CENTRO DE ENSAYOS Y ANALISIS CETEST SL

Their core work

CETEST is an independent testing and analysis laboratory based in Beasain, Spain — the heart of the Basque Country's railway manufacturing cluster. They specialize in mechanical testing, validation, and certification of railway vehicles and components, including traction systems, brakes, running gear, carbody structures, and HVAC systems. Beyond rail, they have demonstrated capability in aerospace testing, particularly for electromechanical actuators on aircraft control surfaces. Their core business is providing third-party test services to OEMs and system integrators participating in large European R&D programs.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 participation (2016-2018), CETEST focused on railway signaling validation (GNSS, ERTMS) alongside initial traction and braking test work under Shift2Rail Phase 1. From 2018 onward, their involvement deepened significantly into vehicle subsystem testing — carbody structures, running gear, doors, interiors, and HVAC — reflecting the maturation of Shift2Rail's integrated vehicle demonstrators. Their most recent project (FCH2RAIL, 2021) signals an expansion into hydrogen and fuel cell testing for rail decarbonisation, adding an energy dimension to their traditionally mechanical testing portfolio.

CETEST is expanding from pure mechanical validation toward decarbonisation technologies (fuel cells, electrification), positioning themselves as a testing partner for the next generation of zero-emission rail vehicles.

How they like to work

CETEST operates almost exclusively as a third-party contributor (10 of 12 projects), meaning they are brought in by consortium members to provide specialized testing services rather than leading research agendas. They coordinated only once (TR4EMACS in aerospace), suggesting they are comfortable in a service-provider role within large Joint Technology Initiative programs like Shift2Rail and Clean Sky 2. With 99 unique partners across 14 countries, they maintain a broad but functionally consistent network — they are the lab that multiple OEMs and integrators turn to for independent validation.

CETEST has worked with 99 distinct partners across 14 countries, primarily through large Shift2Rail and Clean Sky consortia. Their network is concentrated in the European railway and aerospace OEM ecosystem, with strong ties to Spanish and Western European manufacturers.

What sets them apart

CETEST occupies a distinctive niche as an independent test laboratory serving both the railway and aerospace sectors — a rare combination that reflects the mechanical testing overlap between train and aircraft subsystems. Based in Spain's Basque railway manufacturing cluster (home to CAF and other major OEMs), they offer proximity to key clients and deep domain knowledge. Their sustained involvement across multiple Shift2Rail program phases demonstrates that consortium leaders trust them as a reliable, returning test partner rather than a one-off contributor.

Highlights from their portfolio

• TR4EMACS
  Their only coordinator role — designed a flexible test rig for electromechanical actuators replacing hydraulic systems on aircraft, bridging their rail and aerospace testing capabilities.
• FCH2RAIL
  Their most recent and strategically significant project, entering hydrogen fuel cell testing for rail — a fast-growing decarbonisation area that expands their traditional mechanical testing portfolio.
• PINTA3
  Third consecutive phase of Shift2Rail traction testing, demonstrating long-term trusted partnership in SiC traction systems and high-speed train motor development.