Archives

Walter Pack’s R&D work

INSIDE WALTER PACK More beautiful more functional more efficient Walter Pack’s R&D work Design, functionality, efficiency and minimalism. Most industrial sectors such as automotive and home appliance sectors demand products and components that are increasingly beautiful and cutting-edge; that integrate improved functions; that are more efficient and sustainable.These four characteristics have made Walter Pack a benchmark industrial partner, but they also sum up the scope of the company’s commitment to innovation for more than 20 years. R&D, the heart of the company Walter Pack’s Research and Development Department is the “soul” of the company, the driving force that allows it to respond to the needs of its clients and even anticipate market demands in order to shape future trends. For example, several years ago, the team developed the ghost effect, a technology that combines the decoration of plastic components with specific backlighting, which causes a “day and night” effect that has already been used by two automotive giants, Audi and BMW. Or who have contributed to the design of avant-garde finishes that have become true hallmarks of leading brands in their respective sectors. From a dream The work of this Department begins with a simple idea, a need or even a dream. From that moment on, work begins involving different teams of people in three interconnected categories: Research, Innovation and Development. In many cases, the clients themselves come to the R&D Department with a basic concept in order to propose a line of work to enable a functional solution. Its work is limited to an eminently theoretical level that requires a lot of development work and experimentation. At other times, clients turn to Innovation to optimise an already defined part using a new technology, while Development is tasked with conceiving and designing new products and prototypes using existing techniques. Knowledge transfer The work of these teams, which may be client-driven or promoted internally, is transferred to Industrialisation and the Sales Department, accompanied by the corresponding reports; documentation on the so-called “lessons learned”, or incidences of the process, and with an estimate of costs. All of this, with one objective: to obtain useful solutions for its clients, based on excellence and market requirements. Work sources To carry out its work, the R&D Department “feeds” from four main sources, as its Head, Iñigo Erhardt, explains: Internal Members of the Department hold regular meetings throughout the year at which they share their insights into the present and future needs of the industry, and consider the contributions they can make to sectors such as automotive and consumer electronics, among others. “This work is what helps clients to be inspired by our proposals,” explains Erhardt. Efforts in this area are enhanced thanks to the fundamental collaboration of its partner, Grupo Antolín, with whom they are able to create fully functional prototypes and demonstrators integrated in a real environment, thus enabling a greater scope of the work carried out. Collaboration with technological centres The joint work of Walter Pack with local research centres, universities and other countries is essential to establish a network of collaborative work and to bring concrete projects to light, to create new materials and to enable complementary functionalities. “It is a joint, transversal and evolving work with our partners in which we all innovate continuously,” says Iñigo Erhardt. External On other occasions it is the clients themselves who come to Walter Pack with a simple sketch or an idea to ask the R&D Department to work on it, develop it and make a functional proposal. “In this case, we turn an idea or a need into a prototype that incorporates the functionalities required,” explains Gorka Litago, a member of the department. Technological surveillance Attending trade fairs, checking new patents and benchmarking allow Walter Pack to keep up-to-date with new market developments in order to study them and, if necessary, incorporate them into its processes with a clear objective: to always remain at the forefront and implement the most efficient processes and technologies. Challenges The purpose of this learning task is clear: to be able to face the challenges of innovation, research and development with full guarantees and at the technological forefront. Iñigo Erhardt and Gorka Litago agree in highlighting the four main challenges facing their department: 01 Maximum functionality Large manufacturers are looking for comprehensive suppliers capable of designing solutions that combine cutting-edge design with maximum functionality. “Nowadays, parts are no longer only decorated but also incorporate functions such as sensors, backlighting, etc. The market demands integrated solutions with high added value produced by a single supplier, and this forces us to implement innovative processes,” explain the members of the R&D department. 02 Minimalism Although the incorporation of new materials and functionalities in plastic parts often leads to an increase in the size of components, there are sectors such as consumer electronics that impose size restrictions on their components: this means that smaller and smaller but equally efficient solutions must be devised. Smaller in terms of interior space occupation, but larger in visible dimensions (seamless). 03 More product specifications The sophistication of the market and the various international regulations mean that clients are placing increasingly higher technical requirements on the components they order, which, in turn, incorporate greater complexity and functionalities. These requirements are related to optics, electricity and lighting, among others, and are in addition to those governing the decoration of plastic parts. Walter Pack’s R&D department must meet these demands. 04 Environmental protection Large industrial manufacturers and suppliers such as Walter Pack are becoming increasingly sensitive to social demands in terms of environmental protection. “At Walter Pack, we are fully aware of and committed to the environment, and the current trend is towards the use of recycled components and materials and sustainable waste management,” says Erhardt. In addition to all this, the company is committed to increasingly cleaner and more efficient production processes, a present and future trend. All these elements make Walter Pack’s R&D department one of the fundamental pillars on which its activity rests, and the driving

