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Source: rimsa announcement
BARCELONA – rimsa, one of the world’s leading producers of additives for brake pad applications, is celebrating its 35th anniversary. To mark the birthday, the Spanish firm has created a special Website detailing its history and achievements.
Born as a project that supplied brass bars and cut-to-size pieces for different markets. It has evolved into a primary supplier of steel and polymer fibers for concrete reinforcement in addition to its braking products.
With a presence in more than 25 countries on five continents, rimsa’s diverse and multidiscipline team of more than 14 nationalities is dedicated to the research, development and innovation of reliable, adaptable and sustainable solutions that promote a better future for everyone, everywhere.
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Manuel Carbajo, rimsa founder, discussed his company’s journey in the following dialog:
Is there a universal recipe for success?
“You can say, and I will probably be right, that there is no success without failure; that time is necessary (there are no immediate achievements) and that it takes a lot of passion and dedication to fulfil your dreams. Also, you must have faith in your project, be innovative and have committed people involved in your team.
“People are fundamental for the gear; they are the engine of the company and its image, the team must be aligned with the corporate values, and the company must be an example of them”.
“Honesty between partners is the key to trust. It is the largest alliance that can be achieved and is the one thing that’s guarantees continuity and future for the business.”
Diving into rimsa history, the following question comes up, Which decision marked a before and after in rimsa?
“Improving rimsa financially was and always has been a priority for us, it was our way of preparing it to overcome times of crisis.” In 2007, the company acquired PBW, an English company that until then was one of our main competitors in the friction market. This movement consolidated rimsa’s international expansion and was the starting point of a journey that ended up positioning the company as an expert in the friction industry.
Given the current global situation, which companies do you consider to be the ones that will survive?
“First of all, I would say that companies must have reserves; in life, unforeseen events will always arise and it is convenient to have a capitalized company that can cover extraordinary situations with adequate levels of indebtedness. Having this first aspect assured, I believe that all innovative companies which have people committed to them within their teams will survive. But above all we must resist; Not everything is accomplished quickly, unfortunately, everything in life takes time and it is important for your company to be resilient and adaptable against any situation”
It has been 35 years since it all started, what is your life like today?
“I am still an active worker in the company. We have a powerful team and the next generation is very excited about the project. I wish they continue for many years to come, maintaining the family business essence, but with a better-optimized and more professionalized approach, well-defined objectives and humility”.
