* By Salvador Meza
Discover how ETEC is changing the rules of the game in the shrimp farming industry with exclusive technology, all-inclusive service, and a strong presence across Latin America.
Salvador Meza: Eduardo, welcome. For those less familiar with ETEC, can you summarize the company’s global reach?
Eduardo Del Castillo: We started in Colombia nearly 40 years ago, where we continue to operate our production plant. Today, we are also present in Mexico, Ecuador, and Central America, with our corporate headquarters based in Panama. Our projects extend to Saudi Arabia, Oman, New Caledonia, Iraq, Egypt, and beyond. Wherever there’s a need to move large volumes of water, that’s where we are.
Salvador Meza: One of your most innovative concepts is floating pumps. What makes them unique in the shrimp farming industry?
Eduardo Del Castillo: ETEC floating pumps are portable, modular, and 100% relocatable solutions—ideal for bodies of water with variable levels and unstable terrain. They adapt to tidal fluctuations, minimize the need for civil works, and operate efficiently in environments impacted by climate change. Quick to install and requiring minimal structural intervention, they deliver high operational efficiency. Perfect for aquaculture, these are not pontoons or barges with pumps installed, they are fully integrated, selfcontained units, it adapts to tides, eliminates heavy civil works, and is fully relocatable.
Salvador Meza: That must have a big operational impact. What about the costs?
Eduardo Del Castillo: It’s a triple win, it saves on three fronts: initial investment, operational efficiency, and maintenance. Most importantly, it’s a mobile asset. If you sell your farm or move, you take your pump with you. It matches vertical pumps in efficiency but offers far more in flexibility, additional benefits and added value.
Salvador Meza: Another standout is your all-inclusive service model. Tell us about that.
Eduardo Del Castillo: Three years ago, we launched a full-service rental program. We rent the pump, install it, handle all preventive and corrective maintenance, and replace it if needed. The client focuses on growing shrimp; we take care of all the pumping. It’s been extremely well received.
Salvador Meza: What benefits have producers found with this model?
Eduardo Del Castillo: Peace of mind. Many farms have pumps out of service for weeks. With us, uptime is over 95%. Every 45 days we inspect the equipment, change oil and filters, and deliver predictive maintenance reports. It’s about outsourcing what doesn’t directly generate value in shrimp production.
Salvador Meza: In addition to efficiency, you maintain local operations. Why is that key?
Eduardo Del Castillo: Being close makes all the difference. No one wants to invest in equipment without local support. We have staff and infrastructure in Mexico, Ecuador, Central America, and Colombia. We move fast. For us, after-sales support is just as critical as the product itself.
Salvador Meza: In terms of adoption, what’s the ratio between floating and vertical pumps today?
Eduardo Del Castillo: Right now, about 65–70% of our pump sales in Latin America are floating pumps. More and more producers are choosing mobility, efficiency, and no civil works.
Salvador Meza: Can you share a success story?
Eduardo Del Castillo: In Saudi Arabia, a farm needed 100 m*/s of pumping capacity. Civil works would’ve taken 18 months. With our floating pumps, they had 25 m*/s installed and operating in just 10 days. Now their entire water system is based on floating pumps.
Salvador Meza: Lastly, what’s ETEC’s vision for 2030?
Eduardo Del Castillo: To be the leading company in large-scale water management solutions. Not just pumps, we also offer farm design, harvesters, recirculation systems, and more. We innovate and support our clients from design to operation, delivering exceptional after-sales service that ensures our products perform at their best every step of the way. ETEC isn’t just selling equipment—it’s delivering peace of mind, efficiency, and a future-ready model. With proprietary technology, fullservice support, and local presence, it is redefining aquaculture pumping across Latin America.
For more information:
Web: www.etecinternational.com
E-mail: info@etecinternational.com
*Salvador Meza Editor & Publisher of Aquaculture Magazine
