Centenary Companies Club’s IV. premiere, It will be held on November 15 and sheds light on the history of the six-century-old company in Alicante. rewarded for their toughness, perseverance and vision. These companies have built stories of success and resilience that have stood the test of time and etched their names in the state’s economic history. initiative organized by Chamber of Alicante and AEFA; sponsored by Provincial Council of Alicante and Cajamar; and with it Alicante City Council, KPMG, Padima, Trade Museum and INFORMACIÓN newspaper collaboratively highlight the ability of these companies to succeed by adapting to economic conditions and maintaining their commitment to quality and excellence.
Astondoa Shipyards One of the companies that will join this year Centennial Business Club. A company whose origins in the sailing world began in a small carpentry shop in 1916. Portuguese (Biscay) brothers Jesús and José Astondoa Martínez They begin to build rowboats and trawlers. One of the first milestones of this small family business was the construction in 1925 of the first trawler Virgen de la Guía, with which Portugalete FC won the Bilbao Regatta. brothers in 1930 They started making lifeboats out of wood. At that time there was high demand to equip fledgling transatlantic liners and large cargo ships.
Over time, Jesús and José Astondoa Martínez started their own family and After the Spanish Civil WarThe brothers had to start over and decided to undertake your own separate path. So Jesus moved somewhere new building on the old pierVery close to Portugalete train station. In the 40s, Jesús focused its activities on building professional fishing boats and pleasure boats. and in 1944 Jesus Astondoa SantamaríaThe son of Jesús Astondoa Martínez, he joined as an apprentice, going through all the duties of the shipyard and learning a trade that he loved and perfected for the rest of his life. In 1949, due to urban reform, Jesús Astondoa Martínez abandoned its facilities and was once again forced to move the shipyard. This time santurcea place that increasingly produces to order and is witnessing business growth Demand for cruise boats is increasing.
In 1959 the Astondoas were called to build three fishing boats in Santa Pola. and Jesús Astondoa Santamaria, whom they affectionately called “Sheriff”, would take on the challenge, leaving his wife Juana María Díaz de Otazu Saras and son Iñigo behind in Portugalete. And that was after the mission The “Sheriff” assumed absolute responsibility for the administration Astondoa Shipyards, his father was already retired. Years later, the shipyard relocated again, this time to the new port of Santurce. If the company “Astondoa” stood out for anything, it was that it produced high-quality boats for the sixties. luxury. Yachts, motor sailboats and all types of boats made to order They saw the light in this shipyard.
Santurce to Santa Pola
Jesús Astondoa Santamaría became the manager of the cruising yacht production department of Vatasa Shipyard (Santa Pola) Tired of traveling from Santurce to Santa Pola for several years and in 1976, he left his job and his relationship with Vatasa for good. However, aware of the potential that the Levantine coast had, Jesús decided to purchase the land in Santa Pola, where the first ship of the Astondoa shipyard was built. Elche Boulevard, number 12. First construction, 14.5 meter long boatmade of wood called “Carmen IV” and was produced in 5 months.
But it was inside 1980 Big year for the shipyard, two sister wooden ships were built: “May” and “Deutz”. Both ships represented a new ship Big fight for Astondoa They were unusual at the time as they were 24-foot pleasure boats. It could be said that Astondoa was truly the beginning of what is known today as manufacturing. large private luxury yachts. A year later Astondoa started produce boats from polyester resinIt was unfamiliar by then, but it allowed him to get an idea. Qualitative leap in production lines sports boats.
An unstoppable race
Huge sales figures have been achieved since 1986. Polyester resin boats will represent the absolute rise of the company and they begin to diversify by creating different product groups. Thus the first open boat was born Open 43′ Sports. Shortly afterwards Astondoa acquired one. new land in front of third industrial warehouse.
Orders were increasing and fame was beginning to go international.. In addition to expanding the staff, it is also necessary to create different businesses. The brand is developing and is firmly called “Astilleros Astondoa” as a unique brand and symbol of the business group. United in the international maritime industry. Large shipyard specializing in the construction of pleasure yachts.
Inside 90s, Due to economic growth and customer loyalty it became necessary to increase the length and Astondoa is re-evaluating the design of the 26 meter long unit. increases by 3 meters. In that caseIñigo Astondoa Díaz de Otazu He is the group’s financial director and brother. Jesus Astondoa Manages the shipyard’s design and production lines.
In this decade the management decided to establish a new production center, this time in Almansa, to build boats up to 15 meters. in length. Astondoa was due to open in 1999. New and complete facilities at Poniente Pier in Santa Pola, The place where the first 37-meter Astondoa 122 Cap de Quers model was built. in length.
In 2004, the year of Jesús Astondoa Santamaría’s death, the company Pioneer in Spain in the application of helmet production by infusion. The following year he enters the world of Astondoa mega yacht Maximum production figures were reached in the shipyard, which has more than 500 direct employees, in 2006. The company was founded in 2008 full international expansion. The company survived the crisis of that year and maintained the ratio success, awards and recognition after the years.
2016 centennial
The company had built more than 3,000 boats by 2016 and was starting a new project. Renewal process of all yacht series with the launch of new models. Astondoa preferred riskier designs, more modern and avant-garde lines and advanced technology, but we always maintain the Astondoa seal. Throughout all these years, the company has relied heavily on technology, with design and innovation being a core part of its DNA.
In 2019, Ione joined the Astondoa management team., daughter of Jesús Astondoa (CEO). Ione, 30, belongs to the fourth generation and Marketing aspect while intervening in the shipyard’s management and finance department.
Astondoa currently offers five kinds of boats. The sportiest series coupean evolution towards a more modern, sporty, original and bold line; range AceConsisting of cruise-type boats, very manageable and comfortable; range fly bridge, cruise boats with more classical lines; range centuryFeaturing grand yachts and luxury cruises that pay homage to Astondoa’s hundred-year history (1916-2016); and range ax As an innovation, it was presented with the new Ax8 model at the last Genoa fair.
Shipyard headquarters and production center
Location of the shipyard Santa Polahas a surface More than 30,000 m2 and facilities entirely dedicated to this purpose Yacht construction up to 122 feet. The entire production process is carried out exclusively and exclusively within the shipyard and the needs of each shipowner are always taken into account. The prototype of each boat is made as follows: the latest technology. In addition, Astondoa has only polyesterWhere all parts of the boat are individually manufactured using the latest techniques such as infusion and vacuum part making.
It is worth noting that Astondoa currently maintains a presence in the international market through its distributors. Europe: France, Monaco, Poland, Italy, Adriatic region, Germany, Austria and Switzerland; inside Middle East: Dubai and Lebanon; inside Thailand; And United States of America: Florida, Miami, Caribbean and Mexico.