Hamamatsu Photonics, a world leader in photonics technology, joins DFactory Barcelona

• The international company, founded in Japan and specialized in photonic technology, manufactures all types of sensors or optical emitters for manufacturers in sectors as varied as medical, industrial or automotive instrumentation.

• The companies installed in the industry 4.0 technology hub promoted by the CZFB have the possibility of generating synergies and establishing alliances with the rest of the organizations present in the building.

Barcelona, May 8, 2024.- DFactory Barcelona, the industry 4.0 ecosystem of international reference promoted by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) continues to consolidate its growth and drive for innovation with the recent incorporation of the company Hamamatsu Photonics in its facilities.

Hamamatsu Photonics is a company specialized in photonics technology that manufactures all types of sensors or optical emitters for manufacturers in sectors as varied as medical, industrial, or automotive instrumentation. Founded in Japan in 1953, Hamamatsu Photonics currently has offices in the United States, China, South Korea, and several European countries. The international company has a turnover of over 1.000 million euros and today has more than 5.000 employees established around the world.

Specifically, Hamamatsu Photonics covers everything from X-rays to infrared radiation, and routinely designs bespoke products for its customers. Its market is completely global, with its products being used in more than 100 countries around the world: they are potentially aimed at any sector that needs to emit or detect light accurately, mainly instrumentation. A third of its products are used by medical equipment manufacturers, focused for example on Molecular Imaging, DNA analysis or dental radiography. The rest of its systems are aimed at other applications, such as X-ray inspection, UV printing, laser welding, gas or food analysis, and in-car sensors. Hamamatsu Photonics is also a supplier to CERN and participates in particle physics projects, helping to win the two Nobel Prizes for the discovery of the neutrino and its mass.

At the welcoming ceremony, Pere Navarro, special delegate of the State at the CZFB, stressed that “DFactory Barcelona is a dynamic technology hub, based on collaborative work and the creation of new businesses. An international company with great projection such as Hamamatsu Photonics is sure to inspire and can help project other companies present in the hub to the world. Our intention is to continue fostering and promoting synergies that allow the development of key solutions for the advancement of the new economy”.

For his part, David Castrillo, Hamamatsu CVC Europe Business Development Manager, explained that “at Hamamatsu we can make the sensor or hardware module that our customers need, but we do not have the knowledge to adapt it to its use in the final application. Being present at DFactory Barcelona allows us to do just that, to expand the business opportunities offered by the collaborative work present here, and thus win together in a global market that is already fully connected”. It should be noted that Hamamatsu Photonics has been headquartered in Spain since 1991, located in the Vallès Technology Park, and from now on, it also has a coworking space in the world-leading industry 4.0 technology hub promoted by the CZFB.

A technology hub in constant motion

DFactory Barcelona is the factory of the future from where a new, much more sustainable way of producing is materialized. The companies, which develop cutting-edge projects in the field of 3D printing, robotics, cybersecurity and blockchain, artificial intelligence and sensors, have the possibility of generating synergies and establishing alliances with the rest of the organizations present in the building.

The project is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, facilitating the digitalization of industry as a key lever for the ecological transition and promoting the circular economy through the adoption of new sustainable production and advanced manufacturing systems.

Currently, the ecosystem has facilities of 17,000m² on four floors, where nearly 30 companies have already set up shop and around 500 people work, which means 85% of occupancy. In addition, the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona is already working on the second phase of execution of DFactory Barcelona, a boost that will allow it to reach another 72.000m² in the coming years. With this, a total of 1.500 people is expected to work directly and 5.000 indirectly.