In the spotlight
EFCEM member profile with Maria José Claudio, director, Felac
1. What is FELAC's overall mission?
FELAC is the Spanish Federation of Associations of Hospitality Equipment Manufacturers for Hospitality and Related Industries. Its main objectives include promoting collaboration among manufacturers, fostering sector-specific working groups through internal commissions, acting as a liaison with public institutions, and supporting the competitiveness, innovation, and international expansion of its member companies.
2. What are the biggest challenges facing the industry?
The hospitality equipment industry currently faces several challenges, including rising production costs, global supply chain disruptions, and the need to take sustainability and energy efficiency into account in all processes. Additionally, manufacturers must adapt to rapid technological changes and meet increasingly demanding international regulations. In an increasingly volatile global economic context, maintaining or boosting sales has become a major objective for the Spanish hospitality equipment industry. In this regard, increasing and diversifying internationalization and addressing new challenges – such as tariff and non-tariff barriers (for example, certifications) – are also key priorities.
3. How is FELAC helping members overcome that?
FELAC supports its members through various initiatives, including participation in international trade shows around the world and the organization, together with IFEMA MADRID , of a major sector trade fair in Spain called GUEXT . It also establishes working committees focused on topics of strategic interest to member companies and keeps them informed about regulatory changes and industry developments. Additionally, FELAC engages in lobbying efforts through its active participation in various industry organizations and its close relationship with public administrations in Spain, ensuring that the voice of the sector is heard in decision-making processes. One of the latest sustainability-related initiatives led by FELAC is the "Circular Hospitality Guide" , a tool supported by the ARC (Waste Agency of Catalonia) to facilitate the implementation of ecodesign, new business models, and circular-economy strategies in the hospitality equipment industry.
4. How does EFCEM help support FELAC?
As a member of EFCEM, FELAC benefits from a unified European platform that represents the industry's interests at EU level. EFCEM facilitates collaboration among national associations and advocates for regulatory frameworks that support innovation and fair competition. Through this membership, FELAC not only stays up to date with regulatory changes and emerging trends at the European level, but also actively participates in the decisions that directly impact its member companies. This involvement strengthens FELAC's ability to anticipate changes and defend the interests of the Spanish industry within the broader European context.