AFM CLUSTER Promotes New Association, STECH, to Foster Businesses for Advanced Manufacturing

San Sebastian, Spain – AFM board of management, the association behind AFM CLUSTER, agreed to the formation of STECH, the Smart Manufacturing Technologies Association of Spain, with the goal of representing and grouping together companies that provide digitalization, automation and robotics, and maintenance services for advanced manufacturing lately. STECH is a new initiative of AFM CLUSTER, a group of six industrial associations that represent the interests of advanced and digital manufacturing in Spain.

The newly formed STECH association joins AFM, ADDIMAT, AFMEC, ESKUIN, and UPTEK to bring together over 600 businesses that employ 16,500 individuals and generate over €3 billion in revenue. With the addition of the group of smart technology companies for advanced manufacturing to the AFM Cluster, the new association begins its journey to accelerate development of the manufacturing industry. The search for synergies and meeting points with other industries represented within the AFM Cluster, such as machine tools, additive and 3D manufacturing, contract manufacturing and mechanical engineering, hand tools, and so on, is the lever to accelerate the transition to Industry 4.0.

Aingura, Aldakin, AyS, Egile, Fagor Automation, Festo, Gaindu, Lantek, Lazpiur, Murr Elektronik, Omron, Pixel Sistemas, Savvy, SmartPM, Vixion, Zitu, Technological Centres Ideko, Tecnalia and Tekniker, IMH Advanced Manufacturing Campus, and BEC are among STECH’s founding partners, in addition to AFM. The association is open to including all companies offering hardware, software, and services related to digitalization (IIoT, Connectivity, Monitoring, Data Analytics, Simulation, Artificial Vision, Machine Learning, AI and Platforms, among other things), automation and robotics, and advanced maintenance and assembly with specific applications for manufacturing, and such businesses can apply for membership of STECH at any time.

STECH is managed with the help of the AFM professional team, which deals with internationalization, technology, communication, and human resources, in addition to promoting collaboration and contact among its members. The company’s headquarters are located in the Gipuzkoa Science and Technology Park. The new association will bring current AFM Cluster members closer to a group of businesses that are actively involved in the industry’s transformation to Industry 4.0. With this new incorporation, AFM Cluster completes its ecosystem and reaffirms its commitment to the advanced industry as the propeller of our society’s long-term development.

Image Source: AFM