On 1st October 2024 Pedro Zaldua retired from Talleres Saspi (SASPI) after nearly 40 years, leaving the fastener machinery manufacturer in the capable hands of his sons – Iñigo Zaldua and Mikel Zaldua. Here, we caught up with Mikel to understand what this means for SASPI and its customers, as well as their plans for the future.
In 1961 a small family-owned machinery business, situated in the heart of the Basque country, started serving the Spanish fastener market. Mikel explains: “The original founders of the business looked to grow the company and develop the machinery, but it wasn’t until 1986, when my father took over, that the company really focused on boosting exports and increasing its product range to cover all fastener manufacturers’ needs.”
Saspi’s product range includes flat die thread rolling machines, rolling machines with pointing units, rolling machines with stud selectors, rolling machines with washer assembly, high-speed automatic pointing machines, secondary operation machines, rotary thread rolling machines for nails and washer assembly units.
“My father was a true innovator,” continues Mikel. “He introduced many groundbreaking technologies to thread rolling machines, such as the pioneering touchscreen interface and our patented motorised die pressure adjustment system, which essentially created the ‘CNC’ thread rolling machine. These innovations have been instrumental in defining the SASPI brand. We are proud that SASPI is now one of the market leaders in our field – with SASPI machines operational in countries all around the world.”
In addition to technological innovations within this time, markets have also developed. “The advancements in technology and the increasing connectivity between machines have revolutionised our industry,” comments Mikel. “The fastener market has also undergone a dramatic transformation. The aerospace sector, once a small niche for SASPI, has become a cornerstone of our business and presents significant growth opportunities for the foreseeable future. However, the automotive sector is also on the cusp of significant change and navigating this evolving landscape will be crucial. We are closely monitoring industry trends and investing in technologies that will position SASPI for success in these and other key markets.”
In order to supply these key markets, SASPI works closely with its customers to achieve a flexibility that it says is becoming rare. “Our customer-centric approach, our flexibility, as well as our ability to make quick decisions, enables us to listen closely to our customers and understand their evolving needs. This agility enables us to respond quickly to market demands and maintain a competitive edge,” proudly states Mikel.
He adds: “The change in leadership will not alter this commitment to our customers. We will continue to foster the close, family-like relationships we have built, ensuring we understand and address their needs with speed and efficiency. We make it our business to know what our customers or any new perspective customers need from their machines, working with them very closely to fulfil all their needs as a quality, reliable partner.”
As part of this commitment, recent investments have included a focus on expanding SASPI’s secondary operation capabilities to enable the company to offer more complete solutions to customers and enhance overall manufacturing processes. These investments will provide significant advantages, such as reduced lead times, increased efficiency and improved overall product quality. SASPI is also actively exploring how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning can enhance manufacturing processes, improve machine performance, as well as further enhance the customer experience.
“Innovation has always been, and will continue to be, at the heart of SASPI,” concludes Mikel. “It’s not just about keeping up, it’s about driving the industry forward and we will continue to invest in research and development, attend industry events and training programmes,
to stay ahead of the curve and integrate the latest technologies into our machines.”
Having spent a decade in the fastener industry experiencing every facet – from steel mills, fastener manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, as well as machinery builders and plating + coating companies, Claire has developed an in-depth knowledge of all things fasteners.
Alongside visiting numerous companies, exhibitions and conferences around the world, Claire has also interviewed high profile figures – focusing on key topics impacting the sector and making sure readers stay up to date with the latest developments within the industry.
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