A new technological space in the Basque Country to speed up the transition towards Smart Factories
04-12-2024
Tekniker
The German firm SCHUNK and the Tekniker technology centre inaugurate the CoLab collaborative environment in Eibar.
The transition towards smart manufacturing environments will gain momentum in the Basque Country thanks to the new technological space that was opened yesterday in Eibar (Gipuzkoa) within the framework of the collaborative agreement signed by the German company SCHUNK, specialised in clamping and gripping systems, and the Tekniker technology centre, a member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA).
Both organisations presented “Co-Lab – the centre for applications with robots” to local institutions and firms. CoLab is a collaborative environment where it will be possible to test new integrable and scalable solutions in the area of industrial automation that is physically located at Tekniker’s headquarters.
Situated in Tekniker’s robotics laboratory, CoLab offers the business fabric an area comprising eight major brand robots and several elements on loan from SCHUNK to run tests involving automated tool changeovers, metal part finishes or workpiece selection and picking.
Luis Uriarte, the general manager of Tekniker, underscores that “we offer a space that can be used by companies to run their tests, perform validation checks with the equipment available on-site and decide how to automate their industrial processes”.
In addition to the facilities covered by the agreement, Tekniker will share its extensive knowledge and expertise related to incorporating robotic technologies to industrial environments. SCHUNK, moreover, will be permanently present to provide human resources and materials such as clamping systems, tool changers, power sensors or picking solutions.
The following people attended the inaugural event: Marc Murtra, Sales director Gripping and Automation Technology - SCHUNK; robotic manufacturers that have loaned units to commission CoLab; authorities such as Walther von Plettenberg, managing director of the German Chamber of Commerce in Spain; Jon Gurrutxaga, director general for Innovation from the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa; Cristina Oyón, Director of Technology, Innovation and Sustainability at SPRI (Department of Economic Development, Sustainability and the Environment – Basque Government) and, finally, Michael John Voss, Honorary Consul of Germany.