"These have been the most significant sprinkler irrigation projects so far and have led to the creation and start-up of our own aluminum extrusion company.

The company was created after the closure of the factory that Inespal Extrusion had in Alicante. One of our companies was an important customer of this factory, which was the exclusive manufacturer of a product that was vital for us. After the closure, and with the aim of continuing with the supply of this product, the purchase of a press and the aging furnace necessary for the production process was proposed, leaving the company divided in 70% for us and 30% for Inespal Extrusion. Two years later, once we had achieved the desired objective, we bought their participation", explains Miguel Angel Colino, president of Grupo Chamartín S.A.

As of 1986, exports accounted for more than 50% of turnover and, with the help of state aid, companies were established in other countries, i.e. Chamsa France, Chamsa Rega do Brasil, CIA Hispanoamericana de Riego, Riegos Portugal. A stake was acquired in the English company Wright Rain and a polyethylene pipe factory was created with the French company Méridionale des Plastiques SAS. Between 1990 and 1998, with the participation of the Brazilian subsidiary, in partnership with the state-owned company "Codevasf" and the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, the company installed more than 50,000 hectares of sprinkler irrigation equipment in the North-East of the country.

There are currently 500 people employed throughout the organization, of whom 300 work in the aluminum sector, 150 in the irrigation division and 50 people in the other activities. Consolidated annual turnover is 150 million euros. The year 2006 saw the entry of the third generation into the business with the arrival of Javier Colino, who is giving a strong impetus to the expansion and renewal of the human resources department.

Between 2000 and 2002, the Group has signed several major contracts for the supply of sprinkler irrigation equipment to Iraq, through a company that manufactures pumping units for the Egyptian army. During this period, more than 700 containers and more than 1 million aluminum pipes were supplied.

The Group acquired the French pivot manufacturer "2IE International" in 2004 and the irrigation division of the Uralita Group ("Ura-Riego") in 2005.

The purchase of "Ura-Riego" allowed the Group to enter the market for the manufacture of the famous "Pathfinder" drip tapes, "Uragota" tubes and "Urapivot" pivots, allowing them to participate in "2IE International" and to have two ranges of pivots and a real presence on the French market.

Some of these acquisitions enabled the Group to move into other irrigation sectors, as sales of sprinkler irrigation products were falling more and more each year in many countries.

On the other hand, the purchase of the assets of "Riegos Wright" allowed the Group to enter the drip irrigation sector as the exclusive importer in Spain of the Greek company Eurodrip.

SOMLO - Model 22S - Plastic Sectoral Sprinkler Brochure