Goodbye, Patxi

The success of visitors in the last edition of the Biennale of machine tools, along with the widespread comments of exhibitors, they hint, unequivocally, a revival of investment activity in the sector of machinery and equipment in general.

This does not mean that they could find new unique technologies, at least for those who visited the latest EMO. At the level of machine tool or metrology could appreciate is only improvements in detail, while in the field of software - Lantek, Idpsoft, - Spanish companies among others showed significant achievements, particularly for sheetmetal. The most interesting novelty of Spanish manufacture in the field of machine tools was not exposed physically, but only through video: the machine of linear engines of D+S systems. Commercial, because in the scientific-technical major technology centers - Tekniker, Ideko, Fatronik - showed pre-industrial achievements (and some actual implementation) of great interest, of which MetalUnivers will deal with in successive editions.

This edition of the Biennale had the particularity of being the last to be held in the traditional campus - where the first edition was held in 1962, (see MetalUnivers No. 4). The reasons for the change of venue can be found in to be able to stay, at least, nearly 100 exhibitors that had no place, by saturation of space, in this edition. And perhaps then the big manufacturers of tools, now absent, wish to participate.

More particularly, the complete range of products, editorial of Anuntis Interempresas, which were widely distributed during the show was also evident: Interempresas metalworking trade publication, the catalogue of the metalworking industry, and the Interempresas.net portal. Also, the magazine MetalUnivers, associated with the portal MetalUnivers.com, number of visits, now close to 50,000 per month, continues to increase every month (according to OJD control www). MetalUnivers magazine, for its part, continues the regulatory steps to dispose of this control - which allows, as in this issue, apply the same.

MetalUnivers, that had nourished the erudition and enthusiasm of Patxi Aldabaldetrecu for the preparation of the historical section of the last number, was deeply impressed, as soon as they started the Biennale, to have news of his sudden death the previous Saturday. Did not see their work in print, which had put great effort and illusion (his long historical article was not a reproduction of his great book, but rather was made ad hoc for the occasion). Although Yes had sensed it in the workspace on the Internet that was putting together and refined, until you reach the final version (see www.metalunivers.com/arees/historia).

We must therefore devote to Patxi that edition of MetalUnivers (No. 4), as a posthumous tribute - which would have unwanted find us - to one of those that have most contributed to the development of machine tools in the Basque country. And, very heartfelt way, the sector in general and to his family in particular.

5) METALUNIVERS March 2002