This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at El lehendakari preside la presentación del balance del proyecto Etorgai-Hiperion

The president of the Basque Country chairs the presentation of the balance of the project Etorgai-Hiperion

26/07/2012

26 July 2012

The president of the Basque Country Patxi López presented yesterday in the plant of Soraluce of Bergara (Gipuzkoa) the balance of the project Etorgai-Hiperion. Hiperion Is the result of the work of a team formed by 5 Basque companies, Soraluce (leader of the project), Etxe-tar, Goratu, Danobat and Zayer, specialised in big machines for pieces of big dimension, with strategic decision to advance in team and with the support of the two big technological corporations, IK4 and Tecnalia. The project also has had the support of Invema, technological unit of AFM as managing organism attendant of tasks of normalisation and of the manufacturing of the protocol of reception of the machines Hiperion.

The aim of the project Hiperion has been the position to the Basque consortium of machine-tool like first option of purchase to world-wide level in machines of precision for pieces of big size and traccionar of the territory like a source of sustainable growth. The budget of the project was of 11,5 million euros that have been executed to 100% without deviation some and with some results above the expected in three areas: new products, new processes and sustainability. Specifically they have generated more than 32 demostradores, 92 technical studies, 12 direct employments created, 10 new products, 7 new processes, 4 patents and 7 studies of feasibility of patent.

Of izq. To dcha.: Xabier Garmendia, viceconsejero of Industry and Power; Txema Gisasola, president of Corporation Mondragon; Alfredo Etxeberria, Mayor of Elgoibar; Rafael Barrenetxea, general director of the Group Danobat: Patxi López, President of the Basque Country of the Basque Government; Martín Garitano, General Deputy of Gipuzkoa; Bernabé Unda, adviser of Industry, Innovation, Trade and Tourism of the Basque Government; Rafael Idigoras, director manager of Soraluce S.coop.; José Ignacio Torrecilla, president of AFM Advanced Manufacturing Technologies; and Angel Mª Mendía, technical director of Soraluce S.coop.

In the act of presentation of the meeting were present beside the president of the Basque Country, the adviser of Industry, Innovation, Trade and Tourism of the Basque Government, the general deputy of Gipuzkoa, the president of AFM Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, the president of the Corporation Mondragon, members of the Department of Industry, Innovation, Trade and Tourism of the Basque Government, and mayors of the zone where has developed the project. Besides, they participated the representatives of the companies and technology centres that have taken part in this strategic project for the sector of machine-tool and for the business fabric Basque.

The president of the Basque Country put of relief that the Basque Government goes to be followed betting by these projects, still in this period of so marked budgetary restriction. Euskadi has an innovative industry that is in the avant-garde to international level. The sector of the machine-tool is one of the best examples with the project Etorgai-Hiperion. A project framed in the industry of the metal, of strong rooting in the Basque Country, sector that, in spite of the difficult economic moment that is living , keeps a dynamism and a vocation of innovation and internationalisation that allows him keep on being one of the fundamental supports of the industry, representing 78% of the state production of the sector of the machine tool, and being the ninth producer of the world.

After the success of this project in collaboration, the companies of the consortium Hiperion have wanted to continue working jointly stepping more. The past month of March presented an application of help to the Basque Government for the approval, also inside the program Etorgai, of a project of 3 years of length called ‘i-Maghine. Imagine Machine Tool'. The consortium in this occasion form it Goratu (leader of the project), Soraluce, Danobat, Zayer, Fagor Arrasate and Fagor Automation. The project pretends to approximate the concept of intelligent machine to the big machine: adaptable, reliable, amicable with the user, that contribute usability and service, in addition to productivity.