Vista aérea de la planta de AGRCR en Carreño Asturias

Carreño will host the first sustainable metal recovery plant in Spain

The foreign capital company AGR Catalyst Recovery (AGRCR) reinforces its presence in Asturias and will install in Carreño a plant dedicated to the valorization of metals contained in exhausted catalysts.

The plant, a pioneer facility in Spain, will create eight jobs in two years. This operation is part of the Asturias RIS3 Intelligent Specialization Strategy and fits into the circular economy model promoted by the European Union.

 

Planta de AGRCR en Carreño Asturias

The technological process of valorization of metals contained in exhausted catalysts resulting from chemical processes has been developed by one of AGCR’s partners, the Asturian company Aprochim-Getesarp-Rymoil, S.A. (AGR). AGRCR’s 65% is owned by AGR, which in turn has 27% of French capital (APROCHIM).

The Sociedad Regional de Promoción del Principado (SRP) is financing this AGRCR initiative with 700,000 euros. The support of SRP ensures a global project of 2.5 million euros. The investment will be mainly devoted to the acquisition of ancillary equipment and systems.

Reduction of resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

The metal concentrate obtained in the process will be reintroduced into the life-cycle of the catalysts, which will lead to a more sustainable management by avoiding landfilling. This will reduce consumption of primary mineral resources as well as energy and greenhouse gas emissions associated with mining.

Catalysts are substances that have the ability to alter the speed of a chemical reaction, increasing or decreasing it, in a process known as catalysis. They are used in a multitude of industrial processes to optimize them, increasing the speed of the reactions they need.

 

Catalizadores planta de AGRCR en Carreño Asturias

Since 1998, the Asturian company AGR has been treating oils and equipment contaminated with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), a toxic chemical compound.

This company was the first of its kind implemented in Spain and currently has the country’s largest capacity and Europe’s second largest. Its facilities are located in the Logrezana Business Park, in Carreño, on a plot of 8,500 square metres and pending an extension of 5,000 square metres.

AGR is an authorized manager for all types of catalysts out of use, both for those which it is not profitable or possible to recover metals from and must be managed environmentally, as well as those whose metals can be recovered and returned to the owner, or valued and paid according to the price of the metal exchange.

 

Laboratorio de la planta de AGRCR en Carreño Asturias

Together with AGR, the majority shareholder, AGRCR includes the British company BMJS Investments Limited, made up of two firms with extensive experience in the management and treatment of spent catalysts and the international marketing of metals from these catalysts.

Circular economy project supported by IDEPA

This initiative of sustainable treatment and valorization of metals is a brilliant circular economy project that was born from another Research and Development (R&D) project launched by AGR and financed by the Economic Development Institute of the Principality of Asturias (IDEPA). After studying its viability, the company is now moving to the productive investment stage, accompanied by international partners and with the support of the regional administration, through the SRP.

The project is part of the Asturias RIS3 Intelligent Specialization Strategy, which includes among its priority lines the commitment to sustainable materials. It also fits into the circular economy model promoted by the European Union to improve resource efficiency and reduce dependence on imports of raw materials.

17 July, 2019 /  
Delegación IDEPA Asturias visita Tarapacá Chile

Asturias shows in Chile its potential as an investment destination

The presentation of Asturias as a versatile and competitive investment destination was one of the objectives of the visit that a delegation from the Principality of Asturias made the first week of July to Tarapacá, a region located in the far north of Chile.

The delegation was headed by the general directors of the Economic Development Institute of the Principality of Asturias (IDEPA), Eva Pando, and the Sociedad de Promoción Exterior Principado de Asturias, S.A. (Asturex), Teresa Vigón. This initiative is part of the International Urban Cooperation Programme of the European Union (IUC).

 

Delegación IDEPA Asturias visita Tarapacá Chile

The visit led to the signing of a collaboration agreement with the Chilean region of Tarapacá, signed by the regional mayor, Miguel Ángel Quezada. The agenda of this trade mission to Chile sought to generate synergies and find common ground to promote the development and competitiveness of the industrial environment of Asturias, as well as attract new investment to the region.

Circular economy, Industry 4.0 and renewable energies

The meetings maintained with significant entities in the Chilean region served to detect lines of collaboration for Asturian companies in areas such as the circular economy, Industry 4.0 and renewable energies, mainly solar photovoltaic.

Regarding circular economy, our delegation was able to learn about the project for the implementation of a technology center at the national level, developed by the Center for Innovation and Economy Circular (CIEC), along with the Government of Tarapacá and the Corporation for the Promotion of Production (CORFO). Also interesting for Asturian companies could be the Tarapacá Hub, a center of entrepreneurship focused on circular innovation in mining, logistics and solar energy.

