MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
MANEL
XIFRA
I BOADA
AWARDS
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
Manel Xifra i Boada (1928-2005), a Technical Engineer trained at the Industrial Engineering
School in Terrassa, dedicated his professional career to the industrial sector.
L’any 1954 va fundar Comexi, In 1954 he founded Comexi, which today specialises in
manufacturing equipment for the flexible packaging sector. The company started out as a
small workshop, with specialised and qualified staff, for maintaining and manufacturing
equipment for the paper industry. At the end of the 50s, the firm began a long process of
internationalisation and professionalisation improving its technology standards, optimising
the size of the company and generating resources to self-finance the dimensions required
in this process.
The Comexi Group’s export activity represents 95% of its turnover, and its sales network
covers around eighty countries all over the world. The Comexi brandname really took off
around the world in the 90s.
Today it is a business group with a turnover in 2010 of 100M€, very much focused on innovation, and it is made up of several companies: Comexi Group Industries S.A.U., which
covers most of the commercial brands (Comexi, Nexus, Enviroxi and Proslit); Comexi Converting Solutions SRL, a firm founded in Italy in 2010 which manages the commercial brand
Acom that specialises in rotogravure printing machinery; Comexi do Brasil, the manufacturing centre in Brasil for that market and most of South America; Comexi North America and
Comexi South America, commercial branch offices in US and Mexico, respectively.
Xifra believed firmly in Girona, and was a member of the Governing Council of the Catalan
Pro Europe Board in Girona, of the Board of the Higher Polytechnic School of the UdG and
the plenary session of the Chamber of Commerce of Girona, as well as an honorary
member of CETIG (Girona College of Industrial Technical Engineering) and Proclaimer of the
Girona Holy Week in 2003.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
The business, export and technological innovation initiative of Comexi S.A.U. have won both
the firm and its founding chairman the following distinctions, among others:
1989, 1994 and 2004. Awards for dynamism in exporting and successful export figures,
given by the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Girona.
1995. Top Award for Technology (Department of Industry of the Generalitat of Catalonia)
1996. Personal award for enterprising in the category of internationalisation (Ernst & Young,
“la Caixa” and Cinco Días).
1998. Award for Internationalisation of the Catalan Economy (Generatlitat of Catalonia).
1999. Top Award for Middle-Sized Companies (SMEs).
1999. Francesc Macià Medal for Work, granted by the Generatlitat of Catalonia,
on a personal basis, for professional merit.
2003. Award for Internationalisation of the Catalan Economy (Generatlitat of Catalonia) on a
personal basis.
2005. Manel Xifra Boada Award, granted postumously by the College of Industrial Technical
Engineers of Girona.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
The Manel Xifra i
Boada Awards
The College of Industrial Technical Engineers of Girona and Comexi Group give the Manel
Xifra i Boada Awards. Since the first edition, these prestigious awards have been given in
recognition of the work of five people who, according to the criteri of CETIG and Comexi
Group, have contributed to divulging, consolidating and distinguishing the industrial technical engineering profession.
The awards were introduced seven years ago, shortly after the demise of the engineer
whom they are named after: Manel Xifra i Boada. He helped to promote the awards, but he
died shortly beforehand. Since then, the awards represent the philosophy that Xifra upheld,
both from the point of view of his business and his family.
The Manel Xifra i
Boada Awards
establish three
categories
Award for the Best Professional Career.
Award for Transmitting Scientific-Technical Knowledge, in recognition of divulging
and transmitting technical and technological know-how.
Award in recognition of the prize given by the Board of the Higher Polytechnical School
of the UdG for the best End of Course Projects in Industrial Technical Engineering, in
the specialist fields of Mechanics, Industrial Chemistry and Industrial Electronics.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2005
Awarded
postumously to
Manel Xifra i
Boada
The awards were introduced in 2005, shortly after the demise of the engineer after
whom they were named: Manel Xifra i Boada helped to create the awards, but he
died shortly before they were introduced. Therefore, before opening the ceremony,
the first prize was awarded postumously to this engineer.
The awards represent the philosophy that Xifra upheld, both from the point of
view of his business and his family.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2006
First edition of the
Manel Xifra i Boada
Awards
The College of Industrial Technical Engineers of Girona and Comexi Group granted the
Manel Xifra i Boada Awards, for the first time, on 2 June.
The Manel Xifra i Boada Awards establish 3 categories:
Award for the Best Professional Career which was awarded to Josep Palau Francas,
founding partner of Soler & Palau, a multinational specialising in ventilation. This award
highlights someone who has been greatly involved in a signifcant impetus and improvement
in the Region, and Palau has been a clear example of the business capacity and generation
of wealth in the Girona region.
Award for Transmitting Scientific-Technical Knowledge, in recognition of eforts to
divulge and transmit technical and technological know-how. This was awarded to Jorge
Wagensberg, director of the Science and Environment Area of the “la Caixa” Foundation.
