The furnace will be able to house up to four coils of aluminum with a total maximum weight of 46 tons. Its capacity is 30% higher than any other similar furnace that exists in Spain in this type of aluminum rolling process.

The design and construction of this kiln, first of the two contracted by IBERFOIL Aragón, has been carried out by the Madrid company HEA, specialized in the design and production of high technology components for the aeronautical industry, and its manufacture has materialized in Zaragoza by the company Rapa Caldedería and Montajes.

The transport from Zaragoza to Sabiñánigo of this voluminous piece of 10 meters long, 4.70 meters wide and 4 meters high, has been made in a special vehicle of 26 meters long, which has required the deployment of a special device Coordinated by the Traffic Police.

IBERFOIL is currently facing a process of expansion of its facilities, which involves an investment of 15 million euros, with an objective of tripling its total production capacity, which currently stands at 20,000 tons per year. IBERFOIL will add another 40,000 tons to its current capacity, reaching a total of 60,000 tons per year of finished product.

“The reception of this piece represents a milestone for our company, which faces the final stretch of the enlargement process, and confirms the good rates of regeneration of industrial and economic activity in Spain,” says Clemente González Soler, president of IBERFOIL Aragón and the Alibérico Group.

IBERFOIL Aragón is part of Alibérico, the first Spanish private group and the first European family group manufacturer of semi-processed aluminum products, with a strategy based on the development of its own technology, a wide range of premium products and brands. It currently has factories on 4 continents and sells its products in more than 70 countries, in sectors as diverse as food, packaging, construction, transportation, industry and renewable energy

The last Thursday, March 30th, Juan Vicente Herrera, the President of the Regional Government of Castilla y León and Pilar del Olmo, the Economic and Finance Minister, visited ALUCOIL, which is ubicated in Miranda de Ebro, Burgos. Along the visit, they could verify in situ the up-to-date equipment and the high technological level of machines, where added value products as powder coating Termolac®, composite panels Larson®, honeycomb panels Larcore® and the range of aluminum mirrors Almirr® are manufactured. One of a kind production lines, designed and created with an own technology to manufacture products which are commercialized in more than 60 countries.

It is noteworthy that 20 years ago, in 1977, Juan Vicente Herrera attended the inauguration and start-up of the first production line of ALUCOIL, in the role of representative of PP in the Castilla and León Regional Parliament, therefore and during the recent visit, the incredible growth and progress that ALUCOIL has experimented in these two decades could be checked. Today ALUCOIL counts with 10 production lines in Miranda de Ebro, 3 more abroad (Morocco, the United States and Australia) and another affiliated company, ALUCOIL Systems, located also in Miranda de Ebro. This growth confirms the permanent effort entrusted in productive capacities and extension on the range of products.

During the visit, Juan Vicente Herrera was conversing with several responsible and technics of each department, showing an important interest for the process and products of ALUCOIL.

IBERFOIL has invested 15 million euros in the installation of the largest and most modern cold-rolling mill in Spain for aluminium coil and will increase its production capacity to 60,000 tons per year -from the current 20,000 tons-, that will expand its range of products to new applications and markets.

Iberfoil Aragón inaugurated last February 13th, with the presence of Javier Lambán, President of the Aragon Government, the expansion of its factory in Sabiñánigo (Huesca), which will triple its production capacity. Thanks to the new cold-rolling mill, which is the largest and most modern built in Spain for aluminum coils, Iberfoil will increase its production capacity to 60,000 tons per year – from the current 20,000 tons- and will expand its range of products to new markets.

The inauguration of the new production line, which started working in early January, was attended by more than a hundred guests, including regional and local authorities, customers and suppliers of the company. The official event agenda included a visit to the factory, led by Alibérico Group and Iberfoil President, Clemente González Soler, and Iberfoil General Manager, Aurora Rodríguez. The visit has been attended by the President of the Aragon Government, Javier Lambán; the Minister of Economy, Industry and Employment, Marta Gastón; the Minister of Citizenship and Social Rights, María Victoria Broto, and the Mayor of Sabiñánigo, Jesús Lasierra. Iberfoil acquired the assets (lands, buildings and machinery) of the former INASA in mid-2014, with the factory stopped and no workforce, and in just three and a half years has managed to increase production and generate more than 100 fixed-term positions, besides 250 indirect jobs created in Sabiñánigo region. At this moment, the factory works 24 hours a day, seven days a week and in five work shifts. The largest aluminium cold-rolling mill in Spain The expansion of Iberfoil factory has required an investment of 15 million euros throughout the years 2016 and 2017.

