EDITOR’S LETTER
July 2022
Welcome to a new Construction industry special on The Boston Business Review. Our cover is honored by Gerdau Corsa, the South American giant which took Mexico in no time thanks to strategic acquisitions and partnerships, earning a leadership position in the long-steel and specialty steel items market.
From Guatemala, Corporación AG displays their enviable path of growth and achievements toward a sustainable future, and also leading the way in closing the gender gap by giving women the opportunity to grow within the organization, earning leadership
and decision-making positions, as we learn via the “Women of Steel” feature, a collaboration by Gabriela Roca, the company’s Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability.
Way down south, Saint-Gobain Peru and Weber Solcrom Saint-Gobain Chile are a force in construction and finishing materials contributing to their respective territory, bringing value and engaging in partnerships resulting in country-wide presence.
Thanks for reading and sharing The Boston Business Review’s 2022 Construction special issue!
Mateo Rafael Tablado, Editor in chief for The
Boston Business Review
Email: rafael.tablado@thebostonbr.com
WHO WE ARE
Managing Director
Jassen Pintado
Creative Director
Omar Rodríguez
Editor in Chief
Rafael Tablado
Editor for Brasil
Flavia Brancato
Translations
María Murgui
Finance Director
Christina Nichole
Social Media Director
Maria Elena Gastelum
Content Coordinator
Alicia Barrantes
Project Directors
Ana Macfarland
David Alarcon
Giuseppe Modenesi
Lucy Verde
Marcelo Modenesi
TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE AT THE SERVICE OF INDUSTRIES IN SEARCH OF A RELIABLE SUPPLIER THAT PROVIDES EFFECTIVE TECHNICAL SUGGESTIONS, high quality supplies at competitive prices and punctual shipping
by
Jassen Pintado
Creative Direction
Produced
Omar Rodríguez
With more than 25 years of experience in Metallurgy field, SINOMETAL
MACHINERY
CORP - a company based in Chinahas put its know-how in metallurgy at the service of industries that require a trusted certified supplier, which ensures the punctuality of supplies of quality inputs, mainly GRAPHITE ELECTRODES, cement and refractory bricks for the melting furnaces (EAF), refining furnaces (LF) and for the distributor-trough (Tundish).
SINOMETAL also offers technical support from its experts, providing high-level technical solutions for end users in the steel industry and foundries worldwide.
INPUTS FOR STEEL PRODUCTION AND CERTIFIED QUALITY GRAPHITE ELECTRODES
SINOMETAL’s graphite electrodes are
the main product, with a total output of 100,000 TPA, resulting in high quality graphite electrodes with diameters ranging from 200mm to 700mm in the grades that are most commonly required (NP, HP, SHP, UHP Grade) for the foundry and metallurgical industry.
SINOMETAL
grade UHP (ultrahigh power) graphite electrodes are manufactured with high quality needle coke and petroleum coke as raw materials and coal tar pitch as adherent, achieving low resistivity, minimum coefficient of thermal expansion and suitable electrical conductivity, produce low ash content, high resistance to oxidation, strong resistance to bending, a compact structure and high mechanical stability that contribute to a reduced rate of consumption kilograms of electrode consumed against tons of steel produced for the process of steel production in the Electrical Arc
SINOMETAL has used its experience to the service of companies looking for a reliable supplier for top quality metal products
Furnace (EAF) and Ladle Furnace (LF).
SINOMETAL’s graphite electrodes are manufactured under strict processes that control quality in the stages of calcination, dosing, kneading, pressing, roasting, graphitization, and machining, and are covered with suitable wooden packaging for export.
In addition to graphite electrodes, the main products that SINOMETAL also supplies are:
2. Refractory products for EAF melting furnace such as:
1. Graphite electrodes
EAF magnesia-carbon bricks, EBT rings, refractory products for refining furnace, copper molds / ingot molds, oxygen injection lances, among others.
3. Refractory products for the refining or ladle furnace: Dolomite magnesite bricks, porous plugs, cap holder, nozzle holder, gunning refractory cements.
4. Refractory products for Tundish /distributor: Vibration dry mass for tundish, stop rods, among other items.
All the products that SINOMETAL supplies are manufactured in compliance with the strictest requirements of the ISO quality standards.
4. Refractory products for tundish
Sinometal has successfully cooperated with a large number of industries in each Latin American country, achieving significant decreases in consumption rates and increases in productivity.
We welcome and invite new friends from related fields of metallurgy from all over the world to welcome your technical inquiries and requirements.
