Tag Archives for: Ficosa

Ficosa, first global manufacturer to receive the European RED certification for C-V2X technology from its CarCom platform

June 19, 2019

Ficosa, first global manufacturer to receive the European RED certification for C-V2X technology from its CarCom platform

This certification is a recognition of Ficosa’s innovation in the automotive sector and a demonstration of the maturity of solutions such as its CarCom platform.

The company was also a pioneer in testing the C-V2X technology in the US intelligent cities largest pilot program.

Ficosa, leading global provider dedicated to research, development, production and marketing of vision, safety, communication and efficiency systems for the automotive and mobility sectors, has been the first global manufacturer to receive European RED certification for its CarCom platform with Cellular-V2X technology. This platform integrates Qualcomm’s latest technology and has been certified in collaboration with Dekra Laboratories.

In words of Joan Palacín, director of the Advanced Communications Business Unit of Ficosa:

“This certification is a recognition of the dedication and all our efforts in developing and accelerating the arrival of the connected car to the market, innovating in solutions that make it possible as we already demonstrated in several pilots in 2018 integrating CarCom On Board Units in more than 500 vehicles.

We are happy to count on the full support of the best technological partners, such like Qualcomm and Dekra, which has been key to make this important achievement.”

Ficosa develops solutions for connecting cars with infrastructures and with other vehicles through the available technologies: both with DSRC (802.11p) and cellular technology (C-V2X). CarCom platform allows integrating the two connectivity options in a modular way and there is also a dual mode variant available.

In the Mobile World Congress 2019 edition held in Barcelona, the company also tested its C-V2X technology in the 5G Connected Car pilot project. Thanks to this, the different use cases based on C-V2X were put into operation in a real test environment including a 5G base station.

“For Ficosa, connectivity and safety are the main concepts for the development of autonomous driving. In this sense, V2X technology is unique because, in addition to being a first level connectivity tool, it is capable of preventing accidents, and this is vital for the future of our industry”, says Joan Palacín.

With this RED certification, Ficosa is positioned as one of the main suppliers of automotive components in collaborative systems for smart cities (C-ITS).

About Ficosa

We are a top-tier global provider devoted to the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of advanced technology vision, safety, connectivity, and efficiency systems for the motor and mobility sectors. Our desire is to contribute to society through a commitment to technological innovation, human values, and energy efficiency. Our company was founded in 1949. Our head office is located in Barcelona (Spain) and we have production centers, engineering centers and sales offices in 19 countries in Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. In 2017 we consolidated sales of 1,208 million euros. We currently have a team of more than 10,500 employees.

The rear vision system (interior / side mirror) is Ficosa’s main business, known worldwide and recognized by the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers (OEM). www.ficosa.com

For further information:

Ficosa Communication Department:

Tel: +34- 660 20 10 20

Mònica Acero: macero@arenalia.com+34 615 07 59 81

About DEKRA

DEKRA has been active in the security field for more than 90 years. Founded in 1925 in Berlin, it is today one of the leading expert organizations in the world. DEKRA SE is a subsidiary of DEKRA e.V. and manages the Group’s operating business. In 2018, DEKRA generated sales of more than 3,300 million euros. Currently, the company employs more than 45,000 people in approximately 60 countries on six continents. Its services range from vehicle inspection and expert appraisals to claims services, industrial and building inspections, safety consultancy, testing and certification of products and systems, as well as training courses and temporary work.

Ficosa and Panasonic to provide co-developed Interior rear-view mirror with electronic toll collection for new BMW X5 in Japan

March 26, 2019

Ficosa and Panasonic to provide co-developed Interior rear-view mirror with electronic toll collection for new BMW X5 in Japan

For this system, Panasonic develops electronic toll collection (ETC) 2.0 with wireless communication technology while Ficosa is in charge of the mirror technology

This vision solution will be developed and produced between Japan (Panasonic) and Spain (Ficosa)

Ficosa, a top-tier global provider devoted to the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of high-technology vision, safety, connectivity and efficiency systems for the automotive and mobility sectors, and Panasonic announced an agreement with BMW to provide their co-developed Interior rear-view mirror with electronic toll collection (ETC) 2.0 for the new X5 model in Japan.

