OVER TWO DECADES OF TRUST AND INNOVATION: THE LONG-STANDING COLLABORATION BETWEEN FICEP AND GRUPO ANRO

Inside Grupo Anro’s Innovation

The group also includes Anrotech, created in 2012 as a result of its commitment to R+D+i. It is a system with a patented union for the industrialised construction of high-rise, expandable, removable and relocatable car parks, taking sustainability and the circular economy to the highest level.

Anrotech already has 400,000 m² and 24,000 parking spaces built. They are currently working on projects such as the parking lot at Atocha Station in Madrid, the autosilo at the Port of Santander, which is being expanded to reach 18,000 spaces, and the parking lot at the Hospital de Valme in Seville, among others.

In addition, they have executed the first dismantled and relocated car park in Spain: in just 12 weeks they moved a car park from San Sebastián to the 12 de Octubre Hospital in Madrid.

Finally, Anrobox is the newest unit of the group. It is a system with a patented union, also the result of its investment in R+D+i, designed to respond to the lack of labour in construction, the shortage of housing and the need to shorten deadlines.

This system allows high-rise buildings to be built through industrialised construction applicable to homes, hotels, student residences, nursing homes, among others, and is fully adapted to each project. It significantly reduces execution times compared to traditional construction, improves quality control, minimises waste, eliminates water consumption, reduces accidents and facilitates labour access to the sector.

In addition, it allows buildings to be expandable, dismantled and relocatable if their uses or environmental conditions change over time.

For Grupo Anro, its work has never been just about manufacturing structures. It is about transforming complexity into precision, ambition into reliability and architectural vision into durable, high-quality reality. In this demanding context, FICEP has become far more than a machinery supplier: it is a long-term technological partner that has actively supported Anro’s growth, competitiveness and ability to lead some of the most complex steel projects worldwide, such as the Centro Botín in Santander, the Iberdrola Campus in Madrid, the Gabriel Montpied Stadium in Clermont-Ferrand, France, the Fehmarnbelt gate in the largest tunnel in the world that will connect Denmark with Germany, the new Moeve refinery or the recently inaugurated Roig Arena in Valencia, among the more than 1250 projects carried out in 21 countries.

Founded in 1959 as a family business, Grupo Anro has grown into an international benchmark for the design, manufacture and assembly of large-scale and singular steel structures.

“As a company, our main asset is our team and our ability to control every phase of the process,” explains Rafael Rodríguez Novillo, CEO of Grupo Anro. “This complete traceability allows us to guarantee quality, precision, and reliability in every project, no matter how complex”.

To support this vision, Anro required advanced equipment capable of delivering extreme precision, high productivity and seamless integration into digital and lean production environments. From the company’s very first steps into CNC automation, FICEP has been its partner of choice.

Today, Anro has 8 FICEP CNC machines used for sawing and thermal cutting, drilling and punching operations. These include:

• Three VANGUARD + KATANA drilling and sawing combined lines;

• One ORIENT drilling line combined with a thermal coping robot;

• One stand-alone thermal coping robot;

• One small plates punching line;

• An automatic CNC plate punching and thermal cutting system;

• And one angle processing line;

All these machines are equipped with fully automatic material handling systems to guarantee top efficiency. These systems have become an essential part of Anro’s production, enabling greater precision, reducing setup times and supporting the company’s ability to manage complex projects efficiently. By automating critical operations, the equipment has improved workflow continuity, minimized errors and rework, and strengthened overall process reliability.

“From the beginning, we were looking for systems aligned with our quality and process objectives,” says Mr. Rafael Rodríguez. “FICEP offered us technological reliability, full integration with our production systems and a level of precision that clearly exceeded market standards.”

One of the most tangible impacts of FICEP technology has been the significant reduction in machining, drilling and cutting times, along with a drastic decrease in setup operations. This has translated into higher throughput, increased line autonomy and the elimination of bottlenecks in complex projects.

“Minimizing setup times and avoiding stoppages were key objectives for us,” he adds. “With FICEP equipment, we have achieved faster processes, smoother workflows, and a much higher level of operational efficiency”.

Precision has been another decisive factor. The tight tolerances, repeatability, and machining quality achieved with FICEP solutions have minimized errors and rework, particularly in critical joints where assembly accuracy is essential.

“The margin for error in our projects is minimal,” Mr. Rafael Rodríguez explains. “FICEP machines consistently deliver superior repeatability and drilling accuracy, which results in exceptional reliability during final assembly.”

Reliability and robustness have delivered additional, and partly unexpected, benefits. Thanks to the quality of FICEP systems, Anro has significantly reduced unplanned maintenance and technical stoppages. Tool life has exceeded expectations, contributing to lower operating costs and greater production stability.

“Reduced downtime and lower maintenance requirements have generated direct savings,” he notes. “At the same time, eliminating rework has had a very positive economic impact.”

Equally important is the seamless integration of FICEP technology into Anro’s digital ecosystem. Full compatibility with design programs, BIM workflows, Lean Manufacturing principles and Anro’s proprietary systems, including its internally developed artificial intelligence, ensures complete traceability and real-time production control.

“Our production is fully integrated with BIM and our internal management systems,” says Rafael Rodríguez. “This allows us not only to manufacture with precision, but to manage complexity intelligently.”

Beyond technology, the partnership is built on people. FICEP’s technical service, responsiveness and deep understanding of the structural steel sector have been essential in building a relationship based on trust and collaboration.

“What truly made the difference was the human team,” he concludes. “FICEP has always been close, available and solution-oriented. That gives us the confidence to take on increasingly ambitious projects.”

Thanks to FICEP, Grupo Anro has strengthened its ability to deliver singular and large-scale projects worldwide, comply with demanding timelines and guarantee exceptional quality standards. As the industry moves toward greater automation, digital integration and sustainability, the partnership between FICEP and Grupo Anro stands as a clear example of how shared vision, advanced technology and human expertise can transform steel into precision, reliability and lasting value.