A punto de que se cumpla un a\u00f1o desde que accedi\u00f3 al cargo de Secretaria General en la EFF, Ainhoa Ondarzabal comparte con nosotros reflexiones de alcance sobre el sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
As the first anniversary of her taking up the position of Secretary General at the EFF approaches, Ainhoa \u200b\u200bOndarzabal shares with us her far-reaching reflections on the sector.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lleva ya 10 meses como secretaria general de EFF \u00bfqu\u00e9 esperaba encontrar y qu\u00e9 ha encontrado?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cuando asum\u00ed la Secretar\u00eda General de EFF esperaba encontrar un sector con enormes retos, pero tambi\u00e9n con una gran capacidad t\u00e9cnica e industrial. Sab\u00eda que la fundici\u00f3n europea atravesaba un momento complejo, marcado por la transici\u00f3n energ\u00e9tica, la presi\u00f3n regulatoria y una competencia global creciente.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lo que he encontrado confirma ese diagn\u00f3stico, pero tambi\u00e9n me ha impresionado muy positivamente la resiliencia del sector. La fundici\u00f3n europea no solo es una industria hist\u00f3rica; es una industria estrat\u00e9gica, profundamente innovadora y absolutamente imprescindible para cadenas de valor clave como la automoci\u00f3n, la energ\u00eda, la maquinaria industrial o la defensa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He encontrado profesionales muy comprometidos y empresas que, pese a un entorno dif\u00edcil, siguen invirtiendo en eficiencia, digitalizaci\u00f3n y sostenibilidad. Sin embargo, tambi\u00e9n he constatado la urgencia de reforzar la interlocuci\u00f3n con las instituciones europeas para garantizar un marco competitivo equilibrado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You have now been Secretary General of EFF for 10 months. What did you expect to find, and what have you found<\/em>?<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took on the role of Secretary General of EFF, I expected to find a sector facing significant challenges, but also one with strong technical and industrial capabilities. I knew that the European foundry industry was going through a complex period, shaped by the energy transition, increasing regulatory pressure, and growing global competition.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n What I have found confirms that diagnosis, but I have also been very positively impressed by the sector\u2019s resilience. The European foundry industry is not only a historic industry; it is a strategic, highly innovative sector that is absolutely essential to key value chains such as automotive, energy, industrial machinery and defence.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I have met highly committed professionals and companies that, despite a difficult environment, continue to invest in efficiency, digitalisation and sustainability. At the same time, I have seen the clear need to strengthen our dialogue with European institutions to ensure a balanced competitive framework and a proper assessment of the industrial impact of new regulations.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n No son buenos tiempos para el mundo de la empresa en general y de las fundiciones en particular. \u00bfC\u00f3mo est\u00e1 el sector en Europa?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n El sector europeo de la fundici\u00f3n atraviesa una etapa especialmente exigente. Venimos de una crisis energ\u00e9tica sin precedentes que impact\u00f3 directamente en una industria electro intensiva como la nuestra. A eso se suma la desaceleraci\u00f3n de la automoci\u00f3n, la incertidumbre geopol\u00edtica y una presi\u00f3n competitiva creciente desde terceros pa\u00edses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adem\u00e1s, en los \u00faltimos a\u00f1os hemos visto una tendencia de ca\u00edda de producci\u00f3n y empleo. Por un lado, una creciente competencia de terceros pa\u00edses, donde existe una clara situaci\u00f3n de sobrecapacidad y donde el sector cuenta con un respaldo p\u00fablico que distorsiona las condiciones de competencia<\/p>\n\n\n\n Por otro lado, una presi\u00f3n regulatoria cada vez mayor en Europa, operamos bajo los est\u00e1ndares medioambientales y sociales m\u00e1s exigentes del mundo, algo que defendemos plenamente. El problema no es el objetivo, sino el ritmo, la acumulaci\u00f3n normativa y la falta de an\u00e1lisis de impacto industrial. El reto no es t\u00e9cnico \u2014Europa sigue siendo l\u00edder en calidad, innovaci\u00f3n y sostenibilidad\u2014; el reto es de competitividad y equilibrio regulatorio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are not easy times for business in general, and for foundries in particular. How is the sector doing in Europe?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The European foundry sector is going through a particularly demanding period. We are emerging from an unprecedented energy crisis, which directly affected an energy-intensive industry like ours. At the same time, we are facing a slowdown in the automotive sector, geopolitical uncertainty, and increasing competitive pressure from third countries.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent years, we have seen a decline in production and employment across several Member States. On the one hand, there is growing competition from third countries, where structural overcapacity exists and where public support often distorts the level playing field.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, we face increasing regulatory pressure in Europe. We operate under some of the world\u2019s highest environmental and social standards \u2014 standards we fully support. The issue is not the objective, but the pace, the accumulation of legislation, and the lack of adequate industrial impact assessments.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The challenge is not technical \u2014 Europe remains a global leader in quality, innovation and sustainability. The real challenge is competitiveness and regulatory balance.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n La fundici\u00f3n europea convive con incertidumbre, aranceles, regulaci\u00f3n, competencia de terceros pa\u00edses\u2026 \u00bfhay salida?