Mirgor is an Argentinean company that produces electronics, mobile and automotive components, and exports, distributes and commercializes agricultural products. It has its administrative headquarters in the city of Buenos Aires,[3] and industrial sites inRío Grande,[4]Garín[5] andBaradero, as well as its own agricultural-livestock exploitation field inBolívar.[6]
It is engaged in electronics and auto parts production; design and execution of engineering and system projects; commercial channel management and retail activities;[4] and, since 2018, in agricultural business.[7][8]
It is expected to be among the 100 Argentine companies with the highest number of exports[12] and provides employment to over 3,000 people.[2] The average age of the staff is 28 years, and 53% of the company's workforce is composed of women.[10]
In early 2024, Mirgor's stocks rose by more than 50%.[13] It is currently among the top 1000 Argentine companies in terms of exports.[14]
The company was founded by Nicolás Caputo, Roberto Gustavo Vázquez[15][16][17] andMauricio Macri[18][19] in 1983.[20] Roberto Gustavo Vázquez, hailing fromFord, already had experience in the automotive industry.[2]
The company began by producing car air-conditioning systems in the city ofRío Grande in Argentina.[21][22][23] Its first product on the market was thePeugeot 504 air conditioner, which Mirgor designed and developed forSevel.[24] At that time, only 5% of cars in Argentina came with air conditioning.[2]
Macri sold his shares in the company in 1994[25][19] and left the board in 1996.[26]
After the1998–2002 Argentine great depression, a restructuring of the company took place. Among other innovations, it started manufacturing home air conditioners and ventured into the still novel cellular phone industry.[2]
In 2004, the company began production of home air-conditioning systems.[21][27]
In 2009, Mirgor purchasedIndustria Austral de Tecnología S.A. (IATEC), which produced mobile phones for Nokia in 2010[28] and televisions for LG in 2011.[29] Production of audio and video equipment and microwaves began in 2012,[30] followed by Dell notebooks a year later.[28][31]
IATEC began assembly of mobile phones and televisions for Samsung in 2014,[28] along with automotive electronics products for Pioneer.[21][4] In 2017, a subsidiary called GMRA was formed, for the branding of consumer electronic and electric products.[30] Also in 2017, the company receivedIATF 16949 and ISO 9001 certification.[32][33] It is currently IPC-A-610 Class 3 certified.[34][35]
In 2016, José Luis Alonso took on the role of CEO of the Group.[36]
In 2019, Mirgor acquired Famar Fueguina S.A, a holding corporation ofHoldcar andElectrotécnica.[37] Famar Fueguina SA carries out activities of manufacturing and supplying parts for the automotive industry, mainly electronics.[38][39]
The group entered the agro-industrial sector in 2018.[6] In 2019, Mirgor made its first exports of wheat, soybeans, and corn[40][41][6] In March 2023, it acquired an approximately 1,500-hectare field inSan Carlos de Bolívar for its own agricultural and livestock production.[6]
In October, 2020 Mirgor acquired the Argentinean subsidiary of wireless communications companyBrightstar Corporation.[42]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic, Mirgor developed OxiTemp App, which allows to measure and monitor blood oxygen saturation, heart rate and body temperature.[43]
In October 2021, it signed an agreement with the Argentine Aircraft Factory (FAdeA), with the aim of promoting the development and production of aircraft components made in Tierra del Fuego, such as the Pampa III.[44][45]
In November 2022, Mirgor acquiredOutokumpu Fortinox S.A, a company dedicated mainly to import and sell of different types of steel.[46][47]
In December 2022, Mirgor authorities presented to the provincial authorities ofTierra del Fuego the project for the construction of the Rio Grande city port, which will require an investment close to US$210 million.[48]
Also in December 2022, Mirgor agreed withAerolíneas Argentinas to operate cargo transportation by Mirgor SA, through the addition to its fleet of two B737-800 aircraft, a freighter type with a capacity to transport 22 tons.[49]
The acquisition of Sauceco, in March 2023, implied its definitive expansion into the agro-industrial sector.[50]
In May 2023, Mirgor signed a contract withMillicom and began operating in theUnited States under the name of Mirgor USA LLC. The company announced that it will focus on the planning and supply of cellular phones, centralizing these operations inMiami.[51][52]
Mirgor is currently promoting the project to create a port in Río Grande, where most of the electronic companies in the province are located.[53] The estimated investment is US$380 million and a construction time of 2 years.[54] Among the multiple advantages, the port would solve the issue of transit through national waters, a historic problem for theisland.[55] The start of the construction is scheduled for 2024, after the end of the winter fishing ban.[56][57] It is estimated that the Mirgor Group will invest around 380 million dollars in this development.[58]
In November 2023, the company issued a negotiable debt obligation for US$300 million, opening up new investment opportunities to the public.[2][59]