Walter Pack will be showcasing its IMF technology-based capabilities and solutions at the IZB trade fair in Germany

The IZB trade fair in Wolfsburg, Europe’s leading automotive supplier event, will be the showcase for Walter Pack’s potential in the manufacture of high value-added plastic solutions from 11th to 13th October, where it will be exhibiting its In Mold Forming (IMF) and In-Mold Labeling (IML) technology capabilities. The spanish manufacturer, which will attend the event together with the Basque automotive cluster ACICAE and its partner Grupo Antolin, will take advantage of this specialised forum to showcase several of the IMF technology-based parts that have already become aesthetic and functional icons for several major car brands. Grupo Antolin will present some technological innovations mainly in the area of HMI and sustainability. “Walter Pack’s presence at this trade fair is an opportunity to show our potential and our competitive advantages in the manufacture of differential plastic solutions through IMF, which is the real core business of the company. Our expertise and know-how are what have positioned us as an international reference in the use of this technology, and what have made us partners of some of the main automotive manufacturers ” explains Walter Pack’s CEO, Miguel Bernar. Walter Pack is one of the leading manufacturers of plastic components using IMF, a technology that allows the creation of avant-garde designs and unique haptic sensations with electronic elements that provide specific functionalities with high added value, both in the automotive and home appliance sectors, among others. Thanks to its international presence, Walter Pack can offer local design and manufacturing in Europe (Spain), Asia (India) and the North American region (Mexico). IMF technology helps to develop components of greater complexity and functionality than those made by In-Mold Decoration (IMD), and even to increase the aesthetic possibilities offered by the latter technique. Specifically, In-Mold Forming technology allows for the incorporation of multiple patterns, specific logos and backlit lines, and offers a wide range of possibilities when it comes to configuring unique tactile sensations. All of this with a well-defined objective, as Miguel Bernar affirms ” To create iconic, beautiful and functional elements that guarantee a unique user experience “ The advantages of this technology in comparison with IMD have led several car manufacturers to entrust the Basque company with the production of various components that combine aesthetics and functionality, and which have become brand emblems, including Jeep, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Volkswagen and Škoda. Walter Pack has developed three versions of plastic display screens for the American off-road vehicle manufacturer Jeep, featuring logos inserted using IMF technology. These screens, called WS Lens, are located in the vehicle’s centre console and add a significant amount of personality to the vehicle’s interior. The lenses are made of hard coated PC and their curvature and radii are adapted to the new physiognomy of today’s cockpits, with curved screens, ghost effect and full compatibility with the optical bonding process. Alfa Romeo and BMW have also entrusted the Basque company with the production of plastic components using MFI, in this case for their Tonale and 1 Series models, respectively. Walter Pack designed the central and door decorative baguettes, including active and passive backlights with various design patterns and 3D shapes adapted to the contours of the vehicle’s interior. This technique has also been used by the Basque group to produce traditional decorative parts painted in one or two coats, with additional processes such as laser etching or hot stamping, for both Volkswagen and Škoda. The IZB trade fair, which is the result of a partnership between the Volkswagen Group and the German city of Wolfsburg, has established itself as one of the world’s leading showcases for the automotive supplier industry. 

The II Swimdiabetes organized by Walter Pack and NER Group gets 22,000€ for research

