25 April, 2024The Basque machine-tool manufacturer Danobat has inaugurated last 24th April a 12,000 square metre industrial plant at its headquarters in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa). The construction of the new facilities has been supported by the Basque Government with a total investment of 20 million euros.
The inauguration of the new plant, which coincides with the cooperative's 70th anniversary, is the first phase of an investment plan that responds to Danobat's growing order book and its development strategy, and which is aligned with the Danobatgroup's investment plan, in which apart from Danobat, the Soraluce and Goimek cooperatives are also investing more than 20 and 10 million respectively to respond to the challenges of the sector.
Thanks to the specialisation in the design and development of advanced manufacturing solutions with high added value, together with the innovation that distinguishes its business model, Danobat continues to experience solid growth by consolidating its presence in key regions such as Central Europe, China and North America.
"By 2024 we expect to grow to a turnover of 200 million euros and consolidate it in the next strategic period, positioning ourselves as a benchmark in the precision solutions in which we compete. For this reason, we want to continue expanding the Danobat brand, diversifying our technological offer and reinforcing the commitment to the environment that has distinguished us from the outset", Xabier Alzaga, CEO of Danobat, emphasised during his speech.
Specifically, the pavilion inaugurated by the co-operative has unique features in terms of air conditioning and floor quality to enable high-precision assembly and commissioning activities to be carried out. Photovoltaic panels have also been installed with the aim of generating a third of the total energy consumed in this way, furthering the co-operative's sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint.
The event, which concluded with a tour of the plant, was attended, among other authorities, by the acting Lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu; the Basque Government's Minister for Economic Development, Sustainability and the Environment, Arantxa Tapia; the General Deputy of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Eider Mendoza; the mayoress of Elgoibar, Maialen Gurrutxaga; the president of the Mondragon Corporation, Iñigo Ucín; and the general manager of Danobatgroup, Pello Rodríguez.
Strong inside and outside the Basque CountryDanobat's new facilities endorse its commitment to growth by promoting quality employment in the Basque Country and strengthening the cooperative's local capacity to be able to compete better in a global market.
"Our commitment to the social, environmental and economic sustainability of our surroundings has marked our roadmap during these 70 years of history. Our activity boosts the well-being and progress of the people who make it up and generates projects that have a positive impact on the local area", Alzaga stressed.
With a total workforce of around 700 people worldwide, 410 of them in the Basque Country, the company strengthens its presence in Elgoibar with the opening of the new plant and equips itself with key facilities to accompany its international growth in the three main geographical areas: Central Europe, North America and China.
In addition to its firm commitment to local growth, Danobat continues to focus on a presence close to its customers. Along these lines, in 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, it redoubled its commitment in the Asian country, for example, and last year opened a new subsidiary in Mexico.
Technological diversification has also been essential in this process with acquisitions such as the subsidiaries Overbeck in Germany and Hembrug in the Netherlands. The former is also celebrating its 100th anniversary this year as a leader in the design and manufacture of internal grinding machines.
In line with this strategy, the manufacturer has launched a new business to design and manufacture flexible machines with precision robotic architecture for machining lightweight material parts.
"This is a big leap in innovation. We are launching a new product line as an alternative to traditional machining systems and we expect to present the first results to the market in 2025," added Danobat's CEO.
