On the sofa with… Oscar Tamarit, Founder and President of APAE

Advanced Manufacturing – What are the latest trends in metallurgical welding and how are they affecting companies and professionals in this field?

Óscar Tamarit – The trend now in the field of welding and metallurgy is affecting companies because now there is a strong tendency to robotise this type of welding or finishing and so on. And companies are not yet prepared for this. At least here in Spain, because they are very manual jobs and are not production jobs.

AM – What are the main trends for SMEs and freelancers in the industry?

O. Tamarit – The main trends for SMEs and the self-employed is to be able to keep up to date with automation, robotics and new technologies. The 4.0, when we are still finishing generating the 2.1. The problem for small and medium-sized enterprises is that automation is advancing so fast that they don’t have time to assimilate it.

AM – Based on your experience with freelancers and companies, what are the main challenges they face in the short term?

O. Tamarit – The main challenges facing small and medium-sized companies in the short term is that we have many courses, seminars, many actions to help them learn how to assimilate this 4.0 infrastructure. When the workshops are not financially prepared to be able to invest in all this technology. And that is the big problem that is being created in small and medium-sized enterprises and SMEs.