News - IAR Group

IAR Group strengthens its position in innovation with the R&D Seal recognition

IAR Group Strengthens its position in innovation with the R&D Seal recognition

IAR Group has been distinguished with the R&D Seal, a recognition granted by the Portuguese National Innovation Agency (ANI) to organizations with proven competence in Research and Development activities. This certification reinforces the group’s commitment to innovation, technological development, and the continuous improvement of its industrial automation solutions. By validating the technical capability, methodological rigor, and strategic alignment of IAR Group’s R&D activities, the R&D Seal strengthens the company’s position within the innovation ecosystem and enhances its credibility in the European industrial automation market.

The recognition reflects IAR Group’s long‑term investment in engineering excellence, advanced technologies, and the development of high‑value solutions for automation and industrial processes. As noted by Sebastien Perroud, CEO of IAR Group, “At IAR Group, R&D is a structural pillar of our strategy. The R&D Seal recognition validates our approach: disciplined, engineering-driven, and focused on building scalable automation platforms. It reinforces our ambition to position IAR Group as a long-term technology leader in industrial automation & robotics globally.” This perspective highlights the strategic importance of the certification for the group’s global innovation roadmap.

It also reinforces IAR Group’s ability to collaborate with universities, research centers, and industry partners, enabling the development of new technologies and accelerating high‑impact R&D projects. According to José Carvalho, Business Unit Iberia, IAR Group, “This recognition reinforces our ability to work closely with universities, research centers, and industrial partners. It strengthens our commitment to developing high‑value technologies that accelerate innovation and deliver tangible results for our customers across the Iberian market.”

By demonstrating strong technical capability and a clear commitment to continuous improvement, the R&D Seal further consolidates IAR Group’s presence in the European market. As emphasized by Jürgen Stiedl, Business Development, IAR Group Central Europe, “Through the consistent advancement and targeted use of our Modular Automation Platform (MAP), we sustainably increase engineering efficiency, system stability, and the degree of standardization in project execution. The reuse of validated functional modules further enhances the scalability of our solutions and deliberately creates capacity for us to focus more strongly on customer-specific requirements as well as the integration of forward-looking technologies.”

The R&D Seal represents an important milestone in IAR Group’s innovation journey, reinforcing its role as a trusted partner in the development of advanced industrial solutions and contributing to the technological evolution of the markets it serves. With this certification, the group strengthens its long‑term commitment to R&D, engineering excellence, and the creation of future‑ready automation technologies.

About IAR Group
IAR Group is a Swiss-based international group leading the transformation of industries through automation. The group represents a synergy of global expertise, driven by a commitment to engineering excellence. With a strong focus on innovation in the evolving global industrial landscape, IAR Group continues to push boundaries and set new standards in industrial automation and robotics.
From custom assembly machinery to cutting-edge robotics, our experts design and engineer automation solutions that strengthen market positions and improve manufacturing efficiency. With strategic business units in North America, Iberia, and Central Europe, we deliver tailored automation solutions across diverse markets. We are the Industrial Automation and Robotics Group.

For Press Inquiries:

IAR Group Communications
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iargroup.com

by Rita Sousa

IAR Group Strengthens Iberian Strategy with New Office in Valencia, Spain

IAR Group Strengthens Iberian Strategy with New Office in Valencia, Spain

Valencia, Spain, 06 November 2025 – IAR Group is pleased to announce the opening of its new office in Valencia, Spain, marking a key milestone in the implementation of its Iberian strategy. With this expansion, IAR Group now operates through two strategic locations — in Portugal and Spain — reinforcing its commitment to the Iberian market and ensuring closer collaboration with customers across the region.

The new Valencia office, located at Calle Juan de la Cierva y Codorniu, 10 - 46980 Paterna (Valencia), Spain, complements IAR Group’s existing operations in Portugal and will serve as a hub for both sales and engineering activities. Together, the two sites enhance the group’s ability to deliver advanced automation and robotics solutions with greater proximity, agility, and technical expertise.

“This expansion consolidates our vision of a strong and unified IAR presence in Iberia,” said Sébastien Perroud, CEO of IAR Group. “By establishing two centers of excellence — in Portugal and Spain — we can better support our customers locally, accelerate project delivery, and strengthen long-term partnerships throughout the region.”

José Carvalho, Managing Director of IAR Group Iberia, added: “The Valencia office reinforces our strategy of building a solid foundation across the Iberian Peninsula. With teams now in both countries, we are ideally positioned to provide high-level engineering, customer service, and on-site support to our growing network of clients.”

