The first call for the start-up accelerator promoted by Renfe and TecnoCampus, Antena TrenLab, was held last November. The objective of the event was to promote alternative solutions that would help improve the Renfe train system in Catalonia.
One of the winning proposals in the contest and which managed to have a space inside the new offices to promote development was the Catalan company Drukatt. The company presented a holistic version of its project that included both the dissemination and training in 3D technology as well as the analysis of possible components that could be replaced thanks to additive manufacturing.
"When we approached the project, we had many doubts, but with our proposal we sought a contribution of value that would enrich all those involved in the project, from Renfe to the TecnoCampus itself," explains Israel Arias, co-founder and CEO of Drukatt.
In addition, the fact of being selected as a company to be in the accelerator, the company was endowed with a bonus of €40,000 that will be used to study which parts can be manufactured in 3D or through hybrid manufacturing and to develop initiatives to publicize and promote training in this type of technology.
Drukatt was founded six years ago by two experts from the industrial sector, Israel Arias and Eduardo Ortiz. The company's objective is to improve production processes and the industrial sector through additive manufacturing.
“When we started, we saw that there was enough technological capacity to add value to industrial processes, although it is true that it was a risky bet since it was something unknown to most of the industry,” Arias explains.
Drukatt's customer list includes a total of 150 companies from the manufacturing and process industry. Among the most outstanding companies in its portfolio are: Repsol, SEAT or Endesa
“We are proud of our client portfolio since there are large corporations, but all our clients are equally important. Without them, we would not have been able to close 2022 with a turnover close to half a million euros”, comments the Drukatt co-founder.
One of the main differentiating elements of Drukatt compared to other companies in the sector is its ability to carry out hybrid manufacturing processes. A way of designing and producing components in which the knowledge and capabilities of 3D technology are combined with traditional manufacturing processes.
“Small companies are agile when it comes to adapting to changes, so plans are never fully closed, but we have very well-defined lines of work for the coming years. In any case, our clients are already beginning to show us the direction where we have to go”, affirms Israel Arias. And he adds: "In the not too distant future we will want to increase our capabilities with both technical and commercial human resources."
3D printing is a technological process through which a computer control deposits the raw material layer by layer -powder, resin, sheets or filaments- until the final product is created.
“Additive manufacturing technology can be very useful if the part that needs to be replaced is obsolete or the manufacturing cost is very high. However, on other occasions it can be very expensive or there are other methods that can make that piece more efficiently”, says the general director of Drukatt
“3D printing or additive manufacturing will help and transform manufacturing processes, but being able to do something does not mean that it is the best option. Above all, you have to find the best solution to the problem or the part that is needed and this may or may not go through said technology”, concludes Israel Arias.
