CASA MARISTAS AZTERLAN

Their core work

AZTERLAN is a Spanish metallurgy and materials research centre based in Durango (Basque Country), specializing in metal casting, alloy development, and industrial process optimization. Their core work focuses on turning industrial waste heat and byproducts into usable resources, developing advanced casting techniques for nickel superalloys and aluminium components, and creating recycling processes for aerospace-grade metallic alloys. They serve energy-intensive industries and the aerospace/transport sector by solving practical problems in materials processing, thermal energy recovery, and end-of-life metal recycling.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2017), AZTERLAN concentrated on industrial energy problems — recovering waste heat from energy-intensive industries using thermal storage, phase-change materials, and heat exchangers (SUSPIRE, RESLAG). From 2018 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward aerospace materials — advanced casting for turbine components (HiperTURB), aluminium hot stamping for aircraft ribs (Rib-ON), and recycling aluminium-lithium aerostructures (ReINTEGRA). This trajectory shows a clear pivot from energy-sector process work toward high-value aerospace metallurgy and circular economy for aviation materials.

AZTERLAN is moving toward circular economy solutions for aerospace alloys — expect future work combining their casting expertise with end-of-life recycling for aviation-grade metals.

How they like to work

AZTERLAN operates exclusively as a consortium partner or third party — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which is typical for a specialized research centre contributing technical expertise rather than managing large programmes. With 43 unique partners across 12 countries in just 6 projects, they work in medium-to-large consortia and do not appear to cluster around repeat partners. This makes them an accessible, low-overhead technical contributor: they bring metallurgical know-how without competing for project leadership.

AZTERLAN has built a broad European network of 43 partners across 12 countries through 6 projects, indicating they integrate well into diverse consortia rather than relying on a narrow circle of familiar collaborators.

What sets them apart

AZTERLAN combines deep metallurgical expertise — from casting nickel superalloys to recycling aluminium-lithium alloys — with practical industrial process experience in thermal energy systems. This dual capability in both making and recycling advanced metals is uncommon among research centres. For consortium builders, they offer a rare bridge between aerospace manufacturing and circular economy, backed by hands-on casting and materials characterization facilities in the Basque Country's strong industrial ecosystem.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RESLAG
  Largest single grant (EUR 595,095) — addressed valorization of steel industry waste for energy-intensive sectors, representing their biggest funded contribution.
• ReINTEGRA
  Signals their strategic pivot: first project explicitly targeting end-of-life recycling of aerospace aluminium-lithium structures, combining dismantling, decoating, and metal recovery.
• SUSPIRE
  Most keyword-rich project revealing their thermal energy expertise — covered PCM, heat exchangers, HTF, and underground thermal storage in a single effort.