The values of solidarity and social commitment that inspire the New Style of Relationships in which Walter Pack is involved have driven, together with Fundación Diabetes Cero, Swimdiabetes Solidaria, an initiative to raise awareness in society about the need to promote research into type 1 diabetes in children. It is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases that, although it can be controlled, is currently incurable and forces thousands of families to live with the hard daily habit of injecting insulin, counting carbohydrates or controlling the level of glucose in the blood. To give visibility to this disease, which affects around 90,000 people in our environment, Walter Pack and other organizations affiliated to NER Group participated in the second edition of this solidarity swim, which was held in Badalona with spectacular results: more than 150 swimmers, around 400 people attending the event and a collection of 22,000 euros, destined to the research of a cure for the disease. Six members of Walter Pack from the Barcelona headquarters actively collaborated in the organization of the event to provide logistical support and participate in various aspects of the initiative, held at the end of May. The second edition of Swimdiabetes consisted of a one-mile (just over 1.5 kilometers) open sea swim between Espai Mar and the famous Pont del Petroli (Oil Bridge). In this edition, the organizers incorporated the SwimKids category, aimed at the youngest swimmers, who had the opportunity to swim courses of up to 250 meters. NER Group’s volunteer staff participated in the crossing and was in charge of carrying out organizational tasks related to the registration of participants, provisioning and other tasks to help people attending the event. Since 2010, the New Relationship Style has brought together various companies and cooperatives to replace the traditional concept of business management with work based on parameters of fair and sustainable human development. Currently, NER Group is made up of more than 2,000 people who share a series of ethical values, transparency, communication, trust, self-management, freedom, responsibility, joint decisions, vision of the future and solidarity. Anterior Siguiente

Europe’s leader in In Mold Decoration technology at IFA Berlin 2022

Europe’s leader in In Mold Decoration technology at IFA Berlin 2022 An insight from Walter Pack Highly competitive, European quality and design meet the most demanding standards imposed by the automotive world. This is Walter Pack’s business card for IFA Berlín 2022, the world’s leading trade fair for consumer and home electronics, which will be held in the German capital from 2 to 6 September. Technology and design Over the course of these five days, the worlds of industrial design, innovation and consumer electronics will come together to showcase all the latest developments in sectors and technologies such as the Internet of Things, smart living and digital health, among many others. Walter Pack will be present at this international forum to offer its range of solutions and plastic components with high value-added aesthetics and functionality, and its well-defined value proposition: exceptional finishes that serve the design requirements of its customers. The perfect solution for HMI panels that combines aesthetics and the functional experience through the use of capacitive buttons and keys, amongst others. A sustainable design, key to a positive user experience The ultimate expression of excellence, Walter Pack’s commitment to the design is one of the most differentiating elements of its work. The aesthetic and finishes of its parts are key to achieving a full user experience, regardless of the device in which they are integrated: from the HMI interface of a high-performance refrigerator to the front panel of a coffee machine or the leather of a smart device. Thanks to many projects that aim to make the plastic components more sustainable, Walter Pack is committed to reusing materials, and recycling plastics and the final parts, which, thanks to a design that integrates processes and reduces the weight of the part, results in a lighter and more sustainable product. A well-defined value proposition From the point of view of competitiveness, Walter Pack’s activity rests on three fundamental pillars, making it a world leader in the design and production of plastic parts with high added-value: Design and technology Walter Pack is one of the few companies in the world capable of producing plastronics solutions, and has established itself as an international benchmark in In-Mold-Electronics (IME), a technology that produces state-of-the-art plastic parts and fully functional integrated electronic components. Its experience in the automotive world over the last several decades has earned it the highest international quality standards, which it applies to all its solutions for white goods, consumer electronics, home appliances and medical devices, among others. Comprehensive services Walter Pack provides all-in-one solutions with a fully-comprehensive approach. Unlike other manufacturers, this Basque company has the necessary technology to comprehensively produce complex components with high added value, and does not need to resort to third parties or subcontract the production of parts. This results in a significant reduction in production times and, above all, in the achievement of very high quality standards without additional costs. Localisation Walter Pack has a global presence. It has production plants strategically located in India, Spain and Mexico to provide customer support and service, including all the technical support required for ensuring thorough follow-up of its solutions. Its expertise and strength in the international market have allowed it to expand into countries such as the United States, Italy and India, consolidating its position as a leader in the design and manufacture of plastic components with integrated electronics. Leading clients in their sectors Throughout its 30 years of activity, Walter Pack has become a reliable and competitive supplier; it is a benchmark partner when it comes to designing, producing and supplying smart components and unique plastic parts that stand out from the usual poorer-quality products that plague the Asian market. Walter Pack has a portfolio of major international clients, leaders in their respective sectors, including DeLonghi, Braun, Mabe and General Electric, as well as in the automotive industry. Its continued commitment to technology has allowed it to take the lead in helping to shape the future of the home appliance, consumer electronics and medical device industries in the domain of digital health. Color&Trim, the key to innovation One of Walter Pack’s goals is to spot trends and configure solutions that offer a unique user experience. This has led to the creation of the Color&Trim Department, a design lab where designs are configured and the functions of the pieces are improved in order to create new impressions and experiences. The search for avant-garde and functional components leads it to anticipate consumer demands in order to shape new trends by means of market knowledge, dialogue with its partners and customers, and with an extremely innovative core. In this way, Walter Pack can design and produce textured parts, with fading, patterns, backlighting and touch responses – a whole range of features to increase the added-value of plastic parts. More about Color&Trim Cutting-edge technology Color&Trim’s proposals include In-Mold Forming (IMF) technology, which produces three-dimensional plastic parts with high-quality printed decorative finishes, and, above all, In-Mold-Electronics technology, which makes it possible to design and produce specific parts and components with integrated electronic and functional elements. Capacitive sensors and conductive inks compatible with lighting and tactile responses allow the part to be fully integrated with the surroundings. The work of this area is complemented by that of the R&D department, which achieves exquisite finishes to illuminate new effects and functionalities. The result of this work is components specifically designed for integration in the white goods sector, HMI technology displays and Smart Solutions, without losing sight of the sustainability of materials and the optimisation of processes. A commitment to the connected home Many of the innovative developments Walter Pack is working on are aimed at the connected home. This is a sector that combines the operation of most household devices, from small and large household appliances to consumer electronics, with new internet-derived technologies such as intelligent voice assistants. Walter Pack’s ability to design unique plastic parts with integrated electronic components puts it in a unique position to lead this new landscape in terms

