41 Bringing together hundreds of companies, many of them direct competitors, within a single organizational structure is no small feat. However, they share common interests and objectives that, when aligned and respectful of each company’s unique characteristics, can serve as a strong foundation for collective growth. ANFIR understands this well. Since its founding in May 1980 – driven by the vision and personal commitment of leaders from thirteen road implement manufacturers – it has steadily expanded its membership and become the most representative entity in the implement industry, as well as one of the most influential in the automotive and freight transport sectors. This is evidenced by its well-established membership base, built over nearly five decades – through the end of 2025 – which continues to grow steadily, with new companies joining every month, and sometimes even every week. In its most recent survey, ANFIR recorded 201 implement manufacturers among its members, along with a total of more than 1,300 affiliated companies. Naturally, the journey to this level of success has not been linear. According to Silvio Melo, the organization’s Marketing Supervisor, the pace at which companies have sought to join ANFIR has varied over time, influenced by prevailing legislative and economic conditions. “In the early years, as expected, membership grew more slowly and unevenly. The first major surge occurred in the early 2000s,” recalls Melo. However, the surge observed – particularly in 2007 and 2008, which established a new level of representativeness for ANFIR – has been surpassed by a wide margin over the past decade. Even more notably, this growth has been accompanied by a strong diversification in the profile of member companies. “Beginning in 2019, there was a clear shift in the level of company membership. Even amid the pandemic, the 2022– 2025 period recorded the highest number of new members in the entity’s history, pointing to structural – rather than merely cyclical – growth,” Melo notes. Melo highlights that the trend and cumulative number of new memberships over the past three years are particularly emblematic: 68 companies joined during this period – the highest sustained volume in the historical series – with annual peaks of up to 18 new members. The number of affiliated companies has grown by more than 100% over the past decade. Between 2016 and 2025, 107 new companies joined the association, compared to 52 in the previous ten-year period. “Since 2022, however, this trend has become consistent, with successive records of new members and, importantly, not limited to implement manufacturers.” This greater diversity of profiles is, without a doubt, clear evidence that the association has strengthened its representativeness and relevance in recent years. This progress stems from more proactive engagement with regulatory and technical bodies, as well as active participation in sectoral chambers and coordinated actions with affiliated entities, among other initiatives. ANFIR currently brings together companies from different segments of the production chain, including suppliers of parts and components, specialized service providers, and technology companies. “This, in fact, reflects ANFIR’s growing institutional recognition as a representative entity of the sector.” Alongside the growth in membership and the expansion of represented supply chain segments, there has also been an increase in regional diversity – fully aligned with three of the organization’s guiding principles: “strengthening representation,” “expanding the membership base,” and “making the organization more national and plural.” Among the factors that explain the much more robust membership base compared to a decade ago, Melo also lists the greater institutional visibility – a process like a snowball effect –, the strengthening of the entity’s relationship with companies and partners, expanded dialogue with public authorities, and the organization of events and forums to position the entity. “This has led to a new cycle of expansion that is more robust, sustainable, and aligned with ANFIR’s role at the national level.” A rapidly expanding universe With its role and activities becoming increasingly significant, ANFIR is experiencing its strongest period of membership growth.
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