GESTAMP to locate global training center and hot stamping knowledge and new materials center at AIC
Phase 3 at AIC to concentrate principally on training | 02/07/2014Bilbao, 2.7.2014--- Gestamp announced plans this morning to locate its new global technology training center (GTI-Gestamp Technology Institute) and New Materials Knowledge Center at AIC-Automotive Intelligence Center.
Attending the presentation of this latest initiative were Bizkaia Chief Executive Jose Luis Bilbao, who also doubles as AIC President, and Gestamp chairman Francisco J. Riberas. Accompanying them were Provincial Council executives Jose María Iruarrizaga (Treasury Department) and Imanol Pradales (Economic Promotion Department) and AIC CEO Inés Anitua.
Essentially, GTI is to centralize Gestamp's global training in new technologies. The center will be concentrating largely on the Body-in-White process, hot stamping technologies and research into new materials like carbon fiber. Its all strategic stuff for Gestamp, now very focused on increasing vehicle safety and making lighter cars easier to produce.
Training highly-qualified experts, known internally as Goldfingers, is another priority target for Gestamp at the center. Gestamp Goldfingers specialize in the fabrication of highly complex dies.
Phase 3 at AIC includes 8,000 square meters of new facilities that will be up and running early in 2015. Automotive training there is to be intensified with the launch of a single integral automotive training center capable of taking on board Gestamp's project and others like it.
With this latest phase, AIC will have 45,000 square meters devoted exclusively to generating value for the automotive industry. Some 25 organizations, ranging from component manufacturers to technology centers, engineering firms and training centers currently have units at AIC, with 600-plus professionals from the industry employed there.
About Gestamp
Gestamp is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of metal components and assemblies for major car makers. It specializes in developing products with innovative designs for safer and lighter cars to minimize energy consumption and environmental impact. Gestamp makes bodywork and chassis products and devices.
Gestamp has 91 factories in 20 countries, with another 2 now under construction, 12 R&D centers and a workforce of more than 30,000 the world over. The group billed 5,789 million in 2013.
About AIC
Located in Amorebieta-Etxano and Ermua, AIC is an open innovation center that combines know-how, training, technology and industrial development under a single umbrella with the aim of improving competitiveness levels in the automotive industry. AIC inaugurated its original facilities in January 2009. In April 2010, the center enlarged its infrastructures to provide a home for new R&D and Innovation units.