Arteche Group

First years

Mr. Aurelio Arteche, December 1946.

After nine years in exile due to the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War, Mr. Aurelio de Arteche y Arana (1908–1983) got back to Bilbao, his hometown, in 1946, to accomplish his main life objective: creating a company like Usines Balteau, S.A., company he first-handed knew during his exile period in Belgium.

Thanks to some friends, family, and Marcel Balteau's help, Mr. Aurelio founded EAHSA, Electrotecnica Arteche Hermanos, S.A., in December 1946.

For the first years of operation, EAHSA manufactures Balteau's Instrument Transformers for the Spanish and Portuguese market.^[2]

1954 to 1974

This is the period of stronger growth for Arteche. Manufacturing Balteau's Instrument Transformers and ICE-Paris's Auxiliary Relays the company grows rapidly over 22,8% per year.^[3]

During these years Arteche consolidates in the national market, becoming a benchmark for the Spanish Power Industry.^[3]

However, over the years, Mr. Aurelio finds that producing under license present some major disadvantages. The main ones being the inability to develop its own technology, and the impossibility to export to other markets.^[3]

1974 to 1995

In 1973 Arteche breaks its relationship with Usines Balteau, S.A. and with ICE-Paris.

Several events led to this breaking with Usines Balteau, S.A., as the inability to export beyond the Iberian Peninsula, the grant of a license to a rival Portuguese company, or the refusal to create a common technology center. The breaking with ICE-Paris can be explained by the frequent supply problems.^[3]

However, the main reason was, in fact, Arteche's desire to internationalize its activity and develop its own products, technologies and solutions.

Without Usines Balteau, S.A. nor ICE-Paris support, Arteche starts to develop its product catalogues with their own developments.

This is a period of modest growth, around 1,5% per year. A substantial portion of the company resources were devoted to the development of new products and solutions, and to open new markets closed until that moment.^[3]

Despite the modest growth, Arteche completed several milestones during this period, such as the production of its own Auxiliary Relays (1976), Instrument Transformers up to 765 kV (1981) and Electronic Instrument Transformers (1990). During these years, Arteche also had its first implantation in South America (1976) and North America (1993).^[4]

1995 until nowadays

Arteche began its implantation in Asia (2004) and Oceania (2010), while still developing products and solutions for the electric industry, such as its Voltage Transformers for GIS substations and the Optical Current Transformers (2010).^[4]

The knowledge acquired during the years, and its entrepreneurial vocation led Arteche to multiply its activities, integrating to its offer solutions for the Automation and Distribution equipment (2003), Power Quality solutions (2005), solutions for substation construction (2005) or Turnkey Projects for wind farms.

Today, Arteche is a consolidated company in several international markets, with different equipment and solutions for the electric industry.

2012 - Brand new image

In 2012 Arteche changes its visual identity, adapting its logotype.^[5]

The new logo is based upon a fractal, a succession of almost parallel lines, a structure that repeats itself at different levels, with Arteche's colours gradients.

Business Units

Arteche's Ultra High Voltage Laboratory

Arteche has almost 2.400 employees in 4 continents, with equipment installed in more than 150 countries. The company is organized in three different Business Units:^[6]

• Instrument Transformers: first independent instrument transformer manufacturer, with presence in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Oceania.
• Power Grid: manufacturer and developer of primary equipment to improve transmission and distribution management, power generation and industrial power systems, with auxiliary relays for critical applications, power generation and industrial power systems, with auxiliary relays for critical applications, power quality, switchgear, automation distribution, protection and measurement. With presence in Europe, North and South America, Middle East and Asia.
• Turnkey Solutions: turnkey solutions for renewable energy, substations and distribution lines, with presence in North and South America and Europe.

Research and development

At Arteche, innovation is a strategic factor, a corporate value and source of competitive advantages.^[7]

R&D+I activities in Arteche Group have trended upwards, from less than 2,5% to more than 3,3% in 2014.

Arteche has the largest ultra high voltage laboratory in Spain, one of the largest in Europe, which allow the Company to test Instrument Transformers over 1.200kV.^[8]