July 2009 // no. 19 Painting contest Sharon Stoner Conveyor Components Portalde The Arreo Lake Iñaki Gabilondo ULMA Chief Executive Offi cer Servicios de Logística; of the ULMA Group an ULMA Group new promotion report Face to face BEGIRA. CONTRIBUTORS: Nora Altube, Joseba Alberdi, Paloma del Valle, Estíbaliz Zumeta, Irene Moreno, Edurne Unzueta and Romu Artetxe. Publishing: Grupo ULMA S. Coop., Garagaltza auzoa 51 - 22 p.k. 20560 OÑATI. Tel.: 943 25 03 00 Fax; 943 78 09 17. e-mail: [email protected]. Design: AZK Taldea. Printing: Gertu S. L. Summary July 2009 // no. 19 >4 >10 >11 13< 14< >16 >22 >20 24< 24< 30< 3 > LET’S TALK ABOUT...: Refl ections of the crisis…. 4 > NEWS AND UPDATES: ULMA Polymer Concrete designs special solutions for residential construction in Zarauz. “EPC PROJECT” the business unit of ULMA Piping continues to penetrate the market of large engineering companies. ULMA Packaging acquires the company IPS DAIRYPACK. PORTALDE surpasses 24,000 visits!. ULMA Agrícola installs a phytosanitary nursery in Elche. 16 > FACE TO FACE: Iñaki Gabilondo; Chief Executive Offi cer of the ULMA Group. 19 > HEALTHY NEWS: Stress the enemy of the heart. 20 > REPORT: ULMA Servicios de Logística; a new promotion from the ULMA Group. 22 > PORTRAITS AND STORIES OF OUR PEOPLE: Sharon Stoner, a passion for music. 23 > WEEKEND GET-AWAYS: The Arreo Lake: Marshlands in the salt valley. 24 > REPORT: ULMA Conveyor Components; a new business for the ULMA Group. 26 > WHAT DO YOU THINK? 28 > THE CRISIS ACCORDING TO...: José Luis Madinagoitia, former president of the ULMA Group. 29 > AGENDA AND SUGGESTIONS. 2 // Begira > Let’s talk about... Once the Meetings of all the Group´s Corporation and in the ULMA Group itself, well as that of the ULMA Group itself. This cooperatives are held, it is then time to we have decreased employment in 2008, moment of crisis is an opportunity that we take stock of and review the current situa- the first time in many years that this has should take advantage of to strengthen tion in the ULMA Group. In this reflection, happened. Each employment contract that each Business, whereby strengthening the we cannot omit the current worldwide is not renewed is a small failure, but this ULMA Group. We have to find a way for crisis situation that we are experiencing, employment variable deserves a deeper the participation, solidarity, and commit- a crisis situation that affects all of us. reflection. It is fundamental to establish ment mechanisms, activated by a delicate The situation in which we find ourselves to what extent the structure of the adjust- situation, to remain active regardless of is going to require efforts from all of the ment reaches and what portion is circum- the scenario where we may find ourselves, ULMA Group associates, efforts that will stantial. All of the measures that I have in other words, for the involvement and allow our cooperatives to come out of referred to previously are circumstantial participation to be independent of the this reinforced. In this sense, the ULMA and assist in overcoming a difficult mon- economical circumstances where we find Group has established automatic mecha- etary situation, but we cannot respond to ourselves. nisms for adopting this type of measures, a structural problem with only this type I would like to end with two final mes- mechanisms that have been activated this of measures, which is where the need for sages. First, and despite all of the unpopu- year, as is the case of adjustments to the dramatic workforce adjustments has arisen lar decisions that we are being required to Conversion Factor in Businesses such as in some cases. adopt, this is a time to trust the decision Forklift Trucks or Packaging. However, In this sense, we should apply all of the bodies of the cooperatives; it is a time to Refl ections of the crisis…. By Xabier Mugarza President of the ULMA Group General Council. the harshness and depth of the recession tools available to face this lack of work, move together, to share different visions requires us to go further, and additional which is what we are doing, through if one does not agree with what is being efforts are being made in the form of vo- internal relocations within the business done, but always providing alternatives luntary CF adjustments and interest capi- itself, relocations between the ULMA with a constructive spirit. This is a time talisation. The response of the associates Group businesses and even relocations to in which supporting the bodies will be in meetings has been worth mentioning other MONDRAGON cooperatives. In this fundamental; the bodies will have to earn and overall favourable towards the adop- regard, we are being exemplary because that trust, but it is important that we feel tion of these measures. although we have not been exempt of dif- the support of