Since its construction in the fifties, the Zona Franca Industrial Estate has been a key factor in Barcelona’s economic strength. Its contribution to the economy has increased gradually and it is now the largest and most active industrial area in Spain and currently one of the most dynamic in Europe, with over 300 companies operating there.

In recent years, the industrial estate has been undergoing major changes, replacing older industrial activities with more innovative companies which are able to make the best use of the estate’s excellent location and accessibility.

The Zona Franca Industrial Estate’s location near important transportation infrastructures and communications hubs makes it one of the best-connected business platforms in the world. Just 7 km from the urban centre of Barcelona, 7 km from the airport, and 500 m from the port and 200 m from Can Tunis, the principal railway freight station in Catalonia, it also has direct access to the metropolitan ring roads, which link to an extensive network of national and international motorways.

The estate is very large, with an area of 6,000,000 m2 (6% of the area of the city of Barcelona), and has a road network of 37 km and green spaces totalling 80,700 m2.

The industrial estate offers various communal services, such as cleaning and security. The area of the industrial estate, the Zona Franca Customs Authority and the Zona Franca Logistics Park, are protected by the Consorci's security services with coordination between private security firms and the Civil Guard 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Transport is of utmost importance for this large business area. The industrial estate currently has a public transportation service that includes seven daytime bus lines (lines 21, 23, 37, 88, 109, 110 and PR-4) and one night bus line (N1). The Consorci spends 327,000 Euros a year subsidising four of the eight bus lines that connect the industrial estate. However, the next five years will see major changes in terms of local transport connections and with the city of Barcelona, with the anticipated arrival of the Metro (six stations).