 

Delegación IDEPA Asturias visita Tarapacá Chile Delegación IDEPA Asturias visita Tarapacá Chile

In the area of Industry 4.0, the important fishing industry of the country is implementing technologies related to artificial intelligence, opening potential lines of collaboration with Asturian companies included in the catalogue of key enabling technologies (KETs) that are part of the strategy Asturias Industry 4.0, led by the Government.

Another market niche for Asturian companies is that of renewable energies. In 2020, Tarapacá will have an energy mix in which renewable energies will play a leading role, generating more than 80% of electricity.

 

Delegación IDEPA Asturias visita Tarapacá Chile

The region of Tarapacá has two key infrastructures, the Port of Iquique, and a free-trade zone, the Free-Trade Zone of Iquique, S.A. (ZOFRI S.A.), which represents a competitive advantage and makes it very attractive for international trade. The Port of Iquique has a privileged location, considered the natural door of the central cone of South America from and towards international markets. In addition to that, the Free-Trade Zone, is equipped with a platform of services to commercialize and facilitate business in the southern cone of Latin America, where more than two thousand companies develop their activities.

Promotion of sustainable urban development

The European Union’s International Urban Cooperation Programme aims to promote the exchange of good practices and more sustainable territories between different regions of the world. It is part of a long-term EU strategy to promote sustainable urban development in cooperation with the public and private sectors, as well as with community groups and citizens.

This initiative has a budget of more than €5 million and will run for three years. Twenty cities and regions in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru have been selected under the programme for collaboration with their European counterparts.

16 July, 2019 /  
Nestlé provee de leche ecológica su planta de Sebares Asturias

Nestlé supplies organic milk to its Sebares plant

The plant owned by the Swiss company Nestlé in Sebares, Asturias, has started to be provided with organic milk for the production of liquid milk products meant for children.

In the first year, around one million liters of milk -from the 26 million that the plant in Sebares receives annually- will come from the organic milk production farms that already work with the factory.

NESTLE

The company understands that this measure adapts to the consumers demands and supports the farmers in their efforts to adapt, for two years, their farms in order to minimise the environmental impact and obtain the pertinent ecological certification.

Two Nestlé plants in Asturias

The Sebares facility employs around 200 workers and in 2018 registered a production volume of 51,000 tons.

The multinational has another plant in Gijón, which is dedicated to the manufacture of tinned and sterilised dishes, including the preparation of the well-known Litoral fabada, with a history dating back some 60 years. Likewise, cured meat are produced in that plant exclusively for pre-cooked dishes Litoral.

Last April, Nestlé announced an investment for the factory in Sebares close to 8 million euros for a new production line that will allow manufacturing in 2020 new baby fruit purees formats. The multinational understands this movement as a commitment for its center in Asturias.

Nestlé also reported in October that the company will focus on food and beverages and healthy nutrition.

12 July, 2019 /  

Asturias promotes its advantages and opportunities as an investment destination at Hannover Messe 2019

The Government of Asturias has completed its participation in Hannover Messe this week, the largest Industry Fair in the world. The Government of the Principality of Asturias participated in the event with an institutional stand, where it presented its advanced manufacturing capacities and the advantages of the Asturias Digital Innovation Hub, a tool promoted by the Government to facilitate the digitalisation of companies.

Among the activities undertaken, was the particularly noteworthy visit to the stand by the Ambassador of Spain in Germany, Ricardo Martínez Vázquez, who toured the pavilion accompanied by the Economic and Trade Advisor of the Spanish Embassy in Berlin, Lucinio Muñoz, and who discovered the strengths of Asturian Industry 4.0 via the IDONIAL Design and Manufacturing Centre and the CTIC Technology Centre, and the offer of digital enablers.

The CTIC Business and Operations director, Pablo Coca, showed the diplomat how an industrial plant can be controlled from the CTIC headquarters in Asturias, some 1,950 kilometres away, using the Internet and communication technologies. In turn, IDONIAL, the new technological centre created from the merger between ITMA Materials Technology and Prodintec, demonstrated an aero-transportable factory held in a 3D printing laboratory, designed in collaboration with the European Defence Agency, with which this entity aims to test the impact of this technology in military operations in conflict zones.

