INDPULS Members Earn Around Thirty Recognitions During 2024

As we near the end of the year, it’s a great time to highlight the many recognitions that representative entities from various sectors have awarded to our members. We share these as congratulations and as an example of the excellence and quality of our members’ industrial achievements, which reflect positively on both our partners and our country.

Throughout 2024, INDPULS member companies have collectively achieved 31 awards. Often, these awards recognize factors that align with our association’s core values, such as innovation, leadership, competitiveness, and sustainable commitment. Each of these distinctions demonstrates INDPULS companies’ dedication and the transformative possibilities that the combination of talent and best practices can generate in our society.

Nine Awards for Frit Ravich

The family-owned food industry company Frit Ravich has earned nine awards. The leadership of CEO Judith Viader, daughter of the founder Josep Maria Viader, has been recognized by several institutions. In October, CaixaBank presented her with the National Businesswoman Award for her strategic vision and transformative leadership. Along similar lines, the Women Evolution organization awarded her the Inspiring and Referent Businesswoman Award in June for her leadership model.

In March, the consultancy firm ActioGlobal honored Judith Viader with the ActioWomen 2024 award, highlighting her transformative, innovative, and relentless vision that drives her toward continuous improvement. Additionally, the Food Service Institute named her the Most Empathetic Person, and Forbes Spain listed her among the 44 best female CEOs of 2023, adding to this commendable roster of accolades.

In October, the magazine *Ejecutivos* awarded Frit Ravich its Human Resources Award, recognizing the company’s efforts to promote a cultural transformation that fosters professional growth and collaborative leadership. The People and Culture department also received the SAP Success Factors Early Adopters Award from the multinational technology company SAP, recognizing its innovative character. The Growth Award from the Girona Business Circle, which highlighted the company’s 60-year trajectory and sustainable progress over the past decades, further complements Frit Ravich’s successful track record, along with recognition for 10 years of support from the UniRun university race.

Fluidra: National and International Awards

The multinational Fluidra, a global leader in the pool and wellness industry, has also excelled this year. Recently, at the 29th Business Night organized by the Cecot business association, its founder and honorary president, Joan Planes, was recognized as the 2024 Personality for his business trajectory and leadership. Fluidra also received the Trajectory Award from the Catalonia Radio *Revolució 4.0* program’s Entrepreneur Awards, while the magazine *Equipos&Talento* recognized Fluidra as the Leading Company in Diversity during Diversity and Inclusion Day.

Internationally, Fluidra received an AA rating in ESG policies from the MSCI index for its efforts to integrate environmental, social, and governance principles into all aspects of its operations. Additionally, Fluidra North America received the Partner of the Year award from Energy Star, a program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in recognition of its leadership in energy efficiency and sustainability. At the annual Insights conference hosted by the U.S.-based technology company Epicor, Fluidra was honored with the CEO Champion award as a model of innovation, sustainability, and energy efficiency. Furthermore, Fluidra’s RPS Skimmer pool filter was named Product of the Year in the Construction category at the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe.

Girbau: Award-Winning Practices and Products

Another INDPULS member company that has excelled this year is Girbau. It received the EcoVadis bronze medal for its sustainability performance, a prestigious international recognition that places Girbau among the top 20% of leading companies evaluated by this index. It distinguishes the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices and responsible corporate governance in environmental, social, and ethical areas. Girbau’s human resources policies have also been recognized, as the Catalan company was selected as a finalist for the Etalentum 2024 awards presented by this recruitment firm.

Furthermore, two of Girbau’s products received accolades. The Genius industrial laundry machine was recognized by the Industrial Design Association (ADI) and Foment de les Arts i del Disseny (FAD) with a Bronze Delta Award at the 2024 ADI Awards for its excellence in articulating a functional, innovative object for everyday use. Its Sortech Vision, a solution for automating the handling and sorting of soiled laundry in industrial laundries, which increases productivity and improves operators’ working conditions, was named Project of the Year at the Robotics Night of the Industry 4.0 Commission, composed of professionals from the Catalan engineering associations in various sectors.

Double Recognition for ARaymond, Vallformosa, and Simon

ARaymond, a global leader in fastening and assembly solutions for the automotive industry and a member of INDPULS, achieved the EcoVadis gold medal, placing it among the top 5% of leading companies in sustainable management and environmental, social, and ethical commitment. At the Supplier Summit of the multinational Leoni, ARaymond was also honored with the Sustainability Award for its corporate social responsibility policies.

Sustainable and social leadership was also a reason for celebration for Vallformosa, which achieved B Corp certification, becoming the first Spanish winery to receive this prestigious distinction from B Lab, recognizing the highest standards of transparency and social and environmental commitment. Additionally, the CEO of Vallformosa, Marta Vidal, was honored by the Catalonia Economists Association with the Company Economist Award for leading the modernization of the company’s business model.

In 2024, Simon, a manufacturer of appliances and electrical and electronic products, also received various awards. This INDPULS member collected a Delta Mention at the 2024 ADI Awards for the Simon Plug project, as well as two Bronze Delta awards for the Simon 400 and Simon Xenon products. A source of particular pride was the recognition of its new corporate headquarters, named Switch, an intelligent building focused on energy efficiency and employee well-being, which received the 2024 Rehabilitation Award in functional rehabilitation at the XXI Catalonia Construction Awards presented by the Technical Architecture Association of Barcelona.

Other Distinctions

The list of awards for INDPULS member companies doesn’t end there. Jaume Alsina, CEO of Alsina Formwork, a construction industry leader, received the 27th Catalonia Entrepreneur of the Year Award from EY. Machinery manufacturer Comexi won Cecot’s Digital Transformation Award, while AKO, a leading refrigeration company, received the Engineering Excellence Award from the Engineers’ Association for its FRED-HUB project in the refrigeration field. Font Packaging Group won the LiderPack Award for best packaging for its environmentally friendly corrugated cardboard design in the Roca sanitary products line. Avinent Group, a pioneer in the medical and dental sectors, was recognized for its scientific publications with an award for Best Article of the Year by SECOM for doctors Javier Herce and Álvaro Tofe.

Additionally, Grupo Carinsa recently celebrated its 30th anniversary by launching the Alberto Martínez Ortega Institute Entrepreneurship Awards, aiming to recognize startups and initiatives contributing to development and innovation. Finally, fresh frozen pastry company Pastisart is celebrating a collaboration agreement with food-tech Agrosingularity, a step forward in reducing CO₂ emissions and promoting healthier, natural foods.

For Celsa, this year has been pivotal for reinforcing its sustainability efforts with the Celsa Circular Steel program and FERIMET, its Circularity Hub, which maintains its recognized green seal as a recycling guarantee.