2026 CEX AWARDS

HRE Automation has been recognized with the 2026 CEX Award for Good Business Management Practices for its project “TRANSFER K: from dependence on the expert to an organization that learns and teaches.”

The award, presented annually by the Association of Centers for the Promotion of Excellence — CEX —, recognizes excellent management practices developed by companies and organizations from different autonomous communities. This year’s edition focused on generational succession and knowledge transfer within organizations.

The award ceremony took place on May 21 at CaixaForum Palma de Mallorca, at an event organized by the Regional Development Agency of the Balearic Islands — ADRBalears —, part of the Regional Ministry of Enterprise, Self-Employment and Energy of the Government of the Balearic Islands.

A good practice born from expert knowledge

The award-winning project, TRANSFER K, responds to a key challenge faced by many industrial SMEs: how to ensure that expert knowledge does not depend solely on specific individuals, but can instead be shared, transferred and used across the entire organization.

At HRE Automation, this need was identified especially in the maintenance and technical service area — SAT —, where much of the critical knowledge was concentrated in senior profiles with extensive experience in hydraulics, fault diagnosis, commissioning/resetting processes and preventive maintenance plans.

Since 2022, HRE has been developing a structured knowledge base that gathers information on components, failure modes, root causes, symptoms, alarms and recommended actions. This system makes it possible to:

Reduce dependence on specific individuals.
Accelerate the training of new technicians.
Facilitate generational succession.
Improve the efficiency of the technical service.
Turn expert knowledge into a shared asset for the whole organization.

From individual experience to a learning organization

TRANSFER K represents a natural evolution in the way knowledge is understood within HRE Automation. In a company with more than 40 years of experience in fluid automation, oil hydraulics, industrial lubrication and advanced maintenance, technical knowledge is one of its main differentiating assets.

With this practice, HRE reinforces its commitment to becoming a more prepared, more collaborative organization, better equipped to respond to the challenges of today’s industry.

This recognition highlights not only HRE’s technical track record, but also its commitment to continuous improvement, digitalization, organizational innovation and the development of the people who are part of the #ekipo.

National recognition following the EUSKALIT award

The 2026 CEX Award comes after HRE Automation was recognized in March with the EUSKALIT Good Practices Award, which enabled the company to compete for the national award.

In the final phase, HRE Automation competed against five other finalist organizations from different autonomous communities: Ascensores Tresa, Inoxpaser, Panel Sandwich Group, Repuestos Sáenz and Sociedad Cooperativa de Iniciativa Social y Formación Ocupacional Jovent.

This national recognition confirms the relevance of TRANSFER K as a good practice that can be applied to many organizations facing the challenge of succession, the loss of critical knowledge and the need to train new generations of professionals.

Much more than hydraulics

This award reinforces HRE Automation’s purpose: to generate wealth and wellbeing in our environment.

From Elgoibar, HRE continues to move forward as an industrial SME specialized in fluid engineering, oil hydraulics, industrial lubrication systems, expert maintenance and digital solutions such as MANEX. A journey that combines technical knowledge, innovation, sustainability, digitalization and strategic international partnerships.

The 2026 CEX Award recognizes the path already travelled and, above all, provides fresh momentum to continue building an organization that learns, teaches and shares knowledge.

Zorionak to the entire HRE Automation #ekipo for this recognition.

#HRE #muchomásquehidráulica #ekipo

Interview on the “BIDEARI EKIN” Videopodcast by Ekingune

 Talking about the future, innovation and purpose!

In this third episode of the #BideariEkin videopodcast, promoted by Ekingune, we share the story of HRE Automation through the voices of Jose Angel Alberdi, co-founder, and Esther Velasco, general manager.

 We talk about the origins of #HRE and how we moved from being a technical branch to building a business project with a strong identity and purpose.
 We explore the current challenges facing industry and how we address them through innovation, digitalization and applied knowledge.
 We share how we are managing generational transition, ensuring that knowledge is not lost but evolves.
 We present our technological solutions combining sustainability, expert maintenance (#MANEX) and talent development.

Because we believe the future is not something you wait for — it is something you imagine and build.

 You can watch the full episode here:

As we do every year, we like to take stock of the savings achieved for our customers thanks to HREGreen solutions.

We have recently finished implementing the solution to a customer who has achieved 48% energy savings on his new machine.

And since 2016, which we have been keeping track, the impressive result is that:
We have helped our customers achieve cumulative savings of 7.15 GW/h, that is, more than 3,300 tons of CO₂ not emitted into the atmosphere!

One liter of water at 25 ºC we know is capable of absorbing approximately 1.5 grams of CO₂.
Thinking that the average consumption in the state is about 55,000 liters of water per person per year, the amount of CO₂ saved would be equivalent to the volume corresponding to the annual water consumption of 40,000 people.

That’s quite something, isn’t it? And without realizing it – because we have already internalized these savings – we are once again helping to achieve a healthier ecosystem and a greener planet, supported by the levers of sustainability, eco-innovation and eco-design.

Of course, we must add the more than favorable economic impact that these savings represent for our customers’ finances, and therefore for their bottom line.

At HRE Automation, we have experienced a moment which fills us with emotion: our BeCold project has been awarded at the Advanced Manufacturing Awards 2024 as being the best in sustainability and circular economy. This recognition, awarded at IFEMA Madrid, during the MetalMadrid fair, highlights the impact of our innovation in the industrial transformation towards a more sustainable future.

This achievement would not have been possible without the collaboration between TECNALIA Research & Innovation, the UPV/EHU and HRE Automation, which made this revolutionary patent a reality. Special thanks to José Ángel Alberdi, the “alma mater” of this project, whose vision has made it possible to offer a sustainable alternative to traditional machining.

