Danobatgroup brings European industrial cutting-edge closer to Basque engineering talent 

• The winning team of the second edition of the Advanced Manufacturing Hackathon visited yesterday the plants of Danobat-Overbeck and Bimatec Soraluce, subsidiaries of Danobat and Soraluce in Germany.

• Students from the Master’s in Industrial Engineering at Tecnun-School of Engineering of the University of Navarra were able to experience firsthand the reality of a highly demanding market.

• The initiative, jointly promoted by the industrial group and the educational center, strengthens Danobatgroup’s commitment to bridging the gap between academic training and industrial activity.

Danobatgroup kicks off the new year reaffirming its commitment to future talent and excellence in training. Students from Tecnun-School of Engineering at the University of Navarra had the opportunity to visit the industrial heart of Europe as a reward for the second edition of the group’s Advanced Manufacturing Hackathon initiative.

The winning team, made up of students from the Master’s in Industrial Engineering program, earned this experience after prevailing in a technological challenge in which more than 60 students participated last December. During the trip, they got a firsthand look at the facilities of two of the group’s key international sites: Danobat-Overbeck and Bimatec Soraluce, subsidiaries in Germany of Danobat and Soraluce.

Professional Immersion

In this professional immersion, the students not only toured the production facilities but also had the opportunity to interact with the local technical teams, learn about the latest grinding and milling solutions developed for high-demand sectors, and gain firsthand understanding of how a Basque cooperative company such as Danobat or Soraluce competes in a leading market like Germany.

For Sofía Aparicio, a member of the winning team, this experience represented a qualitative leap in her education: "At university, we learn theoretical foundations and solve problems on paper, but having the opportunity to travel to Germany and see how that technology is applied in real machines for top-tier clients has been unique. Winning the Advanced Manufacturing Hackathon was a challenge, and this trip has been the best possible reward to see the real impact of engineering".

The second edition of the initiative, held at the facilities of the group’s technology partner, Ideko, is part of Danobatgroup’s Social Management strategy, aimed at inspiring STEM vocations and positioning the group as an attractive environment for professional development. The longstanding collaboration with Tecnun, which has now exceeded a decade, is key to achieving this objective. 

As the group highlights, "breaking down the barriers between the classroom and the factory is essential. We want young talent to see that here at Danobatgroup, they can develop international careers and work with the most advanced technology.

About Danobatgroup
With 70 years of experience in technologies applied to industrial manufacturing, Danobatgroup boasts a workforce of more than 1,400 highly skilled professionals and a turnover of €344 million. Part of the MONDRAGON Corporation, the group is an international benchmark in the machine tool and advanced manufacturing sector, with Danobat, Soraluce, and Goimek as its main companies.

About Tecnun
Tecnun – School of Engineering at the University of Navarra in San Sebastián contributes to the professional, scientific, and human development of future engineers. Since its creation in 1961, it has maintained a balance between teaching, research, and service to society, promoting the integration of these activities so that they complement each other.