ZAYER EXPERTS

Over the years, ZAYER has produced machines with the highest technological efficiency and precision capabilities in the machine tool market. The key for these machines to maintain such high standards is OPERATION AUTOMATION.

Javier Orive has been working at ZAYER for 35 years; 32 years as Head of Quality, more than 15 years as a member of the AEN/CT15 “MACHINE TOOL” Standards Committee and 14 years heading the Application Development Department, ensuring that ZAYER machines are constantly renewed and updated as demanded by the market.

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You have spent many years at ZAYER. Would you say that your current work is the most important work you have done at ZAYER?

Not really. Each stage has been important in its own way and they have all seemed important to me. In all of them, I have worked closely with technological improvements or the quality, efficiency and technological requirements that we implement in our machines. Now I am very satisfied to be helping to grow and expand our portfolio of applications. 

We have published ZAYER’s AppCenter on our website. What are the short-term plans in this area? 

We took an important step forward demonstrating an unparalleled variety of automated applications.

We took an important step forward demonstrating an unparalleled variety of automated applications. Technological development is key to our business and the work we are carrying out at the moment in the field of apps makes us stand out. But we have to keep on working. In the new website section technology, we present more than 17 apps that cover the increasingly complex and specific needs of our customers. But that’s not all, because we are working on 6 more apps. This never stops.

Give us some figures on the area: What percentage of customers are interested in implementing apps in their machines?

Anyone who purchases this type of machine requires very personalized solutions. Approximately more than 70% of our machines have apps installed. One of ZAYER’s singular characteristics is that we adapt the machine completely to the customer’s needs, which is why our customers are especially demanding in their requirements. Their requirements have always been ours, so we need to accompany them at each step until we find the apps that best fit their needs. 

Does that mean that you also develop apps on demand?

That’s right. We recently inaugurated a new area called MachiningLAB, where we develop apps on demand. We offer an exclusive service to customers that need to simplify complex processes. We carry out all the machining tasks in the area until the application adapts to the customer’s specific needs.

And how do customers apply this?

That is why it is so important to work with them hand-in-hand. We also develop apps to improve the precision and profitability of our machines. We train customers so they can use them and optimize their performance. And, of course, we train them on how to implement and use them in the target machine, while offering on-site assistance once they are installed.

What role do apps play in selling a machine?

Our customers require us to work alongside them as a team in their machining project. They come to us with the idea of machining a specific part that requires a customized solution, for their company, in their facilities. They want us to help them generate a fast, effective and efficient machining process that solves the entire range of operations that have to be carried out. This turns things around completely since we are no longer selling them a machine or an app. We are helping them become more competitive. We have become technological experts; consultants as well as suppliers, an integral part of their machining projects. 

What are the medium and long-term plans in this field?

There is still a lot to develop as regards software for machining programs and machine operator assistance that will provide the end-user with significant added value. It is important to highlight the lines of R&D&i that ZAYER has opened in this field. We are currently working on several European R&D&i projects related to operation automation. 

And finally, there is the challenge of usability. Our machines must be increasingly prepared for the future. I honestly think that if we stay at the cutting edge of technology, usability will be a great challenge to be overcome by these machines in the medium and long term. 

Your work sounds tremendously interesting, Javier.
Many thanks for the interview!