Companies are prepared to be suppliers of the new pots and pans

Umco, Fundireciclar , Win Slim and Indalum are conducting studies to possibly become suppliers of cookware needed for the new electric kitchens, which would replace gas kitchens.

The government requirements are three pots with lids and a frying pan for a referential price of $ 35, according to the contest rules published by the Ministry of Industries.

Patricia Velez, Indalum Manager, said they have already developed aluminum pots with an iron base in sizes according to the government’s request and expects to put them on the market by October. Indalum estimates an investment of between $ 20,000 and $ 30,000.

Umco plans to manufacture stainless steel  and aluminum cookware with an iron disc in the back. For this, they estimate an investment of about $ 450,000, said its Manager, Henry Casas.

Fundireciclar has done virtual prototypes, and will analyze the economic viability . “If they give us the mass production and if we get to an agreement about the prices (with the government),” said Fernando Chavez , General Manager of the company.

The European company Win Slim, presented a bid to manufacture the kitchens and is currently trying to establish some kind of strategic alliance, said the company representative, Paulina Cazares .

“We have very little time to establish here a factory, then, what we are looking for is the national partner who wants to ally with us, so we can provide  them all the parts and the raw material for the pots ,” she said .