The Ecuadorian Competition...

The visit took place under the Ecuadorian government's “Efficient cooking” programme which aims to replace 3.5 million gas cookers with induction cookers. The minister visited Copreci within the context of an ambitious nationwide plan to change the energy matrix, which aims to reduce imports of liquid petroleum gas and take advantage of the surplus electrical energy from new hydroelectric power stations.

The "Efficient cooking" programme is fundamental to such change, which aims to replace approximately 3.5 gas cookers with electrical induction models.

Copreci is participating in the project by supplying induction generators in conjunction with the Ecuadorian Ministry of Industry and local electrical appliance manufactures (Mabe, Induglob, Fibroacero, DME, Ferromedica,...). The cooperative has d specifically developed a product platform to cater for the needs of the Ecuadorian market. The progressive implementation of the plan will entail a significant growth in business at its Aretxabaleta plant over the coming years, and with it new jobs.

The project also represents an excellent business opportunity for Fagor Electrónica and the Eika cooperative, as suppliers of components to Copreci.

Minister Ramiro Gonzalez, accompanied on the visit by Josemi Arregi, vice-president of MONDRAGON, and Javi Oleaga, general manager of Copreci, was pleasantly surprised and highlighted the idea of making MONDRAGON Componentes a “strategic partner for Ecuadorian industry in the sector, with a potential market of over 3 million induction cookers by 2018”. In the photo, from left to right: Jose Ignacio Mujika, director of Electronics at Copreci; Javi Oleaga, general manager of Copreci; Ramiro González, Ecuadorian minister of Industry and Competition; Josemi Arregi, vice-president of MONDRAGON; Marisol Larrea, Ecuadorian Government adviser; and Danel Ayastuy, director of Copreci South America.

Mondragón Components and...

Energy efficiency meets in Bilbao

The Euskalduna Conference Center will host the 16th International Stirling Engine Conference, three days to share knowledge and applications of energy efficiency and "green" technologies. The city of Bilbao will bring together the Stirling world's elite applied to energy efficiency and renewable energy, in an event that will take place on 24, 25 and 26 September in the Euskalduna Conference Center.

Several personalities of the Basque Government and Provincial Council, will attend the event, together with Mr. Paul Verhoef, Head of Unit of New and Renewable Energy Sources DG Research and Innovation and Carlo M. Bartollini, President of Stirling International, and many people from the academic, scientific and industrial world.

80 speakers from 30 different countries

As pointed out by the Director of Centro Stirling, Dr. Javier Aranceta, "during 3 days we will have between us over 80 speakers from 30 different countries on 5 continents." The conference topics range from renewable applications, such as biomass, biogas, geothermal, solar… up to cogeneration, refrigeration and heat pumps, and also markets and industrial applications, new stirling designs, burners, … Today’s need for cleaner, more efficient forms of energy has given new momentum to the concept of distributed energy generation. External combustion technologies such as Stirling technology have taken on a new dimension.

Copreci wins patent...

Brinkmann Corporation will provide Copreci with financial compensation for sales made to date and obtain authorisation to continue using the Copreci dual solution in the future

Both parties reached an agreement after the lawsuit brought against the multinational by Aretxabaleta Co-op for patent violation with Georgia North District Court in the US.

The patents subject to the lawsuit: US 7, 950,384 B2, US 8,282,390 B2 and US 8,449,289 B2, refer to dual valve cooking appliances that use both natural and liquid gas. This dual solution gives manufacturers the great advantage of offering a single valid model for both gases instead of having to offer a model for each gas type.

During the lawsuit brought on 5th December 2012, an extremely favourable situation arose for Copreci, in which the Court clearly supported the arguments presented by MONDRAGON Corporation in relation to the existence of said violation.

In view of this situation, the parties reached an agreement and dismissed the legal proceedings. By virtue of this agreement, Brinkmann Corporation will provide Copreci with financial compensation for sales made to date and obtain authorisation to continue using the Copreci dual solution in the future. Furthermore, Brinkmann Corporation will have to mark their products with Copreci patent numbers and indicate on their website that these products are sold under the Copreci patent licence.

Similar cases

This is not the first time that Copreci has won a patent conflict against a US giant. Three years ago an out-of-court agreement was reached with the multinational company Coleman, which had been selling Copreci cooking appliances without its consent, thereby violating US patent 7,174,913 B2 for a gas tap that produces touch and sound readings similar to those produced by Hi-Fi equipment controls. Coleman agreed to compensate Copreci for sales made to date and cease manufacturing and selling the infringing product.

Copreci participates in the...

Invited by the Government of the Province of Santa Fe, a representation of the Basque Government, the President of the Basque Confederation of Cooperatives, Javier Goienetxea and the Regional Director for South America of Copreci, Danel Ayastuy presented the situation of the Basque cooperative movement in the First Co-operative Congress, held in Santa Fé, 500 km away from Buenos Aires Argentina.

This massive event, which attracted more than 800 attendees, allowed the Argentinian cooperatives learn more about the reality of the cooperative movement in the Basque Country. Copreci was the first company within the Mondragón Corporation that established a production plant overseas, in 1989 opened Copreci de Mexico in Jalisco, this was followed by other locations in Holland, USA, Czech Republic, Italy, Turkey, Brazil and China .

The conference was preceded by the execution of an agreement between the Basque Government and the Government of the Province of Santa Fe, which will give a general framework for the development of relations in the social economy between the two entities.

Copreci launches its 2014...

New heater sizes, with more power are the main new features of the Ecook series. A unified and consolidated platform, 100% reliable with long experience in the market, which distinguishes itself by offering customers a ready to connect product after certifications and approvals , which simplifies its market launch.

The Ecook series incorporates a special feature that allows the user a more efficient management of energy. This function manages the power consumption of the hob and warns the user, by an acoustic signal, when the limit set is exceeded.

Copreci also integrates a new wireless communication system between the hob and hood, called CleanHood. The hood needs no supervision, it works autonomously, so the cooker hood´s reamain clean as they are rarely touched by greasy fingers… Moreover, Ecook series it´s known for its flexibility and adaptability, it can be easily integrated in any final application built -in , free - standing or polyvalent and different sizes in both widths, and depths.

Copreci has more than 20 years, developing different generations of induction with the aim of providing an assembled and certified solution, ready to integrate into the final application.