We talk to…Koldo Saratxaga

We talk with… KOLDO SARATXAGA Founder and promoter of K2K Emocionando and ner group “There are no perfect formulas for anything. I believe in evolution, not in perfection, not in finished roads” 1. Nergroup is celebrating 12 years of activity. How would you assess its evolution over this time? It has actually been 16 years since we started a debate that lasted many months between the organisations that at that time were in a process of change with the collaboration of k2K. I remember that the passion was remarkable and the concepts we were putting on the table were really groundbreaking as they were going in a different direction than the one that prevailed in the traditionally called workplace relationships. While it is true that they were understandable by those who were at the beginning of a new journey, even then we were beginning to understand that what we were proposing was not how to work or what the processes should be, but we were putting on the table a cultural change for how to share a common project. We began to use terms such as common project, organisation, and we tried not to anchor ourselves in the concept of a company that was around at time, and which I am sorry to say still prevails, to refer to the unit of work with different interests between ownership, management and workers. In these long and deep debates it began to be understood that we were talking about a New Style of Relationships (NER, for its initials in Spanish). The easy part was shaping it, defining some rules or codes that limited certain possibilities, that gave peace of mind. The prevailing culture was always present. The real challenge was getting out of those corsets that defined the precarious relationships that existed. I have to say that, at this moment, K2K has worked and cooperated with more than 100 organisations to move their organisational change towards NER. For the assessment, Walter Pack is an excellent example of this, I have to say that it is remarkably high in all the aspects that we could analyse or compare. We have overcome 2-3 of the hardest economic-social crises since World War II, and I can assure you that more than 40% of the organisations that have implemented NER would not be active today if they had not made that decision. Personally, I am proud to have shared these three long decades with thousands of people who have lived and felt that there are other ways of doing things in this world of work that offers so little satisfaction beyond a salary that only feeds the instilled consumerist dynamic. 2. What is the secret of its success? Is there a perfect formula to make companies wellness spaces? I have been asked this question a few dozen times. There are no secrets. At K2K we present ourselves as a team of people who ‘feel, think and do’. I personally believe that this is the natural way human beings create, given our characteristics. I like to say that the things that are exciting come from the gut. When it comes from the brain, the self appears that tries to take care of personal interests first, which makes it more complicated to get to a world of common goals. We forget about ‘we’ and the ‘all of us’ doesn’t even exist. I like to explain this with the example of manager or leader. A manager sets him or herself challenges, especially quantifiable ones, and is very aware of how much is sown and how much time and how much it costs to carry them out, focusing on the harvest. It’s the results that matter even before they’ve begun. Whereas a leader looks after the land and stores the seeds in a good place and condition, knows when to sow them and most importantly, knows that it is not a matter of effort, lower costs and not dividing tasks, but that it depends more on the sun and rain. That is, it depends on the many things that will happen in that future, in that space with so many unpredictable events, however, there is the knowledge that if we have taken care when sowing the seeds, the results in the long run will be plentiful. It’s a fact of life. By company we sometimes mean the place, the buildings, it’s inert. Organisations are made up of people who come together to create goods or services for the outside world. However, by common project we mean an organisation that creates products and services while facing common challenges that are defined and shared by all the people who make it up. There is no one best formula for anything. There is no such thing as perfection in this world. I believe in evolving, not perfection, not finished paths. We are here to walk and enjoy the road. There is nothing more rewarding than walking, much of the journey in silence, in pursuit of new experiences that bring you closer to your own meaning of life, and finding such experiences without the yearning to go looking for them. Well-being is always sporadic because it stems from achievements in which you gain power, an image, from having, winning, competing… Happiness is a state of being, it’s a state of continuous inner peace. NER helps the latter more. Self-management is a good path. This feeling, this way of living the present, is achieved in one’s personal life throughout the day, when one is enthusiastic about what one is doing. So, to approach it is to be on that path. It is a sense of continuous creation and positive energy that is transmitted and spread to people’s environments. Knowing the degree of enthusiasm of the people in the organisation tells us a lot about their degree of personal evolution and the evolution of the project as a consequence. 3. How does nergroup contribute to the growth of the Basque business community? In the history

