Called SoldAvanza, it was launched this summer. It is a project consisting of a Rotary Friction Welding test bench, financed by the CDTI and with the Lortek technology centre as a partner.

The talent that enables industry to move forward and provides new innovative technologies is no stranger to the Basque Country. Basque companies are often the source of new solutions to make all kinds of processes more efficient and competitive. Among them is Berkoa Machine Tools, in Elgoibar, a small company that, after only six years of existence, has already launched an innovative advanced welding machine; the only manufacturer of this type of machinery in Spain.

The company was founded in February 2016 after the closure of Kondia-Akoin. “Customers demanded continuity for various special machine tool projects, in which we had a lot of experience. For many companies, we covered a very important space as manufacturers, adapting to their needs due to our flexibility”, says Andoni Garcia-Abad Etxeberria, managing director of Berkoa Machine Tools.

In this way, Berkoa had an experienced human team from the very beginning and its objective was to recruit young people in order to expand the staff and cover retirements. Many of them came from the IMH Advanced Manufacturing and Digital Campus in Elgoibar, a centre with which the company has a close relationship. “This mix has allowed us to create a perfect tandem, including innovation and the talent of young people”. It currently employs 15 people, and plans to add two or three more by 2022.

More information: Blog de la empresa vasca. Grupo Spri.