“Our commitment is to continue supporting processes of investment, innovation, training and internationalisation that are enabling the sector as a whole to become more competitive”. With these words, Iñigo Urkullu, president of the Basque Autonomous Community, opened the 32nd edition of the BIEMH-International Machine Tool Biennial, which will be held at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre until Friday, 7 June.

“The Basque economy is growing; the thermometer of the Basque economy places us in the solid growth zone–industrial production is improving the sector’s prospects. Yesterday (the Basque Statistics System) Eustat published that the Machine Tool sector in the Basque Country exported 888 million euros in 2023, a record in the historical series. This sector is demonstrating a great capacity to respond to the double technological challenge: digital and energy-environmental”, said the president at the opening ceremony.

Arantxa Tapia, Regional Minister for Economic Development, Sustainability and the Environment and President of BEC, said that today the doors have opened “to the largest industrial fair in the Basque Country”. “We do it with pride, enthusiasm and a lot of passion. From today until 7 June, the Basque Country will be an industrial showcase of local and international impact. Industry is the driving force of our economy. Machine tools represent our industrial DNA. With this event we are making the BEC the industrial home of companies, professionals, institutions and the media. Solutions that also meet sustainability and decarbonisation criteria. However, this event will be led by people. It will focus on the generation of talent and the formulas for attracting future professionals”.

Rebeca Torró, Secretary of State for Industry, highlighted the “commitment to innovation and the training of talent in the Basque industry, which has become a national and industrial benchmark”. She also highlighted the public-private collaboration strategy “aligned with the roadmap promoted by the Spanish Government”. The Ministry of Industry, as Torró stated, has allocated 17 million euros through the specific Plan for the Modernisation of Machine Tools, of which more than 6 million were awarded to SMEs and industries in the Basque Country. Furthermore, she recalled that this June the Ministry will launch the next call for aid, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, to support Innovative Business Groups, a measure aimed at boosting the modernisation of the machine tool sector and which will be endowed with almost 10 million euros.

José Pérez Berdud, President of AFM-Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, pointed out that “(this inauguration is) an event without equal in the whole of Spain, the trade fair that mobilises the world of manufacturing. By far the largest industrial trade fair in the country.” And he added: “As AFM Cluster we are proud to represent all the activities that make up the advanced manufacturing ecosystem, which is also the BIEMH ecosystem. And we are delighted that the impressive capacity we have in this sector can be showcased at such a cutting-edge international event.”

Jose Ignacio Ortiz de Urbina, President of AIMHE, assured that “(our) companies represent and collaborate with top-level manufacturers, whose offer complements and enriches the local offer, as well as boosting industry, which is undoubtedly a strategic sector for our economy and well-being. We are ready to show our products and services with all the technological innovations that serve as a lever for the transformation of the industry. We are excited to start this new edition of BIEMH”.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Elixabete Etxanobe, Deputy General of Bizkaia; Amaia del Campo, Mayoress of Barakaldo; Josu Iñaki Erkoreka, Vice President of the Basque Government and Minister of Security; Ana Otadui, President of the General Assembly; Juan Mª Aburto, Mayor of Bilbao; BEC board members: Ainara Basurko; Itxaso Berrojalbiz; Carlos Alzaga; Joseba Inchaurraga; Xabier Ochandiano; José Ignacio Zudaire, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Bilbao; Mª Carmen Gorostiza, Event Manager de BIEMH; Xabier Ortueta, General Director of AFM; and Xabier Basañez, Managing Director of the Bilbao Exhibition Centre.

In addition, the opening ceremony featured a musical performance by four robots who played the salute of honour to those present with the Basque traditional instrument txalaparta, together with two musicians, in a striking dialogue. In it, traditional Basque culture and technological development joined forces to kick off the industrial and technological spectacle that is BIEMH 2024.

Today, BIEMH kicked off its most dynamic and international edition to date. With more than 1,600 exhibiting companies from 29 countries and more than 3,500 products and services, BIEMH 2024 will have large machinery in operation as the protagonist and will host, in parallel, three other events linked to the industry: ADDITƐD, BeDIGITAL and WORKinn Talent Hub. The figures are eloquent and present a first-class industrial showcase.