The GH Cranes & Components factory in the village of Bakaiku hosted a commemorative event today to mark its 50th anniversary of industrial presence in Navarre, a milestone that symbolizes the company’s firm commitment to the region and its social and economic environment.
The event was attended by representatives of the Government of Navarre, Adegi (Business Association of Gipuzkoa), the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Navarre, and the Sakana Business Association , as well as representatives of the GH group itself, workers, and local residents.
As part of the commemorative program, the event included a guided tour of the GH Bakaiku facilities for the media and institutional representatives, during which José Antonio Guerra, CEO of the GH Group, highlighted the values that, as a company, have allowed GH to celebrate this half-century of history: commitment, people-focus, innovation and respect for the roots .
‘Over the past 50 years, like any company, we have gone through difficult times, with uncertainty and significant challenges, but we knew how to read the world, open up to the outside and find in internationalisation a way to continue moving forward without ever losing sight of our goal,’ he explained.
During the tour of the more than 10,000 square metres of the factory, attendees learned firsthand about the production process of the overhead cranes and the technologies used, as well as the economic and social impact they generate in the Sakana region.
´The Bakaiku factory is key to GH. Not only because it’s one of the group’s historic factories, but because today it represents the future of our company. The Market Unit for Spain & Portugal is located here, and this is where we are developing new, more efficient, more sustainable, and better-adapted manufacturing methods for the challenges of the 21st century´, emphasized José Antonio Guerra.
The celebration was attended by the General Manager of Energy, R&D, Business, and Entrepreneurship of the Government of Navarre , Garbiñe Basterra, who congratulated those in attendance on this anniversary and emphasized that » the GH factory in Bakaiku has not only been an economic engine, but also a space for employment, training, and growth for many people. Investment in innovation and continuous improvement has allowed it to become a benchmark in technology and quality, contributing to Navarre’s competitiveness in the global market.» In her speech, she also highlighted the efforts of the Administration to provide tools and resources to help the industry successfully overcome its challenges, emphasizing the ecological and digital transition that drives Navarre’s business fabric.
The commemorative event also featured the participation of renowned sculptor José Ramón Anda ( Bakaiku , 1949), who presented a sculpture created especially for the occasion in collaboration with GH. This work symbolizes the link between industry, art, and territory, and highlights the professional and trusting relationship that has united the artist with GH for several decades. The collaboration represents a form of homage to the shared journey and the values of permanence, excellence, and roots.
THE DATA
A factory with history and local roots
The history of the Bakaiku factory began in 1975 , when the Guerra brothers—founders of the GH Cranes & Components group —acquired the land with the commitment to prioritize hiring local personnel. Since then, the project has evolved to become one of the main industrial drivers in the area.
Bakaiku plant has 10,200 square meters of production facilities and employs 84 people, 27% of whom are residents of the village itself and a significant percentage from the Sakana Valley, reflecting a strong local connection. Furthermore, a third of the workforce has more than 20 years’ experience, a fact that underscores the company’s long-term commitment and the strong connection between the industrial project and the community.
GH Cranes & Components: a family and international group
GH Cranes & Components was founded in 1958 in Olaberria (Gipuzkoa) by brothers Alejandro, Jesús, Marcial, and Vicente Guerra. Today, with the third generation of the family joining the company, it has established itself as a leading international group in the design and manufacture of lifting and material handling solutions (overhead cranes, gantries, process cranes, RTGs, etc.), using proprietary technology.
With a presence on five continents and more than 130,000 cranes installed in over 70 countries, GH generates 78% of its revenue from international markets. The group currently employs more than 1,000 people and has production plants and sales offices in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, France, Poland, India, China, Thailand, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. It also operates in Navarre and the Basque Country, where it has factories in Bakaiku , Alsasua, Beasain, and Olaberria.