Rotary friction welding gains momentum: BERKOA and LORTEK demonstrate its potential beyond the automotive industry

The morning of 2 December at Berkoa Machine Tools was not your typical open house. It was one of those events where the industry looks to the future and realises that it is already here. Under the umbrella of the Berkoa 360º initiative, the company turned its facilities into a meeting point for innovation, technology and high-level technical discussion.

Its managing director, Andoni Garcia-Abad, together with the mayor of Elgoibar, Maialen Gurrutxaga, welcomed companies, technical managers and other representatives who came to see what is driving the world of rotary friction welding today and what will drive it tomorrow.

Following an initial presentation by Berkoa reviewing the company's evolution and its commitment to innovation, Andoni García-Abad highlighted the SoldAvanza machine, which was inaugurated by the Lehendakari (Basque President) and is used as a test bench for prototypes and trials within its facilities. ‘Our conference shows how rotary friction welding can be adapted to different materials and sectors, bringing joining technology closer to industry in a practical way,’ said Andoni.

Next, the LORTEK technology centre took over, with presentations by Antonio Monaco and Jonatan Rodríguez. Both clearly and insightfully outlined the current landscape of advanced materials, joining technologies, process control and smart manufacturing. Their message was clear: ‘Rotary friction is no longer just for the automotive industry; it is ready to fly higher, withstand more wind and enter demanding sectors such as aerospace, wind power and oil & gas.’

Technology you can hear, see and feel

The theory quickly gave way to practice with three live demonstrations that captured everyone's attention. Attendees were able to observe up close:

• Aluminium and copper joining with surprising precision for electrical applications.
• High-speed steel welded to F-1140, showing how tool manufacturing is entering a new league.
• An advanced repair process, designed for sectors where every millimetre counts: wind power, petrochemicals, shipbuilding and oil & gas.

The deep sound of the rotation, the heat generated and the accuracy of the process created a small ‘live laboratory’ that sparked questions, debates and connections.

Real-life cases that lead the way

The day also included business insights and applications offered by BERKOA, as well as a success story that has become a benchmark: the one presented by Imanol Montero, Head of Heat Treatment Engineering and Friction Welding at GKN Driveline. His presentation showed something fundamental: when technology matures and is well integrated, it ceases to be an experiment and becomes a competitive advantage.

Looking ahead

The final visit to other Berkoa machines in operation and the subsequent networking session served to ground ideas, initiate collaborations and confirm a clear trend:

Rotary friction welding is experiencing a period of expansion and is emerging as a key component in the advanced manufacturing of the future.

The day ended with a shared feeling: if the industry is looking for robust, sustainable solutions with high added value, the answer is not far away. It is literally turning in Elgoibar (Guipúzcoa).