INDUSTRY: Manufacturing
CONTACT: www.sinometalunion.com graphite@sinometalunion.com +86 411 3962 5877
JUAN PABLO DIAZ Sales Manager - Latin America jdiaz@sinometalunion.com
Porous plug
ONE STOP
FOR QUALITY AND ENDURANCE IN STEEL MANUFACTURING PRODUCTS
Pintado
Produced by Jassen
Creative Direction
Omar Rodríguez
Steel manufacturing products created with the best available materials, backed by an important investment in Research and Development, undergoing procedures supervised by top qualified technicians. In other words... Lonsun!
LONSUN
is a leader in the steel manufacturing industry, performing as a one-stop service for different kinds of products for rolling, shafts and tungsten carbide rings. Every item offered by Lonsun is backed by processes performed with cutting-edge technology using top quality materials. Adamite rolls, nodular cast iron rolls, alloy chilled rolls, chrome rolls, HSS (high-speed steel rollers), hi-chrome rollers, ICDP rolls and more offer resistance to wear,
fire and oxidation, meeting quality assurance standards.
The company boasts a 30-year experience in mill rolls, with important investments in R&D, and the best machinery, materials and qualified professionals within its three facilities able to deliver hot rolling mills, section mills, hot strip mills, plate mills, and cold rolling mills.
Lonsun finds itself steps ahead of the industry’s demands, currently supplying a full range of rolls and other steel manufacturing products.
FULL STRENGTH AND CAPACITY SUPPORTING GLOBAL PRESENCE
Lonsun’s production facilities are run by 215 workers and 45 technicians, adding a total of 32,000 ton yearly production capacity. More than 33% of Lonsun’s yearly output is exported globally.
Maintaining capacity at such levels requires top-notch technology for every process. The rolling plant is host to different sets for medium frequency and intermediate frequency induction
Metallographical
furnaces, heat treatment furnaces and CNC finishing machines. Every process in the company’s manufacturing facility is subject to quality-assurance inspections under ISO-9001 standards, as well as every product leaving Lonsun’s facilities.
CUTTING-EDGE MACHINERY IN EVERY PROCESS
Lonsun counts with the machinery and facilities for hot and cold rolling, while qualified technicians operate
and oversee rolling passes into the roughing, intermediate and finishing rolling cages. Steel billets are previously set to the proper temperature in a furnace and undergo the necessary roll passes according to the desired product requirements.
From first bends to tandem finishing mills, every process is supervised to obtain required sizes, thickness and temperature for steel in each step. Every piece of equipment receives proper, timely maintenance to operate
UT test
Lonsun is steps ahead of the industry’s demands, supplying a full range of steel manufacturing products
RELYING ON THE BEST TO DELIVER THE BEST PRODUCTS
The higher quality of melting, thermal treatment and raw materials result in less wear suffered by rolling cylinders. Lonsun is far from using the common materials found at any still mill, but rather relies on high alloy steel and specific, high-quality ferroalloys to meet the necessary
AFTER-SALE SERVICE
Lonsun not only delivers the best quality steel manufacturing products available, but also offers excellent after-sale service.
The company has established a wide network of associates in production plants worldwide, gathering the necessary experience to offer complete technical support and after-sales service.
Working with Lonsun results in products with a benchmark-quality lifespan
LONSUN, THE RIGHT DECISION
Working with Lonsun results in obtaining the highest roll quality from a company investing in the best available material in the market, worldwide, with a sound R&D department able to develop the best products in steel manufacturing, offering thorough after-sale service and working under the highest global standards to offer products with a benchmark-quality lifespan.
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS in steel
Produced by Jassen Pintado
Creative Direction Omar Rodríguez
Globalization and world trading have become more popular over the last 20 years, but for companies like Steel Resources, LLC (SRI), conducting business on the global stage is part of its DNA. This family-owned business has been doing international steel trading with
companies from multiple nations, crossing language and cultural barriers by implementing a transparent, effective, and reputable approach to excellence. The core of this company’s values relies on the commitment to establish positive long-term relationships with its clients, which
many -with the passing of time-, have become like family. This company believes in working and growing together side by side, being the strong ally you can rely on.
When presented with the opportunity to be featured in this magazine, Steel Resources, LLC showed
particular enthusiasm to be part of this edition along with its esteemed client, Corporación AG. The business relationship between both companies has extended over three generations.
SRI has been assisting Corporación AG since its founder Don José Luis Gabriel began producing nails in his
garage. Nowadays, both companies can look back and be proud of the immense growth and success both businesses and their respective family members have achieved over the years.
ESSENTIAL PART OF CLIENTS’ VALUE CHAIN
Steel Resources is a global steel trading company assisting its highvaluable network of steel mills and buyers for the past 62 years. When elaborating on the value they offer
to their clients, we recognize key differentiators that make them a strategic part of the value chain. SRI assists with the buying/purchasing process, from purchasing products with specifications according to clients’ requirements to finance and logistics, ensuring products reach their final destination. Each transaction involves tons of steel products and ships loaded with products to be distributed throughout Asia, South America, Central America, Africa, and part of North
America and Europe.
