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History

More than half a century of innovation

INNOVATIVE SPIRIT, ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A BETTER FUTURE

For more than 60 years, we have been using our knowledge to serve society through technology and our projects. Ever since Sener was founded by Enrique and José Manuel de Sendagorta, the company’s history has been marked by innovative solutions, penetrating new markets and responding to technical challenges. We were the first engineering company registered in Spain in 1956. We started out as a marine technical office and became trailblazers in the space industry in 1966. Shortly afterwards we penetrated the infrastructure and energy industries. Today, we are a leading company in aerospace, infrastructure, energy and marine, and we apply our multidisciplinary knowledge to achieve comprehensive solutions.

Our history

1956
1956
1960
1964
1965
1966
1967
1970
1982
1985
1986
1989
1990
1991
1993
1998
1999
2001
2002
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2022
1956

The foundation of Sener

Enrique de Sendagorta founds Sener as a technical marine office. It is the first Spanish engineering company registered as such.

1960

Start of Sener’s diversification

The management team grows with the arrival of José Manuel de Sendagorta, the founder’s brother and the person considered to be the company’s co-founder. Under his management, Sener begins to diversify its activities and open up to other sectors such as industrial plants.

1964

Sener has 100 professionals

Sener has a capital of three million pesetas (18,000 euros) and 100 employees. 

1965

Sener wins its first contract in the refining industry

Amine and sulfur recovery plant for Repsol in Puertollano (Spain), Sener’s first refinery contract

1965

First FORAN contract

FORAN, the CAD/CAM/CAE system for marine design and construction created by Sener in the 60s as an in-house tool, secures its first contract outside of Sener with the Bazán (now Navantia) shipyard.

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1966

Start of activities in the space sector

Sener wins the contract for the design and construction of the rocket launch tower in Kiruna (Sweden) for the ESRO (the former European Space Research Organization). This is SENER’s first international contract and its first foray into the space sector.

1967

Start of activities in the infrastructure sector

Sener undertakes its first major contracts in the infrastructure engineering sector with projects such as the Bilbao-Behovia highway (1967), Bilbao superport (1969), Sondica airport (1971) and the construction plan for the Bilbao metro (1973).

1970

Start of activities in the energy sector

This decade Sener begins with the designs for the Spanish nuclear power plants of  Lemóniz and Cofrentes. These are Sener’s first contracts in the energy sector.

1982

Sener has 900 professionals

Sener reaches the figure of 900 professionals and a turnover of 4,000 million pesetas (24 million euros).

1985

First urban transport projects

Sener undertakes work on the projects for the Bilbao, Barcelona and Valencia metros. These are its first urban transport projects.

1985

Start of activities in the aeronautics sector

Sener joins the European consortium working on the development of the EJ 200 engine for the multirole Eurofighter/Typhoon fighter aircraft, beginning its operations in the field of aeronautics.

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1986

Creation of the Sener group

Jorge Sendagorta joins Sener’s management team and creates the Sener Grupo de Ingeniería holding company.

1989

The creation of ITP

Sener contributes to creating ITP, the only Spanish aeronautical engine and gas turbine company.

1990

First contracts in high-speed rail

In the 90s, first contracts in high-speed rail (Basque Y, Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-Valencia, Madrid-Lisbon) and large airports, ports and singular buildings on the Iberian Peninsula.

1991

Opening of a branch in Portugal

Sener opens a permanent office in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon for its projects in the country, especially in the field of civil infrastructures.

1993

Opening of the Barcelona (Spain) office

After having worked on several infrastructure projects in Barcelona (Spain), and prompted by the 1992 Olympics, Sener decides to consolidate its presence in Catalonia by oppening a branch office in the region.

1998

Death of José Manuel de Sendagorta Aramburu

José Manuel de Sendagorta Aramburu, General Director of SENER from 1961 to 1985 and one of its founders passed away on September 22.

1998

Opening of the Valencia (Spain) office

Sener sets up its own office in Valencia.

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1999

First turnkey construction contract

Sener wins the turnkey contract for the construction and commissioning of the Benzene Reduction Reforming Unit (RB4) for the Muskiz plant of Petronor (Bizkaia, Spain). This is Sener’s first turnkey contract for the design and construction of an industrial plant.

2001

Sener begins producing a series of aerospace systems

Sener creates a new area of business in the Defense sector, based on the design and line production of missile actuation and control systems.

2002

Commercial operation of Ecolube

Commercial operation of Ecolube, a used oil regeneration plant in Fuenlabrada (Madrid, Spain). This industrial initiative promoted by Sener and URBASER uses technology for the regeneration of oils through distillation with propane, a technology designed by Sener.

