Advanced Factories 2026 has once again proved to be one of the industry’s major meeting points, a space for sharing real-world experiences and discussing automation, robotics and digitalization from a practical perspective. For Aritex Group, this edition has been particularly significant due to the quality of the meetings, the discussions that took place and the opportunity to share our vision with companies, clients, competitors and institutions within the sector.
Over the three days of the fair, we were present both at our stand and in various forums and content spaces, where we participated actively by sharing real-life case studies, applied solutions and lessons learned from highly demanding industrial projects.
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Real solutions and conversations with the industry
The Aritex Group stand established itself as a meeting point for companies from various sectors, technical professionals and industry leaders. Throughout the fair, we welcomed numerous visitors interested in solutions already in use in production plants, particularly in the fields of robotic welding and augmented reality applications for industrial processes.
Discussions centred on very specific challenges: how to improve process quality, how to increase efficiency without losing flexibility, and how to incorporate automation progressively and safely. This approach is fully in line with the way we support companies, from engineering right through to start-up.
Participation in talks and forums at the event
Our presence at Advanced Factories 2026 went beyond the exhibition stand, as we participated actively in the event’s programme of content, offering insights based on actual industry experience.
From automation to excellence in robotic welding
Workshop Arena · 5 May | 10:30 h
Darío Álvaro, robotics and welding expert at Aritex Group, gave a presentation focusing on the evolution of robotic welding towards more precise, flexible and productive solutions. During the session, approaches were presented that integrate technologies such as laser welding and self-supporting cells, with a focus on smart automation aimed at improving process quality, safety and efficiency in real industrial environments.
Automation and robotics: industrial experiences
Orange Empresas Auditorium · 5 May | 17:30 h
At the Robotics and Automation Forum, Unai Martínez, expert in automatic drilling and riveting machines for the aeronautics industry at Aritex Group (Loxin), participated together with Abraham Martínez, Head of Tooling & Robotics at Airbus Getafe Plant, one of our most prominent clients.
The session examined a real-life case study of automation in high-demand environments, demonstrating how robotics and advanced automation are already standard practice in some of the world’s most advanced factories, improving productivity, safety and sustainability.
Distributed intelligence for industrial control: Edge + Cloud
Orange Empresas Auditorium · 6 May | 11:30 h
Guillem Pérez, digitalization expert at Aritex Group, took part in a round table discussion focusing on hybrid Edge + Cloud architectures. During the discussion, a practical perspective was shared on distributed intelligence applied to the control and analysis of industrial processes, highlighting the importance of integrating digitalization as a natural part of the production process.
A meeting point for the industrial and institutional ecosystem
During Advanced Factories 2026, the Aritex Group stand was also a meeting place for the ecosystem encompassing the industry, associations and institutions. Over the course of the three-day fair, we welcomed representatives from various companies, clusters, industry associations and institutions, in an atmosphere characterised by the exchange of experiences and the identification of potential avenues for collaboration.
As part of this, we welcomed the company tour organised by AMEC’s Acelera Pyme, which included a brief presentation of our company and our value as an engineering group, followed by a Q&A session with the participants. The companies in attendance showed particular interest in our robotic welding solutions and in augmented reality applications for industrial processes. All participants were also given a joint tour catalogue, facilitating more direct and efficient follow-up contact between companies.
We also welcomed a visit from members of the Àmbit Living Spaces – Industrial Processes cluster, who are also interested in automation solutions applied to industrial processes, particularly in the fields of welding and digitalization.
The fair also provided an opportunity to maintain contact with representatives from various institutions. Amongst others, our visitors included the Government of Catalonia’s Minister of Business and Labour, Miquel Sàmper, accompanied by the Barcelona City Council Commissioner for Economic Promotion, Trade, and the Restaurant Industry, Nadia Quevedo; Pol Gibert, the Government of Catalonia’s general secretary of Business and Labour; and Carles Miranda, Industry 4.0 & Sustainability Manager of ACCIÓ, the Government of Catalonia’s agency for business growth. We also received a visit from Jordi Hereu, Spanish Minister of Industry and Tourism, to whom we presented the activity of Aritex Group as an engineering group and our proposal for global solutions for the industry.
In this context, and as part of the Industry 4.0 Congress, we also received visits from representatives of different autonomous regions that took part in the industrial regions forum, such as Covadonga Toca (Galician Institute of Economic Promotion – IGAPE), Jaime Martínez (Madrid Region), Mariano Muñoz (Regional Government of Castile and León), Iñigo Arruti and Mikel Irujo (Government of Navarre) and María del Mar Paños (Government of Aragon), a sign of the shared interest in promoting automation, digitalization and the competitiveness of the industrial fabric at a regional level.
This series of visits highlighted Advanced Factories’ role as a conducive environment for connecting technology, industry and institutions, and for continuing to promote initiatives that strengthen industrial competitiveness through automation and innovation.
Meeting of the sector ecosystem: AER Assembly
Coinciding with Advanced Factories 2026, the Spanish Association of Robotics and Automation (AER), of which Aritex Group is a member, held its general assembly. The meeting brought together numerous representatives from the sector and provided an opportunity to review the association’s activities over the past year, the progress made through its working groups, and the consolidation of partnerships with leading international associations in robotics and automation. The fact that the assembly was held as part of a trade fair that has already established itself as a benchmark event in Spain once again highlighted the importance of these forums for strengthening collaboration within the industry. This is a particularly significant moment for Aritex Group, as our CSO, Carlos Méndez, is currently the association’s chairman-elect, reinforcing our commitment to the development of the industry.
Our review of Advanced Factories 2026
Advanced Factories 2026 has confirmed the importance of continuing to invest in well-integrated automation that is connected to the process and focused on generating real value. For Aritex Group, this year’s event was an opportunity to share expertise, strengthen relationships and continue to position ourselves as a technology partner capable of supporting companies in highly demanding industrial projects.
An event that, once again, reinforces the importance of dialogue between industry, technology and institutions to move towards more efficient, flexible and connected manufacturing.
