23 2015 Making history ANFIR was created 35 years ago in order to safeguard the interests of its members. But the institution has gained notoriety and respect in taking on greater responsibilities, such as participation in the preparation of traffic laws in Brazil, of regulations that determine increased safety in road equipment and upon creating a stamp that certifies the legality of the companies of the industry. The world is constantly changing, but, occasionally, some events are striking for breaking paradigms and expanding the possibilities of social, technological and cultural progress, among others. In this sense, the 1980s were truly forwardlooking for the information technology segment, with the beginning of the use of the personal computer (PC) and the rise of telephony, facts that, later, allowed characterizing the period as “the cradle of the automation era.” In Brazil, the beginning of the decade was also characterized by the frenzy generated by the movements of workers from the ABC region of São Paulo. Claims that resulted in strikes, arrest and political unrest. These events have become a way of pressuring the government, and influenced the change in government system - from military to civil (in 1985, Tancredo Neves was chosen by Congress to be the President of the country) and direct elections (with the victory of Fernando Collor in 1989). In this scenario of many uncertainties and some perspective, still at the beginning of the decade, the National Association of Roadway Equipment Manufacturers (ANFIR) arose on May 22, 1980, in the city of Caxias do Sul (RS). “There wasn’t, until then, a body representing the segment, that grew considerably. On the initiative of the main equipment manufacturers of that time, the first meeting that would lead to the Association took place”, recalls Marcos Guerra, Head of Guerra Implementos Rodoviários and one of the centerpieces in the history of ANFIR, since he was the third Chairman of the Association. The associate board consisted of Biselli, Cabrini, Cargo-Van, Dambroz, FNV-Fruehauf, Furglas, War, Iderol, Krone, Randon, Recrusul, Rodoviária and Trivelatto. Marcos Guerra says that, through the association, the executives of road equipment industry organized themselves and began to make claims against the government, to obtain advice on technical and legal issues, to discuss standardization of products, to seek credit lines. “With the consolidation of ANFIR, the road equipment industry acquired greater market share and further development”, he says. Another important entrepreneur of the road equipment industry, Lauro Pastre says his company joined the organization in 1982, when the headquarters was transferred from Caxias do Sul (RS) to São Paulo (SP). The goal was the need to be side by side with a national professional association to represent and safeguard the interests of the industry which, till then, had little representation. In its early years, one of the main functions of ANFIR was to build up relationships with society and implement an effective communication program, because, outside the automotive industry, few people knew of the existence of equipment industry in Brazil. “The prevailing impression, even before the government, was that the truck manufacturer also manufactured the body. The vehicle was seen as a whole, produced only by the manufacturer”, says Mario Rinaldi, CEO of ANFIR. This lack of knowledge resulted in disadvantage to the industry comparing to other production sectors, even while trying to take out a loan from private banks or when included in government incentive programs, since the segment — even when it was “perceived” — was still considered secondary. It was left to the business community of the industry, united by ANFIR, to overcome this stigma and show the reality of the industrial facilities of road equipment in the country. Despite all difficulties, the Association, by then, already enjoyed good reputation among the manufacturers themselves, and had become known even abroad. ANFIR attracted new members, as they pro-
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