Gestamp announced today that it will locate its new Global Technology Training Center (GTI-Gestamp Technology Institute) and Knowledge Centre in New Materials in the Automotive Intelligence Center (AIC), in Amorebieta-Etxano and Ermua (Vizcaya, Spain).
Francisco J. Riberas, President and CEO of Gestamp, participated in the event, together with Vizcaya’s governor and President of AIC, Jose Luis Bilbao. They were accompanied by Finance counselor, Jose Maria Iruarrizaga; Economic Promotion counselor, Imanol Pradales; and AIC Director, Inés Anitua.
Gestamp Technology Institute will concentrate training in new technologies Gestamp globally. It will be mainly focused in Body-in-White, hot stamping technologies and the study of new materials, like carbon fiber. Those technologies are strategic for Gestamp’s goals on increasing vehicle safety and weight reduction.
GTI will host regularly training workshops of highly qualified experts, such as the so-called "golden-fingers”, specialized in the most advanced tooling design and management for automotive components.
Phase 3 of AIC includes the building of a 8,000 m2 facility, which will be operational in early 2015. The project of a single comprehensive skills center aims to boost highly qualified automotive training, starting with Gestamp and opened to other companies’ expertise.
With this last phase, AIC will dedicate a total of 45.000 m2 exclusively to create added value for the automotive industry. Currently, more than 600 professionals and 25 organizations join AIC with a wide range of profiles, from component manufacturers to TIC, engineering or training centers.
About Gestamp
Gestamp is a global leader in design, development and manufacture of components and metal assemblies for the main vehicle manufacturers worldwide. The company is specialized in development of innovative design products to make safer and lighter vehicles, better in relation to energy consumption and environmental impact. Their products cover the areas of ‘body-in-white’, chassis and mechanisms.
Present in 20 countries, Gestamp has 91 industrial plants and 2 under construction, 12 R&D centers and a workforce of more than 30,000 people worldwide. In 2013, Gestamp turnover reached 5.8 billion euros.
About AIC
AIC, located in Amorebieta-Etxano and Ermua (Vizcaya, Spain) is an open innovation center that integrates knowledge, training, technology and industrial development in order to improve the competitiveness of the automotive sector. AIC facilities were inaugurated in January 2009. In April 2010, AIC expanded its infrastructure to accommodate new R&D units.