Can Ecuador compete manufacturing electronic products with US or China? Minister of Industry and Productivity, Ramiro Gonzalez, responded yes to this journal. The change of productive matrix can also reach the world of electronics because there is a factory in Cuenca that produces boards used in washing machines, tablets, televisions, cellphones…. What company is that? González does not stop mentioning it every time he has the chance. It’s called Tarpuq and effectively it is in Cuenca. In no other country in the Andean region there is one alike yet. It is a young plant. The new smell invades the visitor upon entering. The walls have no touch marks. The floor; a wooden entry, shines flawless. The employee´s uniforms have not defects. Everything is practically brand new, including the five million dollars machinery that produces products´ base boards.
At the plant there are two assembly lines, and to simplify, one is modern (SMT) and the other is classic (THT). There are boards that combine both components and all can be made in these Fuji brand modules that cost half a million dollars. They can produce up to 7,000 boards daily, according to the expectations of Tarpuq’s Director, Bruno Carrera. His partner, Pablo Tamariz, technical brain of the project, nods. “They are the Ferrari of the machinery in this sector,” boasts Carrera.
The journey to bring the machines to Ecuador and begin electronic production, which is needed to realize the desired matrix change: Import Less to Produce More, began in January 2013. A year ago (2012), six friends chewed the idea of taking advantage of government plans to put a profitable business. Last year it took shape. The six partners estimated that it will take between five and six million dollars to start operating at the highest level. They gathered it and began to move. The first thing to do, was to send Tamariz, who had spent years in a pioneering industry in the electronics world, broad to seek machinery. Then, they had to find skilled labor. Highly qualified which did not exist in Ecuador. They trusted in six recent graduates who were trained with the help of technicians who sold them the machinery (sharing know-how is part of the acquisition agreement). These six young now form 25 operators.
The machines arrived Cuenca in November and it took three months for assembly. On January 15, it was ready to make the first electronic board, which was presented to the Minister González. “We told him about the project in June and he was very interested. He said he would support us as soon as we have the first board, “says Tarpuq´s Director.
Right from the beginning, the company has maintained continuous contact with the MIPRO (Ministry of Industry and Productivity). They helped to create a tariff for their X-Ray machine, because at that time there was no tariff to regulate the entry of that exact type of artifact. Also, the National Finance Corporation financed them with 1.5 million dollars. Now, good relations can guarantee the success of the company.
The local component percentage that products assembled in Ecuador must have depends upon Ministry. In cellphones, for example, it is 5% but they are already talking with this industry to increase it to 17-20%, according to the purposes of Government of substituting imports by domestic brand.
If an increasing percentage is required, assembly companies will not be able to comply it, as they did it until now, manufacturing in the country mere housings, chargers or instruction booklets. They will have to start thinking about buying in the country the important parts. “Electronic board corresponds to 50% of national product,” says Carrera. Which means that only with the board, most assemblers (either cell phones, washing machines or televisions) could meet Government requirements.
The plant, designed to manufacture in volume and with similar cost to that of China (1.6 cents per component, having each board around 300-400) can supply all future demand in the country, according to the owners. Those 7,000 boards could become 10,000 boards per day with a 24-hour shift and, if there are more orders it could be doubled with a five million investment. Although, it would be for a second phase (considering opening to foreign markets) since Tarpuq is in its early stage.
So far, they have negotiated 1000 boards for TCL and Prima TVs and another 5,000 boards for car audio. Every TV needs two units; cell phones, one; car audio, three and induction cookers, three or four, depending on the number of stoves. With these estimates, the company is negotiating with Samsung to manufacture washing machines, with Sony for TVs and Alcatel and LG for smartphones. For industries that have yet distrust in the ability and quality of this company from Cuenca, Bruno Carrera, Tarpuq director, has a clear message: “We give you the boards under our own cost and then we will see whether they work or not.”
Source: http://expreso.ec/