Sisteplant celebrates its 40th anniversary with the ambition to lead the development and implementation of cyberplants in the next decade. The company’s strategy focuses on a roadmap that addresses various levers of change to create agile, flexible, automated, reliable, robust and sustainable factories, which also enhance and amplify human capabilities.
“Our goal for this new stage is to become leaders in the development and implementation of cyber plants. Just as we once led with the factory of the future and the smart factory, we now want to be at the forefront of a model that will become the industry standard. To achieve this goal, we have restructured the company and are focusing our investments and resources on R&D&I,” commented Ana Santiago, the new president of Sisteplant.
For Sisteplant, a cyber plant is an environment where human capabilities – such as creativity, passion, intelligence and sensitivity – merge with technology – such as automation and digitalization -, all facilitated by an organizational model that promotes innovation and the achievement of business objectives through the continuous increase of knowledge.
New Decade with a Focus on Growth
At the beginning of this year, Sisteplant established a new corporate structure under the holding company Sisteplant Research SL, which brings together all the group’s current companies and will allow its expansion. The objective is to boost the growth of the organization, double its turnover in the next five years and promote the development of the cyber plant.
In recent years it has drastically increased its client base and expects to double its turnover in the next 5 years.
Furthermore, as part of this new stage, changes have been made in the company’s senior management: Javier Borda, founder and until now president, becomes owner of the company and will continue as an R&D&I advisor and member of the Board. ; Ana Santiago, until now CEO, assumes the presidency; David López Maganto, previously Director of Innovation, holds the position of CEO; José María Borda continues as vice president; Alfonso Ganzabal as general director; and Diego Galar assumes the role of Director of Innovation.
Sisteplant’s growth strategy is based on three pillars: internationalization, organic and inorganic growth, and innovation and development of new solutions and product lines:
- Internationalization: Expansion of the business abroad through direct implementation or through partners, mainly in the United States and Asia-Pacific, in addition to strengthening its presence in current markets.
- Organic and inorganic growth: The company is exploring the market in search of third parties that can complement its business, considering the most appropriate option to integrate them into the holding company.
- Innovation: Sisteplant will continue to promote its R&D&I area, which has been its hallmark for 40 years. This year, the R&D workforce has grown by 15%. The company has been working on R-Bot for two years, a revolutionary system of autonomous robotics and artificial intelligence, a pioneer in Spain, which is in the pilot phase and will be launched on the market in 2025. R-Bot will be essential in the cyber plant, integrating the autonomous robotics in its ecosystem and in the CMMS and Machine Learning tool PROMIND to help with repetitive or dangerous maintenance tasks. In addition, the company will launch new generations of its products and services starting next year.
Innovation as a Differentiating Brand
Sisteplant is a family business founded in Vizcaya in 1984, in the midst of industrial reconversion, with the aim of improving the competitiveness of companies. Today, it is a multinational with a presence on all five continents, both directly with offices in Mexico and Brazil, and through alliances. The international area already represents 20% of its turnover.
It has more than 2,000 clients and 200,000 users of its solutions around the world, and has developed 4,000 projects throughout its history. In Spain, it has offices in Vizcaya, Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Valencia.
In the last five years, it has experienced significant growth in the number of clients – close to 25% – and in its workforce – it will close 2024 with an increase of 25%, reaching 190 employees. The company is betting heavily on young talent and the professional development of its employees.
Sisteplant has based its growth on innovation, allocating 20% of its turnover and its workforce to this area. This intense innovative activity has allowed it to lead in fields such as maintenance software, be a pioneer in industry 4.0 and develop concepts such as the smart factory. Among its clients are companies such as Gestamp, Airbus, GKN, Aciturri, Nutrexpa, Mercedes-Benz, Navantia, Antonio Puig, Sacyr, Incarlopsa, Dragados Offshore, Urbaser, Fagor, Acciona, Endesa, Irizar, Gamesa, CAF, Talgo, GSK , FAES, VIRALGEN-BAYER, Adif and the Bilbao Bizkaia Water Consortium.
Ana Santiago has pointed out: “These last few years have been a preparation for the path we are now beginning. At Sisteplant we are clear that our most important asset is people, which is why we have focused on attracting talent, especially in the area of innovation, which is essential for our business.” In addition, he highlighted that they have reinforced their activity in certain geographical areas, such as the opening of an office in the Levante area, and have promoted business growth, which has led to a significant increase in their client portfolio.
Sisteplant operates in sectors as diverse as automotive, aerospace and defense, food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, capital goods, wind power, electronics, energy and environment, infrastructure and transportation, healthcare, facilities and public administration. In recent years, it has especially strengthened its business in the railway sector.