2002

Creation of the Sener Foundation

The Sendagorta family and Sener Grupo de Ingeniería establish the SENER Foundation, setting out to promote initiatives and activities based on two principles: contributing to the community through training people (by means of combined study/work grants) and developing social responsibility in business activities.

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2004

Opening of the Integration and Testing Center in Madrid

Sener opens its complex in Madrid?the Integration and Testing Center, a state-of-the-art plant for production activities such as the assembly of electronic parts; mechanical assemblies and subassemblies; final integration; and vibration, temperature and functional tests. The mechanisms developed in SENER’s new Integration and Testing Center can be applied to aeronautics (flight control), space (satellites, spacecraft and payloads), propulsion (engine nozzles, thrust vector control), industrial products (for example, actuator mechanisms for thermosolar plants) and healthcare technology.

2004

Commercial operation of BBG

Commercial operation of the BBG regassing plant (Spain), the first liquid natural gas (LNG) plant built with the participation of Sener.

2004

Commercial operation of Zabalgarbi

Commercial operation of the Zabalgarbi municipal solid waste treatment plant in Bilbao (Spain). This plant, promoted by Sener, uses the company’s own technology, the SENER-2 process, a high-efficiency thermodynamic cycle that improves the energy conversion of waste and optimizes the resistance of equipment to corrosion. As well as designing and patenting the process, Sener was responsible for the turnkey construction of the plant.

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2005

Commercial operation of Boroa

Commercial operation of Boroa (Spain), Sener’s first combined cycle power station, in which it takes part in the turnkey construction.

2005

FORAN is implemented in BAE Systems

AE Systems (UK) implements FORAN for use in the series of HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers and the series of Successor submarines for the British Navy.

2005

Commencement of activities to supply systems for aeronautical use

Sener begins to supply systems for the manufacture and assembly of composite material structures for aeronautical use, with an initial project for the Boeing 787 airliner.

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2006

Opening of a branch office in Mexico

Sener opens a permanent office in Mexico, a country with extensive possibilities in the area of infrastructures. Mexico soon becomes one of the most important countries for Sener in terms of both the volume of project contracts and number of professionals. 

2006

First LNG plant built by Sener

Sagunto regassing plant (Spain), the first LNG plant built by Sener.

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2007

Sener opens office in Poland

SENER creates a new division in Poland with headquarters in Warsaw, to undertake public infrastructure projects. Over time, this division will come to have a significant weight in the space sector.

2008

Commercial operation of Andasol

Commercial operation of Andasol (Spain), the first thermosolar plant in commercial operations with a molten salt storage system, using Sener technology.

2008

Creation of Torresol Energy

Sener launches Torresol Energy, a company promoting the construction, operation and maintenance of large thermosolar plants, owned by SENER (60%) and Masdar (40%).

2008

Opening of a branch in the United States

We opened a delegation in the United States with an office in San Francisco, later our U.S. headquarters moved to the city of Los Angeles. 

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2009

Launch of the Barcelona L9 metro and the Perpignan-Figueras high-speed railway line

Operation begins of Barcelona metro’s L9, the longest driverless line in Europe, and the Perpignan-Figueras international high-speed railway line between France and Spain. On both projects, Sener is responsible for everything from the design to the certification and operational start.

2009

Marine engineering contract for the Argentine Navy

Sener is awarded the comprehensive engineering contract for the repair and modernization of the Argentine Navy’s ?Almirante Irízar’ icebreaker ship (RHAI) after the vessel was damaged by fire during an Antarctic campaign. This project is one of the most important marine engineering projects to be carried out in Argentina in the last 25 years.

2009

Opening of office in the United Arab Emirates

Sener establishes a presence in the United Arab Emirates with an office located in Abu Dhabi.

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2011

Opening of Gemasolar

Opening of Gemasolar, the first commercial power plant in the world capable of 24-hour uninterrupted production using solar energy, owned by Torresol Energy and with technology designed by SENER, which also performed its turnkey construction.

2011

Opening of a branch in South Korea

Sener establishes a presence in South Korea with a branch office located in Busan, in response to the country’s growing importance in the marine sector.

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2012

Opening of Brazil branch office

Sener opens a branch office in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, mainly for the purpose of carrying out transport and industrial infrastructure projects, as well as work in the area of aeronautics. 

2012

First marine engineering contract in China

Sener engineering of a stern trawler for China National Fisheries Corp. This is the company’s first marine engineering contract in the country.

