MSTECH Europe will invest 6 million euros to fuel growth in Electronics Industry from Barcelona

MSTECH Europe, a company that develops equipment and machinery for the electronics industry, will guarantee the reindustrialization of the old Mahle factory in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona).

The company's goal is to become a developer and manufacturer of these machines for the back-end processes of electronics and microelectronics manufacturing. The machines developed by MSTECH are located in the final manufacturing process of an electronic circuit once the different components of the circuit (resistors, transistors, processors, etc.) have been inserted.

The company serves various sectors, such as consumer electronics, mobile phones, and automotive, for companies such as SAMSUNG, LG, KIA Motors, Continental, and INTEL, among others.

Electronic circuit manufacturers use machines like MSTECH to complete the manufacturing process. The company's new technology dramatically reduces curing time (in the context of electronic circuits, this refers to the process of curing or hardening certain materials used in the manufacture of electronic components, such as adhesives, resins, coatings, and sealants) and energy waste, making the Western semiconductor industry more competitive and sustainable compared to the Eastern one.

“Our goal is to turn this plant into a talent incubator that will allow us to attract large companies to Vilanova i la Gesltrú (Barcelona)”

Jean Baptiste Bénard, MSTECH's CEO

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The announcement was made at the company facilities by the Minister of Business and Labour, Roger Torrent, the company's CEO, Jean Baptiste Bénard, and the Mayor of Vilanova i la Geltrú, Juan Luis Ruiz. Earlier, they had met with union representatives Emilio José Montero (UGT) and Antonia Miñana (CCOO), Mahle's Nuno Arroja, the Director General of Industry, Oriol Alcoba, and ICF's Business Development Director, Antoni Vallès-Novel, among others.

Minister Torrent emphasized that with the investment of MSTECH Europe, a leading company in the development of electronic manufacturing equipment and machinery, "the technological ecosystem of our country is strengthened, and this plant will be revitalized with an ambitious project of high added value and great margin for growth". Torrent said it is "a solid, strategic project for the future, with a clear commitment to the country and the territory".

In his speech, the Minister of Business and Labour recalled that "we are the government of reindustrialization, and we are working to prove it with more than just words, by bringing new industrial investments, helping our industries to grow and update its production processes towards a greener and more digital industry, and when a company, unfortunately, ceases operations, ensuring industrial continuity with new projects".

MSTECH's CEO, Jean Baptiste Bénard, explained that their goal is "to turn this plant into a talent incubator that will allow us to attract large companies to Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona)" and also said that at the factory. "We will promote training programs and an innovation center for companies". Jean Baptiste Bénard assured that this plant would be sustainable and explained that with this plant, "we will multiply the productive surface by five and the production capacity by six".

Manufacturing from Catalonia

MSTECH's industrialization plan has three main points: production in Catalonia, investment in R+D+i, and training people in the electronics sector.

This reindustrialization involves the concentration of the activity in a single plant, the change of Asian suppliers to Catalan suppliers, and the development of the entire process in Catalonia instead of subcontracting it in China, which will reduce the construction time of the machines and increase the production capacity.

Regarding R+D+i activities, two highly innovative projects will be launched at the Vilanova i la Geltrú plant. One is to transform the current curing technology, replacing mercury lamps with more efficient and non-polluting LED lamps. And another of new technological solutions in the field of flexible microelectronics.

These technologies have attracted the interest of large multinationals in the sector, as they will be a disruptive change in the production process of electronic circuits.

The third point is the training of personnel in the electronics sector. Conversations have begun with the Catalan Public Employment Service (SOC) so that the employees of the MSTECH plant can participate in a dual professional training program for microelectronics technicians, which will allow the training and employment of young people from the town and the region in this strategic sector for the country.

Catalonia's government support

The Department of Business and Labour's General Directorate of Industry has awarded a grant of €1.4 million through its reindustrialization support program in the 2023 call. The grant will be used to invest €6 million in infrastructure and hire 25 employees.

On the other hand, the ICF - Catalan Finance Institute has granted the company a loan of 2.7 million euros. This loan has a 2% interest rate subsidy from the Department of Business and Labour to facilitate financing business projects in an environment with a high-interest rate.