We would like to thank the jury: Antonio de la Presilla, Antton Meléndez Arranz, Carlos González, Eva García Biosca, Gala Maturana, Juan Miguel Poyatos Díaz, Juan Ramón Marijuán Q., Nerea Ordás, Núria Salán, Pedro Romero and Xoan Xosé Fernández Sánchez-Romate, and all those who have supported us with their votes.

We also thank the sponsors EMKA Beschlagteile and CARBUROS METÁLICOS, and the supporting partners: HispaRob, Izaro Manufacturing Technology, VALMETAL, HEGAN – Basque Aerospace Cluster, EIT Manufacturing, 3d-native.com, COIT AEIT and FEMEVAL.

BeCold, our sustainable machining solution, has crossed borders and is already established in international markets, including Japan!

Through Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) and the use of CO₂, we are revolutionizing the machining of difficult-to-machine materials. This technology is not only more sustainable, but also allows us to optimize resources and achieve significant economic savings.

BeCold is not just an innovative technology; it is a reflection of the effort, dedication and vision of the HRE team, which proves every day that together we can transform the industry and build a more responsible future.

Congratulations to the other winners! It is an honor to share the stage with such inspiring projects.

From HRE, we will continue to work with the same passion and commitment, because we firmly believe that every step we take can make a difference.

On 21 November 2023, the Royal Academy of Engineering awarded the outstanding Juan López de Peñalver Prize to Amaia Calleja Ochoa, Industrial Mechanical Engineer at the University of the Basque Country and current full professor at the same institution. This prestigious award, intended for people under the age of 40 who have excelled in Spanish engineering, celebrates the work of Amaia and her team at the Aeronautical Advanced Manufacturing Centre.

Amaia Calleja Ochoa headed the group made up of engineers Haizea González and Izaro Ayesta, as well as engineers Adrián Rodríguez and Octavio Pereira. Their contribution focuses on the development of an innovative cryogenic cooling technology with recycled CO2, used as a cutting fluid in machining processes. This breakthrough, known as BeCold, has managed to replace polluting cutting oils, generating improvements in both productivity and the environment.

Amaia Calleja Ochoa expressed her gratitude to HRE for trusting in the product, highlighting the patent and the team’s research dedication over the years. The BeCold technology has been successfully industrialised and marketed in countries such as Japan, Poland and Canada, demonstrating the commitment of Amaia and her team to innovation and sustainability in engineering.

At the recent 19th edition of the Global Conference for Sustainable Manufacturing, the Centre for Advanced Aeronautical Manufacturing (CFAA) presented the results of its pioneering research focused on the eco-sustainable improvement of super duplex stainless steel turning. The key to this breakthrough lies in the application of the CRYOMQL technique.

The findings revealed that the CRYOMQL technique not only optimises the turning process, but also significantly extends the service life of the tool used. This extension in tool efficiency leads to an overall improvement in the sustainability of the manufacturing process, highlighting a further step towards more environmentally friendly practices.

The achievement of the CFAA not only has positive implications for the aerospace industry, but also demonstrates how the implementation of sustainable technologies can effectively reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing, while promoting efficiency and product quality.

In this context, HRE Automation is proud to contribute to this revolution in sustainable manufacturing. By supplying specialised BeCold Cryogenic Machining equipment, HRE Automation positions itself as a key partner in the adoption of advanced and environmentally friendly technologies.

If you would like to find out more about how you can integrate Cryogenic Machining into your manufacturing processes, please contact us at hre@hre.es

As it could not be otherwise, this year we have also been present in the different activities for the commemoration of World Energy Saving Day, which was celebrated on 21 October 2023.

In line with the values of HRE Automation, Circular Economy and Green Design and Manufacturing, and thanks among other applications to the implementation of our energy efficiency system, we have continued to make progress in reducing the carbon footprint and electricity consumption of our customers by between 35% and 50%.

Having started the different programmes in 2016 and to date, we have managed to save a total of 5.84 GW/h, which is the same as 5,840,000 KW/h for our customers. This means that more than 2,700 tonnes of CO₂ have been saved from being emitted into the atmosphere. This value is equivalent to the planting of 16,225 trees, which would be necessary to absorb the carbon dioxide saved by our processes. With a standard density of 200 trees per hectare, we save the space that would occupy more than 81 hectares, which is 810,000 m².

Looking at it another way, now that olive oil is almost prohibitively expensive:

If we consider that one hectare of olive tree cultivation yields about 5,000 kg of olives, with these 81 hectares saved we could obtain about 405,000 kg of olives, which would be equivalent to about 81,000 L of EVOO. The equivalent of the annual oil consumption of 12,000 people. Surprised?

https://hre.es/en/engineering-solutions/energy-saving-solutions-in-hydraulic-systems/

At HRE, we renew our commitment to the constant pursuit of excellence, marking our sixth uninterrupted year dedicated to quality. On this occasion, we are celebrating the renewal of the SGI quality certification for the second consecutive year ISO9001, ISO14001 for the environment and ISO45001 for Health and Safety at Work.

The achievement of this triple certification fills us with satisfaction, as we not only believe in it, but it also drives us to continuously improve our efficiency. This achievement allows us to systematise our operations and foster team growth in a safe and sustainable environment.

We consider it essential to build our customers’ trust by understanding their needs and expectations. We seek to establish effective communication channels, engage, motivate and train our staff in pursuit of excellence and continuous improvement. In addition, we strive to protect the environment, reduce our environmental impact and provide safe and healthy working conditions.

We are dedicated to improving these aspects every day, as we recognise that the value we offer our customers goes beyond simply being a product. We thank all those who contribute to making this achievement possible.

From HRE Automation we want to show you a summary of the best of 2022, before entering 2023… because we are everything we have been and what is yet to come.

Thank you all for being part of this!