The Navarra Group has been a Barcelbal customer since 2019. That year, we installed an iForks Forklift Scale to record the weights of scrap metal and tickets from Press 4.
We interviewed Dr. Regina Sequeira, Communications Director, Carlos Ferreira, Engineer, and Paulo Ribeiro, Head of Internal Logistics at the Navarra Group. We talked a little about the Group’s sector of activity and how Barcelbal’s scales and services help Navarra in its day-to-day operations.
The Navarra Group
The Navarra Group was founded in 1977 in the city of Braga with the establishment of Tamil – Tratamento do Alumínio do Minho, Lda., now Navarra II, by Commander and Chairman Avelino Gonçalves do Carmo.
With a mission to promote the use of aluminium, meeting the challenges of its customers through sustainable management practices focused on innovation and continuous improvement, adding value for shareholders, employees and society in general, the Navarra Group has shown gradual and sustained growth.
The Group’s core business is the extrusion and surface treatment of aluminium profiles for different applications in the architecture and general industry markets.
In addition, it offers complementary services such as a thermal break centre, which essentially provides thermal and acoustic insulation for aluminium profiles, and a Machining Centre with various machines that perform different complementary operations on aluminium profiles for customers in the industrial market.
The Navarra Group, comprising five vertically organised companies, has around 700 employees and had a turnover of €139 million in 2022.
Navarra Group companies
Navarra, which is dedicated to industrial aluminium extrusion processes.
Navarra II, which markets and distributes aluminium systems and accessories for architecture through a network of commercial warehouses from north to south of Portugal.
Haste, with its own brand systems, also develops and markets aluminium systems and accessories for architecture through a network of commercial warehouses in Portugal.
Tamoz, based in Maputo, Mozambique, which is dedicated to the industrial activity of lacquering and marketing aluminium profiles for architecture.
N.2.A., based in Angola, dedicated to the marketing of aluminium profiles for architecture.
“The Group’s objectives for the future are to continue investing in the group’s growth through productive investments and infrastructure, as well as market diversification. Today, aluminium is a material of choice and is increasingly used in various industries that in the past were manufactured with other materials.”
Regina Sequeira
Director of Communications
As a result of this growth, the Group has gained international recognition, particularly in Portuguese-speaking African countries and Europe. Specifically, Spain, France, Germany and the Benelux countries, which account for a large percentage of sales.
Sustainability
The Navarra Group is committed to national and European strategic plans and is prepared to make its contribution. Its growth strategy prioritises sustainable development based on measures to preserve natural resources (soil, air and water). Specifically, this involves the rational and efficient use of raw materials, reducing production waste, recycling and/or recovering waste, and saving energy.
“This is reflected in our environmental responsibility strategy, which prioritises 100% electric and other plug-in hybrid vehicle fleet solutions; continuing to invest in photovoltaic panels and replacing gas-powered equipment with electricity.”
Regina Sequeira
Director of Communications
The Navarra Group has also developed an energy efficiency plan aimed at optimising resources. This includes redesigning and replacing various equipment with more efficient alternatives, taking advantage of certain energy conditions to reduce energy consumption, and implementing automatic control measures.
“We recognise that carbon neutrality is essential for competitiveness and for the future of business. We are currently investing in green technology solutions that protect the environment and promote a more sustainable society.”
Regina Sequeira
Director of Communications
Regina Sequeira
For two years at Grupo Navarra, Dr Regina Sequeira, as Director of Communications, has aimed to define a strong and distinctive communications strategy capable of showing that Grupo Navarra is a dynamic, innovative and socially responsible company.
“The biggest challenge was undoubtedly integrating a business area that was unfamiliar to me; it took me out of my comfort zone. But I accepted it, and with it came proposals that stimulate me every day.”
Regina Sequeira
Director of Communications
Barcelbal scales
In 2019, the Navarra Group acquired its first product from Barcelbal, the iForks Forklift Scale.
The iForks Forklift Scale allows the weight of the load to be controlled during the transport process, without the need to move to a fixed scale. Initially, it was only used to record the weight of scrap metal, but today it is also used to record the weights of billets from Press 4.
The weights are recorded using software developed by the Navarra Group’s IT Department. Initially, a Java (Android) version was developed, followed by an Android wrapper that allows the weighing data collected by the weighing terminal installed on the forklift to be communicated to the Navarra Group’s internal information system (web) to communicate with the Android Bluetooth API.
“This weighing system streamlines and facilitates the process, reducing the number of user errors in weighing records.”
Eng. Carlos Teixeira
Navarra Group
In 2022, Barcelbal installed a Profile Scale in Navarra. This scale allows metal profiles to be weighed safely, quickly, and reliably.
Suitable for use in any industrial environment, the Profile Scale was installed at the entrance to the press. It is used to control the weight of the raw material before it enters the press.
The scale is used about 13 times a day for the largest press and weighs about 50 tonnes per day.
“We are completely satisfied with the product; it works 100%. The only suggestion for improvement I would make, tailored to our needs, would be to remove some supports in the middle of the scale to make it more comfortable for employees who use it daily. This change should be thoroughly checked to ensure that it does not disrupt the scale.”
Paulo Ribeiro
Head of Internal Logistics