Wagensberg has had a long career, which highlights his contribution to divulging scientific
knowledge. He has succeeded in bringing the most complicated scientific principles to the
general public through his publications and the important projects organised in the
museum he manages.
Awards for three end of course projects from the Board of the Higher Polytechnic
School were given to three young engineers whose projects have been chosen as the best
End of Course projects in the Higher Polytechnic School. The Manel Xifra i Boada award was
given to Jordi Bona, Berta Bayés and Carles Sendra.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2007
Second edition of the
Manel Xifra i Boada
awards
The College of Industrial Technical Engineers of Girona and Comexi Group gave the 2nd
edition of the Manel Xifra i Boada Awards on 1 June. According to the College, these awards,
already a consolidated event, “have helped to divulge, consolidate and distinguish the
industrial technical engineering profession”.
In this edition, the award for the “best professional career”, given by the members, went
to Joaquim Lleal, the founding partner of Dytsa in 1958, specialising in manufacturing
screws. It was based in Banyoles. Lleal highlighted that “my company has been very successful thanks to the human resources at its disposal”.
On the other hand, the award for “Transmitting Scientific-Technical Knowledge”, in
recognition of efforts to divulge and transmit technical and technological know-how, was
given to Gabriel Ferraté, former Rector of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and current
chairman of the Caixa Tarragona, Institut Cerdà and the Advisory Council for Sustainable
Development of the Generalitat of Catalonia. However, Ferraté highlighted that for him the
most important aspect was working in companies, and even founding one, Ciber, which
specialises in designing and manufacturing industrial electronic equipment. Ferraté
thanked those who gave him the award and ensured them that “success and wisdom are
reserved for those who take risks and learn from their errors”.
Also, the Manel Xifra i Boada awards are a recognition of the best end of course projects,
and the award is given by the Board of the Higher Polytechnic School of UdG. In this
edition, the three students who received the awards were Clara Puig (industrial chemistry),
Rubén Ródenas (mechanics) and Núria Barón (industrial electronics).
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2008
Third edition of the
Manel Xifra i Boada
awards
On Friday 6 June, the College of Industrial Technical Engineers of Girona and Comexi Group
granted the Manel Xifra i Boada awards to Mas Marroch (Vilablareix), a significant figure in
the industrial technical engineering profession. This year’s award winners were:
Award for the Best Professional Career toJosep Arnau, Director of the centre associated
with UNED and lecturing professor at the Universitat de Girona;
Award for Transmitting Scientific-Technical Knowledge, to Eduard Punset, journalist
and scientific disseminator,
Awards in recognition of the award from the Board of the Higher Polytechnical
School of the UdG for the best End of Course projects in industrial technical engineering went to Xavier Casademont, Isabel Jaume and Xavier Palomé.
The College Dean, Narcís Bartina, talked about the spirit of the awards and remembered
Manel Xifra i Boada, the founder of Comexi and the engineer whom the awards are named
after. He highlighted the values of work, effort, knowledge and illusion, particular values
which he believes this year’s award winners share with Xifra.
The Councillor for Territorial Policies and Public Works, Joaquim Nadal, spoke briefly, praising the initiatives of these characteristics, and he made a particular mention of the two
organising entities: the College of Industrial Technical Engineers and Comexi Grup.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2008
Third edition of the
Manel Xifra i Boada
awards
Afterwards, the Secretary of the Board of the College of Industrial Technical Engineers gave
a brief summary on why the awards are given. Then the awards were given out, with audio
visual projections.
Finally, the Managing Director of Comexi Group, Manel Xifra, remembered the lack of industrial technical engineers in the region of Girona, and affirmed that training and research are
the keys to creating a professional vocation.
The official award giving ceremony was closed by the Mayoress of Girona, Anna Pagans.
Then Eduard Punset, journalist and scientific disseminator, gave a short conference on the
human habit of being unhappy. Under the title “travelling to the profession”, he spoke about
how a professional task helps us realise our personal potential. A profound speech which
once again proved Punset’s ability to divulge universal principles, and bring the most
abstract concepts closer to the general public.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2009
Fourth edition of the
Manel Xifra i Boada
awards
On 29 April at midday, the College of Industrial Technical Engineers of Girona (CETIG) and
the Comexi Group gave the fourth edition of the Manel Xifra i Boada Awards to five award
winners: Joan Peracaula (Manel Xifra Boada Award for Transmitting Scientific-Technical Knowledge) Josep Serra (Manel Xifra Boada Award for the Best Professional
Career), Hermann Blum Vilanueva, Pol Feixas and Marta Poch (recognition of the
prizes for the Best End of Course Project awarded by the Higher Polytechnical School
of the UdG).