the group. Those coopera- The impact of this crisis is being viewed ficulties, in all the Businesses with excess tives in which everyone works in the same primarily in two aspects: Financing and personnel we have been able to move the direction will without a doubt become Employment. The first, an aspect to be people and relocate them to where there strengthened. Second, I´d like to send a monitored very closely, is fundamental to is work. message of appreciation to the associates protect liquidity on a short term, since that Unfortunately, the current situation may of the ULMA Group, since with more or is where companies begin to drown. Many be worse, and we will probably have to less difficulty, with a greater or lesser level of the measures adopted are for helping continue making additional efforts, efforts of involvement, they are once again de- Businesses in this aspect. We should capi- that will in turn allow us to hand down monstrating that they are willing to fight talise on the potential of the ULMA Group the cooperative to future generations in for our project. I do not have the slightest to try to obtain the maximum amount of a better condition than how it was given doubt that we will ALL continue demon- financial credit, in a situation in which to us. We are here for a short time, but strating this and that we will respond to bank credit is very restricted and the con- the cooperatives must endure for the long any future need that presents itself. cession of structural financing from banks term. It will be fundamental for all of us is close to zero. to move in the same direction, to support As far as employment, we can say that it each other and to not wage the war indi- is the great drama, the most cruel effect vidually. We can apply this last point both Thank you all. of this crisis. As far as the MONDRAGON towards the reality of each Business as Begira // 3 > News and current events ULMA Forklift Trucks ULMA FORKLIFT TRUCKS HAS PRESENTED ITS LATEST INNOVATIONS AT SIL. ULMA Forklift Trucks has exhibited at the 11th edition of the International Logistics Exhibition, SIL, its latest innovations of the Mitsubishi Forklift Truck line, as well as all the new financing and rental services developed by ULMA. Within the wide range of Mitsubishi fork- lift trucks, ULMA has presented the new low level order picker as an innovation. This new model has utmost versatility, provi- ding compact, ergonomic and economical solutions for a wide variety of warehouse needs, reducing times between picking. Additionally, two new financing and rental services have been presented to resolve the current needs of our clients--the 48 close service, satisfying client needs through tailored solutions. month renting and rental solutions for large accounts such as Once more, visitors were able to confirm on site the various FLESSIRENT and PARTRENT. All of this with the goal of follo- advantages and innovations that ULMA offers, making evident wing its customer oriented policy, offering a personalised and our know-how. ULMA Polymer Concrete ULMA Polymer Concrete designs special solutions for residential construction in Zarauz Zarauz, a charming village on the shores of the Bay of Biscay that is famous for its long beach ideal for surfing and for its renowned neighbour, Chef Karlos Arguiñano, is the location of the elegant residential construction site for which ULMA Polymer Concrete has provided its collaboration and professionalism. This project of 50 high- quality homes required a construction solution consisting of 2 special pieces--decorative cornices located at different heights and window mouldings on the last floor. The building was the mirror of a previous project that had been completed by different developers using another type of material. The need to create pieces with a complex design and unique shapes identical to those that already existed, the endeavour of adding extra quality, maintaining costs and facilitating the installa- tion was the challenge to overcome. The first idea was to maintain the traditional concrete solution used in the previous buildings and paint it at the end of construction. However, after consulting ULMA, it was decided to create the pieces with polymer concrete since its charac- teristics are significantly superior to those of traditional concrete. One been planned to incorporate continuous lintels, among other polymer of the most important advantages that polymer concrete offers is its concrete solutions. Luis Epelde, the technical architect, has participated nearly non-existent water absorption, which is very important in coas- in the project and is completely satisfied with the results obtained with tal regions where humidity and saltpetre tend to deteriorate building polymer concrete. It is a material that he especially likes for cladding façades.