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Daniel Azcue

GKN Zumaia manufactures the transmission of 3 million cars that travel all around the world

Posted on February 3, 2023January 27, 2023 by Irati

GKN Driveline Zumaia is a Basque enterprise that belongs to the multinational GKN which manufactures parts of transmission for automotive. The Basque company is the leader worldwide, as 3 million of the 78 million cars that travel in the world have this component from the Basque company.

In 1940, Eibar (a town next to Zumaia) was devastated after the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and 3 people united and created “Ayra Durex” to make weapons (typical in Eibar) and automobile pieces, which was a novelty.

In 1960, the company was centered on automobile pieces and joined together with a French company called “Spicer” in order to extend the business to other countries. Later on, the company transferred the facilities to Zumaia and Legazpi (two small towns next to Eibar).

In 1978, ‘GKN’ became a shareholder; a multinational with 25,000 people employed in the automotive area and operated in 20 countries with 50 industrial plants. In 1994, GKN acquired 100% of the company.

Daniel Azcue points out that between 1980 and 2000 an important change took place after a trip by the management team to Japan to see Toyota’s new production methods. They changed the concept of the worker, who became a multitasker, and created mini-companies by departments, each with its own indicators.

In the last decades, GKN has centered in automatization and the industry 4.0 with the incorporation of robots that perform most of the moves in the factory and the digitalization of the process of manufacturing. The product that the company offers are parts for vehicle transmissions. Moreover, in Zumaia they develop the I+D (Investigation and Development) for the multinational GKN of transmission and new electric motors.

The Basque company has 560 employees of which 80 compone a specific unit for I+D, that works for the whole multinational. Investigation and development implies the 5% of the business in the Basque Country.

GKN Zumaia fabrica la transmisión de tres millones de vehículos que circulan en el mundo

GKN Driveline Zumaia es una empresa perteneciente a la multinacional GKN que se dedica a la fabricación de piezas de transmisión para la automoción. Es líder mundial y tres millones de los 78 millones de vehículos que circulan por el mundo “tienen componentes de transmisión de Zumaia”, destacan.

Los orígenes de GKN Automotive se remontan a 1940, cuando en Eibar “en una zona destruida por la Guerra Civil, tres personas (Trocaola, Ibarzabal y Gaztañaga) ponen en marcha Ayra Durex, dedicada a la fabricación de armas y recambios del automóvil. Fue una novedad en un Eibar que sólo hacía armas”, rememora Daniel Azcue, responsable de producción de la planta de GKN en Zumaia.

En 1960, la empresa ya aparece como referente de la inclusión de la mujer en el sector trabajador. En los siguientes 20 años, se unen con la francesa Spicer para ampliar el negocio “y vender fuera de España”. En esa época, la compañía ya se centra en el negocio de recambios y piezas nuevas para el coche.

El siguiente hito es en 1974, con el traslado de las instalaciones de Eibar a Zumaia (posteriormente en 1989 se ampliaría con otra nave industrial en Legazpi). 1978 es una fecha clave, con la entrada en el accionariado de GKN, una multinacional que emplea actualmente a 25.000 personas en el área de automoción y opera en 20 países con 50 plantas industriales. En 1994, GKN adquiere el 100% de la propiedad.

Daniel Azcue destaca que entre 1980 y 2000 se produce un cambio importante a partir de un viaje del equipo directivo a Japón “para ver las nuevas maneras de producción de Toyota. Cambiaron el concepto del trabajador, que pasó a ser multitarea, y generaron minicompañías por departamentos, cada uno con sus propios indicadores”.

AUTOMATIZACIÓN Y LA INDUSTRIA 4.0

En las dos últimas décadas, GKN se ha centrado en la automatización y la industria 4.0, “con la incorporación de robots, que hacen casi todos los movimientos en la fábrica, y la digitalización de todo el proceso de producción. Tenemos un control al momento de lo que se está haciendo en la planta”. La elaboración de las piezas pasa por exhaustivas fases en el proceso casi completamente robotizado para lograr una elevada precisión y calidad.

El producto que ofrecen son piezas para la transmisión de los vehículos, “los que van entre las ruedas y el diferencial”, que se fabrican en la nave de Zumaia, mientras que la forja se acomete en Legazpi. Además, en Zumaia se encargan del desarrollo de toda la I+D de la multinacional GKN de las transmisiones y nuevos motores eléctricos. “En forja, hacemos 43 millones de piezas al año y en mecanizadas, 10 millones de piezas de transmisión”.

Y es que tres millones de los 78 millones de vehículos que circulan por el mundo “tienen componentes de transmisión de Zumaia. El 40% de las transmisiones mundiales para los coches se hacen el grupo”.

Los clientes de la compañía son los mayores fabricantes mundiales de automoción y la competencia no es con otras empresas “sino interna, dentro del grupo GKN”.

La empresa en Euskadi tiene 560 empleados y, de ellos, 80 integran una unidad específica de I+D, que trabaja para toda la multinacional. La investigación y desarrollo supone el 5% del negocio en el País Vasco.

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