ULMA Group
ULMA Group is a Spanish cooperative business group whose nine operating businesses serve construction, packaging, logistics, agriculture, components, architecture, electronics and related industrial markets.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
ULMA Group is a Spanish industrial cooperative group based in the Basque Country and organized around nine operating cooperatives or business units. Its activities span construction equipment and systems, industrial and food packaging, greenhouse technology, forged components, conveyor components, architectural products, intralogistics automation, lifting and materials-handling services, and embedded electronics engineering. The group’s businesses operate with a shared cooperative identity and coordinated general policies, while each business develops, manufactures and markets its own specialist products. The origins of ULMA date to 1957, when six mechanics established a workshop providing auxiliary services to the regional chocolate industry. On 8 September 1961, they formed Cooperativa Industrial Talleres ULMA S.C.I.; the name ULMA was derived from the first letters of the founders’ surnames. The original business concentrated on chocolate-wrapping machinery, the activity that later became ULMA Packaging. It also entered construction equipment, patenting a prefabricated scaffolding system in Spain in 1963 under the JJEIP brand. A parallel cooperative history began with a locksmith and metalworking workshop acquired by workers associated with Forjas de Zubillaga. That enterprise initially operated as Gaitu S.C.I. and was renamed Enara in 1967. Its later move into cable ties and forged products created a second industrial base that eventually converged with ULMA. The first rapprochement between ULMA and Enara took place in 1983. After the integration of Oinakar in 1987, the combined organization operated as the Oñalan group. In 1989 it adopted the ULMA Group name. During the 1990s, the group consolidated its identity and reorganized several activities under the ULMA name. ULMA C y E emerged from the renaming of the original ULMA cooperative, while other businesses adopted ULMA as their corporate and commercial identity. The portfolio subsequently broadened through the establishment of the polymer-concrete business, the reorganization of materials-handling operations, the separation of forklift and systems activities, the addition of ULMA Conveyor Components in 2008, and the consolidation of ULMA Embedded Solutions in 2019. ULMA’s cooperative affiliations have changed over time. In 1993, the group chose not to participate in a proposed organizational restructuring of Mondragon Cooperative Corporation and pursued its own cooperative group structure. Its members later approved joining Mondragon’s Industrial Division in 2002. In December 2022, a plenary assembly of the ULMA Group cooperatives decided to leave the Mondragon Corporation. The group’s international presence is a central part of its current operating model. Reference material describes activity in 81 countries, with international sales representing close to 70% of business volume in 2023. Around 5,747 people worked across the group in that year, and reported business volume exceeded EUR 1.15 billion. These figures describe the group at a particular point in time rather than a permanent financial profile. ULMA’s project portfolio includes formwork for major urban construction, greenhouse installations in arid climates, drainage systems for stadiums, forged components for refineries, conveyor equipment for ports, automated logistics platforms, packaging systems for medical products and electronic engineering connected with European satellite infrastructure. ULMA is therefore best understood not as a single-product manufacturer but as a federated industrial brand. Its positioning combines cooperative ownership, engineering-led manufacturing, international specialization and project-based industrial delivery. The group remains active, with its nine businesses addressing distinct sectors while sharing the ULMA name, common policies and a common historical identity.
