Since its beginnings in 1961, Aritex has been a byword for innovation and progress in industrial engineering. Founded by the Arias and Teixidó families, the company has evolved over more than six decades from the creation of tools for the automotive industry to the development of turnkey systems for the aerospace sector, collaborating with leading OEMs worldwide. In 2022, its international expansion took a key step forward with the opening of Aritex Atlantic in Nantes, France, a strategic location close to leading aeronautical plants, which has consolidated the group’s position in the French market.
We spoke with Carlos Yus, Program Manager at Aritex Atlantic, who shared his insights on how he leads the subsidiary, tackles technical challenges and coordinates strategic projects for leading clients in the sector.
Tabla de contenidos
Leading from experience
When he was offered the opportunity to move to France, Carlos jumped at the chance. “After gaining international experience at Aritex China (Shanghai) between 2018 and 2020, in a small office where we all worked together, I was excited by the idea of reliving that close-knit atmosphere. So when I was offered the opportunity to set up the subsidiary in Nantes, I was immediately motivated. When they asked me, I said yes,” he recalls.
The expansion into Nantes is part of Aritex’s strategy to consolidate its position in the French aeronautical sector, a market with significant investment in Europe with aeronautical companies like Airbus. “In 2022, Aritex won two major projects at plants located 40 kilometres apart, with Nantes as the midpoint. This made us think about setting up our own office there,” explains Carlos.
“Our presence in Nantes gives Aritex an understanding of the local market, expands our supply chain and gives us access to different projects from those we have access to with Aritex Spain; this means we can be more flexible with our customers, and these are essential factors when it comes to managing complex projects. This opens up opportunities that we couldn’t tackle before. It gives us access to medium-sized and strategic projects, bolstering Aritex’s position as a trusted supplier in the aeronautical sector,” says Carlos.
Global network, local action
In just three years, the subsidiary has grown steadily and now employs a range of professionals, including project managers, engineers specialising in automation and mechanics, and site managers. The work dynamic in Nantes requires employees to take on a variety of duties — “wearing different hats”, as Carlos describes it — and to be highly trained, versatile and prepared to take on different roles.
Aritex Atlantic adapts its approach according to the complexity of the projects. Medium-sized projects are managed independently, while those requiring greater resources or technology are coordinated in collaboration with other subsidiaries. It works closely with the headquarters of Aritex Spain in Badalona in mechanical engineering, automation, critical tooling design, finance and purchasing; with Loxin, another Aritex Group company, it participates in after-sales projects and bids; from Aritex China, meanwhile, it receives extensive know-how in projects of a similar nature and size.
“My responsibility is to ensure that we generate business at Aritex France. Every time a new tender comes in, we work together to generate projects, contracts and turnover. Once we have secured them, we execute them with the team, seeking to achieve autonomy and the maximum value for the customer that each Aritex subsidiary can provide,” explains Carlos.
The French subsidiary focuses on designing and optimising production lines for aircraft models currently in operation. This involves designing and modifying the lines to adapt them to the available space, reorganising them to improve logistics and the ergonomics of the production team, and increasing occupational safety. As Carlos explains: “Most of our systems are mechanical. We use automation to improve movements and ergonomics, trying to ensure that manual tasks can be performed with a degree of automation that optimises efficiency and safety.”
In each project, special attention is paid to safety and efficiency. “Our clients invest heavily in enhancing safety and energy efficiency in their facilities. Details are analysed, verbalised and continuously monitored to prevent accidents,” says Carlos.
Commitment that strengthens
Each project has its own challenges, and the Aritex Atlantic team demonstrates its ability to design bespoke solutions. “One of the projects that made the biggest impression on me was in 2022, when Airbus asked us to integrate structures so large that they couldn’t be transported by road,” recalls Carlos.
The response required logistical creativity, coordination and meticulous planning: “manufacturing and assembly had to be carried out near our customer’s plant, but not inside it because we didn’t have the space. To solve this problem, we had to rent a nearby plot of land for a year, install an industrial marquee and set up a fully equipped temporary workshop. We sent our team to this location, where we assembled the structures, managed the receipt of materials and took care of shipping. We even coordinated temporary road closures to allow the structures to be transported safely to the customer,” he explains. Although it was not an engineering challenge, it was a significant logistical challenge, requiring the company to find a viable way to manufacture, assemble and transport large structures outside the usual workshop.
Another key moment was the gradual transition of project management from Spain to Nantes, a process that strengthened communication and coordination within the team. According to Carlos, this has undoubtedly been “the most rewarding and enriching experience so far. We are very fortunate with the local team we have found. When you are a small team, each person has a very important part to play in the organisation, and we are very lucky to have found the right people.”
Human value is palpable at Aritex Atlantic. Collaboration and camaraderie arise naturally, driven by the need to take on different roles and support each other. “We have all been the first at something: from those who participated in the opening of the offices, the first female project manager to join the team, the first project managed independently, the first engineering person… That experience makes us feel that the subsidiary really belongs to us and gives it a special meaning for each of us,” concludes Carlos.
