Subcontratación 2027

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Glossary

1

Subcontratacion industrial (industrial subcontracting)

Outsourcing of manufacturing operations, parts or assemblies to an external supplier that produces to the buyer's drawings and specifications. It is the core theme of Subcontratacion Bilbao, where OEMs and tier suppliers meet qualified workshops.

2

Mecanizado CNC (CNC machining)

Cutting and shaping metal parts on computer-controlled lathes, milling machines and machining centres to drawing tolerances. Machining shops form one of the largest supplier groups at the fair.

3

Decoletaje (turned parts)

High-volume production of small turned parts on automatic lathes, often for automotive, appliance and fluid-power components. Buyers use the show to compare capacity, tolerances and secondary operations.

4

Estampacion (metal stamping)

Forming sheet or strip metal with presses and dies into flat or drawn components. Stampers at the fair typically quote on tooling plus serial production.

5

Chapa y plegado (sheet-metal fabrication)

Cutting, bending, punching and forming of sheet metal into brackets, panels, cabinets and frames, usually combined with welding and finishing.

6

Fundicion (foundry / casting)

Casting of molten metal into sand, gravity or die moulds to near-final geometry. Casting suppliers are relevant where weight, damping or complex geometry matters.

7

Forja (forging)

Shaping metal under heat and pressure to produce strong, grain-oriented parts such as shafts, flanges and load-bearing components for demanding applications.

8

Utillaje y moldes (tooling and moulds)

Design and manufacture of dies, jigs, fixtures and injection or die-casting moulds that determine part quality and production economics for the buyer.

9

Tratamientos termicos y superficiales (heat and surface treatment)

Hardening, tempering, nitriding, coating, galvanising, anodising and painting operations applied after machining to meet wear, corrosion and finish requirements.

10

Soldadura (welding)

Joining processes including MIG/MAG, TIG, laser and robot welding. Welded fabrications and certified welding procedures are frequently discussed in supplier qualification.

11

Ensamblaje y subconjuntos (assembly and sub-assemblies)

Suppliers that deliver complete modules rather than single parts - an increasingly common contracting model for buyers seeking to reduce their own assembly steps.

12

Metrologia dimensional (dimensional metrology)

Measurement and inspection with CMMs, gauges and optical systems to prove that parts meet drawing tolerances. Quality capability is a deciding factor in supplier selection.

13

Homologacion de proveedores (supplier qualification)

The audit and approval process a buyer runs before placing serial work, covering quality systems, process capability, capacity and financial stability.

14

Tier 1 / Tier 2 supplier

Tier 1 suppliers deliver systems or modules directly to the OEM; Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers feed components and processes into the tier above. The fair covers the full chain.

15

Industria 4.0 (Industry 4.0 in manufacturing)

Digital production tooling - machine monitoring, robotics, traceability and data-driven quality - used by subcontractors to raise capacity and reduce scrap.

16

BEC (Bilbao Exhibition Centre)

The fairground in Barakaldo, Greater Bilbao, that hosts Subcontratacion Bilbao, with exhibition halls, conference space and on-site parking served by Metro Bilbao and Renfe Cercanias.