Industrias Arruti is launching a state-of-the-art testing facility for overhead power line fittings, developed with the support of TECNALIA
- This laboratory was designed to meet the new requirements for overhead power transmission lines, and was developed in collaboration with TECNALIA based on the technical and operational specification for the new facilities
- Industrias Arruti’s new laboratory will make it possible to carry out the highly demanding electrical tests at the same time as electrical heating cycle and tensile strength tests, bringing it into line with the upcoming version of the IEC 61284 standard and expanding its international certification capabilities
Boroa, 24 June 2026. Industrias Arruti has launched a new state-of-the-art testing facility for overhead power line fittings at its Boroa site in Bizkaia, developed with technical advice from TECNALIA’s electrical laboratories. This state-of-the-art facility is in response to the sector’s growing demand for more comprehensive validation solutions, that are capable of replicating real operating conditions by combining electrical, thermal and mechanical stresses.
- The new infrastructure will make it possible to carry out highly demanding tests by integrating electrical ageing processes with simultaneous mechanical stresses, including tensile loads.
- The system is capable of passing currents of up to 4,000 A through the conductor, reaching temperatures of up to 250°C, making it possible to assess the behaviour of the fittings under combined conditions that more accurately replicate the real-life operating environment of electricity grids.
- The infrastructure has been built into a 46-metre-long, 4-metre-wide mechanical vibration test bay, making it possible to combine vibration tests with electrical and mechanical stress tests on a single test platform.
- The infrastructure has also been designed to comply with the requirements of the upcoming update to the IEC 61284 standard, which is due to be published shortly. This regulatory alignment will allow Industrias Arruti to validate its products in accordance with the most stringent international standards, thereby facilitating its access to global markets.
The added-value provided by TECNALIA:
The collaboration with TECNALIA, through its accredited electrical laboratories and its team of experts, proved to be crucial in ensuring that Arruti’s new infrastructure was designed and is able to operate in accordance with the highest technical standards.
Its advice covered the specification of the laboratory’s functional requirements, the selection and specification of critical equipment, the validation of test procedures, and compliance with international standards which are in the process of being updated.
TECNALIA's extensive experience in advanced electrical testing, and its international recognition as an independent accredited laboratory for high-voltage, low-voltage and power electrical testing, has meant that Industrias Arruti was able to speed up the launch of this new laboratory, minimise technical risks and ensure a reliable testing environment that complies with the latest regulations as a manufacturer of fittings and accessories for overhead power lines. This transfer of knowledge has brought rigour, reliability and a strategic vision that will improve the company’s competitiveness.
- “The development of this facility is a significant step forward in Industrias Arruti’s testing capabilities. It has introduced a controlled combination of thermal and mechanical variables, which is key to assessing the performance of components in the real world”, said Aitor Kortajarena, director of TECNALIA’s electrical laboratories. “Furthermore, our role has gone beyond providing technical advice on setting up this state-of-the-art laboratory; we have also contributed our expertise to the design and technical specification of the infrastructure and all of the equipment to ensure that they comply with the regulations”.
- Miguel Ángel Rivero, general manager of Industrias Arruti ( ), stressed that, “This new infrastructure will allow us to provide a more complete validation process to our customers that is more in line with future market demands. The ability to combine electrical and mechanical testing within a single controlled environment is a key differentiator that will strengthen our position as an international preferred supplier”.
About TECNALIA
TECNALIA is the largest applied research and technological development centre in Spain, a European benchmark and member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance. It works with companies and institutions to improve their competitiveness, people's quality of life and achieve sustainable growth, thanks to a team of more than 1,500 people committed to building a better world through technological research and innovation. Its main areas of action are: smart manufacturing, digital transformation, energy transition, sustainable mobility, health and food, urban ecosystem and circular economy.
TECNALIA’s mission is to transform technological research into prosperity while its vision is to anticipate the future as the leading actors of transformation in companies and society, adapting them to the challenges of an ever-faster evolving world.
This is why TECNALIA's research has a real impact on society and generates benefits in the form of quality of life and progress. In the latest brand awareness and positioning study carried out by the European Research Survey (ERS) in 2025, TECNALIA tops the list regarding R&D and Innovation brand awareness.
About Industrias Arruti
Industrias Arruti is a company that specialises in designing, manufacturing and supplying fittings and accessories for power transmission and distribution lines. The company has more than five decades of experience and an international presence, and has established itself as a leader in the sector thanks to its commitment to innovation, quality and continuous improvement. It develops solutions at its facilities in the Basque Country that contribute to the reliability and efficiency of electrical infrastructure worldwide, while maintaining an unwavering commitment to excellence, sustainability and customer satisfaction.