The key element of the new Iberfoil production line is the new cold-rolling mill, named Edelweiss and supplied by RDI-Fagor company. With a 1,750 mm width, it is the largest industrial machine of its kind existing in Spain. Its operating speed is 800 meters per minute and its production capacity is 40,000 aluminium coil tons per year up to 1,750 mm widths. Another feature that makes unique in Spain this cold-rolling mill is its ability to manufacture aluminium coils with thicknesses between 6 and 0.2 mm – so far, the three mills operating in the factory produce coil with 0.2 and 0.006 mm thicknesses, intended for flexible food packaging and pharmaceutical markets-. The new capacities of this cold-rolling mill will allow Iberfoil to expand the range of thicknesses and products to new applications, sectors and markets Like a curiosity, it should be point out that the new cold-rolling mill name, Edelweiss (flower of snow), follows the tradition of the names inspired by Pyrenees native flowers that name the other three rolling mills: Trebol, Cintia and Altea. Along with the new cold-rolling mill, a longitudinal cutting line with 250 meters per minute operating speed, two large annealing ovens up to 50 tons for aluminium temperature treatment and a roll grinder have been installed. Furthermore, the factory sheds have been expanded and electrical and electronic auxiliary equipment, compressed air, cooling water and fire services have been set up.

The President of Alibérico Group and Iberfoil, Clemente González Soler, stated that “this important financial investment will allow Iberfoil to increase its production, to diversify its product range and to gain market share, especially abroad. Overall, it will help us to boost our competitiveness and our growth. In little more than three and a half years, we have consolidated an industrial brand, Iberfoil Aragón, with a strong presence and international projection. We are especially proud of the drive of this industrial brand from Aragon and Spain to the rest of the world. Waging and supporting the industry is a guarantee of the economic and social territorial development”, he pointed out.

The President of the Aragon Government, Javier Lambán, also thanked the project managers for its expansion and stated that “Iberfoil factory in Sabiñánigo allows the creation of 100 fixed-term positions, 250 indirect jobs, besides converting Sabiñánigo plant in the largest and most modern cold-rolling mill for aluminum coil in Spain”. The President indicated that Iberfoil project helps to consolidate the industrial force of Sabiñánigo in Alto Aragón, contributing also to job generation in order to settle the population.

The President indicated that “the expansion of Iberfoil is in line with the capacity of Aragon to promote industrial projects like this that improve competitiveness, open new markets and generate wealth and employment. Our medium-term goal with projects like this is for Aragón to work on full employment,” he concluded.

On 16th November, IBERFOIL received an award for ‘Business Excellence’ presented by the Government of Aragon and received by Aurora Rodríguez, the General Manager. The award was given during the presentation of the 2016 Excellence Awards, hosted by Javier Lambán, President of Aragon.

The ceremony took place at the Congress Center of Zaragoza and gave recognition to companies that have participated the most in the development of Aragon. Among them IBERFOIL, thanks to a strong investment in machinery and training of new professionals in the area.

In addition to IBERFOIL, other companies such as Mann Hummel and Itesal were also honored in the category for the 2016 Business Excellence Awards, while General Motors received the 20th Anniversary Honor Award for Business Excellence.

The ceremony was closed by Marta Gastón, Councilor of Economy, Industry and Employment of Aragon who visited the facilities of IBERFOIL in August 2015 coinciding with the company’s first anniversary.

The President of Alibérico Group, Clemente González Soler, was on Canal Innova Burgos this past Thursday, September 29th, participating in a platform created by Norte Group that transmits to the public success stories regarding the culture of Innovation.

Clemente González Soler was part of the ‘Table of Experts’, moderated by journalist and television presenter Pedro Piqueras, which also brought together José Rolando Álvarez, president of North Group; Verónica Pascual, CEO of ASTI, and Álvaro Bernad, director of Disruptive Innovation Quality Pascual. The President of Alibérico alluded to innovation as an attitude that should involve all employees at the Company.

During the conversation he stressed the capacity of this asset in becoming a differentiating factor that attracts new clients and helps retain current ones. He encouraged government to continue investing in science and research -“the capital letter I of the system,” he said, but without forgetting about “the lower case letter i” of , which fully affects the competitiveness of the companies. And remember, said Gonzalez, that “more than the optimization is the innovation in processes, services and products” which generates value and wealth to companies and society.