It is the first factory of its kind in the Andean Community and one of its main objectives is to sow technology in the country. Hence the name Tarpuq, which is related to the Kichwa word tarpuc, meaning sower.
With an initial investment of USD 7,000,000, this company from Cuenca that produces electronic circuit boards opened on January 15. This is an investment of three economic groups, which were supported by the National Finance Corporation (CFN).
Their first customers are the cell phones, televisions and car audio assemblers. According to one of its partners, Bruno Carrera, these are products assembled in high volumes in Ecuador and are facing import restrictions, therefore, “this initiative favors them.”
Eighteen months ago the project, which seeks to add more Ecuadorian component to electronics products emerged, says another partner, Cristian Crespo. “We knew the brain or board adds between 30-60% of national aggregate to the cost, but investment in machinery and knowledge was very high to amortize it in one product. Therefore, three industry groups from Cuenca decided to invest “.
According to him, this decision was in accordance with government policy of changing the productive matrix and strengthening the national industry “to support such initiatives.”
The 40 employees opened a shed with a design that fuses contemporary architectural style with the production needs. It is located in Challuabamba parish, at north side of Azuay capital. In the production area, engineers and technicians use gowns, caps … and a kind of heels that allow them to download at all times all static electricity they might generate.
“The body can generate electricity which can burn the brain (electronic)” says Crespo. Two production lines were installed: SMT and T/H. The first one serves for surface mounting of small or microscopic electronic components that are soldered on the top. They are board for running cell phones or televisions, says Carrera.
Out of all the equipment, one with Japanese technology stands out, it has the capacity to produce up to 7000 boards in two shifts daily. It places over 126,000 components per hour, some smaller than a grain of sand, says Crespo. “We’re talking about nano-technology that can be used to produce all smart phones that exist in the market.”
The T / H line is known as Through Hole. Here, larger components are placed on top of the board, but are welded at the back. This type of technology is used for induction cookers boards, for example.
The second phase of the project is a target and it is expected to run from mid-year. Smaller quantities of electronic boards will also be produced, for customers who require less amounts. They will be for motorcycles, cars, induction cookers…
Tarpuq production not only generates foreign exchange savings but provides technology transfer, said Crespo. “The idea is to prevent brain fly so engineers can design their creations and express them with our help.”
Investment and projects
Resources. The National Finance Corporation gave $ 1.3 million for the acquisition of equipment.
Projects. In the long term it is intended to manufacture the raw material of the boards, which are plastic fibers where the components are mounted.
The insignia
Pablo Tamariz, Manager of the company Tarpuq
It is a milestone in technological field of Ecuador, it will be a facilitator not only to give national value added to products already manufactured or assembled in the country such as televisions, car audio or cell phones but it will also help new local alternatives to appear.
I refer to the electronic or software engineers who want to develop their own technology and cannot do it for lack of an enterprise of this kind in Ecuador. I am involved in this issue for about 15 years and is very complicated. Tarpuq benefits small firms or universities.
The offer is great, because all electronic products have a card. In South America there are only firms of its kind in Argentina and Brazil.
“The presence of Tarpuq in Ecuador benefit small businesses and universities.”
Source: Revista Líderes