Promoted by AFM CLUSTER, STECH brings together and boosts businesses that offer digitalisation, automation and robotics and maintenance services for advanced manufacturing.

The creation of STECH, the Smart Manufacturing Technologies Association of Spain, was agreed by the board of management of AFM, the association behind AFM CLUSTER, on 16 December, with the goal of representing and grouping together companies that offer digitalisation, automation and robotics, and maintenance services for advanced manufacturing.
STECH is a new initiative of AFM CLUSTER, an organisation that represents the interests of advanced and digital manufacturing in Spain through six industrial associations. The recently formed STECH association joins AFM, ADDIMAT, AFMEC, ESKUIN and UPTEK to bring together more than 600 businesses, that provide employment to 16,500 individuals and turn over more than 3 billion euros.
The new association begins its journey with the aim of accelerating the development of the manufacturing industry, adding the group of smart technology companies for advanced manufacturing to AFM Cluster. The search for synergies and meeting points with the other industries represented within the AFM Cluster, such as machine tools, additive and 3D manufacturing, contract manufacturing and mechanical engineering, hand tools, etc., is the lever to move faster towards industry 4.0.

The founding partners of STECH include, in addition to AFM, businesses such as 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. The association is open to include all companies offering hardware, software and services, related to digitalisation (IIoT, Connectivity, Monitoring, Data Analytics, Simulation, Artificial Vision, Machine Learning, AI and Platforms, etc.), 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 support of the AFM professional team, which in addition to promoting collaboration and contact among its members, deals with the areas of internationalisation, technology, communication and human resources. Its headquarters are based out of its premises in the Gipuzkoa Science and Technology Park.
The new association will bring the current members of AFM Cluster closer to a collective of businesses that are active players in the transformation of the industry into Industry 4.0. With this new incorporation, AFM Cluster completes its ecosystem and reinforces its commitment to advanced industry as the driving force of sustainable development in our society.

For more information, please contact the Director of the Communication Department, María Ruiz-Lopetedi ([email protected]), phone numbers 943 309 009 / 679 979 083.

 

ABOUT AFM CLUSTER

AFM CLUSTER is the organisation that represents the interests of Advanced and Digital Manufacturing. Made up of six industry associations, it groups almost 600 companies, which employ 16,500 people and have a joint turnover of over 3 billion euros. From its headquarters in San Sebastian, and its set-up in Tianjin (China), AFM CLUSTER works to promote the internationalisation, industrial development, strategic positioning and training of people in its associated companies. The six related and synergistic sectors that AFM CLUSTER provides services to are the following:
• Machine-tool and advanced manufacturing technologies. AFM-Advanced Manufacturing Technologies is the founding association, which gives its name to the cluster. With 75 years of history, it has 128 members that provide the industry with machine tools and other equipment for the manufacture of components, accessories and cutting tools.
• Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing. ADDIMAT brings together 103 companies operating in this new sector, destined to be a relevant part in many industrial sectors, such as, for example, the aerospace, biomedical and automotive sectors.
• Hand Tools, Hardware and Industrial Supply. ESKUIN represents 20 companies that manufacture hand tools and hardware products, to the highest standards of quality and safety.
• Machining and Metal-Mechanical Transformation. AFMEC joins the machining and meta-mechanical transformation workshop collective. With 178 member companies, it aims to bring visibility and services to one of the most important industrial groups in Spain.
• Technology-based companies and startups. UPTEK represents 131 technological companies and startups dedicated to advanced and digital manufacturing.
• Companies offering smart tech for advanced manufacturing. STECH is created with twenty businesses to form a collective with specific offerings in smart tech for manufacturing.
AFM CLUSTER also has 91 services companies for the industry as partners. AFM CLUSTER forms part of different international associations, such as CECIMO, ECTA or CEO, it is the co-organiser, along with BEC -Bilbao Exhibition Centre-, of the international fairs BIEMH, ADDIT3D, WORKINN and BEDIGITAL and it actively collaborates in the fairs INDUSTRY TOOLS and SUBCONTRATACIÓN. It is a co-organiser of CMH – Congress on Advanced and Digital Manufacturing and Machine Tools.