History
ULMA’s history began in 1957 in the Basque industrial region, where six mechanics created a workshop serving the local chocolate industry. The workshop provided auxiliary manufacturing and technical services and became the foundation for the cooperative that later developed into ULMA Packaging. On 8 September 1961, the founders established Cooperativa Industrial Talleres ULMA S.C.I. The ULMA name was formed from the first letters of the founders’ surnames. Its initial specialization was chocolate-wrapping machinery, but the cooperative soon expanded into construction-related manufacturing. In 1963, it patented a prefabricated scaffolding system in Spain under the JJEIP name, establishing an early connection between the group and construction equipment. A second line of development came from a separate worker-led metalworking enterprise. Workers connected with Forjas de Zubillaga acquired a locksmith and accessories workshop producing balconies, metal doors and forged or stamped components. The business first operated as Gaitu S.C.I. and was renamed Enara in 1967. Its acquisition of a drop hammer enabled the manufacture of cable ties and supported a broader move into forged and metal components. This enterprise would eventually become associated with the ULMA Group’s forging activities. ULMA and Enara began drawing closer in 1983. The emerging group expanded in 1987 with the integration of Oinakar and initially operated under the Oñalan name. In 1989, the organization changed its name to ULMA Group. By the end of that year, it had 678 workers and reported sales equivalent to approximately EUR 50 million, based on the historical peseta figure cited in reference material. The 1990s were a period of corporate consolidation. The businesses adopted a unified ULMA visual identity, and the original ULMA cooperative was renamed ULMA C y E, S. Coop. Other activities incorporated ULMA into their business names. In 1992, Oinakar became ULMA Manutención, while Enara became ULMA Forja, now associated with ULMA Forged Solutions. In 1994, ULMA Manutención separated its forklift-truck activity from its systems activity. These activities later developed into ULMA Servicios de Manutención and ULMA Handling Systems. The portfolio continued to diversify. ULMA Polymer Concrete was established in 1996 and later became ULMA Architectural Solutions. ULMA Conveyor Components joined the group in 2008 from the Rochman cooperative, adding conveyor rollers and related bulk-transport components. In 2019, ULMA Embedded Solutions was consolidated as the ninth business, bringing specialist electronics design, product-life-cycle engineering and production-test automation into the group. ULMA’s relationship with Mondragon has been an important organizational issue. In 1993, the group declined to participate in a restructuring proposed by Mondragon Cooperative Corporation and maintained a separate cooperative-group organization. In 2002, ULMA members approved joining Mondragon’s Industrial Division. A later plenary assembly held in December 2022 approved the group’s departure from Mondragon Corporation. This decision marked a significant change in institutional affiliation while leaving the ULMA businesses organized around cooperative ownership. The modern group operates as a federation of nine businesses with distinct technical and commercial responsibilities. ULMA Agrícola supplies greenhouse solutions; ULMA Construction serves construction, civil engineering, industrial and rehabilitation projects; ULMA Packaging designs packaging machinery and lines; ULMA Forged Solutions makes flanges and forged components; ULMA Conveyor Components supplies conveyor parts; ULMA Architectural Solutions develops drainage, façade, enclosure and urban-furniture systems; ULMA Handling Systems provides automated intralogistics engineering; ULMA Lifting Solutions supports goods handling with maintenance machinery; and ULMA Embedded Solutions provides electronics engineering and consulting. International project work illustrates the breadth of the group. Examples described in the reference material include greenhouse cultivation in the Middle East under hot and water-limited conditions; formwork for the Hudson Yards development in New York; drainage channels at Krakow Arena in Poland; forged flanges for the Talara refinery modernization in Peru; conveyor equipment for the expansion of Gangavaram Port in India; automated logistics systems for textile customers in Brazil and Uruguay; and an electronics project involving an ESA Galileo EGNOS RIMS ground station. By 2023, the group was described as operating in 81 countries, employing approximately 5,747 people and generating more than EUR 1.15 billion in business volume, with close to 70% of sales international. These figures are time-specific and should not be treated as current unless independently updated.
- 2023
Reported international scale
[1]Reference material described approximately 5,747 employees, more than EUR 1.15 billion in business volume, operations in 81 countries and close to 70% international sales.
- 2022
Departure from Mondragon approved
[1]A December plenary assembly of the ULMA Group cooperatives decided to leave Mondragon Corporation.
- 2019
Embedded Solutions becomes the ninth business
[1]ULMA Embedded Solutions was consolidated as the group’s ninth business.
- 2008
ULMA Conveyor Components joins
[1]ULMA Conveyor Components entered the group from the Rochman cooperative.
- 2002
Industrial Division membership approved
[1]ULMA members approved joining the Industrial Division of Mondragon Cooperative Corporation.
- 1996
ULMA Polymer Concrete established
[1]A polymer-concrete business was established and later developed into ULMA Architectural Solutions.
- 1993
Independent cooperative-group structure maintained
[1]ULMA decided not to participate in Mondragon’s proposed organizational restructuring and continued developing its own cooperative group.
- 1989
ULMA Group name adopted
[1]The group changed its name from Oñalan to ULMA Group.
- 1987
Oinakar integrated
[1]The Oñalan group expanded through the integration of Oinakar.
- 1983
ULMA and Enara begin rapprochement
[1]The two cooperative business lines began a process of closer organizational alignment.
Products and positioning
A diversified, engineering-led Spanish cooperative group offering specialized industrial products, systems and services through nine autonomous businesses, with a strong international and project-delivery orientation.
