Pioneer in the manufacture of shading fabrics, Equipesca celebrates half a century of achievement and socio-environmental responsibility.

Around 1950, fishing nets were not manufactured in Brazil. Fishermen needed to weave everything by hand, like they are still made today us some regions of the country. The photographer and orchid enthusiast Ademar Manarini thus decided to invest in this market. He travelled around the world and finally arrived in Japan, where he found the best loom technology available. The entrepreneurial spirit of Mr. Manarini led him to work with this equipment, in order to understand how they worked and to then take this knowledge back to Brazil. Equipesca, found in July 1960, celebrates 50 years of achievement, being the first Brazilian company to mechanically manufacture fishing nets by loom.

According to Rogério Barbosa, Sales Supervisor at Equipesca, the company's commercial policies are focused on resale, cooperatives, cattle farming, wholesalers and producers and consumers in general. In this respect, concern for environmental and social issues has always struck a chord with the activity of the organization. "The history of Equipesca shines with pioneering ideas, and many of its products reached the market thanks to partnerships signed with research institutes, universities and governmental organizations, in which the research was carried out before launching the product in the market. This mostly happened with Sombrite (a registered trademark of Equipesca) protective and shading fabrics, (a registered trademark of Equipesca)," explains Barbosa.

During the month when Equipesca celebrated 50 years of existence, Equipesca strengthened it's responsiblity to the environment, by entering into a partnership with IBF in the Semear Program. One of the key action points of the program is the installation of a forest nursery in Dracena Penitentiary Prison (São Paulo State). besides reaching the deamnd for seedlings for the recuperation of degraded areas in the region. The Semear Program works with the creation of employment and generating revenue, teaching the inmates the necessary skills needed to become a nursery worker. Through the partnership, Equipesca will provide Sombrite fabric for the construction of the Semear Project forest nurseries.

Barbosa explains that, until the beginning of the 1970s, snythetic fabrics for protection and shading did not exist in Brazil. On one of his trips abroad, Mr. Ademar Manarini brought the technology to Brazil and registered the brand Sombrite. "Original Sombrite is produced with high quality raw materials (HDPE Polythene) and special anti-UV additives and antioxidants, which render it more resistant and durable". Inititially developed for the cultivation of orchids, as a passtime, it ended up having other uses, such as horticulture, flower cultivation, fruit cultivation, cattle farming, construction, etc.

Associating the Sombrite brand with the activities of the Semear Program, on the fifty year anniversary of Equipesca, is a reason to celebrate. "There is no doubt, taking part in this project is a great honour, since it was thanks to the seeds scattered in every corner of the country that our products became recognised and respected" concludes Barbosa.