Company continues solid financial track record; has projects with Abbott Laboratories & Commonwealth
By Frances Ryan

Due to the volatile nature of the construction industry and the multiple variables involved, financial stability is of utmost importance. Many people have said that contractors continually gamble with their lives on every job they work.

Emilio E. Piñero, executive vice president for the Commercial Banking Group at Banco Popular, Miguel A. Laffitte, Jr., senior vice president for A&A Barrios & Carrion, Inc. and Antonio Figueroa, regional manager for Surety/Financial Lines at American International Companies, commend Aireko's good work and talk about their professional relationship with the company.

Enrique Rossi, president of Aireko de Puerto Rico Inc., and Josen Rossi, executive vice president, talk about current company projects and share their visions for the future.

Enrique Rossi explains Aireko is one of today's top ten companies in volume, net worth and human resources within the construction business. Incorporated in 1963, Aireko entered the general construction market with specialized services in civil and mechanical engineering.

Aireko's excellence stems from its longstanding reputation and solid performance. It began its industrial experience back in the 60's with oil refineries and has evolved to meet the challenges presented by the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, Aireko continues to work very closely with the government on joint ventures that enhance Puerto Rico's quality of life.

Piñero says, "Banco Popular de Puerto Rico has been Aireko's bank for more than five years. They hold a credit line of more than five million dollars, which they hardly ever use, and maintain satisfactory account balances and performance. There are no delayed payments on loans and they have a solid track record of payments to their suppliers."

Piñero adds, "Aireko is one of of our major clients within the construction business and is by far one of the best financially positioned companies in Puerto Rico within the construction industry."

"Any construction company that has a good bank needs an insurance company, American International Companies has worked with Aireko since 1987. Our working relationship is excellent and we see no obstacles to continue serving them in the future and are very glad to have them as a client," says Figueroa.

Laffitte says, "Aireko has the support of a sloid financial institution like Banco Popular and is back-up by the solidarity of American International Companies. As Aireko's stockbrokers, at Barrioas & Carrion, we safeguard their interests. We have more than 150 contractors as clients and feel very proud to have Aireko as part of our family."

Laffitte continues, "Barrios & Carrion has worked with Aireko for more than 20 years. During that time, my experience with Aireko has been excellent. Enrique Rossi is a dedicated, capable and responsible professional. In Josen Rossi, we have seen a natural succession that will continue to lead Aireko on a solid path to new acheivements."

Field experts say a company's longstanding reputation within the construction usiness is the best evidence of a company's solid position. Needless to say, Aireko has the support of leading members of the financial community in Puerto Rico and their work speaks for itself.

All agree that Aireko has a very proomising successor with Josen Rossi and that's why they'll continue to support Aireko's future ventures. Josen Rossi says, "We are ready to take advantage of Aireko's experience and to use our strengths to expand our industrial and commercial clientele."

Josen Rossi explains marketing efforts will be coordinated to increase Aireko's visibility in multiple bid processes within the private sector.

Some of Aireko's current projects include their participation in the multimillion dollar expansion project for Abbott Laboratories. Josen Rossi noted that Aireko was the ponly construction company invited to participate in all three of the civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering segments of the project.

Aireko is also working witht he Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) in the construction of the "battery-storage" project in Carolina. The main purpose of this project is to serve as a back-up for the electric plant in Aguirre, especially to generate additional capacity during peak consumption periods. This is the thrid project of this nature worldwide and the first one in Latin America.

At the annual award ceremony of the Association of General Contractors (AGC), last March 13, Aireko was awarded with the top commercial project of the year for its construction of the recently inaugurated Ponce Hilton Hotel.