness World Record in 1995.
Álava’s presence in global industry is also reflected in precision components. The RPK Group estimates that 80 per cent of vehicles in Europe and the United States incorporate parts manufactured in Álava. Specialising in the design and production of high-precision springs and metal components for sectors such as the automotive, electric mobility, medical, industrial and electrical sectors, the group manufactured 1.5 billion springs across all its plants last year, 600 million of which were produced in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Rounding off the tour is SMC Spain, a global leader in pneumatic technology and motion control equipment, which has its Iberian headquarters in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Its industrial automation solutions help to improve the efficiency, safety and sustainability of production processes in sectors as diverse as food, pharmaceuticals, the automotive industry and electronics.
Bringing industry closer to the younger generations
Made in Araba Day has also served to connect the business community with young talent. During this year’s event, companies from the Robotekin ecosystem opened their doors to students from Egibide, a partner organisation, to give them a first-hand look at their facilities, technologies and work processes.
These visits enable young people to learn about the career opportunities offered by the industry and to discover how robotics, automation and innovation are transforming businesses. It is a way of bringing the reality of industry closer to the younger generations and helping to prepare the talent that the industry of the future will need.
