Sener, a leading engineering and technology group, has announced the launch of Epigea, a patented engineering solution designed to transform stadiums into multifunctional spaces, maximising their profitability and expanding their usage and operating potential.

Epigea is a fully automated solution designed to optimise stadium operations. It ensures top-quality turf through the installation of a retractable roof, allowing non-sporting events to be organised. In this way, it protects the pitch, keeping it in perfect condition with minimal human intervention.

The technology integrates seamlessly with the architecture of any stadium, new or existing, discreetly retracting behind a stand when not in use, without affecting visibility, stadium capacity, or the fan experience during matches. Epigea is fully adaptable and modular to the size and geometry of the stadium, and can be implemented without altering its design or functionality.

Epigea contributes to the stadium’s operational sustainability by reducing maintenance costs through the efficient integration of systems and increased resilience to extreme weather conditions. It also minimises turf wear, ensures greater consistency in treatments, and eliminates the acoustic impact associated with the ventilation system. In addition, it optimises space for maintenance storage, making staff operations easier while improving turf quality and efficiency in daily operations. The solution is compatible with smart irrigation systems, infrared lighting, controlled ventilation, and other similar agronomic care and maintenance systems.

The proposed design ensures full accessibility from the exterior, aligning the surface with the stadium’s perimeter entrances. This allows smooth circulation for all visitors to essential services such as food areas, restrooms, and other common spaces. It also facilitates access for logistics and event setup vehicles without interfering with the auxiliary areas of the pitch, ensuring comprehensive and uninterrupted stadium operations.

Epigea is based on an innovative engineering system that allows the removal of elements that could obstruct the deployment of the trays, such as sections of the stands or goalposts, and a cutting-edge retractable tray system that is deployed over the playing field (unlike Sener’s previously developed and patented Hypogea solution, successfully implemented at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, which hides the turf beneath the structure), keeping it fully protected.

How Epigea works

Epigea allows any stadium, existing or future, to become a versatile space capable of hosting a wide variety of events, from football matches to other sports competitions, corporate events, cultural shows, or e-sports. Its deployment is fully compatible with the sporting calendar, without affecting matches. The development has been made possible thanks to Sener’s accumulated expertise across different markets and disciplines.

• A series of retractable trays can be deployed over the pitch in independent sections, remaining underground or hidden behind the stands during matches. This allows stadiums to increase usage from 60 to over 8,000 hours per year, reaching 365 days of use annually (considering the traditional period free from sporting competitions), translating into a significant revenue increase.
• It features a range of advanced mechanisms that complete the transformation process in just a few hours.
• Stadiums implementing Epigea can boost their annual revenue according to their business plan, recovering the investment in a short period of time.
• To strengthen the positioning and development of Epigea, Sener has entered into a partnership agreement with Zertior, a company specialising in professional services for the sports and entertainment industry, with extensive experience in the conceptualisation and development of business models, financing, and stadium operations. Through this partnership, clients can access added services in these areas, making Epigea a turnkey solution.

César Quevedo, Managing Director of Mobility at Sener, notes: “Epigea is an example of how technology can create value and generate new business models. It’s a simple and intelligent solution capable of transforming a stadium into a multifunctional space, maximising revenue, minimising impact, and protecting the playing field. It revolutionises how stadium operations are conceived, viewing them primarily as multifunctional spaces that also host sporting events”.

Sener is an engineering and technology company with a solid track record in developing innovative solutions for various sectors. With Epigea, Sener reaffirms its commitment to innovation and excellence, offering clients solutions that not only enhance the functionality of their facilities, but also have a positive impact on their revenue.

The launch of Epigea follows the success of Hypogea, Sener’s retractable pitch solution, which has been successfully implemented at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Hypogea has proven to be an effective solution for maximising stadium usage, and Epigea complements this innovation along with others such as Velaria® (a fully automated roof solution equipped with agronomic systems to improve the maintenance of natural turf without touching the pitch surface, complementing other event systems) and the pilot project deployed at San Mamés to monitor pitch conditions in collaboration with Athletic Club, offering a comprehensive solution for the multifunctional transformation of stadiums.

