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MAPSA invests 10 million euros in an automated painting installation and an innovation cell
The cost has been in excess of 10 million euros and the purpose of the two installations is to achieve optimum quality in the production of wheel rims for the car sector, paying attention to both safety and the appearance of the product.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the Prime Minister of the Government of Navarra, Miguel Sanz and the President of Mondragón, José María Aldecoa, accompanied by the President of MAPSA, Javier Egea and the Managing Director of the Co-operative, Miguel Ordóñez.
The new, computer-controlled, painting installation incorporates the latest technological developments in the painting of wheel rims, with a horizontal system which improves the product finish and the homogeneity of the paint applied, making it possible to paint in several colours and with different finishes, depending on the market requirements.
As far as the innovation cell is concerned, it will enable more effective control of the parameters involved in aluminium die casting, which are determining factors in obtaining a top quality product and it will facilitate research into the development of new processes and products, like new alloys, wheel rims that are bigger or lighter in weight, etc.
MAPSA produces parts of different sizes, from 14 inches and little more than 7 kilograms in weight to 19 inches and 13.5 kilos. The new installations reinforce the automation and flexibility of its production processes, which have demanding 100% quality controls (control of all wheel rims without exception), which make it possible to monitor and trace every wheel rim through all the phases of production.
With these investments, MAPSA is also reinforcing its social commitment to the Pamplona area, banking decisively on the future of its activity and consolidating the jobs of the 400 people working today in its Orkoien factory, in addition to the knock-on jobs it helps to generate. It is worth remembering that over the last 10 years, the total investment of the co-operative has been in excess of 52 million euros.
MAPSA annually manufactures 1.6 million aluminium wheel rims which it supplies to 22 European plants to equip many of the models of its customers: Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, Saab, Toyota, Volkswagen, Seat, Renault, Ford, Volvo and Suzuki. This year the forecasts are for sales totalling 67 million euros, of which more than 60% will correspond to exports.
http://www.mondragoncorporation.com