Renishaw and IDEKO inaugurate a new R&D facility in the Basque Country to drive advanced manufacturing innovations

The global leading metrology company, Renishaw, and the research centre IDEKO, have inaugurated a new Renishaw Solutions Centre in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa), Spain. The new Research & Development (R&D) facility aims to develop innovative solutions in advanced manufacturing.

This laboratory, located on the premises of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) member centre, forms part of the collaboration agreement signed between the two organisations at the 2024 International Machine Tool Exhibition in Bilbao, Spain.

The inauguration was attended by Jaione Ganzarain, Deputy Minister for Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation of the Basque Government; Pedro Durán, Managing Director of Renishaw Ibérica; and Rafael Lizarralde, Managing Director of IDEKO. During the event, a multitude of innovative technologies for three-dimensional measurement, production process control, metal additive manufacturing, machine tools and the calibration of machines and industrial robots, were presented.

“We have enjoyed a close relationship with Renishaw for many years, both as users of their autonomous equipment and as suppliers of components. This agreement strengthens our relationship by offering Renishaw the chance to use this new facility, where they can not only promote their technologies, but also support our R&D activities,” explained Lizarralde.

Durán, meanwhile, said that Renishaw Ibérica shares “the same innovative DNA as IDEKO,” adding that the company “will demonstrate this by sharing technologies, equipment and, most importantly, experiences with them over the coming years. The Solutions Centre showcases some of our most advanced innovations, which are already being used in the industry and play a crucial role in improving manufacturing processes.”

A long-term partnership agreement between the two organisations marks the beginning of a partnership that also involves Danobatgroup, a leading industrial group in the field of machine tools. The Solutions Centre drives innovation for this group, while Renishaw has been a long-term technology supplier across several of its product lines.

“Despite signing a three-year agreement, we are seeking a broader collaboration that will involve both Danobatgroup and Renishaw UK. We feel that this would help to ensure that our technological solutions are implemented in the industry and applied in machines and production lines,” added Lizarralde.