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| Comil | |
|---|---|
| Name | Comil |
| Type | Private |
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Headquarters | Passo Fundo, Brazil |
| Key people | Eugenio Ogliari; Aldo Packer |
| Products | Food processing equipment, extruders, mixers, fryers |
| Employees | 1,200 (approx.) |
| Website | comil.com.br |
Comil is a Brazilian manufacturer specializing in food processing equipment, particularly machinery for snack, pasta, and cereal production. Founded in the early 1960s in Passo Fundo in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the company grew alongside Brazil's industrialization and the global expansion of processed food sectors. Comil supplies machinery to food processors, cooperatives, and multinational brands, maintaining relationships with manufacturers across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Comil was established amid a wave of industrial entrepreneurship in Brazil during the 1960s, a decade marked by projects such as BNDES-financed industrial expansion and infrastructure initiatives like Brasília’s consolidation. Early growth paralleled the spread of food processing technologies exemplified by companies such as Bunge Limited and Archer Daniels Midland. Comil expanded through the 1970s and 1980s while Brazil underwent economic shifts including the Plano Cruzado era and debt crises that affected manufacturing sectors. In the 1990s, during trade liberalization and privatizations associated with the Collor and Cardoso administrations, Comil modernized production lines and integrated technologies common in the portfolios of firms like Tetra Pak and Nestlé. Entering the 21st century, Comil pursued export growth aligned with global supply chain trends driven by companies such as Cargill and General Mills. Strategic partnerships and participation in fairs like the International FoodTec exhibitions aided its international footprint.
Comil produces a range of equipment for processing snacks, cereals, and pasta including twin-screw extruders, rotary dryers, frying systems, and seasoning applicators. Its product catalog addresses workflows found in plants operated by companies like PepsiCo, Kellogg Company, and Mondelez International. Services include turnkey plant engineering, retrofit projects similar to upgrades provided by Bühler Group and Hosokawa Micron, spare parts supply, and after-sales technical support. Comil’s machinery supports production of items associated with brands such as Marinela, Yoki, M.B., and regional cooperatives like Cooperativa Central Aurora.
Headquartered in Passo Fundo, Comil’s primary manufacturing complex includes machining, welding, assembly, and testing areas. The facility integrates practices seen at industrial manufacturers such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, and ABB for process control and safety. Comil has deployed quality management systems inspired by standards implemented by ISO and sector peers like GEA Group. Ancillary workshops and logistics operations support exports through Brazilian ports including Port of Rio Grande and Port of Santos, connecting to trade routes utilized by shipping lines such as Maersk and MSC.
Comil sells domestically across Brazilian states including São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Paraná, and exports to markets in Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, United States, Spain, Portugal, South Africa, Nigeria, India, and China. Its export strategy mirrors patterns of other Latin American capital goods exporters who participate in trade forums like APEC and exhibitions such as Anuga. Customers range from small processors and family-run bakeries to large industrial groups like BRF S.A. that require high-volume continuous processing lines.
Comil is privately held and has historically been managed by families and long-term executives with ties to regional business networks centered in Rio Grande do Sul and associations such as Federasul. Leadership has included industrialists like Eugenio Ogliari and technical directors with backgrounds linked to engineering schools such as Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Corporate finance activities have engaged local banks including Banrisul and national development institutions like BNDES for equipment financing and expansion capital.
Comil emphasizes compliance with industrial safety regimes and machine directives analogous to those enforced in markets by NR-12 and international standards adopted by manufacturers such as Bühler Group and Tetra Pak. Product development incorporates automation, PLC control, and human–machine interfaces similar to solutions from Rockwell Automation and Siemens to improve throughput and reduce downtime. R&D collaborations and technology scouting have connected Comil with universities and research centers including Universidade de Passo Fundo and technical institutes that support advances in extrusion technology comparable to research published in journals like Journal of Food Engineering.
Comil has received regional industry recognitions and trade awards presented at fairs where organizations such as APAS and FIESP highlight innovation in manufacturing. The company’s participation in international expos has generated acknowledgments from trade media and sector publications that profile equipment suppliers to brands such as Kraft Heinz and Unilever. Category:Brazilian manufacturing companies