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2013

Construction work starts on the NOORo solar complex

Start of the construction of NOORo in Morocco, the largest solar complex on earth, made with technology created by Sener, which is also a member of the turnkey construction consortium.

2013

First sale of the AUTOPLAK medical device

First sale of AUTOPLAK, the inoculation and seeding device for liquid samples in Petri dishes, designed by Sener Diagnostics, our brand to market healthcare technology products.

2013

First marine engineering contract in Korea

Sener is awarded the marine engineering contract for a 1,200-passenger ferry vessel. It is the company’s first marine engineering contract in South Korea.

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2014

Sener is appointed main contractor for a space mission

Sener is appointed the main contractor for the Proba-3 space mission for the demonstration of formation flying technologies. For Spain, this contract represents an important milestone in the aerospace sector as it is the only European Space Agency (ESA) mission to date in which a Spanish company, SENER, is the main contractor of the entire program and leader of a consortium of European companies from over 10 countries.

2014

Major international transport infrastructure projects

Sener confirms its international expansion in the transport infrastructures sector with projects in Europe, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, North Africa, and the Middle East, including such noteworthy endeavors as the Toluca-Mexico City passenger train, the Guadalajara metro in Mexico, and the metros in Riyadh and Doha (Saudi Arabia), Dubai and Abu Dhabi (UAE).

2014

Opening of Sener’s new headquarters in Catalonia

It is located in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona, Spain) and it is a Sener project.

2014

Opening of a branch in Chile

We establish our presence in the country with a branch office in Santiago de Chile. 

2014

Branch office opening in Colombia

Sener moves permanently into Colombia, with a branch office located in Bogotá.

2014

UK office opening

We set up in the United Kingdom with the opening of an office. 

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2015

Contract for the California high-speed railway line

Sener wins the contract to perform the environmental and engineering services for the California high-speed railway line (USA).

2015

FORAN is integrated with PLM tools

FORAN becomes the world’s first CAD/CAM marine system with integrated Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools.

2015

Extension to the BBG regassing plant

Unveiling of the extension to the BBG regassing plant (Spain), whose third LNG tank was built using SENER technology.

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2016

Rolls-Royce buys Sener Group’s stake in ITP

We were the promoters and founders of ITP (Industria de Turbo Propulsores) in 1989. After 27 years of supporting ITP’s long-term investment and technology development, we are now focusing our efforts on our core engineering business and consolidating our international strategy. 

2016

Sener, consortium in the HS2

Sener consortium is awarded the HS2 Engineering Delivery Partner contract in the UK.

2016

Opening of a branch in South Africa

We established Sener in the country with the opening of a branch office.

2016

Sener celebrates 60 years

We celebrate our 60th anniversary with a long track record of projects, international experience and a team comprised of thousands of professionals who are the co-creators of the innovations that have marked its past and will shape its future. 

2016

Inauguration of the thermosolar plant NOORo I

The inauguration of the thermosolar plant NOORo I took place in Ouarzazate, within the NOORo solar complex, which, once completed, will be the largest on the planet. The event was presided over by King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

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2017

50 years of Sener in Space

A sector in which it offers engineering and production services in five areas of activity: electromechanical components and systems; Guidance, Navigation and Control / Attitude and Orbit Control Systems (GNC/AOCS); optical systems; microgravity; and life-support and astronomy systems. 

2017

Sener Foundation celebrates 15 years

The Sener Foundation celebrates its 15th anniversary promoting initiatives and activities to serve the community through the training and education of engineers, while also aiming to develop social responsibility in business activities in the fields of engineering and technology.

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2018

50 years of activity of the Launch Tower of Kiruna

March marks the 50th anniversary of the first launch of a rocket from the Kiruna launch tower in Sweden. This project represented the first Sener contract in the space sector.

2018

Death of Enrique de Sendagorta Aramburu

Enrique de Sendagorta Aramburu, founder and Honorary President of Sener, and President of the Sener Foundation passed away on January 5.

2018

Sener acquires TRYO Aerospace & Electronics group

The aerospace activity of the Sener group now brings on board theentire TRYO Aerospace & Electronics group which is the parent company of TRYO Aerospace Flight Segment and RYMSA RF.  This investment has enabled Sener to strengthen its technology, engineering and production capabilities in the aerospace sector with a clear commitment to growth.  

2018

25 years of Sener in Barcelona

It is 25 years since SENER opened its first offices in Barcelona (Spain). Currently the Sener offices in Barcelona are located in Cerdanyola del Vallés.

2018

Torresol Energy celebrates 10 years

The Torresol Energy company, which belongs to the SENER engineering and technology group, celebrates its 10th anniversary promoting  the construction, operation and maintenance of large thermoelectric solar power plants and is owned by Sener (60%) and Masdar (40%).

