MONDRAGON ASSEMBLY SOCIEDAD COOPERATIVA

Their core work

Mondragon Assembly is a Spanish industrial automation and assembly solutions cooperative, part of the Mondragon Corporation — one of the world's largest cooperative groups. They specialize in designing and building automated production lines, particularly for photovoltaic module manufacturing, robotic assembly systems, and advanced material processing. In H2020 projects, they contribute manufacturing engineering expertise: building pilot production lines for solar cells, integrating robotic handling systems, and developing automated processes for PV module assembly and end-of-life recycling.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2016–2018), Mondragon Assembly focused on digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0 — smart production systems, digital factory simulation, robotic handling, and composite material processing. From 2018 onward, their center of gravity shifted decisively toward solar photovoltaics: heterojunction modules, BIPV cost reduction, multi-junction cells at 30% efficiency, and most recently, automated recycling of end-of-life PV panels. This evolution shows a company that moved from general industrial automation toward a specialized niche in solar energy manufacturing systems.

Mondragon Assembly is converging on the full PV lifecycle — from high-efficiency module production lines to automated end-of-life material recovery — positioning them as an automation partner for the entire solar value chain.

How they like to work

Mondragon Assembly consistently joins as a participant rather than leading consortia (0 coordinator roles across 9 projects), which fits their profile as a manufacturing technology provider brought in for specific automation and production line expertise. With 230 unique partners across 24 countries, they operate in large Innovation Action consortia (7 of 9 projects are IAs), suggesting they thrive in industry-driven projects close to market deployment. Their broad partner network indicates they are adaptable collaborators rather than a closed-circle group.

With 230 unique consortium partners across 24 countries, Mondragon Assembly has built an extensive European network, particularly strong in solar energy and advanced manufacturing ecosystems. Their Basque Country base connects them to the broader Mondragon cooperative ecosystem, adding industrial depth beyond their direct EU project partnerships.

What sets them apart

Mondragon Assembly brings something rare to consortia: they are not a research lab theorizing about manufacturing — they actually build production lines. As a cooperative SME within the Mondragon group, they combine the agility of a small company with the industrial backing of a major manufacturing conglomerate. For anyone developing a new solar cell technology or advanced material process who needs to go from lab prototype to pilot production, Mondragon Assembly is the partner that builds the machines to make it happen.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PHOTORAMA
  Their largest single EU grant (EUR 1.55M), focused on automating recovery of critical raw materials from end-of-life PV modules — a growing strategic priority in Europe.
• HIPERION
  EUR 1.3M grant for building pilot production lines for hybrid photovoltaic cells targeting 30% efficiency — demonstrates their role in scaling breakthrough solar technologies.
• BIPVBOOST
  EUR 825K to reduce costs of building-integrated photovoltaics across the value chain, connecting their manufacturing automation expertise to the construction sector.