The ETC 2.0 Interior rear-view mirror, which includes an improved built-in unit for motorway tolls automatic payment, has been selected by the German manufacturer as a standard in Japan for its new BMW X5, which was released there on February 27th of this year. This vision solution will be developed and produced between Japan (Panasonic) and Barcelona, Spain (Ficosa).

For this new product generation, which follows previous successful launch of co-developed electronic rear-view mirrors and telematics control units, Panasonic develops ETC wireless communication technology while Ficosa is in charge of the mirror technology.

In this regard, this solution, which integrates the ETC 2.0 module into the mirror, prevents the unit from obstructing the driver’s view and makes fully inserted card to be difficult to be seen from outside thanks to its card slot located at the side of the mirror.

A solution that integrates the know-how of Ficosa and Panasonic

Intended for the Japanese market, this rearview mirror allows to manage the payment of highway tolls due to the integration of an electronic toll system with credit card. In that sense, the mirror has a slot to insert the credit card and incorporates a small screen at the top that reports the amount to be paid. Mercedes Pujol, Director of the Rearview Mirror Systems Business Unit at Ficosa, explains “this additional functionality goes beyond the simple payment, as the mirror communicates with the toll station and is able to transmit this information to the navigation system of the vehicle, complementing the communication vehicle-infrastructure (V2I)”.

Ficosa and Panasonic will continue to move forward with their collaborations to expand their line-up and sales of jointly developed products for OEMs.

Press release

About Ficosa

Ficosa is a global company devoted to the creation of high-technology vision, safety, efficiency and connectivity solutions for the industry, with the desire to contribute to society through our commitment to technological innovation, human values and energy efficiency. Founded in 1949 and based in Barcelona, Ficosa currently has more than 10,500 employees in 19 countries worldwide in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa, with consolidated sales of €1.208 billion in 2017. The rear-view system (interior/side mirror) is Ficosa’s main business, known worldwide and recognised by top global OEMs. www.ficosa.com.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. The company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018, has expanded globally and now operates 591 subsidiaries and 88 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of Euro 61.4 billion for the year ended March 31, 2018. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic: http://www.panasonic.com/global.

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Ficosa turns 70, leading the race towards the automobile of the future

March 19, 2019

Founded in 1949, the company got its start in a small workshop in Barcelona that manufactured mechanical cables and is now a global benchmark in the sector, with more than 10,500 employees in 19 countries

Ficosa turns 70, leading the race towards the automobile of the future

The multinational corporation is implementing an aggressive investment plan, with an additional €500 million over the next four years, in order to fuel its leadership in vision, connectivity, safety and e-mobility systems, which are decisive in today’s transformation of the automobile

Its innovative vision, commitment to internationalisation and ability to anticipate changes are the keys to the company’s success

Ficosa, a top-tier global provider devoted to the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of vision, safety, connectivity and efficiency systems for the automotive sector, is celebrating its 70^thanniversary with a firm commitment to new technology for more assisted driving, autonomous cars, connected cars and e-mobility to lead the current transformation of the automobile.

The history of Ficosa began in 1949 when Josep Pujol Sucarrats supported his son and current president of the company, José María Pujol, in founding a small workshop in Barcelona with José María Tarragó, called Pujol y Tarragó, which manufactured mechanical cables for the spare parts market. Over the following seven decades, a firm commitment to innovation and internationalisation have made Ficosa the global benchmark in the automotive and mobility sector, with more than 10,500 employees in 19 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa.

In the words of Javier Pujol, Ficosa CEO: “One of the keys to our success lies in our ability over the years to anticipate future changes, in conjunction with our clear commitment to innovation. This has led us to transform the company to get out ahead of changes, whether for example being pioneers in going beyond Spanish borders in the 1970s or diversifying our line of products to meet market needs. Likewise, the secret of our success can also be found in our philosophy of doing a lot with very little, our solid human values of humility, hard work and entrepreneurship, and the great team that has made up this company at the various points throughout its history.”

Pushing new technology

The new technological products aimed at more assisted driving, autonomous cars, connected cars and e-mobility have become the pillars of Ficosa’s growth. In recent years, the company has implemented a significant plan for investment in new technology, which will be further bolstered with an additional €500 million over the next four years, in order to fuel its leadership in areas that are decisive for the automobile of the future. The company, which saw €1.28 billion in revenue in 2017 and invested nearly 8% of its sales in R&D, expects revenue from technology systems to go from €100 million to €800 million over the next five years.