2018

10 years of Sener in the United States

It have been 10 years since the opening of the first Sener delegation in the United States with the opening of its first office in the country.

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2019

Sener Aerespacial is established as a new company

As a result of the transformation objective conceived in 2018 with the takeover of the Tryo Group, the aerospace business unit splits from Sener Engineering, creating a new comany named Sener Aeroespacial.

2020

Andrés Sendagorta, new President of the Sener Group

Andrés Sendagorta, hitherto Vicepresident of Sener, is the Group’s new President, taking over from Jorge Sendagorta, who will continue to be linked to the Sener Group as its Honorary President.

2020

Jorge Sendagorta Cudós, new CEO of the SENER Group

Managing Director of SENER Engineering since 2018,  Jorge is named as the new CEO, succeeding Jorge Unda.

2020

RESPIRA®, Sener’s intelligent ventilation control system

We developed RESPIRA®, based on Artificial Intelligence, to optimize the efficient use of ventilation in buildings and complex infrastructures. We signed a collaboration agreement with Ferrocarril y Metropolità de Barcelona (FMB) to improve air quality and passenger comfort in Metro de Barcelona. 

2020

BENORTH2, the first green hydrogen plant in Spain

We are part of the consortium that will start up BENORTH2, the first green hydrogen plant that will maximize the use of existing infrastructures in Amorebieta (Vizcaya, Spain). White Summit, CCI, Nortegas, Bizkaia Energy and Sener are the companies in charge of its development and start-up.

2020

Q-Energy acquires Torresol Energy

Q-Energy acquires Torresol Energy, owner of the Gemasolar, Valle 1 and Valle 2 solar units, from Sener and Masdar. The three thermoelectric plants have Sener’s own technology and have achieved excellent levels of operation since their start-up in 2011. 

2020

Foundation of SATNUS Technologies S.L.

SATNUS is a company set up by Sener, GMV and TECNOBIT to develop new technologies linked to unmanned vehicles. From SATNUS the three partners will coordinate the activity of the technological pillar of remote operators within the European FCAS (Future Combat Air System) program. 

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2021

Sener Aeroespacial invests in technological facilities for space and astronomy in Barcelona

Nearly 1000 sqm outfitted with the most advanced production and testing equipment, which places Sener Aeroespacial among the top European space and astronomy companies.

2021

Siemens acquires FORAN

Siemens acquired from Sener the FORAN ship design and engineering software, conceived and developed for more than five decades. 

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2022

Sener expands in Australian market with deal to acquire infrastructure consultancy Tactix

Sener, present in Australia through transport infrastructure projects, has signed an agreement to acquire 60% of the Australian consulting firm Tactix, with the aim of becoming a key player in the Australian transport sector.

FOUNDERS

TWO BROTHERS WITH A SHARED VISION

When José Manuel de Sendagorta joined Sener’s management team in 1960, the company set up by his brother four years earlier, it became their shared vision. Sener opened up to new activities such as aerospace engineering. Conquering new industries would go on to become a widespread practice throughout Sener’s history.

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Enrique de Sendagorta

Enrique de Sendagorta, founder of Sener, with his brother José Manuel led a company that was inspired by great figures in marine history, science and engineering.

As well as all those sailors, scientists and engineers, Enrique developed a special talent for solving complex problems. He did it most of the time without proper tools, traveling the world with the idea of doing a different engineering.

In his own words, the main value of the company has always been in the people who have been part of it. A value that is still present.

There is in Sener´s DNA a search for constant improvement, a common good and an unwavering vocation for service. We seek solutions that benefit society as a whole, it is our most authentic hallmark.

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José Manuel de Sendagorta

José Manuel de Sendagorta, co-founder of the company and CEO for a quarter of a century, broke new ground, incorporated new business divisions and championed integrated engineering, while paying attention to the smallest details.

Motivated by the desire to move forward and by an inherent curiosity, he gave Sener his drive and became the architect of some of its great successes in those early years. His aspiration was also that Spain could participate in the space race, as was the case with the successful Kiruna project in the 1960s.

His endeavor still sets the course for the company.

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A company with history

From the dream of a young 30-year-old to the reality of the international group that Sener has become today, quite a lot has changed. Nevertheless, other things remain, such as our values and the purpose that guide us. We develop quality solutions, we strive to foresee new problems to solve, and we have the talent and know-how to come up with innovative solutions. This is what Sener is made of: problem solving minds working together to achieve a better future.

Since 1956, our history reflects the technological changes that have shaken the world.