SAPREM (Sociedad Anónima de Preformados Metálicos) provides innovative, high-quality solutions for electrical, telecommunications and railway infrastructure with the goal of making them safer, more efficient and more sustainable. Since its founding in 1985 in Izurdiaga (Navarra), it has become one of the international benchmarks for the design and production of parts and accessories for overhead lines and the creation of advanced technologies for damping vibrations and protecting birdlife.
Besides this, it also engages in permanent R&D, collaborating closely with its customers, technical bodies and international committees such as CIGRE (Conseil International des Grands Réseaux Électriques) and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). It has a strong presence in international markets and a network of customers that includes major electrical companies and wind power generator manufacturers. SAPREM exists to provide quality products that make a difference with regard to reliability, innovation and respect for the environment.
In this interview, Marta Landeira Santos, director of R&D at SAPREM tells us more about the benefits that their solutions provide for the electricity sector and their collaboration with Elewit to develop advanced technologies.
- What advantages do your solutions provide for the electricity sector?
Our company works to ensure that electricity infrastructure is safer and more efficient.
We design our fittings for the conductor and earth cable to guarantee optimal mechanical and electrical performance in all types of weather conditions to ensure the stability and reliability of the overhead lines used for transmission and distribution. Our damping systems have been specifically designed to minimise the vibrations caused by the wind (such as aeolian vibrations and sub-span oscillations), which can weaken the conductors and damage the supports and structural components. Effectively reducing these vibrations means that we can extend the working life of the cables, improve the line’s performance and lower the cost of corrective maintenance.
We have aeronautical beacon systems for air safety, for the conductors, the supports and the wind turbines. These solutions are designed to guarantee the visibility of electrical and wind power infrastructure, minimising risk for air traffic and ensuring compliance with international air safety standards.
We are also leaders in anti-collision beacons and birdlife protection. Our bird protectors were designed to offer maximum effectiveness, with solutions that are compatible with automated installation and removal systems. Not only does this optimise work times and reduce the risk for operators, but it also improves the conservation of biodiversity.
Our dedication to R&D&I enables us to continue innovating in solutions to improve reliability and sustainability by incorporating new technologies such as the electronics applied in renewable energy and advanced monitoring systems to provide more efficient and sustainable management of infrastructure.
- You have a framework agreement to develop technology with Elewit. What potential projects are you thinking of working on together?
At SAPREM we see innovation as a process that must go hand-in-hand with the real demands of the sector. That’s why we have always strived to be close to our customers, listening to their concerns and challenges so that we can come up with solutions that add real value.
In this sense, our collaboration with Elewit is a perfect fit with our philosophy of innovation and contributes to our track record of working with Red Eléctrica. This agreement enables us to speed up the integration of new technologies in the electricity sector, taking advantage of their experience in advanced solutions for energy infrastructure. This synergy means that we can continue to evolve our solutions and tackle any new technological challenges together.
Projects with great potential for joint development include:
- Developing automated robotic systems for the installation, operation and inspection of overhead lines.
- Using advanced technology to implement innovative solutions that minimise contact between birdlife and the transmission grid.
- Seeking new materials and technologies for use with the transmission grid.
- You are working with Red Eléctrica and Elewit to develop the project for automatic removal of the spiral-type bird protectors. What is your role in this project?
The spiral-type bird protectors were one of the first solutions used by Red Eléctrica to protect our birdlife, but they have to be installed and removed by hand, which represents a challenge in terms of safety and operating efficiency because of the height involved.
With this in mind, SAPREM is leading the design and manufacture of a semi-automatic machine that allows for the safer and more efficient removal of spiral bird protectors, eliminating the need for the operators to work directly on the cable.
This technology represents an innovative and sustainable approach that reduces working time and minimises risks for the workers, offering better resource management and ensuring the continuity of the protective measures for birdlife.
- How have you benefited from being part of this project?
It has allowed us to work closely with key partners like Red Eléctrica and Elewit, strengthening our synergies and consolidating our position in the development of advanced solutions.
It has also given us the chance to test and validate our designs in real situations, giving us essential data to optimise their performance and adapt them to the demands of operating conditions. This experience is providing us with vital information to continue advancing in process automation and digitalisation to provide safer, more efficient and more sustainable solutions.
This project has boosted our progress towards smart automation, to develop technologies that optimise electrical infrastructure and improve the sector’s operating efficiency.
- How do you think automatic solutions for environmental protection will evolve in the coming years?
“The future of environmental conservation in the electricity sector lies in automation, digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence. The incorporation of advanced sensors and autonomous systems will enable us to monitor infrastructure in real time and allow us to make faster and more precise interventions. Integration with IoT and Big Data will improve our data-based decision making, optimising both operating efficiency and environmental sustainability.
At SAPREM we will continue to create innovative technologies that apply these developments, not only to help in the construction and maintenance of the lines, but also to help reduce the environmental impact of electrical infrastructures and thereby ensure a balance between efficiency and environmental protection.