CARMEN PINTO ELECTED PRESIDENT OF AFM CLUSTER

Carmen Pinto was elected this morning as president of AFM Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, the association of machine tool, component, tool and accessory manufacturers, for a two-year term during the association’s annual assembly.

Carmen Pinto, 52, from Burgos, holds a degree in Industrial Engineering specialising in Mechanics from the University of Valladolid, as well as an Executive MBA. She has developed practically her entire professional career at Nicolás Correa S.A., the parent company of the Correa Group, where she began working in 2000. Throughout her career she has held different positions within the company, leading key technical areas such as quality, machining production and assembly, before assuming the role of Managing Director in 2013. In 2017 she was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the parent company and board member of its industrial subsidiaries, and since 2019 she has led the entire group as its top executive.

The Correa Group, specialised in the design and manufacture of milling machines, is one of the benchmark companies within the European machine tool industry. After more than seven decades of activity, the group has several industrial and commercial subsidiaries, as well as a strong international presence.

Carmen Pinto is also highly involved in sectoral and institutional activities. She is a member of the board of directors of FEMEBUR and sits on the executive committee of the Burgos Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member of the Social Council of the University of Burgos, standing out for her commitment to training and talent development as key drivers of business competitiveness.

Alongside AFM’s General Assembly, the assemblies of the associations that make up AFM Cluster were also held, specifically ADDIMAT, AFMEC, AIMHE, ESKUIN, FEX, STECH and UPTEK. Elections took place in four of these associations: at AFMEC, Fernando Gastaldo, from FACTOR, was re-elected president; at STECH, Alfonso Ganzabal, from SISTEPLANT, renewed his position; at UPTEK, David Oyarzun was also re-elected as head of the association; and at AIMHE, Gerard Guitart, from HAAS, was appointed new president, taking over from José Ignacio Ortiz de Urbina from INTERMAHER.

Following the general assemblies, more than 500 attendees will gather for a joint celebration event, “Advanced Manufacturing Day 2026”, inaugurated by Jon Insausti, Mayor of Donostia-San Sebastián. During the event, following the presentation of the economic outlook by Xabier Ortueta, Managing Director of AFM Cluster, guest speaker David Alayón, expert in disruptive innovation, strategic foresight and exponential technologies, will give a keynote speech. During the event, the association will pay tribute to Carlos Pujana, from IZAR CUTTING TOOLS, who will receive the AFM gold insignia.

The closing ceremony will feature speeches by Mikel Jauregi, Minister for Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, and Unai Andueza, Regional Deputy for Economic Promotion and Strategic Projects of Gipuzkoa. The closing event will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of AFMEC (the Machining Association), with speeches by both the president of AFM Cluster, José Pérez Berdud, and the organisation’s newly elected president, Carmen Pinto.

Also attending the event will be Mikel Torres, Deputy Lehendakari and Minister for Economy, Labour and Employment of the Basque Government; Iñaki Ruiz, Deputy Minister for Economy of the Basque Government; Andoitz Korta, Deputy Minister for Industrial Promotion of the Basque Government; Koldo Peciña, Director General for Strategic Projects of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa; Maialen Gurrutxaga, Mayor of Elgoibar; and Arantxa Tapia, former Minister for Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment of the Basque Government.

From the business sphere, the presidents of the AFM Cluster associations will also attend: Virgilio García (ADDIMAT), Fernando Gastaldo (AFMEC), Gerard Guitart (AIMHE), Pablo Izeta (ESKUIN), Ander Zamalloa (FEX), Alfonso Ganzabal (STECH) and David Oyarzun (UPTEK). Also present will be Iratxe Pascual, Director of ASPEGI; Marisa Arriola, Director of BIC Gipuzkoa; Rikardo Bueno, Director of BRTA; Javier Zubia, Managing Director of the Gipuzkoa Chamber of Commerce; Amagoia Paskual, Director of DEBEGESA; Cristina Oyón, Managing Director of SPRI Group; Iván Martén, President of Orkestra; and Amaia Bernarás, Manager of the Gipuzkoa Technology Park, together with representatives from numerous companies associated with AFM.