THE FEX-FASTENING EXCELLENCE CENTER ASSOCIATION JOINS AFM CLUSTER IN A NEW PHASE OF BUSINESS GROWTH

On 2 July last the FEX member companies unanimously approved the association's incorporation into AFM Cluster, the organisation representing the advanced manufacturing sector.

FEX (Fastening Excellence Center) is an association specialising in the field of high-performance mechanical fasteners. It was set up in 2020 in Bergara by a powerful group of companies, in the conviction that collaboration is essential to building a more solid future for all.

Due to the high concentration of companies in the region and in particular in the municipality, the Bergara Council and the Miguel Altuna LHII Institute have strongly supported the project from the outset, convinced of its capacity to strengthen industrial competitiveness and promote the economic and social development of the area.

FEX currently comprises 13 companies that form part of the high-performance fasteners value chain. These companies are: Metagra Bergara s.a., Industrias Laneko s.a.l., Ecenarro s.coop., Tornillería Deba s.a.l, Tornillería Segur s.a., Erreka Smart Fastening s.coop., Heroslam s.a.l, TTTGroup s.a., Jean Recubrimientos s.l., Azterlan Metallurgy Research Centre, Lortek s.coop., Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa s.coop. and Industrias Ugatu s.l.  Staying true to its roots, and with Bergara as its nerve centre, FEX aims to bring together all companies in the sector in Spain to promote, through cooperation, the competitiveness of an activity that provides high-value parts for industry. The services FEX renders to its companies (including organising technical forums, innovation committees and generating collaborative R&D projects) will be complemented by the services AFM renders the companies in the Cluster.

Ander Zamalloa, President of FEX and Commercial Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Metagra: “We are aware that our sector, which is deeply rooted in the Basque Country, needs to move forward in terms of unification and collaboration in order to become more competitive on the global market in certain sectors. Joining AFM Cluster undoubtedly represents a decisive boost in this new phase that is beginning for the association. Belonging to AFM Cluster will enable us to increase our capacity to serve our members and provide us with the necessary equipment and resources to characterise and group the entire value chain of high-performance fasteners.”

The incorporation of FEX is highly valued at AFM Cluster, as it brings a wealth of specialised knowledge and reinforces the diversity of the advanced manufacturing value chain that the Cluster represents. The association emphasises that joining forces with FEX will boost the competitiveness of companies in the field of high-performance fasteners and advance the construction of a more robust, innovative and collaborative ecosystem.