Reaffirming its commitment to the safety and well-being of its employees, the Group's safety team organized an interactive quiz to assess employees' knowledge on these topics. Held as part of the celebration of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, and using an educational and fun approach, this initiative involved employees from Frezite, SERI and FHP in Portugal, who replied to the challenge with great enthusiasm and participation. Fire brigade training was also provided to reinforce the preparation and readiness of the teams responsible for responding to emergencies. This ensured the active participation of employees promoting a culture of safety.

AEBA - Associação Empresarial do Baixo Ave has been in business for 25 years. To celebrate this special anniversary, it organised a series of initiatives to strengthen ties between the association and the business community. On 11 April, the AEBA 25 Years Conference took place at the Maia Forum, with the Frezite Group as one of the event's sponsors. Frezite's founder, José Manuel Fernandes, was one of the founders and president of AEBA and since its foundation the company and the association have actively contributed to the economic development of the region and the country. The guest speakers debated the parts that add to the whole: the North and Baixo Ave, as well as geopolitical tensions and their economic impacts, in a session attended by the Portuguese Secretary of State for the Economy, João Rui Ferreira.

As part of its growth strategy in Central European markets, SERI's technical and sales team travelled to Slovenia and Hungary between 7 and 11 April. In addition to visiting strategic customers, this trip also provided an opportunity to present the potential of SERI's turnkey systems to colleagues at Walter Slovenia. It was an enriching exchange of technical and market knowledge between colleagues, aimed at better serving customers and responding to their challenges with innovative solutions.

On 14 March, SERI celebrated 37 years in business. The team got together to celebrate the achievements along this journey, full of challenges, innovation and, above all, teamwork. Along the way, SERI has built a solid reputation in the market, focusing on innovation, quality and commitment to excellence. The support and trust of its customers and partners are an essential part of this success. We would like to thank you all very much and hope for many more years of achievement and development, with the same spirit of unity and excellence.

On 6 March, Frezite welcomed a group of 11th and 12th year students from the professional metalworking production course at the Rocha Peixoto Secondary School in Póvoa de Varzim (Portugal). This school, which combines secondary education and vocational training, gave its students a unique opportunity to get to know our industrial reality up close. During the visit, the students were able to explore our facilities, understand the manufacturing processes and realize the importance of innovation and technology in industry. By opening its doors to these initiatives, Frezite maintains its commitment to strengthening relations and sharing knowledge with educational institutions, participating in the training of qualified professionals.

Martinrea International, a key customer of Walter FMT and SERI, has received the prestigious Ford Supplier Excellence Award. Recognizing the quality and reliability of its products, the Hermosillo and Querétaro plants in Mexico were awarded Ford's Q1 certification. Collaboration with Walter FMT and SERI proved essential in this process and the satisfied customer thanked us for our contribution to this important achievement. This project has a special significance because it was one of the first in which SERI and Walter FMT collaborated directly on the definition, study and engineering applied to clamping and cutting tool concepts. After the successful start-up, Walter FMT continues to ensure the supply of all new tools and to carry out repairs – through the repair center in Mexico – guaranteeing a consistent and high-quality service. This recognition and testimony from Martinrea reinforce our group's commitment: to be a strong link in our customers' value chain, guaranteeing quality, rigor and customized solutions to their needs. We thank you for the trust you have placed in our teams. Find out more here

On 11 January, with the enthusiastic participation of 17 Frezite and SERI employees, the Group was represented at the 22nd edition of the São Silvestre da Trofa, an event that brought together sport, fun and a spirit of mutual help. The main event, a 10-kilometre race, started and finished at Alameda da Estação. At the same time, the event offered a 5-kilometre walk and the São Silvestre Kids, aimed at the little ones, who ventured on a 500-metre mini-circuit. This initiative projects the city in the region, promoting sport as a tool for unity and overcoming obstacles. Congratulations to all the participants for adopting a healthy lifestyle, promoting the region and Frezite's values with pride and team spirit!

The return to work at the beginning of the year was marked by general meetings with the employees of the Production Units in Trofa (Portugal). These sessions are fundamental for reflecting on the results achieved in the previous year and aligning strategies and objectives for the future. On 6 January, the Walter FMT team took stock of 2024 and, two days later, the Frezite Wood & Composites team met for the same analysis exercise. During the meetings, key indicators relating to safety, quality and operating results were presented, as well as the highlights that marked 2024. On 9 January, the management team and FHP employees also carried out the balance of the year exercise. As far as SERI is concerned, it had already carried out the alignment exercise at the end of 2024. These sessions are an opportunity to strengthen alignment and team spirit, preparing employees for the challenges and goals of 2025.