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n S\u00ed, hay salida. Pero requiere decisiones estrat\u00e9gicas claras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n La primera es reconocer que la fundici\u00f3n es una industria fundamental para la autonom\u00eda estrat\u00e9gica europea. No puede hablarse de transici\u00f3n energ\u00e9tica, movilidad sostenible o soberan\u00eda tecnol\u00f3gica sin una base s\u00f3lida de industrias como la nuestra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Necesitamos tres cosas muy concretas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Desde la Federaci\u00f3n trabajamos intensamente en Bruselas para trasladar el impacto real que determinadas decisiones tienen sobre la industria. La fundici\u00f3n europea ya est\u00e1 haciendo su parte: invertimos en eficiencia energ\u00e9tica, econom\u00eda circular y reducci\u00f3n de emisiones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pero la transici\u00f3n debe ser viable. Sostenibilidad y competitividad no son conceptos opuestos; deben avanzar juntos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Europa no puede aspirar a reindustrializarse si pierde sus industrias fundamentales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European foundry industry is facing uncertainty, tariffs, regulation and global competition. Is there a way forward?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, there is a way forward \u2014 but it requires clear strategic decisions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n First and foremost, we must recognise that the foundry industry is fundamental to Europe\u2019s strategic autonomy. We cannot speak about the energy transition, sustainable mobility or technological sovereignty without a strong base of core industries such as ours.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We need three very concrete elements:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n From the Federation, we are working intensively in Brussels to ensure that policymakers understand the real impact of certain decisions on industrial sectors like ours. The European foundry industry is already doing its part: investing in energy efficiency, circular economy solutions and emissions reduction.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But the transition must be economically viable. Sustainability and competitiveness are not opposing concepts \u2014 they must advance together.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Europe cannot aspire to reindustrialisation if it loses its foundational industries.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mujer en un mundo especialmente masculino. \u00bfLe pasa factura?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Es cierto que la fundici\u00f3n es un sector tradicionalmente masculino, especialmente en posiciones t\u00e9cnicas y directivas pero dir\u00eda que al mismo nivel que otros sectores industriales tradicionales. Sin embargo, cada vez vemos m\u00e1s talento femenino incorpor\u00e1ndose a la industria, y eso es una muy buena noticia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n En mi experiencia, m\u00e1s que \u201cpasar factura\u201d, ser mujer en este entorno implica asumir una responsabilidad adicional: abrir camino y visibilizar que la industria tambi\u00e9n es un espacio de liderazgo femenino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n La clave no est\u00e1 en el g\u00e9nero, sino en la competencia, la preparaci\u00f3n y la capacidad de generar consenso. El sector necesita talento, cuanto m\u00e1s diverso sea, m\u00e1s fuerte ser\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n El cambio no es inmediato, pero est\u00e1 en marcha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You are a woman in a traditionally male-dominated sector. Has that been a challenge?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is true that the foundry sector has traditionally been male-dominated, particularly in technical and leadership positions, as is the case in much of the industry. However, we are increasingly seeing more female talent entering the sector, and that is very positive.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In my experience, rather than being a challenge, it represents an additional responsibility: to help open doors and demonstrate that industry is also a space for female leadership.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultimately, what matters is competence, preparation and the ability to build consensus. The sector needs talent, and the more diverse that talent is, the stronger the industry will be.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Change does not happen overnight, but it is clearly underway.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A punto de que se cumpla un a\u00f1o desde que accedi\u00f3 al cargo de Secretaria General en la EFF, Ainhoa Ondarzabal comparte con nosotros reflexiones de alcance sobre el sector.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8907,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[25,22],"class_list":["post-9017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entrevista","tag-fundicion","tag-industria","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/feaf.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/feaf.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/feaf.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feaf.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feaf.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9017"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/feaf.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9017\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9028,"href":"https:\/\/feaf.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9017\/revisions\/9028"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feaf.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/feaf.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feaf.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feaf.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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