Regarding its regional expansion, the Group currently operates with its own offices inAsunción, Paraguay, and is exploring new business units in that country.[60][61] In Uruguay, it landed in 2023 with the acquisition of Anovo, a leading aftermarket company. From its central laboratory, Mirgor provides support to the rest of the mobile phone companies in the country.[62] Together with Samsung, Mirgor expanded its regional presence by opening new SmartThing stores in theDominican Republic[63] and Paraguay.[64] As a strategic partner ofHisense in Uruguay, they launched a new line of Smart TVs with QLED and Mini-LED models.[65] In November, it began operations inPanama.[66][67] In 2024, Mirgor's international division reported revenue of US$240 million.[9]
In 2023, Mirgor Agro received an award for outstanding achievements in Export Diversification, presented by the magazinePrensa Económica.[68]
In April 2024, Mirgor introduced the End of Line Tester, a development aimed at quality testing for technological products.[69]
In September 2024, CEO José Luis Alonso participated in the "Forbes Reinventing Argentina Summit" and stated that the country's economic growth towards 2025 will depend on its ability to export "technology, proteins, and talent."[70]
In the automotive sector, the company produces air conditioning equipment,infotainment systems and control modules for several automotive companies.[76][30] The Group is currently building ONTEC, a plant inBaradero for the production of appearance parts for the automotive industry.[77][78]
As for consumer electronics, Mirgor also manufactures cell phones, televisions and monitors, among others[79][80] and has its own retailer named Diggit.[81]
Mirgor operatesSamsung stores in Argentina[82][30] and has its own retailer called Diggit.[83][84]
Mirgor Distribution distributes its own manufactured products and gives local distribution and international commercialization to other manufacturers, retailers, resellers, telephone operators and other third parties.[85]
Regarding the Services department, Mirgor is dedicated to the reconditioning of equipment, providing protection services and after-sales services under their brand Ferbi.[86] It also offers repurchase and exchange services.[87][88][89]
The company has a business division called Mirgor Innovation that develops software programming and mechanical engineering projects.[90][4]
The Group is currently building ONTEC, a plant in Baradero for the production of special parts for the automotive industry combining plastic and electronic products of high complexity.[91]
Mirgor Agro closed 2023 with more than 1,000,000 tons of various commodities and specialties exported.[92]
In 2022, Mirgor presented the "Mirgor Foundation: Community development towards the future". Through the Foundation, Mirgor seeks to accompany the communities in which it has presence by the promotion of four main areas of work: Education, Health, Culture and Habitat.[94][95][96]
In June 2023, the Foundation announced the opening of a first technological innovation competition for entrepreneurs It also opened different courses for the professional training of operators in Tierra del Fuego.[97][98][99] In September 2023, they launched a new course on the use of artificial intelligence in education.[100]
In 2024, it organized "Codechallenge Tierra del Fuego," a competition for residents of the province with intermediate or advanced programming skills in any language.[101] The event had 95 participants from across the province, out of which 21 programmers made it to the final phase.[102]In March, the Foundation launched a scholarship program for students in the final years of technical high schools.[103] At the Provincial Technical Education College of Río Grande (CPET), the Foundation provided training on the5S methodology, which companies use to organize their spaces and management processes[104] as well as the CIRCULA.RG program on sustainable entrepreneurship and thecircular economy.[105][89]In July, the Mirgor Foundation inaugurated its “School of Innovation, Creativity, and Technology” for teachers of 4th, 5th, and 6th grades of primary education.[106] As part of theEnvironmental Awareness Day, the Foundation organized training and promotion activities onupcycling.[107]In November, the Foundation announced a workshop on the employment inclusion of people withdisabilities in collaboration with the Disability Secretariat of the Government of theTierra del Fuego Province.[108][109] As part of Technical Education Day, the foundation organized TecnoGrande, an exhibition of innovative projects held in collaboration with the technical schools of Río Grande.[110] The Foundation reported having provided training to 2,000 people and benefits to over 3,200 during 2024.[111]
In February 2024, the Mirgor Foundation donated 300 oximeters to the Municipality ofRío Grande to enhance services in health centers,[113][114] as well as an artificial respirator for the Regional Hospital Governor Ernesto Campos inUshuaia.[115][116]
In November 2023, the Mirgor Foundation entered into a strategic framework agreement with the Joint Antarctic Command (COCOANTAR) to promote the development and well-being of the Argentine community inAntarctica. The representatives of the Foundation's visit included the donation of electronic devices.[117][118] In March 2024, the Foundation also made a donation of Qüint electric bicycles for use by the Command atEsperanza Base.[119][89]
In 2022, the Foundation announced the "Transportable Modular House" project, a sustainable housing alternative to address the housing needs of the province.[120]
