Newsfender chooses DFactory Barcelona to set up its global production center

• The company develops high-performance sustainable fenders for ships of any size using 3D printing.

• Newsfender, which is working on the development of other patents, is installed in DFactory Barcelona coinciding with the celebration of the America’s Cup of sailing in Barcelona, the most prestigious nautical event in the world.

Barcelona, September 5, 2024.- The attractiveness of DFactory Barcelona, as an industry 4.0 ecosystem of international reference, together with Barcelona’s commitment to the nautical sector, which is reflected these days with the celebration of the America’s Cup, have led the company Newsfender to install its global production center in Barcelona. At its facilities located in DFactory Barcelona, promoted by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), it will develop its sustainable fenders for ships that it has patented and that it manufactures with 3D printing.

Newsfender produces customized, eco-friendly, state-of-the-art boat fenders that have been designed specifically for shipyards, boat builders, tender builders, RIB boat builders, military patrol boats, coast guard patrol boats, police boats, and rescue boats.

Another outstanding feature of this type of patented boat fender is that they are made of environmentally friendly materials, ensuring minimal impact on aquatic life. They are built with high-quality materials and state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, so Newsfender defenses are tough enough to withstand harsh weather conditions and prolonged sun exposure without losing efficiency. This company is also developing other patents that will soon see the light of day on the market.

The special delegate of the State at the CZFB, Pere Navarro, stressed that “it is great news that Newsfender has installed its global production center in DFactory Barcelona because it consolidates us as the great industry 4.0 ecosystem of world reference. At the same time, it reaffirms our objective of continuing to promote collaboration between companies, open innovation, and technological disruption thanks to specialized talent, and that will lead us to develop a second phase that will position us as the world capital of this new way of producing more, better and closer”.

Newsfender CEO Vensan S. Buzuk said: “For our company and our team, this is a big step forward in our international expansion. We have expanded the base to be able to supply this product for European countries from a nearby location. We have visited several countries to evaluate different location options but, without a doubt, DFactory was by far the best option in every way.” Buzuk added that “the decision has been easy because from the beginning we knew that it was the right place and in this way, we also reduced the pollution that we generated with the transport of our products and materials from America to Europe”.

Currently these fenders have several options such as Glow in night – it is charged with UV from the sun and shines during the night increasing safety in night navigation, multicolored fenders, carbon fiber leather fenders or chrome fenders for luxury yachts, among other configurations.

The CEO of Newsfender also explains that “traditional products have not evolved in a century and are currently based on the use of petroleum and highly toxic or carcinogenic materials such as isocyanate. Our product is developed internally in collaboration with the Cantabrian company Eolas Prints which, apart from being a very efficient company, is also close to the market, which makes it easier for us to develop new materials. In relation to the machinery we use, we have also signed a representation agreement with the company BIGREP from Germany and in addition to using their products, we are also their showroom in Spain, and we will soon present new products in our facilities”.

Newsfender has customized products for boats of all types and for ports. They are currently in a Beta phase of a ballistic defense with Level II and IIIa protection for use on ships and are working to obtain Level IV certification by mid-2025. They soon expect to be able to obtain NATO certification and are developing a boat for special forces with lengths ranging from 4.80 meters to 8.50 meters. This will be the world’s first fully ballistically protected special operations ship, significantly increasing the maneuverability and safety of operators in conflict zones.

An ever-growing ecosystem

DFactory Barcelona continues to meet the objective of becoming the factory of the future, promoting and developing industry 4.0, new talent and new technologies and investments, in an unbeatable space. In this environment, technologies such as 3D printing, robotics, cybersecurity and blockchain, artificial intelligence or sensors give rise to a new way of producing, much more sustainable, generating synergies between companies and providing the possibility of establishing alliances with the rest of the organizations present in the building.

It is a project aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which facilitates the digitalization of industry as a key lever for the ecological transition and promotes the circular economy by adopting new sustainable production and advanced manufacturing systems.

The ecosystem currently has facilities of 17,000m2 on four floors, where more than 30 companies have already been installed and in which around 500 people work, figures that endorse its 85% occupancy. In addition, it is expected that this year the second phase of the emblematic building will be projected, a boost that will allow it to reach around 100,000 m2 in the coming years. With this, it is expected that a total of 1,500 people will work directly and 5,000 indirectly.