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 avril, 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 avril, 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 janvier, 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 janvier, 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 Aviles, 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 Aviles, 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 novembre, 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 octobre, 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 septembre, 2018 /  

Axalta chooses Asturias to expand its business as a Global Centre of Excellence

Throughout the month of September, the company will move its service centre from Valle de Tamón in Asturias to the Llanera Technology Park. This move is promoted by the regional government and managed by the Economic Development Agency of the Principality of Asturias (IDEPA). The infrastructure and services provided by the Technological Park, as well as the existing options for future expansion, have been some of the fundamental reasons for choosing this site. The centre will provide financial, technological, human resources, purchasing, logistical and marketing services on a global level.

The move resulted from the company’s decision to make Asturias its “global centre of excellence”. This change will allow the company to increase its staff by 197 employees from 12 countries; from a minimum of 400 up to 2020. New hires will be made in Asturias and others will be transferred from within the company.

The multinational American company Axalta Coating Systems began operations as an independent company in 2013, after the de-merger from DuPont as an automobile industry painting company. The company is present in America, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific, has over 13,300 employees and serves 100,000 clients, creating annual sales of 3.761 million euros.

Source: La Nueva España

30 août, 2018 /  

Asturias wins European Entrepreneurial Region Award 2019

Only the regions with the most credible and promising entrepreneurial vision are awarded the European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) each year, an initiative organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). This year the jury selected the principality of Asturias, province of Gelderland, and region of Thessaly as worthy winners for their outstanding strategies and commitment to boosting entrepreneurship within their territories.

« The 2019 winners are testament that Europe’s regions are the main engine for growth and making a difference in creating jobs. », said Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of the Regions announcing the Award winners.

The Principality of Asturias in north-west Spain has been undergoing profound economic restructuring, shifting from an economy based on traditional industries to one based on skills. Past intense industrial development is a challenge for the region, whose EER strategy is firmly based on innovation, diversification and human capital. The region was selected based on its impressive set of specific actions that address business creation and growth, increasing SME access to finance and promoting entrepreneurship education, underpinned by measures to support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

“Innovation and entrepreneurship are two concepts that are linked for the Government of the Principality of Asturias. In this regard, we promote programmes on different educational stages that stimulate our young people’s talent to generate a system of knowledge-intensive SME´s and start-ups that boost innovation in corporates », said Isaac Pola Alonso, Minister of Employment, Industry and Tourism in Regional Government of Principality of Asturias.

 

Source: Comité Europeo de las Regiones
More information: http://www.rtpa.es/asturias:Asturias-se-une-al-selecto-club-de-las-regiones-europeas-emprendedoras_111530731102.html

6 juillet, 2018 /  

IDEPA Asturias, Best European Regional Development Agency of 2017

EURADA, the European Association of Development Agencies, has recognised the Economic Development Agency of the Principality of Asturias (IDEPA) as “Best Regional Development Agency of 2017”.

The award ceremony was held today in Charleroi, Belgium. In attendance at the ceremony were the Regional Minister of Employment, Industry and Tourism and the General Manager of  IDEPA

In an interview granted to the newspaper El Comercio, Eva Pando, the General Manager of the regional agency that was awarded the prize, stressed that this distinction was a source of great satisfaction. -It constitutes a recognition by your peers at the European Association of Development Agencies.

The prize was granted due to the program ‘Open Innovation 4.0’ which is managed by IDEPA in Asturias. “It is a satisfaction for all parties involved” asserted the General Manager of IDEPA. Collaborators in this project include companies such as Thyssenkrupp Elevator Innovation Center, ArcelorMittal I+D or EdP. It enables the development of entrepreneurial businesses by promoting their interaction with attractor companies located in Asturias.

 

Source: El Comercio

21 juin, 2018 /