Ingran Engineering offers companies in the primary sector the possibility of optimizing the performance of their water pumping facilities and keeping them continuously monitored ‘on line’
You never know when your chance may come. Nor, when is the best time to start a new professional career. The truth is that, sometimes, things happen when you least expect it. What it is important is to be prepared, to believe in your ideas. The illusion of making it happen is the main engine to start a project.
Thus, unexpectedly, Andrés García had “his moment” to put into practice the theoretical knowledge that he had imparted to his students during so many years of teaching at the University. “When I thought that my time to undertake was over”, says Andrés with a big smile that reflects the current state of mind and happiness he is going through, “after several experiences in the past and with Parkinson’s disease, this adventure appeared in the way. For me, a great opportunity in every sense, professional and, above all, personal, to face the disease”.
From classrooms to the business world
All of it started when “two brave men”, says Andrés, Fernando and Xabier, now his partners and fellow travellers, encouraged him to undertake this innovative adventure that has already had its own entity for eight months and many kilometres travelled: Ingran Engineering, a company dedicated to the monitoring and search for savings in water pumping installations.
“We offer companies that have either a critical need, or a significant expense in their water pumping, the possibility of keeping their installation monitored continuously and online”, explains Andrés. And they do it, in addition, supervising ‘in situ’ the facilities where they are implementing their systems. They are aware that to keep the client satisfied and confident is essential to supervise any action. “The difficult thing – adds Andrés – is to pave the way; the farmer is a distrustful person because nobody has given him/her anything. They work, produce and are the ones who make the least profit in this chain. Success is working with them, being in the mud, pick and shovel, and assemble the prototypes ourselves”. In this first phase, the devices in all cases have produced savings. “Being born with few resources gives you a different culture; you value things much more and what is really important”.
From dreaming to building
They started by demonstrating their ideas in pilot experiences. Almería was their first destination and, after six months, they were able to confirm their thesis. “The first thing is to listen to them and, the second, to know what needs they have and what financial resources they have”.
In eight months they already have five monitored pumping stations. “We have worked a lot and very hard but, as happens in football, there is no exhaustion due to the illusion and the good team we have”. They form a human group in which everyone speaks, participates and opposes each other as many times as necessary. “It is wonderful”, he laughs, “that this happens. You learn a lot”.
Among the many benefits that can be obtained with these innovative systems, in addition to taking advantage of opportunities to save both water and energy, are those of economic and social development that generate accordingly a better quality of life.
Ingran Engineering thanks the support received from public institutions. “We feel a chill of responsibility. If we do not do something great, we do not deserve forgiveness”, Andrés reflects aloud, aware of the opportunity that lies ahead and that they will not miss. “The appearance of Seed Capital Bizkaia (Seed Fund) has helped us, in addition to the economic aspect, to mature our idea, to systematize it, to establish priorities, in short, to, without giving up dreams, to land in the harsh reality of the business world”. Happy with the results obtained so far, for this 2016 they look beyond. “We have grown, but we still have a long way to go”.