The meetings held between the directors of Industry and Telecommunications, Manuel Monterrey; from Idepa, Eva Pando, and from Asturex, Teresa Vigón, had the two-fold objective of presenting the Asturias Digital Innovation Hub and introducing the Principality of Asturias as an attractive region for recruiting and setting up new business projects. In this respect, a particularly interesting meeting took place with the CEO of the Phoenix Contact Group.

The activity of the Asturian clusters linked to the innovation hub – Clúster TIC and MetaIndustry4 – proved essential when participating in an international meeting with similar organisations from Canada and Europe. Furthermore, institutional representatives from the Principality visited the Asturian company exhibitors at Hannover Messe: Oxiplant and JP Industrias Mecánicas.

In parallel to these activities, as a member of the Enterprise Europe Network, Idepa participated in Technology Cooperation Day, an event celebrated within the framework of the fair to look for international partners, and where the six participating entities (companies, clusters and technology centres) established over 60 international contacts.

 

The relevance of the previous edition of Hannover Messe enabled 5,000 exhibitors to present their proposals to over 200,000 visitors, bringing the real and virtual worlds together with new solutions for smart manufacturing.

30 April, 2019 /  

2018 saw ArcelorMittal invest 26 million euros in R&D in Asturias

Oviedo, 5th April 2019 – Nicolás de Abajo, the global leader of the ArcelorMittal R&D Centres around the world, and José Manuel Arias, president of ArcelorMittal in Spain, met today with Javier Fernández, president of the Principality of Asturias Government, to follow up the collaboration between the Government of the Community and the Company in the field of research, development and innovation.

 

The meeting follows the recent signing of a new framework agreement of collaboration between the two entities for the 2019-2022 period. The collaboration over these coming years between the Government and the company incorporates new changes to previous alliances, with the signing of an agreement between the Regional Promotion Society of the Principality of Asturias, the European Business and Innovation Centre, and ArcelorMittal, for the creation and development of technology-based companies linked to the activities carried out in the Company’s two Global R&D Centres located in Asturias, framed within a co-investment approach.

 

Over the past ten years, the Global R&D staff base in Asturias has grown from little more than 20 researchers and technicians to over 300, who now work between the two Centres. Since the signing of the previous agreement with the Regional Government in 2014, ArcelorMittal’s investment in R&D in Asturias has multiplied fivefold, expanding from 7 million euros in 2015 to reach 26 million euros in 2018. To this figure a further 15 million euros have been poured into creating laboratories and pilot plants designed exclusively for R&D. In 2019, the Company plans to continue its evolution in R&D research in Asturias within its global R&D structure. In the Asturian centres this drive is closely linked to improving productive processes, new products, the circular economy and to emerging “mega-trending technologies” such as 3D printing, nano-materials, Digitalisation or Industry 4.0.

Nicolás de Abajo commented: “Our aim with this new agreement is to continue to explore mega-trending technologies, the industrialisation of innovative solutions that are being developed in the Global R&D centres based in Asturias, and the creation of new opportunities for economic activity in the region, contributing to the evolution of the productive fabric: we hope to be able to revise it upwards in terms of prospects, investment and the creation of employment year after year”.

 

In turn, José Manual Arias thanked the firm support from the Regional Government: “The successive collaboration agreements signed between our company and the Principality of Asturias Government have significantly contributed to the exponential growth of research and innovation activities developed by the two Asturian-based Centres. The talent developed by the team of researchers has transformed our company into a global leader in diverse fields, such as excellence in research linked to the rail industry, Industry 4.0, the efficient use of water and other natural resources, gas recovery, and research into the use of new materials. We would like to thank the Principality of Asturias Government for placing its trust in ArcelorMittal, demonstrated with the successive collaboration agreements signed”.

30 April, 2019 /  

Japanese multinational Krosaki Harima acquires the Asturian company Refractaria

The Asturian company Refractaria has been acquired by Krosaki AMR Refractarios S.A.U., belonging to the Japanese group Krosaki Harima Corporation, a leading operator in the sector. With this move, the Japanese company will expand its offer of refractory solutions to its client base.

Just as the Japanese company has announced, this acquisition “fits perfectly into the company’s growth strategy”. Thanks to this operation, the products of Refractaria and its new shareholder will be commercialised in over 60 countries.

Krosaki Harima Corporation has subsidiaries in 5 countries and develops refractory materials for the steel, lime and cement industries, as well as non-ferrous metal and continuous casting industries. It is listed on the Tokyo and Fukuoka stock markets.

Refractaria emerged in 1948 as a supplier of Duro Felguera’s refractory material. In 2008 the company embarked upon an internationalisation strategy by opening sales and delegation offices in 7 countries in different continents. It currently collaborates with the ITMA Foundation, as one of its founding partners, as well as in the Asturian Refractories Cluster.

