History
Fagor Ederlan boasts a history marked by milestones, where people have built a path that has led us to the forefront of the sector. This journey has opened up new, innovative areas; challenges that we want to take on by looking to the future.
From a longing to be a world leader in Chassis and Powertrain components
In 1963, 60 intrepid individuals pooled their enthusiasm and determination to create a small cooperative. More than 5 decades later, Fagor Ederlan has become a world leader in the automotive components industry, with a business project based on the key principles of social, economic and environmental sustainability.
We are because of who they were
FagorEderlan S.Coop., central axis of the company, has gone from 60 to almost 2000 worker-owners, making us the largest cooperative within the Fagor Group, and largest number of members within the Mondragon Corporation industrial group.
"I would tell today’s workers to take initiatives but above all be happy going to work"
"It was an extremely intense time, not only local growth but also globalisation, taking the first step with Brazil. in 2000"
"The cooperativisation of plants like Tafalla or Usurbil, started back then, was a challenge and something of which we are very proud"
"Fagor Ederlan is constantly taking on major challenges. Said Gorroñogoitia of Ederlan - it is not an attractive, beautiful project, it is a robust, resilient project. That’s Ederlan!"
Driven by a social commitment and a desire to do something different, on 28th June, 1963, three small workshops came together in Eskoriatza (Basque Country-Spain) to create Comet, Cooperative Society which, in 1966, was renamed Ederlan S. Coop.
Specialising in the manufacture of cast and injected products, the first steps were taken on the industrial trajectory towards the automotive sector.
As the years went by, Ederlan was growing and opening markets. Machining is integrated into its value proposition and it secures its first international sales. These are the years of consolidation and positioning itself as a supplier of leading brand components.
In 1987 the Fagor Group was created and Ederlan S. Coop., along with 3 other cooperatives (Ulgor, Arrasate, and Copreci) are incorporated into the group, calling itself Fagor Ederlan since then.
From its very beginning Fagor Ederlan was clear that it had to incorporate a high level of technology and add value to its business. The cooperatives Amat (1993, Basque Country-Spain) and Impreci (1995, Basque Country-Spain) are incorporated into the group
The 1990s were full of challenges and investments in new plants and assembly lines that provided greater added value. FIT Automoción (1996-99, Basque Country-Spain) and Fagor Ederlan Borja (1999, Aragon-Spain) were incorporated.
The cooperative feels ready to begin its international journey, with the first stop being South America. In 2003 the group welcomes its first foundry and production plant in Extrema (Minas Gerais), Fagor Ederlan Brasileira.
Internacionalization is unstoppable. Its new plants in Europe, South America and Asia cover the four key component manufacturing technologies. Fagor Ederlan Slovensko (2006, Slovakia- Europe) and Fagor Ederlan Kunshan (2010, China-Asia) are born.
Technological alliances in the USA and Korea provide an even more immediate response to customers anywhere in the world.
2004 to 2006 are years of important social challenges. VL Usurbil, FIT Automoción and VL Tafalla become cooperatives. The number of members exceeds 1,500, a distinct step forward in the company’s socio-business project.
In 2008, Fagor Ederlan takes a leap into the future with the opening of the Edertek Technology Centre in collaboration with other companies from the Automotive Division of the Mondragón Corporation. This is the period when it consolidates its leadership and becomes a preferred partner with major manufacturers in the automotive sector.
In 2014 the Fagor EDERLAN Taldea business project is approved.
The commitment to innovation is strengthened. New plants are opened in Mexico (GISEderlan and Fagor Ederlan Mexico) and Europe (Bergara Aluminium Low Pressure Diecasting), employing technologies and processes aimed at manufacturing lightweight, aluminium components.
This increases its capacity and technological proposal adapted to the rapid developments of the automotive sector. Expertise in how manufactured components operate and the interaction between the materials and technologies used to create them is key to our success.
The Fagor Ederlan social transformation project is strengthened thanks to our environmental strategy, a mainstay of sustainable business development.
Other futures at Fagor Ederlan
- What will the cooperative and its transformation criterion be like in the future?
- What will components of the future be like in terms of performance and functional complexity?
- What will Fagor Ederlan be like in twenty years’ time in terms of structure, technologies and processes?
- What will we be like and what professional profiles will be needed?
These and other questions continue to motivate Fagor Ederlan to plan the future of the coming 50 years.