“Encouraging young people starting out in the profession” is one of the aims of the Manel
Xifra Boada awards, according to the CETIG Dean, Narcís Bartina, who was very pleased
because these awards, now in their fourth edition, “have become a permanent feature”.
Bartina also highlighted the two points defining the awards: knowledge and professionalism. Finally, he underlined the common denominator between the five award winners,
“their loyalty to themselves and their generosity”.
For his part, the Delegate for the Campus and the Infrastructures of the UdG, Lluís Albó,
indicated that the awards are “ a recognition of good work, and work done well”. The Executive Chairman of Comexi, Manel Xifra i Pagès, mentioned that the awards named after his
father, are to keep his legacy alive, and he praised the values of the award winners. He said
of Joan Peracaula that “his profile fits in with the characteristics of the award, because of his
career in training and research and his efforts to enhance co-operation between universities and companies. He defined Josep Serra as an example of the consolidation of a family
firm, and praised his role as an active businessman in associations within the sector.
Also, he said that he hoped that the awards will encourage the young student winners to
“develop their professional career”.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2009
Fourth edition of the
Manel Xifra i Boada
awards
Joan Perecaula, awarded the Manel Xifra i Boada award for Transmitting Scientific-Technical
Knowledge, highlighted that research “is the best system for creating new knowledge, which
leads to new products”. Josep Serra, on the other hand, admitted that he did not expect to
win the award and remembered his time working next to Manel Xifra i Boada, who gave him
“plenty of advice”.
The awards were given on 5 June in an act held in Hotel AC - Palau de Bellavista, coinciding
with the Day of the Profession.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2010
Fifth edition of the
Manel Xifra i Boada
awards
Award for Transmitting Scientific-Technical Knowledge. Pedro Miguel Etxenike Landiríbar (Isaba, Navarra, 1950) is a world authority in the field of theoretical physics. In 1998 he
received the Prince of Austurias Prize for Scientific and Technical Research. He is a lecturing
professor in the Physics of Condensed Matter at the Universitat del País Basc and Cambridge. He is currently chairman of the Donostia International Physics Centre foundation, and
has helped to set up CIC Nanogune, which aims to attract leading nanotechnology laboratories. He was Councillor for Education and Culture in the Basque Government between 1980
and 1984.
Award for the Best Professional Career. Josep Bosch Esparch (Girona, 1938) is an industrial expert and technical engineer from the School of Terrassa. From 1975 until 2004 he
was a member of the CETIG Governing Board, and was Dean from 2000 until 2004. In 1967
together with a partner, he created Oter-Girona SL, a technical office specialising in drawing
up industrial installation projects. In 1972 he created Oxiter-Girona SL.
Recognition of the awards by the Board of the Higher Polytechnical School of the UdG for the
best End of Course projects in industrial technical engineering. The award winners are:
Francesc Lara Escamilla, industrial technical engineer (ITE) in mechanics, for the design
and project on a chestnut shell cutter.
Agnès Alogra Marcé, ITE in industrial chemistry, for the project on optimising a refiner in a
coated paper factory.
Gerard Massaguer Frigolé, ITE in industrial electronics, for the project, design and construction of a robotic arm with 5 degrees of freedom governed by PC via USB.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2011
Sixth edition of the
Manel Xifra i Boada
awards
Joan Majó - Manel Xifra Boada Award for Transmitting Scientific-Technical Knowledge�
Doctor in Industrial Engineering, Spanish Minister of Industry (1985 - 1986). He was chairman of the Catalan Radio and Television Corporation, and has held important posts in companies like Olivetti, NISA, La Seda and the private Barcelona municipal firm, 22@.
Joan Vidal - Manel Xifra Boada Award for his Professional Career� Industrial expert and
Technical Engineer from the School of Terrassa. Founder of the company, Aplicacions Elèctriques S.A.
The Manel Xifra Boada awards in recognition of the prizes for the best end of course
projects, from the Board of the Higher Polytechnical School of the UdG are for:
Carlos López Expósito, ITE in mechanics for the project on the machine for making a crack
in a hazelnut shell. FSEC Project.
Esther Valiente Valencia, ITE in industrial chemistry, for the project assessing the photoextraction technique for reducing the concentrations of heavy metals in soils contaminated by
the mining industry.
David Moreno Cabruja, ITE in industrial electronics, for the mobile head project with
RGBW LED technology controlled by DMX - who was unable to attend the ceremony.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2012
Seventh edition of
the Manel Xifra i
Boada awards
The award ceremony, which was attended by Núria Gispert, chairwoman of the Parliament
of Catalonia and Carles Puigdemont, Mayor of Girona, was the seventh edition, and part of
the Engidiada agenda, when the industrial technical engineers in Girona hold their annual
meeting.
