“Good tree, good shadow”
2026 marks the 40th anniversary of AZTERLAN’s establishment as a Metallurgy Research Center. To commemorate this important milestone, we will share part of our journey each month through key figures from the AZTERLAN community.
The proverb we have chosen to commemorate this significant moment is a tribute to the support we have received along our journey, as well as a reminder of the importance of sustained growth, built on a solid foundation.
Marist Brothers vocational training school at Durango (Biscay)
Specialized on metallurgy to provide technological support to the industry
Days
Hours
Min.
Sec.
Avantgarde equipment and facilities
R&D and Advanced Technological Services
A committed staff to fulfill our mision as a Technology Centre
High technical capabilities and scientific rigor
Metalurgy and advanced transformation technologies
Iconic elements and spaces linked to our activity
Participation in internationational work networks
Disruptive developments shared directly with the industry
Collaboration with strategic partners to address future challenges
Adding value to our society
“The arrival of the Marist community in Durangaldea fostered an ecosystem that integrated local manufacturing traditions with technical knowledge. This context proved key to the industrial, economic, and social development of the region. The creation of the AZTERLAN Metallurgical Research Center is one of the fruits of this legacy.”
School of Arts and Crafts of the Marist Brothers of Durango
AZTERLAN originated in the Marist Brothers’ School of Arts and Crafts in Durango, a pioneering institution in technical and industrial training in the Durangalea region since the early 20th century. In a context of industrial transformation and a growing need for applied knowledge, the School became a meeting point between education, knowledge, and the local production sector.
During the 1960s and 70s, the boom in metallurgy and foundry work in Durangaldea raised awareness that training should be accompanied by scientific and experimental work, capable of supporting and responding to the technological challenges of industry.
From this concern arose the seed of what years later would become AZTERLAN: an organization dedicated not only to training, but also to the advanced testing and characterization of metallic materials, applied research, and technological innovation. Hence the organization’s name, of Basque etymology: “AZTERLAN” meaning “research work”.
Special recognition and acknowledgment are due to the Marist Institution and to those Brothers who, through their commitment, made the creation of AZTERLAN possible, with a clear vision of service and adding value to the local industrial sector and society:
- Pedro Huidobro
- Brother Zacarías Aguirre
- Brother Alberto Oribe