Greenhouse systems
ULMA Agrícola
ULMA Agrícola designs and supplies greenhouse structures and horticultural production systems. Its work includes solutions for demanding climates, including projects in hot and water-constrained regions where greenhouse design must address temperature control, cultivation efficiency and limited water availability.
Construction equipment and engineering · 1963
ULMA Construction
ULMA Construction provides formwork, climbing systems, shoring and scaffolding for construction, civil works, industrial projects and rehabilitation. Its offering includes engineering support and equipment supplied for sale or rental. Project references include high-rise and infrastructure work using self-climbing and modular formwork systems.
Conveyor components · 2008
ULMA Conveyor Components
ULMA Conveyor Components designs and manufactures rollers, supports and drums for bulk-material transport. Its products are used in industrial conveying and port infrastructure, including systems serving mineral, coal and other bulk-handling operations.
Embedded electronics engineering · 2019
ULMA Embedded Solutions
ULMA Embedded Solutions provides consulting and engineering across the life cycle of electronic products. Services cover conceptual design, validation, FPGA development and automation of production-test systems, including work connected with aerospace and satellite-ground infrastructure.
Forged industrial components
ULMA Forged Solutions
ULMA Forged Solutions manufactures flanges and other forged components for industrial applications. The business descends from the Enara metalworking operation and has supplied customized components for projects such as refinery modernization.
Architectural and drainage systems · 1996
ULMA Architectural Solutions
ULMA Architectural Solutions designs, manufactures and markets prefabricated drainage and architectural products. Its portfolio includes drainage channels, ventilated façades, industrialized enclosures, custom prefabricated elements and urban furniture. The business developed from the group’s polymer-concrete activity.
Intralogistics automation · 1994
ULMA Handling Systems
ULMA Handling Systems delivers integrated intralogistics engineering, including automated storage and order-preparation systems. Its references include textile-sector automation in Brazil and Uruguay and an Eroski food-logistics platform in Spain designed to automate substantial portions of traffic, weight handling and bottle logistics.
Materials handling and lifting services · 1994
ULMA Lifting Solutions
ULMA Lifting Solutions supports the handling of goods through maintenance and materials-handling machinery. Its service activities include after-sales process management and online technical-assistance tools intended to standardize interventions and provide real-time operational information.
Packaging machinery · 1957
ULMA Packaging
ULMA Packaging designs and manufactures packaging machinery and complete packaging lines. The business originated in the group’s chocolate-wrapping workshop and now serves food, consumer and medical applications. Referenced developments include flow-pack containers with laser perforation designed to support sterilization of medical products while reducing reliance on medical paper.
Brand decisions
2022
Leave Mondragon CorporationStrategyBackground
ULMA’s cooperative members reviewed the group’s institutional relationship with Mondragon after membership in its Industrial Division since 2002.
Action taken
A plenary assembly of the ULMA Group cooperatives decided in December 2022 that ULMA would leave Mondragon Corporation.
Aftermath
ULMA continued as a cooperative group with nine businesses and shared group policies, but without membership in Mondragon Corporation.
2002
Join Mondragon’s Industrial DivisionStrategyBackground
After operating its own cooperative group for several years, ULMA members considered a closer institutional relationship with Mondragon.
Action taken
Members approved joining the Industrial Division of Mondragon Cooperative Corporation.
Aftermath
The relationship continued until the December 2022 plenary assembly approved ULMA’s departure from Mondragon Corporation.
1993
Maintain an independent cooperative groupStrategyBackground
Mondragon Cooperative Corporation proposed an organizational restructuring. ULMA chose not to participate and continued building its own cooperative group structure.
Action taken
The group retained an independent organizational position rather than entering the proposed restructuring.
Aftermath
ULMA later approved joining Mondragon’s Industrial Division in 2002, but ultimately decided to leave Mondragon Corporation in 2022.
Recent events
- 2022
ULMA cooperative assembly decides to leave Mondragon Corporation[1]
Other
In December 2022, a plenary assembly of the ULMA Group cooperatives decided that the group would leave the Mondragon Corporation, ending its membership in the cooperative federation after the earlier decision to join its Industrial Division in 2002.
- 2019
ULMA Embedded Solutions becomes the group’s ninth business[1]
Other
ULMA Embedded Solutions was consolidated as the ninth business of ULMA Group, extending the group’s industrial portfolio into embedded electronics consulting and engineering.
Sources1 sources
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