Bringing augmented reality to industry, Seabery is a Spanish company training and educating industrial workers to make the sector more efficient and attractive to new talent. It’s just picked up fresh funding to continue the development of its globally utilised edtech solutions.
Operating at the intersection of industry, edtech and augmented reality, Seabery is pushing forward the use of cutting-edge tech in the industrial sector. The company has just received fresh investment to boost its sustainable approach to education and training that is helping to reduce carbon emissions and attract skilled workers. This comes as Spain Oman Private Equity Fund (SOPEF) and Seaya Andromeda have today announced their entry as minority partners in Seabery.
Seabery’s Proposition
Founded in Huelva in 2007 by Basilio Marquínez, Seabery pivoted to its current edtech approach in 2010, designing and patenting Soldamatic – a pioneering training solution in welding using AI. The industrial sector has been hit particularly hard by a talent shortage and the resulting lack of skilled workers has left the sector with a desperate need to rethink approaches to attracting workers.
This is what Seabery and the Soldamatic product are helping to achieve. Through a multi-sensory training interface –which includes sight, sound and touch thanks to high-precision parameterized software– Soldamatic is the closest simulation to the real process of welding. It enables future welders to pick up the necessary skills before getting certified, avoids the unnecessary consumption of f resources such as energy, gas and metal, and, reduces waste. It is, therefore, an environmentally sustainable choice building an essential workforce.
Seabery’s founder and partner, Basilio Marquínez, commented: “Seabery was founded to promote modern, efficient, interactive and sustainable training for new generations. Our technology democratizes access to training and solves the global shortage of qualified workers. I am proud of the path we have taken, of the team that has made it possible, and I am excited about the future of the company.”
Since the beginning of its commercialization in 2012, Soldamatic has facilitated access to quality training, providing a big boost to what is an essential industry. It was reported that Solamatic can shorten learning time by more than 50%. Further reporting that Soldamatic reduces the materials and consumables used during the training of welders by over 70%, the product brings many benefits to the sector. To put this in perspective – the 70% reduction in material and consumables is a saving equivalent to the materials needed to build the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Its implementation in training centres has also drastically reduced the number of occupational accidents.
Pedro Marquínez, CEO and partner of Seabery, said: “I am delighted to welcome SOPEF and Seaya Andromeda, two benchmark funds in the industry. As a global leader in EdTech, I am proud of what we have achieved through our proprietary and patented technology, Soldamatic, to revolutionize welding training. But we are only scratching the surface of Seabery’s potential. Together with our new investment partners and Seabery’s exceptionally talented technology team, we will continue to expand our portfolio and skills-based learning solutions.”
The Spanish company now has more than 100 employees around the world with the Soldamatic solution operable in more than 80 countries, the US and Germany being key markets. It’s also used by some of the world’s leading industrial companies such as Siemens, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, John Deere and Alstom.
What’s next
With this new investment from SOPEF and Seaya Andromeda, Seabery plans to accelerate its expansion into the APAC region. It will also increase the commercialization of its cutting-edge tech among industrial companies and continue developing its technology with the aim of opening new business lines. Sectors like industrial paint training are in the pipeline – diversifying the firms offering and contribution to the industry.
Luis Parras, partner at SOPEF, commented: “Seabery is a leading technology company that has improved the training and education process of welders, one of the most demanded professions in the industrial context. Its high growth in the USA and Germany is replicable in other countries and, additionally, in the industrial sector, where it can generate high cost savings for companies where the welding process is critical. At SOPEF, we are delighted to be able to support, together with Seaya Andromeda, Seabery and its founders in the next phase of their international expansion.”
Pablo Pedrejón, partner at Seaya Andromeda added: “Under the leadership of Basilio and Pedro, Seabery has positioned itself as one of the global leaders in Augmented Reality, with a direct impact on future welders and the industrial sector. From this leadership position, the founders have a clear vision of how to take the company to the next level. At Seaya Andromeda, and together with SOPEF, we are very excited to be able to accompany them on that path.”