David Arroyo, Business Development Manager at IAR Group Valencia, concluded: “Having a local team in Spain means we can respond more quickly to our customers’ specific needs. We’re excited to work closely with local industries to help them boost efficiency and innovation through automation.”

With the new office now operational, IAR Group strengthens its position as a key automation and robotics partner for Iberian industry, combining international expertise with local proximity.

For our Spanish customers — your automation journey starts here. ¡Vamos juntos!

For Press Inquiries:

IAR Group Communications
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iargroup.com

by Sebastien Perroud

Meet the UR8L: Extended Reach, Endless Possibilities

Meet the UR8L: Extended Reach, Endless Possibilities

The challenges in welding are clear:
- Skilled labor is harder to find as the average age of welders rises and fewer young talents enter the industry.
- Manual welding often lacks repeatable quality, especially with large and complex parts.
- Labor costs keep increasing, putting pressure on operations.

That’s where the new UR8L from Universal Robots comes in.
- With advanced motion capabilities and precise path repeatability, the UR8L delivers the same high-quality weld, every time.
- MotionPlus™ technology ensures smoother torch control, less rework, and reduced waste.
- Offering the impressive reach of the UR20 but in a more compact form, the UR8L enables faster deployment, easier mobility between work cells, and maximum flexibility.
- Always consistent, easy to program, and serviceable in the field – the UR8L helps manufacturers handle fluctuations in demand with confidence.

The UR8L is more than just a cobot. It’s a solution to today’s welding challenges – improving efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring quality at scale.

Learn more about the UR8L: www.universal-robots.com/products/ur8-long/

About IAR Group

IAR Group is a Swiss-based international group leading the transformation of industries through automation. The group represents a synergy of global expertise, driven by a commitment to engineering excellence. With a strong focus on innovation in the evolving global industrial landscape, IAR Group continues to push boundaries and set new standards in industrial automation and robotics.

From custom assembly machinery to cutting-edge robotics, our experts design and engineer automation solutions that strengthen market positions and improve manufacturing efficiency. With strategic business units in North America, Iberia, and Central Europe, we deliver tailored automation solutions across diverse markets. We are the Industrial Automation and Robotics Group.

For Press Inquiries:

IAR Group Communications
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iargroup.com

by Filipa Marques

IAR Group Joins Project ORION to Drive AI-Driven Innovation in Life Sciences

IAR Group is proud to be part of Project ORION, an Innosuisse Flagship initiative that will pave the way for the future of AI-driven innovation in Life Sciences.

Our contribution will come in the second phase of the project, where we will apply and adapt our Modular Platform for Automation to develop advanced automation lines tailored to the Life Science field.

We look forward to collaborating with such outstanding partners and to contributing to breakthroughs in personalized medicine and cancer treatment.

About IAR Group

For Press Inquiries:

IAR Group Communications
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iargroup.com

by Filipa Marques

International Youth Day

International Youth Day

At IAR Group, we believe in the power of young minds to shape the future of automation and robotics.

We’re proud to integrate young professionals into our teams, providing them with the tools, challenges, and support they need to grow and thrive.

Meet Oliver Schalch, Kimon Hauri, and Dan Le Fèvre, three talented young individuals who bring energy, creativity, and fresh perspectives to our company every day.

Here’s to empowering youth and building the future together!

About IAR Group

For Press Inquiries:

IAR Group Communications
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iargroup.com

by Filipa Marques

Innovation in Internationalization Award

Lisbon, Portugal, 17 July 2025 – Last Thursday, July 10th, we had the honor of attending the COTEC's second edition ceremony of the Innovation in Internationalization Award.

We are proud to have been finalists in this prestigious award, competing in the Global Category – Medium-Sized Enterprises. Being recognized among such remarkable companies is a great encouragement for our continued growth across international markets.

Our team was represented by Sébastien Perroud, CEO, and José Carvalho, Managing Director Iberia, a proud moment for the entire IAR Group.

We warmly congratulate the winning companies, and we’re already looking ahead to the third edition of the award, with firm ambitions to bring the prize home!

About IAR Group

For Press Inquiries:

IAR Group Communications
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iargroup.com

by Filipa Marques

Bachmann Engineering AG and Sontec AG Finalize Legal Merger and Renaming to IAR Group AG

Zofingen, Switzerland, 8 July 2025 – IAR Group is pleased to announce the successful completion of the legal merger of its two Swiss entities, Bachmann Engineering AG and Sontec AG, now officially operating under the unified name IAR Group AG. This transition represents a key milestone in the group's long-term strategy to strengthen its organization and global presence.

