A session held at AIDIMME provided an opportunity to review progress on the project, including solutions based on augmented reality and conversational technologies designed to facilitate interaction between operators and industrial equipment

Last week, we took part in a session at AIDIMME Instituto Tecnológico dedicated to presenting the latest developments in SMART MACHINE and VOZIA, two projects exploring the application of artificial intelligence and new interaction technologies in industrial environments.

The event, held on 24 September at the Paterna Technology Park, provided an opportunity to review a range of developments related to industrial digitalisation, including process data capture and analysis, real-time monitoring and decision-making support on the shop floor.

Within SMART MACHINE, we are working on the validation of solutions designed to make communication between people and industrial equipment simpler and more intuitive. The developments incorporate augmented reality and conversational technologies, enabling operators to interact with machines, access contextual information and receive task reminders at the appropriate time.

“In an industry where increasingly diverse and complex technologies coexist, establishing a common language for communication between machines and facilitating interaction between people and equipment represents an important step forward. At Factor, we continue to validate communication solutions in which augmented reality enables conversational interaction with machines and incorporates task storage and reminder functions,” explains Alfredo Giménez, Director of Innovation at FACTOR.

The session also provided an opportunity to assess the level of maturity reached by several developments and to share experiences among the participating companies and organisations, identifying new opportunities for their validation and application in real industrial environments.

The next steps in the project will focus on continuing to validate the solutions developed, completing the demonstrators in real environments and progressing towards their transfer and adoption by industry.

SMART MACHINE is being developed by a consortium coordinated by SOTHIS Servicios Tecnológicos and comprising, alongside FACTOR, NUNSYS, JIX Food Solutions, Robotnik Automation and DYMSA Ingeniería. The project is funded by IVACE+i – the Valencian Institute for Competitiveness and Innovation of the Generalitat Valenciana.

The project will develop an intelligent agent-based framework to transform complex regulatory requirements into automated, executable checks

At Factor, we are advancing the responsible application of artificial intelligence in industry through our participation in AI CONFORM (Agentic Framework for Automated Regulatory Compliance), a European project led by the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance. Its objective is to develop an automated framework to support the regulatory compliance of artificial intelligence systems in the European Union.

AI CONFORM began its activities in mid-June with a kick-off meeting held in Athens. Our Innovation Director, Alfredo Giménez, and Paula Castrillo, R&D&I Project Manager, represented Factor at the meeting, where the partners discussed the project's objectives, scope and workstreams.

Artificial intelligence applied to regulatory compliance

AI CONFORM addresses the growing regulatory complexity associated with the development and use of artificial intelligence systems in the European Union, including regulatory frameworks such as the AI Act, the NIS2 Directive and the eIDAS 2.0 Regulation.

To this end, the project proposes an innovative architecture based on intelligent agents, legal knowledge graphs and natural language processing techniques that will transform complex regulatory requirements into automated, executable checks.

The solution will also integrate advanced privacy technologies and trust services, including encryption and digital signatures, to ensure the legal validity and traceability of information.

The objective is to significantly reduce the administrative burden and the time devoted to compliance processes and reporting.

Validation in a real-world industrial environment

Within AI CONFORM, we are leading the manufacturing pilot, in which we will validate innovative AI-based solutions in a real-world environment to automate regulatory compliance in production processes.

"The growing regulatory complexity associated with artificial intelligence poses a significant challenge for industry. AI CONFORM will enable us to validate solutions in a real production environment that help automate these processes, reduce the administrative burden and move towards safer, more traceable manufacturing aligned with European regulations", says Alfredo Giménez, Innovation Director at Factor.

A multidisciplinary European consortium

AI CONFORM brings together leading European organisations in the fields of artificial intelligence, regulation and digital transformation. Participating organisations include the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance, which coordinates the project and is also responsible for a public-sector pilot; UBITECH Limited, from Cyprus, as technical lead; InfoCert S.p.A., from Italy; Semantic Web Company, from Austria; AppliedAI Institute, from Germany; MetaMinds Innovations, from Greece; Sandetel, responsible for a public-sector pilot; and Voltiva Energy, responsible for the energy-sector pilot, together with other European partners specialising in these fields.

Through AI CONFORM, we will help position European industry to address the challenges posed by the AI Act and move towards safer, more traceable manufacturing aligned with European regulations.

Factor’s CEO joins the Institution’s Governing Body for the 2026–2030 term representing FEMEVAL

Fernando Gastaldo Lázaro, CEO of Factor and First Vice-President of the Valencian Metalworking Business Federation (FEMEVAL), has been elected to the new Executive Committee of the Valencia Chamber of Commerce for the 2026–2030 term.