 

Sources: La Nueva España, Web Krosaki AMR Refractarios S.A.U.

11 January, 2019 /  

Asturias topped Spanish GDP growth in 2017

Figures published by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) position Asturias as the autonomous community with the highest GDP growth in 2017. The year-on-year advance was 3.8%, exceeding the Spanish average (3%) by 0.8 points, and the European average (2.4%) by 1.4 points. The subsequent positions were Cantabria and Aragon with a 3.4% growth rate, followed by Madrid with 3.3%.

The Asturian industrial sector, with an increase of 8.1%, was the greatest driving force behind the region’s GDP growth. Professional and scientific activities (7.1%), and construction (6.1%) were also an influencing factor on the increase in GDP in Asturias, allowing it to secure the top spot in the ranking of autonomous communities. Likewise, sectors such as IT and communications (3.4%), and trade (2.5%) revealed GDP increases throughout 2017.

The Hispalink integrated regional modelling network envisages an increase in GDP in Asturias of 2.6% in 2018.

Source: La Nueva España

9 January, 2019 /  

3D Technologies: ArcelorMittal Spain and the Austrian company Frankstahl Technology come together in Asturias to form Thesteelprinters, designing, manufacturing and commercialising replacement steel pieces for industrial equipment based on 3D technologies.

After researching additive manufacturing at its global R&D centre in Avilés, ArcelorMittal Spain has forged a business alliance with the technology division of the Austrian multinational Frankstahl group. This partnership has led to the creation of a new company called Thesteelprinters, specialising in the design, manufacture and commercialisation of 3D printed steel pieces.

This company was constituted to meet the need detected by ArcelorMittal to shift laboratory-based research to the industrial manufacture of pieces based on 3D technologies. To do this, they have relied on Frankstahl Technology, a company present in 10 European countries and outstanding for its high levels of innovation within the industrial sector.

Thesteelprinter’s production centre is located in Avilés, in the Principality of Asturias Business Park (PEPA), where ArcelorMittal Spain has its headquarters. Here, the company has already begun to design and manufacture steel pieces, such as air nozzles and water diffusers, used by the Indian multinational in its machinery and production processes.

Thesteelprinters was founded in September 2018 with a capital of 2 million euros. This company will not just supply ArcelorMittal, as it also aims to market its 3D printed pieces to different industrial companies that carry out their activity in the metallurgy, steel making and mining sectors.

The presence of this new company gives our region a new drive in industrial innovation, setting an example of business confidence from foreign multinationals and adding yet another piece to the Asturian Steel Innovation Cluster.

Source: La Nueva España

6 November, 2018 /  

Asturias presents its “Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Hub –AM2H” at Offshore Energy 2018

Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference (OEEC) is Europe’s leading offshore energy event. It takes place on October 23 and 24 in Amsterdam and it has become a global benchmark concerning marine energy industry, oil&gas and offshore wind, gathering the most influential companies and stakeholders in the sector.

20 institutions and companies located in Asturias participate in the fair. The business promotional initiative is led by the Minister of Employment, Industry and Tourism, Isaac Pola; also it has the participation of the managing director of IDEPA, Eva Pando, and the director of Asturex, Teresa Vigón.

As the Minister of Industry has pointed out “This sector, offshore wind, combines the logistical and industrial capabilities of Asturias. The fair involves more than 600 companies from 90 countries. It is a great opportunity to strengthen and consolidate the presence of the Asturian industry in a growing sector “.

23 October, 2018 /  

Du Pont and Corteva, branches of the DowDuPont multinational, will have a European service centre in Asturias.

The North American multinational has opted for the Tamón complex (Carreño) to house its service centre, following Axalta’s envisaged transfer to the Asturias Technology Park in Llanera.

In Asturias the company has three factories, a service centre and 1,200 employees. Throughout this year it has incorporated around a hundred workers, a move that required additional building modules to accommodate them.

The service centre will function European-wide in the areas of human resources, information technologies, purchasing and logistics. It will also have a finance department offering its services globally. The companies are set to operate independently by 1st November, and the split will be definitive by June 2019.

Corteva, the agricultural division, and Du Pont, specialised products, belong to the DowDuPont company. This business conglomerate started operating in 2017 following the merge of the Dow Chemical and Du Pont multinationals. This multinational, with a 26-year history in Asturias, is present in over 90 countries, and is currently the largest chemical company in the world.

Job offers (LinkedIn) from Du Pont and Corteva

Source: La Nueva España

7 September, 2018 /