Azterlan-IK4 has taken an active participation in this joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission involving all 50 signatory states of the European Union, locally coordinated by the city of Durango and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, which has been focused this year in the iron culture.
The implication and the compromise of the Metallurgical Research Center IK4-Azterlan has enabled to celebrate two different initiatives:
The first one took place on 8th and on the 22nd of October at IK4-Azterlan, with the conference “Past, present and future of the metal-mechanical industry” which was directly related to the development of the iron industrial development and history in the area of Durango.
The conference was accompanied by an interesting tour through the facilities of this metallurgical technical center, European benchmark in metallurgy and metallic materials transformation technologies.
The second initiative was held on the 31st of October at Santa Ana Square within the own city of Durango, with a varied program of activities related to the historical past of the town, and with the casting process of a church bell.
Belen Bengoetxea and Teresa Campos (coordinators of the official past archaeological studies performed in the village of Durango) presented some of the findings and the past situation of the town during the Middle Ages certifying that “Durango was a prosperous village and one of the most important towns of Bizkaia, in a moment of great commercial and handwork development, which included important activities such as the transformation of iron”.
The archaeological rests of a mould and a melting furnace allowed IK4-Azterlan technicians to reproduce the design of the “Feliciana bell”, that was manufactured many years ago in the same exact place were the activity was taking place.
A new bell has been produced according the newest casting technologies, which was presented during this event along with the follow up of the manufacturing process used.
Meanwhile two craftsmen forged and hammered live the clapper, which will be attached to the bell in the closer future.
The program included as well a special tribute to an outstanding group of local professionals that had been involved in the past with the foundry industry from Durangaldea. The program finished with a concert of bells from the church of Santa Ana.
Special mention to the commitment and involvement of the technicians from the Durango Tourist Office, as well as the cooperation of several local companies related to the foundry sector such as Foseco Española S.A., the Tabira Foundry Institute, Telur Geotermia y Agua S.A. and IK4-Azterlan.