This renaming reflects a broader integration process that began with the acquisition of Sontec AG in 2023 and was followed by the consolidation of both teams into a modern facility in Zofingen. The legal unification now completes this journey, enabling the company to operate under a single, consistent identity.

“Our vision has always been to act as one team, with one purpose, under one name,” said Sébastien Perroud, CEO of IAR Group. “This legal unification is a natural evolution that brings greater clarity and strength to our brand, both internally and externally.”

Customers and partners can expect continued collaboration with the same contacts and teams they know and trust. All existing operations, contracts, and services will now be conducted under IAR Group AG, ensuring a seamless transition with no disruption to ongoing business.

Looking Ahead

This legal merger reinforces IAR Group’s commitment to long-term excellence in automation and robotics. With unified operations in Central Europe, and business units across North America and Iberia, IAR Group is positioned to grow as a global partner of choice for customized, intelligent industrial solutions.

About IAR Group

For Press Inquiries:

IAR Group Communications
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iargroup.com

by Filipa Marques

IAR Group Expands into Morocco, Strengthening Its Reach in Strategic Local Markets

Mafra, Portugal, 17 April 2025 – IAR Group, a global leader in industrial automation and robotics, is proud to announce its expansion into Morocco — a new step in the company’s international growth journey. This move reflects IAR Group’s ongoing commitment to being close to key industrial hubs and offering personalized support to local markets.

Morocco has, over the years, positioned itself as one of Africa’s strongest economies and a stable, innovation-driven market. With increasing investment from international players, the country has become a major production hub for supplying Europe and beyond. IAR Group already maintains a customer base in the region, and this expansion is aimed at supporting and growing that presence through closer local engagement.

Represented by Mohammed El Haddadi, IAR Group will be commercially present in the Tanger Free Zone – a strategic location with direct links to the group’s manufacturing operations in Portugal. This proximity enables stronger collaboration and faster response to market needs.

“Expanding into Morocco places us at the heart of one of Africa’s most dynamic automotive production areas,” says José Carvalho, Managing Director at IAR Group Iberia. “It’s a natural and strategic move that allows us to respond faster and more effectively to the growing demand for high-quality automation solutions, especially in a market that shares such a strong connection with our operations in Portugal.”

For Mohammed El Haddadi, the opportunity is clear:

“This is a unique chance to bring IAR Group’s A-Z solutions into a market with a clear need for technological advancement. With the support of IAR Group’s international infrastructure, we are well-positioned to engage with customers and help accelerate innovation—not only in the automotive sector, but also in other industries on the rise.”

This commercial presence is part of IAR Group’s broader strategy to grow its presence in key local regions. With business units now operating across North America, Iberia, and Central Europe, the group continues to deliver innovative, scalable, and regionally adapted automation solutions.

Looking Ahead

As IAR Group begins this new chapter, it strengthens its role as a global partner in industrial transformation. This expansion reflects the group’s long-term vision: to combine global expertise with local engagement, bringing automation excellence closer to industrial leaders across the world.

About IAR Group

For Press Inquiries:

IAR Group Communications
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iargroup.com

by Filipa Marques

AI-Powered quality control: Scortex and IAR Group join forces to transform manufacturing thanks to AI

As industrial quality and performance demands continue to rise, Scortex and IAR Group are announcing a strategic partnership to revolutionize automated quality control. This collaboration aims to provide manufacturers with an integrated solution that combines artificial intelligence and advanced automation, catering to injection molding, metal working, end-of-line packaging and high-precision industries such as micro-mechanics, watchmaking, medical devices, and precision engineering.

Scortex has developed an AI-driven automated quality inspection product for industry, integrating image acquisition, visual inspection, and advanced image processing with machine learning algorithms.

IAR Group, an expert in advanced automation systems, including custom assembly machines and robotics, specializes in addressing the evolving demands of the industrial automation market.

Together, the companies combine their expertise to enhance efficiency and reduce costs of quality control, better serving industrial challenges.

By integrating Scortex’s AI technology with IAR Group’s automation solutions, industrial manufacturers can enhance defect detection, reduce human error, and improve operational efficiency. "Automating quality control with AI enables manufacturers to achieve unparalleled levels of precision while optimizing their production lines. With IAR Group, we are making this technology more accessible to the European market" explains Hugues POIGET, CEO of Scortex.