The appointment was announced place during the inaugural session of the institution’s new Plenary Assembly, at which José Vicente Morata was unanimously re-elected as President of the Valencia Chamber of Commerce.

Fernando Gastaldo’s appointement to the Executive Committee strengthens Factor’s presence within the Valencian business ecosystem and represents an opportunity to contribute, drawing on the company’s industrial expertise, to enhancing the competitiveness, innovation and internationalisation of businesses across the province.

Representation of the Valencian Business Community

The new Executive Committee comprises representatives from some of the leading companies and business organisations in the Valencian Community and will help guide the work of the Valencia Chamber of Commerce over the next four years.

Alongside José Vicente Morata, the Committee includes María José Mainar Puchol (Mainar Proyectos) as First Vice-President; Alejandro Bermejo Fliquete (Valenciana de Molduras Alto Turia) as Second Vice-President; and Juan Francisco Cámara Gil (Torrescámara) as Treasurer.

In addition to Fernando Gastaldo, the Executive Committee includes Vicente Boluda Ceballos (Boluda Corporación Marítima), Francisco José Corell Grau (FVET), Olga García Sanz (CaixaBank) and Yasmina Santos Galán (Mercadona).

Fernando Gastaldo is also a member of the new Plenary Assembly of the Valencia Chamber of Commerce, representing FEMEVAL. Comprising 60 representatives from companies and business organisations, the Plenary Assembly is the institution’s highest governing body and reflects the diversity of the province’s business community.

A new phase focused on competitiveness

The Valencia Chamber of Commerce’s new term will focus on strengthening business competitiveness and productivity. Its main areas of action include innovation, digitalisation, training, internationalisation, strategic infrastructure and public-private collaboration—key priorities for addressing the challenges facing the business community in the years ahead.

Commitment to Economic and Industrial Development

At Factor, we regard this appointment as recognition of Fernando Gastaldo’s professional and business career and his commitment to Valencia’s industrial sector. His appointment to the Executive Committee of the Valencia Chamber of Commerce, representing FEMEVAL, also provides an opportunity to contribute his expertise and business insight to the province’s economic progress.

This new responsibility also reinforces the company’s commitment to collaboration between businesses, institutions and business organisations as a means of building a more innovative and competitive industrial ecosystem, better prepared to address future challenges.

Factor congratulates José Vicente Morata on his re-election, as well as all the members of the new Plenary Assembly and Executive Committee of the Valencia Chamber of Commerce as they begin this new term.

Photo credit: Valencia Chamber of Commerce

The event, organized by AFM and Tecnalia, provided an opportunity to learn about projects at a high level of maturity and their application to real-world industrial scenarios

Alfredo Giménez, Head of Innovation, and Paula Castrillo Ferrer, Innovation Project Manager, recently participated on behalf of Factor in an event jointly organized by AFM Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and Tecnalia Research & Innovation, which included visits to the facilities of Tecnalia and CEIT Technology Center.

The event provided a first-hand look at developments related to robotics, artificial intelligence, and engineering applied to industrial environments where efficiency and precision are critical.

Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Applied Innovation

During the visit to Tecnalia, the team learned about advanced robotics solutions geared toward flexible automation, artificial intelligence applications in industrial processes, and engineering projects focused on improving efficiency and productivity.

Among the developments that sparked the most interest were a robotic crane and various systems for recovering high-value parts through a combination of digital reconstruction and repair technologies.

One of the most significant aspects was the high level of maturity of the solutions presented and their application to real-world industrial scenarios.

“These types of meetings allow us to stay up to date on key technological trends for the sector, identify opportunities for collaboration with leading technology centers, align our innovation strategy with current market conditions, and strengthen our network of contacts within the industrial and technological ecosystem,” explains Alfredo Giménez.

Challenges Facing the International Industry

The program also included an analysis of the global outlook for the machining industry, presented by Patricia Tamés Ortega of AFM, who addressed the sector’s main challenges and opportunities arising from the adoption of new technologies and adaptation to new production models.

Among the key issues highlighted were the need to design products tailored to actual needs, avoiding over-engineering, as well as adapting processes to new production models.

The importance of collaboration and innovation in maintaining the industrial sector’s market position and competitiveness was also emphasized.

Digital Communications and Precision Sensing

The visit continued at CEIT Technology Center, where technologies applied to industry—such as materials engineering, chemical processes, and industrial telecommunications—were presented.

During the tour, the group also discussed digital communications on the shop floor and precision sensing solutions for the chemical monitoring of metalworking fluids.

The meeting provided an opportunity to identify new ideas and potential avenues for collaboration with technology centers to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies and the integration of automation and data analytics, thereby reinforcing a practical innovation strategy applied to specific needs and focused on industrial outcomes.