Sener has consolidated its position among the world’s leading international engineering firms. In the 2025 edition of ENR, Sener reaches 38th place in the “Top 225 International Design Firms” list, moving up eleven positions compared to 2024 and ranking as the leading Spanish international design engineering company. In addition, Sener appears in the global top ten in two specific categories: sixth in the Latin America and Caribbean region, and seventh in the “Manufacturing” category.

Sener currently employs more than 4,000 professionals worldwide and is active in the aerospace and defence, energy, infrastructure, data centres, and digital sectors. ENR’s recognition confirms Sener’s international strategy, based on diversification and technological innovation. The improved ranking strengthens Sener’s position as a solid global engineering and technology group, with a multidisciplinary offering and the ability to deliver in complex environments.

In 2024, the Sener Group achieved total revenue of 710 million euros. This figure reflects growth across all the group’s business areas: Mobility, Aerospace and Defence, Energy, and the data centre design subsidiary, Quark. Growth in contracting, with major new projects across all areas, has driven the order book up to 1.544 billion euros. Sener trusts in the potential of its engineering team and the new solutions it develops, as demonstrated by its R&D investment, which has increased to 35.7 million euros.

Sener is consolidating this growth path with a workforce of more than 4,000 professionals, 37% of whom work in international offices. The international market accounts for 86% of the group’s sales, with a growing presence in English-speaking markets (Canada, Australia and the United States).

Inorganic growth

Sener has strengthened its value proposition by complementing its organic growth with a company integration strategy, bringing in a range of cutting-edge technological capabilities.

In 2024, the group acquired and integrated SCR, Spain’s leading manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems. To date, SCR has produced over 1,000 units and delivered more than 3,500 field services in 17 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

In 2023, Sener integrated Quark, a leading company in the design of data centres and other advanced infrastructure. Quark is a leader in this sector, having designed over 100 data centres, with a total capacity of 1 GW and 350,000 square metres of IT rooms. Since its integration into Sener, Quark has been strengthening its promising international growth, supported by the group’s presence in many countries.

The Australian engineering subsidiary Tactix, acquired by the group in 2022, has taken on major projects in 2024, including the Coffs Harbour Bypass for Ferrovial and Gamuda or SSTOM (Stations, Systems, Trains, Operations and Maintenance) for Sydney Metro.

Sener will maintain its strategy, always based on the application of innovative solutions to engineering and the progressive extension of its geographical scope. It will continue to make selective acquisitions of companies with high technological potential that complement its capabilities. The results achieved, and both qualitative and quantitative growth, confirm the strength and potential of the Group.

Expansion of facilities

In 2024, Sener launched a major industrial investment in the Zamudio Technology Park (Biscay). The new facilities will host engineering, manufacturing and assembly capabilities, testing areas, and clean rooms, and will be dedicated to Space and Defence, two of the sectors where activity is growing most rapidly. The group already has production centres of this type in Bilbao, Barcelona, Madrid and Warsaw. In 2025, it also began the expansion of its Tres Cantos (Madrid) production centre.

Over the past two years, Sener has opened new offices in Seville, Santander and Brussels, and expanded its offices in Sydney, Australia.

Key milestones by market

In 2024, Sener strengthened its four main business areas: Aerospace and Defence, Energy, Mobility, and Quark, consolidating and expanding its technological and international reach.

In Aerospace and Defence, Sener achieved a milestone by acting as the main contractor for the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission, which marked the first formation flight of two satellites in orbit. In Defence, Raytheon entrusted Sener with the development of actuation and control systems for the Patriot® GEM-T missile.

In Energy, Sener has been involved in key infrastructure projects such as the CO2next carbon dioxide storage terminal in Rotterdam. It is also involved in pioneering projects in Germany, such as adapting combined cycle power plants for hydrogen and developing the country’s first onshore liquefied natural gas storage and regasification facility.

In Mobility, Sener has made progress in major global transport networks. In Canada, it is involved in the Scarborough subway and the Ontario Line; in the Middle East, in the Riyadh metro and the Cairo monorail. It is also involved in high-speed rail projects in the United States, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. In Latin America, it is designing Line 3 of the monorail and the fourth bridge over the Panama Canal, and working on various rail infrastructures in Mexico such as the Lines 4 and 6 of the Monterrey monorail.

Finally, Quark has designed data centres for national clients such as the Social Security IT Management Office (GISS), and for international clients including Damac, Equinix and Prime Data Centers.