Manufacturers traditionally rely on manual inspections or sample-based testing, which can be time-consuming and inconsistent. The Scortex-IAR Group partnership changes this by offering a fully automated, AI-powered inspection system capable of analyzing every product in real time. This not only ensures higher detection accuracy but also allows companies to transition from reactive quality control to proactive defect prevention. " Automating quality control with AI is a game-changer for the industry. Thanks to our partnership with Scortex, we are bringing our inspection and quality control machines portfolio to the next level, enabling manufacturers seeking to improve quality and efficiency, to adopt AI and automation technological breakthrough" says Sébastien PERROUD, CEO of IAR Group.

This solution easily integrates with industrial systems such as MES, PLC, and SCADA, ensuring compliance with strict industry standards. By bringing together IAR Group’s best-in-class inspection machines and Scortex’s AI-driven defect detection, manufacturers gain a powerful, scalable, and highly reliable quality control system. This combination not only enhances precision and consistency but also reduces costs linked to defects, rework, and scrap. For industries where every detail matters—like large-scale parts production, luxury goods, and medical devices—this partnership sets a new standard, giving manufacturers a real competitive edge with cutting-edge automation and AI-powered quality control.

Looking ahead, Scortex and IAR Group will continue to collaborate on integrating AI and automation solutions for various industrial applications across Europe. As AI technology evolves, manufacturers will benefit from continuous AI improvements, making automated quality control an essential asset for future-proofing production processes.

by itmidzeugma23

IAR Group Central Europe Consolidates Operations, Establishing a New Hub for Industrial Automation and Robotics Excellence in Zofingen

Zofingen, Switzerland, 16 October 2024 – IAR Group, a global leader in automation and robotics, is excited to announce a significant milestone in the integration of its Central European operations. One year after the acquisition of Sontec AG, the group is now consolidating the activities of Sontec AG and Bachmann Engineering AG into a state-of-the-art facility in Zofingen, Switzerland. This new building will serve as a central hub for IAR Group’s engineering, assembly, and contract sorting activities, unifying operations under one roof and strengthening the company’s position as a key player in industrial automation.

This strategic move is designed to optimize synergies between the two previously separate entities, increasing overall efficiency across the business unit. By bringing Sontec AG and Bachmann Engineering AG together in this modern facility, IAR Group ensures that it will continue to meet the needs of its current customers while also scaling its operations to accommodate future growth in a rapidly evolving industrial landscape.

The newly consolidated facility in Zofingen will become the headquarters for IAR Group's Central European operations and serve as the group’s global headquarters. Is set to play a vital role in driving the group’s ambitious goals for innovation and growth. In addition to engineering and production capabilities, the Zofingen site will feature modern offices that will centralize key corporate functions.

This consolidation also marks the integration of IAR Group's operations across Switzerland and Germany. The Zofingen headquarters will be complemented by IAR Deutschland GmbH, which provides sales, project management, and technical support for customers in the DACH region. Additionally, the sales office in Bienne will continue to serve French-speaking customers in Western Switzerland and France, ensuring full geographical coverage across key markets.

Sebastien Perroud, CEO of IAR Group, remarked:

“This is an exciting and transformational moment for IAR Group as we take a significant step forward in our Central European operations. The integration of Sontec AG and Bachmann Engineering AG into our new Zofingen headquarters will enhance collaboration, increase efficiency, and solidify our position as a leader in industrial automation. We are thrilled to bring our teams together in this cutting-edge facility as we continue our journey toward becoming a stronger, more unified organization, equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.”

Perroud added, “I am proud of the dedication and effort our team has shown throughout this process. Their high motivation and unwavering commitment have been critical as we look ahead and work to elevate our business unit to the next level of operational excellence. This move represents not just a physical transition, but a strategic shift that will empower us to drive innovation, optimize processes, and deliver even greater value to our customers.”

Looking Toward the Future

As IAR Group embarks on this new chapter, the company is positioned to become a dominant player not only in Switzerland but also on the global stage. This consolidation is part of the group’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in key markets, with business units strategically located in North America, Iberia, and Central Europe. This integration will result in a streamlined organization, better equipped to develop and implement advanced automation solutions, providing customers with efficient, tailored systems that address their specific needs.

About IAR Group

For Press Inquiries:

IAR Group Communications
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iargroup.com

by Sebastien Perroud