Reflections and projections: a word with Saspi on business success

Saspi is a well-known Basque-based manufacturer of top-tier machinery for fasteners production. As we step into 2024, it’s time to take stock of the company’s performance and its impact on the fasteners' industry.  We asked Mr. Mikel Zaldua - Saspi’s CEO - to delve into its operations and unveil the goals and updates for 2023.

How was 2023 for your business compared to initial expectations?
2023 exceeded expectations for Saspi, turning out to be a record year. We expected good results because our clients were investing in quality machinery to respond to market growth, but reality has exceeded our expectations. In addition to planned projects, many unexpected orders have arrived from new customers, as well as requests for several machines simultaneously. As a company focused on crafting unique, high-quality machinery tailored to each client, such demand has been a challenge that we welcomed and successfully addressed.

Speaking of challenges, what other hurdles did your business face in 2023? How did you navigate them? What opportunities did 2023 bring, and how did you capitalize on them?
In 2023, we encountered challenges associated with the transition period in the economy. While industries rebounded to pre-COVID levels, the supply chain hadn't fully normalized. This has required an extra effort to respond to the high demand and meet deadlines as best as possible. As I have mentioned before, this need-filled market has given us the opportunity to acquire new clients and forge new relationships. We are a family business built on close relationships with our clients, so we believe that these new connections will also have a long-term impact.

What do you anticipate for your business and the fastener and fixing industry in 2024?
We are optimistic about 2024, having already filled most of the production for the year. We foresee this positive trend continuing in the medium term as the industry maintains its investment momentum, with current indications suggesting that demand is surpassing production.

What technology drivers do you foresee shaping your company and the fastener industry, and what are your future priorities?
We believe that the main reason why companies are investing in new technology is enhanced productivity. The goal is to produce more with less labor, allowing one operator to control several machines at the same time. On the other hand, the implementation of predictive maintenance technologies to identify potential issues before they lead to downtime will be crucial in the industry. For all this, we believe that automation and machine data control is the technology that will make the difference in the coming years.

Want to know more about Saspi’s technologies for the fastening industry? Please reach out to the corporate team through the contact information provided on its online stand.