FAGOR AUTOMATION S COOP

Their core work

Fagor Automation is a Mondragon-based cooperative specializing in CNC systems, servo drives, and precision measurement for machine tools and industrial automation. Within H2020, they contribute automation, mechatronics, and optical metrology expertise to projects spanning advanced manufacturing, optoelectronics, and power electronics. Their work bridges the gap between precision engineering and digital manufacturing, providing control and measurement capabilities to multi-partner European consortia. They also bring industrial-scale manufacturing know-how to transport and semiconductor supply chain projects.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 work (2015-2017) centered on laser-based surface processing and physical manufacturing techniques — femtosecond lasers, surface functionalization, and vehicle engineering. From 2018 onward, they shifted markedly toward digital and optical technologies: optoelectronics, optical design, mechatronics, digitalisation engineering, and power semiconductors. This evolution mirrors the broader manufacturing sector's transition from purely mechanical processes to digitally integrated, sensor-rich production systems.

Fagor Automation is moving from traditional manufacturing processes toward digitalized, sensor-driven production — expect future interest in smart factory, digital twin, and Industry 4.0 integration projects.

How they like to work

Always a participant, never a coordinator — they consistently bring specialized industrial capability into large European consortia rather than leading them. With 158 unique partners across 21 countries from just 5 projects, they work in very large consortia (averaging 30+ partners), indicating comfort with complex multi-stakeholder environments. This suggests a reliable, execution-focused partner who delivers defined technical work packages without needing to drive overall project direction.

Exceptionally broad network of 158 partners across 21 countries from only 5 projects, driven by participation in large-scale ECSEL and IA consortia. Their geographic reach spans most of the EU, with likely strong ties to the Basque industrial ecosystem and broader Spanish manufacturing sector.

What sets them apart

As part of the Mondragon cooperative ecosystem in the Basque Country, Fagor Automation brings a rare combination of cooperative governance and industrial-grade automation expertise. They sit at the intersection of precision mechanics, optical metrology, and digital control systems — a combination that makes them valuable for any project requiring real measurement and control hardware to validate research results. Their deep manufacturing floor experience means they can translate laboratory innovations into production-ready systems, a capability many academic-led consortia lack.

Highlights from their portfolio

• WEEVIL
  Their largest single project (€692K), an unusual topic for an automation company — ultralight 3-wheeler development — showing versatility in transport applications.
• FLOIM
  Rich technical scope combining optoelectronics, freeform optics, and mechatronics, demonstrating their ability to work at the intersection of precision manufacturing and photonics.
• Power2Power
  Positions them in the European power semiconductor supply chain alongside major ECS industry players, signaling strategic expansion beyond traditional automation.