The acquisition of a small workshop that manufactured various types of tools in Zaldibar in 1945 led to the creation of Irega, a manufacturer specializing in the production of adjustable wrenches, capable of offering a wide range of adjustable wrenches for all types of professionals.
The decision to specialize in the production of a single type of tool was made in 1960. Irega chose to produce adjustable wrenches entirely in its facilities in the Biscayan town, Zaldibar, from the forging process to the final product.
“This decision has led to a strong focus on international markets since that time,” explains Arturo Alonso, Irega’s commercial director. When the plant, where it currently operates, was inaugurated in 1966, 70% of its production was exported abroad; today, the figure stands at 95%.
Improving the quality of its products has been a constant throughout its history. It was the first national manufacturer of hand tools to obtain AENOR ISO 9001 certification—the most popular national and international model that demonstrates quality and ability to meet customer needs—in 1993, and to obtain the 4001 certification—which aims to support the implementation of an environmental management plan in any organization, whether public or private—in 2000.
The Biscayan company exports to almost 80 countries worldwide and has a significant presence in “demanding markets such as the United States, Australia, France, Germany, or Spain; and other distant.
