Detail information

• The new plant, in which the Guipuzcoan cooperative has invested €55 million, will employ 220 employees.
• Iñigo Urkullu, President of the Basque Government attended the opening, along with Arantxa Tapia, councillor of the Department of Economic Development and Infrastructure; Iñigo Ucín, President of the MONDRAGON Corporation; Aitor Axpe, President of Fagor Ederlan, and Juan Mari Palencia, Managing Director of Fagor Ederlan.
• Fagor Ederlan has upheld its commitment to technological development and international growth, without relocating, with the positive economic impact benefiting the community and the environment where it is based.
• The new plant manufactures 1.7 million pieces per year to supply the market’s premium car brands, such as BMW, Daimler or Jaguar Land Rover.

Bergara, 18th November, 2019.- Today in Bergara (Gipuzkoa) the Fagor Ederlan Group has officially opened a new low-pressure aluminium plant that employing 220 employees and in which the cooperative has invested €55 million for its full development.

The new factory specialises in manufacturing suspension components in low-pressure aluminium and is the Group’s iconic technology development plant in low-pressure aluminium, along with its other three active twin plants, one in Mexico, one in China and another in Arrasate (Basque Country).

Numerous personalities from the public sector, industry and the MONDRAGON Corporation attended the opening, such as Iñigo Urkullu, President of the Basque Government; Arantxa Tapia, councillor of the Department of Economic Development and Infrastructure; Iñigo Ucín, President of the MONDRAGON Corporation; Aitor Axpe, President of Fagor Ederlan, and Juan Mari Palencia, Managing Director of Fagor Ederlan, among others.

Under the slogan “Sustraitik mundura” (“From roots to the world”), the event showcased the Fagor Ederlan Group’s commitment to the future components for the automotive industry, technological development and international growth, without relocating, with the positive economic impact benefiting the community and the environment where it is based. “If we are in the world, then it is also to be able to continue here, committed to our project and future”.

Similarly, the Fagor Ederlan Group has upheld the cooperative values that lead the project of this industrial cooperative, the largest in terms of number of members within the MONDRAGON Corporation industrial group. Values such as people, the creation of quality employment and business sustainability.

Aitor Axpe, President of Fagor Ederlan, has made a point precisely about job creation: “Thanks to all the cooperative members we have been able to open the doors of this plant again, creating a new business, offering an opportunity of employment and a future for many people. We know that we bear a major social responsibility and our goal is to achieve sustainable development both for this plant and this business.” Something just as important, especially due to its commitment to innovation, is innovation applied to business development, the product and the automotive industry of the future.

This is what Juan Mari Palencia, Managing Director of Fagor Ederlan has conveyed: “We have always known how to adapt to market challenges. Today, the automobile industry is rapidly changing, however, thanks to our commitment to innovation, both in design and technology, we have been able to develop components weighing 50% less to meet the demands of premium customers such as BMW and Mercedes”. Innovation constantly open to customers, other technology centres, partners and universities, such as the University of Mondragon, boosting the Group’s commitment to innovation.

The event included a guided tour of the installations, where guests were able to see first-hand the latest generation of these safety components, plus an exhibition of all the Fagor Ederlan product lines, included among which are other components such as Brake and Suspension components, ICE Powertrain, Electric Powertrain and Structural components for automobile applications and commercial and industrial vehicles that the Fagor Ederlan group supplies from all its production plants around the world.

THE NEW FAGOR EDERLAN LOW PRESSURE ALUMINIUM PLANT IN BERGARA

The Fagor Ederlan Bergara plant manufactures 1.7 million pieces per year to supply the market’s premium car brands, such as BMW, Daimler or Jaguar Land Rover, among others. It specialises in low pressure aluminium die casting and machining to manufacture Chassis safety components.

This is one of the 4 Fagor Ederlan low pressure aluminium plants in the world. The other three are in Mexico, China and Arrasate (Basque Country). Globally, Fagor Ederlan Group supplies more than 6.2 million units of this type of product, with a growth projection that points to 7,5 millons in 2020, raising up to 8 millons 2021 onwards. 

Fagor Ederlan’s transformational role and its generation of employment is worthy of mention, given that this plant stands on the site of the former Geyser Gastech business and, thanks to Fagor Ederlan’s commitment to growth and development, it has been transformed into a new project that today employs 220 workers, a very young workforce with an average age of 38.

This includes professionals from other areas of Fagor Ederlan, people from the former Fagor Electrodomésticos cooperative, as well as new employees. Something that demonstrates the strength and vigour of the cooperative model: a commitment to people, adaptability and innovation in a changing economy.

FAGOR EDERLAN WITH THE FUTURE OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Fagor Ederlan is a world leader in Chassis and Powertrain components for the automotive sector. Our forward-looking strategy is based on innovation, technological development and our values as a cooperative committed to the environment, which makes us unique and different.

The Fagor Ederlan Group currently has more than 4,500 employees (2,500 of these in Gipuzkoa). To provide its customers with an optimised service, Fagor Ederlan has 18 production plants spread throughout the world, 11 of which are in Spain (10 in Euskadi, 1 in Navarre), 2 in Mexico, 2 in Brazil, 2 in China and another in Slovakia.

Thanks to its ability to offer advanced product solutions in terms of functionality, requirements, weight and service, the cooperative has managed to position itself among the top brands within the automotive sector Expert in casting iron and aluminium, it is able to offer multi-material, multi-technology and global alternatives in all of its product lines. Product lines that cover key vehicle safety functions, such as brakes, suspension, powertrain, both electric and ICE, and structural components.

All this focusing on proximity to the market, the customer, as well as in terms of innovation. One clear example of this is the history of the product that the Bergara plant manufactures: Low pressure die cast aluminium steering knuckle. An alternative that allows the weight of vehicles to be reduced without jeopardising their safety. And it is this lightening, safety and the design of high performance products that form part of our global proposal.

A safe bet with a view to the future, given that weight reduction is the driving force behind the industry, both in current and future vehicles, whether electric, hydrogen or other technology. Something that has earned trust from the most important car brands, manufacturing 50 million pieces annually among all of its products and a turnover of more than €657 million per year. 1 out of every 2 vehicles on the market is fitted with Fagor Ederlan parts.

The group’s current offer includes Chassis, Powertrain, Electric Powertrain and Structural, both for automobile as well as commercial and industrial applications, always committed to high quality products and tailored to the needs of each customer.

EDERTEK, THE FAGOR EDERLAN GROUP’S TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

The Fagor Ederlan Group has had its own technology centre since 2008, Edertek, a place where ideas are transformed into new products, materials and advanced processes. 50 engineers work at Edertek, supported by 350 more engineers throughout the various departments of Fagor Ederlan, leading a process of innovation with a view to technological progress, weight reduction, electrification, recyclability of materials and industry 4.0., offering customers the very latest in cutting edge for vehicles, anticipating the market and taking its needs into account.

ABOUT OUR ORIGINS

The Fagor Ederlan Group belongs to the Fagor Group, made up of 8 cooperatives: Fagor Industrial, Copreci, Fagor Electrónica, Fagor Ederlan, Fagor Arrasate, Fagor Automation, Mondragon Assembly and Galbaian.

The Fagor Ederlan Group keeps the transformational spirit that spearheaded the cooperative project in its very beginning alive and which promotes values such as self-demand, co-responsibility, inter-cooperation, responsible solidarity and social transformation. All this in the light of sustainability, which has allowed the Fagor Ederlan Group to position itself among the top 10 suppliers in the automotive sector, creating value both in its business and the environment, opting for leadership, people, quality employment and innovation.