The Manel Xifra i Boada Award for Transmitting Scientific-Technical Knowledge was
given to the Universitat de Girona. The UdG was represented in the ceremony by the
current Rector, Anna M. Geli, and the previous rectors, Josep M. Nadal and Joan Batlle. Their
contribution over the last 20 years to educating youngsters, transferring knowledge from
the Parc, the quality of their teaching, their internationally recognised scientific work and the
recently received Campus of Excellence in Tourism and Water award, are some of the
reasons why the University deserved this award.
The Manel Xifra i Boada Award for the professional career was given to Jordi Frigolé,
Director of Nestlé Girona. Frigolé is an Industrial Technical Engineer from the Universitat de
Girona, and he joined Nestlé in 1986. In 2000 he was appointed Head of the Technical
Department of Electricity and Automation at the Product Technology Centre in Orbe, Switzerland, and as such he was responsible for the Technical Area of Automation of all the
Coffee and Drink producing factories in the Nestlé Group worldwide. When he returned to
Girona, he joined the factory management team, taking an active part in projects associated
with increasing the centre’s technological capacity and innovation and, mainly, setting up
the new capsules production plant for Nescafé Dolce Gusto. Finally, in February 2011 he
was appointed Director.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2012
Seventh edition of
the Manel Xifra i
Boada awards
As every year, the Manel Xifra i Boada awards are also a recognition of the young industrial
technical engineers, who received the award for the best end of course projects given by
the Board of the Higher Polytechnic School of the Universitat de Girona. In this category the
award winners were Albert Prieto who received the prize for the best Industrial Technical
Engineering end of course project, specialising in Mechanics, for his work on “The Mechanical Design of a hand prothesis”; Juan Antonio Hidaldgo who received the prize for the best
Industrial Technical Engineering end of course project, specialising in Industrial Chemistry,
for his work on “Preparing polyurethane foam for applications in regenerative medicine”;
and Arcadi Castanyer who received the prize for the best Industrial Technical Engineering
end of course project, specialising in Industrial Electronics, for his work on a “Registering
and analysis system for analog data on an SD card”.
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2013
8th edition of the
Manel Xifra Boada
Awards
Girona’s Industrial Technical Engineers College (CETIG) and Comexi Group have awarded,
on a gala held on Friday evening in the function room of the Higher Polytechnic School of
the University of Girona, the prizes of the Manel Xifra Boada 8th edition awards. These
prizes are framed within the ‘Engidiada’, the annual meeting of Girona’s Industrial Technical
Engineers. The event was attended by Felip Puig, Catalan Minister of Companies and Occupation; Marta Madrenas, Girona’s Council Second Deputy Major and Town Councillor of the
area of Promotion and Occupation, and also by Eudald Casadesús, Catalan Autonomous
Government territorial delegate, amongst others.
This year, the Manel Xifra Award for promoting the diffusion of scientific and technical knowledge has been given to Carles Riba and Romeva. Born in Palma de Mallorca on
the 1st July 1947, he is an Industrial Engineer graduated by the ETSEI of Barcelona and also
a Doctor in Engineering by the UPC (Polytechnic University of Catalonia). His capacity to
transmit scientific and technical knowledge is certified by his teaching activities, but also by
his research and dissemination works. Riba is one of the promoters, from the Collective for
a new Energy and Social Sustainable model, of a research project based on energy transition seeking to push a change from the current development model based on fossil resources to another one built on renewable resources, which will need support both from universities and Catalan institutions.
The Manel Xifra Boada prize to the career path has been given to Martirià Butinyà
Carrera. Butinyà earned an Industrial Technical Engineer degree and started his professional career in several companies, such as Kolster (dedicated to sound recorders), Carandini
(based on lighting) and Teisa (linked to Agrienergia corporate group). In 1972, Butinyà joins
Agrienergia –firm located in Banyoles (Girona, Spain)- and dedicated to the manufacture,
distribution and commercialization of electrical power as the Director of the Power Section,
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MANEL XIFRA I BOADA AWARDS
2013
8th edition of the
Manel Xifra Boada
Awards
where he has worked more than 40 years. Butinyà founded the APPA (Association of
Renewable Energy Producers), along with other experts, and also got involved from the start
in the ASEME (Association of Power Companies) being a board member during many years.
As every year, the Manel Xifra Boada awards have also recognized the young Industrial
Technical Engineers who received the prize to the best end-of-degree project from the
Board of Trustees of Girona’s Higher Polytechnic School. In this category, the awardees
have been the industrial technical engineer in Mechanics David Jiménez Aparicio for his
project ‘Design of a wheelchair for disaggregate surfaces’; the industrial technical engineer
in Industrial Chemistry Cristina Martín Castañé for her work about ‘Bony and acrylic foundations for its application in minimal invasive surgery’; and the industrial technical engineer
in Industrial Electronics Carles Candela Gonzalez for his project ‘Design and creation of an
elevator for an underwater robot’.
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