Walter Pack participates together with NER Group in the UkraineSOS project to help people affected by the war

UkraniaSOS

The invasion and war in Ukraine have tested the capacity to respond and the strength of the values that characterise the companies and organisations that are part of nergroup. Our commitment to people and society has led us to create, in cooperation with NegoBide Círculo Empresarial, several organisations and thirty volunteers of Slavic origin, UkraniaSOS, an initiative with which we want to react quickly and efficiently to the urgent needs of people suffering the war. A team made up of members of the organisations involved in the project first organised the transport of a van loaded with basic material to Slovakia, on the Ukrainian border. However, immediately afterwards, all the organisations, including Walter Pack, mobilised to send a convoy made up of four other vehicles loaded with material such as warm clothes, imperishable foodstuffs, medicines, etc., and to pick up around thirty refugees with the aim of accommodating them in shelters in our area. Within this humanitarian project, Walter Pack’s commitment has been clear from the very beginning: we took part in the first meetings that were called to organise the sending of the material and the vans, and to find volunteers to act as intermediaries with the organisations and to work as drivers. The road trip to the Slovak-Ukrainian border is more than 25 hours. We then began the work of collecting warm clothes, canned and non-perishable goods, personal hygiene products and basic necessities. In total there were three pallets that finally could not leave for Slovakia for one simple reason: the tide of solidarity of the other organisations participating in the project managed to fill the vehicles with humanitarian material in less than a week, the deadline we had set ourselves to organise the shipment. In any case, all this material from donations from the Food Bank, Koopera and other organisations could be redirected to one of the host families in Getxo and made available to other solidarity initiatives. Three people who work at Walter Pack have also volunteered to act as drivers in the event that new shipments of material to the Ukrainian border are organised. All the initiatives in which we have participated at Walter Pack have the nergroup New Relationship Style mark, with a double goal: to guarantee their transparency and verifiability, and to try to ensure that they are carried out with the highest level of efficiency, taking into account the difficulties and uncertainties of the scenarios and circumstances in which we work.

Walter Pack takes part in the interior design of the new Alfa Romeo Tonale

Nuevo Alfa Romeo Tonale

Walter Pack takes part in the interior design of the new Alfa Romeo Tonale March 17, 2022 WALTER PACK has participated in the development of some of the components that have helped to shape the character and personality of the interior of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the new SUV of the Italian brand that was presented on February 8. Walter Pack, a company specializing in the conceptualization, design and production of high value-added plastic solutions, has worked with Grupo Antolin to develop three of the pieces of the dashboard of the new SUV, which are already part of the vehicle’s personality. These are three solutions integrated into the dashboard in the driver, center and passenger areas that provide a differentiated user experience through the perception of its reliefs and textures. To achieve this exclusive haptic feeling, WALTER PACK’s Color & Trim department has been involved both in the design of the parts, from the very moment of their conception, and in the production process, including screen printing, thermoforming, cutting and injection. The result is an excellent product from the point of view of R&D, and very demanding from the technical point of view, both aesthetically and in terms of geometry and closures. WALTER PACK’s collaboration with the Italian OEM is not new: just three years ago the spanish company supplied transparent inserts for the navigator lens of the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Giulietta. This time WALTER PACK has participated in the development of the Tonale’s dashboard together with Grupo Antolin to jointly offer a complete module to the brand, including components such as the light guides for the parts designed by WALTER PACK. The new Tonale is the latest model of the Italian brand and has a spectacular design that has already made it one of the icons of Alfa Romeo. It is scheduled to be launched in June 2022.  Tonale World Premiere