Ficosa has developed and manufactured the Audi e-Tron’s digital rear-view system, the first vehicle to market with this technology composed of cameras and screens instead of the conventional exterior mirrors. This project is a turning point in the technological transformation of the company and reaffirms its leadership in vision systems, marking a milestone in the automotive industry worldwide.

In late 2018, Ficosa reaffirmed its commitment to electromobility by inaugurating its new e-Mobility Hub, a pioneering centre in Spain and the world in technology for electric mobility. Located in Viladecavalls, it employs 120 engineers and will become a global benchmark laboratory in the development of electromobility systems for hybrid and electric vehicles.

Pujol highlights:“As part of our DNA, Ficosa’s evolution has always been closely tied to the transformation of the automobile. Some years ago, we set our sights on technological products with high value added for the automobile and made a firm commitment to our transformation. The digital rear-view system and the new e-Mobility hub are clear examples that, once more in Ficosa’s history, we have known how to anticipate and make the right decision. We’ve come a long way in the past 70 years, but the race towards the car of the future is frenetic, which is why we are stepping on the accelerator to push innovation in the company and stay at the front of the pack.”

The efforts to capitalise on innovations and the latest advances have also led to a significant growth of the engineering team focused on these new technological products, reaching a record number of more than 1,170 engineers worldwide. Over 700 of them work at the Technological Centre in Viladecavalls (Barcelona, Spain), the group’s most important engineering centre, where 160 engineers were hired in 2017 alone.

Over the past five years, Ficosa has bolstered its global presence with new plants in Jandira (Brazil), Shenyang (China), Cookeville (United States) and Rabat (Morocco). The Morocco plant was the latest centre to be inaugurated, last year, and the company’s first foray onto the continent of Africa. Plus, the company has recently reinforced its presence in Portugal with new facilities in Maia.

About Ficosa

For more information:

Ficosa Communication Department:

Tel: +34- 660 20 10 20

Mònica Acero: macero@arenalia.com+34 615 07 59 81

Lluís Gubern: lgubern@arenalia.com+34 699 56 39 54

Ficosa reinforces its presence in Portugal with new facilities

December 19, 2018

Ficosa reinforces its presence in Portugal with new facilities

With an investment of €5 million, the Ficocables plant has been expanded, adding a new building to boost the company’s competitiveness, efficiency and production capacity in Portugal and provide a better workplace for all of its employees

The construction of this new building, with 7,800 m2 of space, has been was completed recently and it is expected to be operational by mid-January

19 December 2018.- Ficosa, top-tier global provider devoted to the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of high-technology vision, safety, connectivity and efficiency systems for the automotive and mobility sectors, boosts its presence in Portugal with a new 7,800 m2 facility. This new space, in which the company has invested €5 million, is an expansion of Ficocables, the Ficosa plant in the city of Maia (Oporto) that previously had more than 17,000 m2

These new facilities address Ficosa’s need to strengthen its capacities in Portugal by re-organising its facilities to boost competitiveness, efficiency and productivity, as well as providing a better workplace for all of its employees.

In this regard, the new building, which is fully built and expected to go into use this January, features newly created spaces equipped with the latest-generation technology meeting the very highest standards of energy efficiency. These include technical offices, engineering rooms and laboratories, with an updated image that is fresher and more modern. Likewise, it significantly increases the social spaces available to employees, including a canteen with food services, dining halls, first-aid area, new parking and outdoor green spaces.

In the words of Costa Pereira, Ficosa Country Manager in Portugal: “The decision to strengthen the Ficocables plant by constructing a new building is based not only on our desire to boost its efficiency and production capacity to better meet the needs of the European market, but also to better serve our customers and offer a better future for everyone who is part of our team, in modern and more competitive facilities.”

Ficocables, centre of excellence in door and seat systems

Founded in 1972, Ficocables was the first plant Ficosa opened beyond Spain’s borders, being a pioneer in Spain in starting the internationalisation process. Since then, this factory has grown in business volume, as well as door and seat systems. The facility, which has a production plant and R&D centre, provides cables to the main car manufacturers and currently employs more than 1,400 professionals.

Furthermore, the Maia plant has received many awards in recent years recognising its know-how and quality products. These include the 2015 Toyota Motor Europe award recognising the excellence of the solutions provided.

About Ficosa