AFM CLUSTER CONTINUES GROWTH WITH NEW MEMBER, AIMHE

During its annual assembly, AFM Cluster has announced that machine tool importers’ association, AIMHE, will be joining its ranks, bringing 50 new businesses and a considerable boost to the organisation's growth.

Set up in 2009 as a nationwide non-profit association, AIMHE’s mission is to represent and advocate for the interests of the machine tool import and distribution sector in Spain. The association’s main challenges include refocusing the metal mechanical industry towards higher tech, more complex sectors and products, industry 4.0 and digitalisation.

In parallel to the AFM general assembly in which the new member was announced, the assembly meetings were also held for the other four associations forming AFM Cluster: ADDIMAT, ESKUIN, AFMEC and UPTEK.

The ADDIMAT assembly elected Amadeo Corrius to the position of president of the Association. Corrius is owner and CEO of PIXEL SISTEMAS and has extensive experience in the 3D printing sector. His company has been distributing Stratasys printers since 2005. This pioneering polymer additive manufacturing brand is headquartered in the US and PIXEL is one of its platinum partners.  During his speech, the new president highlighted the importance of continuing to showcase the advantages that 3D printing technologies offer in different sectors, providing real examples, to accelerate the adoption of these technologies throughout the industry.

The board of management of ADDIMAT was also renewed, currently comprising representatives from the following companies: ADDILAN, ARCELORMITTAL, BEC, EGILE, HP, HYPERION, IBARMIA, OPTIMUS3D, ROVALMA, UPV/EHU and PIXEL SISTEMAS.

After the general assemblies, the 300 plus attendees gathered at a joint celebration event, “2023 Advanced and Digital Manufacturing Day”, at which, after a presentation on the economic outlook by Xabier Ortueta, general manager of AFM Cluster, a guest presentation was given by Marta García Aller. During the event, the association paid tribute to a much beloved and respected person in the sector, Antxon López Usoz, of the company DANOBATGROUP, who was presented with the AFM gold insignia.

The closing ceremony was attended by the Basque Government's President, Iñigo Urkullu; the regional minister of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment, Arantxa Tapia; the president of the Regional Council of Gipuzkoa, Markel Olano; and the Mayor of San Sebastian, Eneko Goia. These were joined by Mikel Amundarain, deputy minister for Industry; Estíbaliz Hernáez, deputy minister for Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation;Jabier Larrañaga, regional minister of Economic Promotion, Tourism and Rural Environment of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa; and Aitor Urzelai, general manager of SPRI, among others.

From the business world, the presidents of the AFM Cluster associations, José Pérez Berdud of AFM; Amadeo Corrius of ADDIMAT; Miguel González of ESKUIN; Nerea Aranguren of UPTEK; the president of AIMHE, José Ignacio Ortiz de Urbina; the deputy president of AFMEC, Fernando Gastaldo; the deputy presidents of AFM, Cesar Garbalena and Carmen Pinto; the general secretary of CONFEMETAL, Andrés Sánchez de Apellániz; the president of ELKARGI, Josu Sánchez, and its general manager, Zenón Vázquez; as well as representatives from several companies associated to AFM Cluster.

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