SRI understands the magnitude and dynamics that are part of the steel industry, which is susceptible to changes related not only to access to raw materials, but also to production processes, oil prices, politics, shipping costs, etc. Is it an easy industry to be in? Well, not really. However, with the right talent, professionalism, and experience, opportunities are unlimited. The SRI team is comprised of a highly knowledgeable group of individuals who have dedicated their careers to understanding and mastering this specific industry’s dynamics and the perspectives of both clients and suppliers. Precisely because they have invested so much into understanding each side’s process, interests, needs, and attitudes, SRI makes sure every transaction is conducted with the utmost care, guaranteeing the purposes of both supplier and buyer are met. They care about the client’s experience through reliable, transparent transactions;
STEEL RESOURCES
after all, every operation involves tons of steel products that must be sold and delivered on time for their enduse. The quality of sold products, trading agreements, access to logistic partners, and timely deliveries turn SRI into an asset to their clients’ and suppliers’ value chain. Reputation and fulfilling orders AS EXPECTED is a guarantee not many can offer. Yet, when clients experience this consistent and smooth process, they understand that trust and reliability are invaluable to their business operations.
RELIABLE TRADING PARTNER
Steel Resources is very proud to have built a brand associated with trust, family values, professionalism, and expertise. SRI is the team that, when issues arise, they will tell it to you as it is, however, they will also lay out your possible options and suggest a line of action to protect clients’ goals. When looking into the SRI client portfolio, it’s impressive to see the number of
known companies comprising such a portfolio and the many years they have been part of it. A perfect example of the previous statement is the business relationship with Nippon Steel, from whom Steel Resources has bought steel for the past 26 years. SRI has purchased 7 million tons of steel products from this company in this period. After all those years and all those tons, there has only been one (1) claim for quality in the history of this partnership which was resolved immediately. Total complaints from that region are less than 0.002%, unheard of in the steel industry. Since October 2009, the firm has not spent even one month without shipping materials from Nippon to its clients in the rest of the world. Other clients SRI assists every month are Ferrotorre in Ecuador, ARME in Colombia, and Consorcio in El Salvador, among others. Steel Resources has a strong presence in the Latin American market. Out of all the regions it sells steel to, 15% to 25% of all the sales
are imported to South America. The company features a quality network of mills and buyers, which guarantees the quality of products mixed with trusted and transparent transactions.
We mentioned a key term: NETWORK. Because of the many years of business operations and how relationships among companies (and the families associated with them) have been nurtured, Steel Resources prides itself on being surrounded by mind-like corporations operating with the same brand values and responsible business practices. Furthermore, the network goes beyond steel producers and buyers. Financial institutions like Bank of America have been essential for their operations, and as usual, this institution has been assisting SRI for over 20 years now. Steel Resources is one of those companies that stands out very loudly not only for its service but for its approach of the same. The investment their executives make in connecting and nurturing
trust and respect has paid off with a loyal clientele, reliable suppliers, efficient logistic coordination, and overall prosperity for any company within the network.
Steel Resources operates in multiple regions of the world, especially in Ecuador, Peru, El Salvador, Kenya, China, Brazil, and Colombia, to name a few. To assist all these areas more effectively, SRI has in place a system of representative agents working locally as a point of contact. These agents answer directly to the corporate headquarters, where orders are negotiated, verified, and approved. They act according to the firm’s alues and principles, ensuring the whole value chain is consistent regarding the experience and efficacy of its operations.
STEEL RESOURCES AS A MARKETING ARM
This company believes the base of its operations is defined by quality steel products to be offered to its clients. In order to do so, SRI commits to
include within its network steel mills with the capacity to produce quality materials, with verified production processes up to global standards. That’s why the Steel Resources team, during the selling process, acts as the sales representative of the mills as well. Traders are very familiar with the different steel products, their production processes, specifications, and proudly represent the products offered and recommended to clients.
This approach works better as traders are the perfect liaison between suppliers and sellers and maximize the effectiveness of the sale process.
WHAT ABOUT LOGISTICS?
When we talk about the sale of multiple tons of steel products, the negotiation and sale process is a piece of cake compared to the real challenge: Getting the final product to its destination. However, Steel
THE SRI TEAM IS COMPRISED OF A HIGHLY KNOWLEDGEABLE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR CAREERS TO UNDERSTANDING AND MASTERING THE INDUSTRY’S DYNAMICS
Resources has got you covered. The company has established expertise in knowing the products and their needs when it comes to transportation. As part of its value-chain network, SRI has also established long-term relationships with multiple shipment companies assisting with the logistic requirements for its operations. The shipment companies SRI works with are known for their expertise in transporting steel commodities and their market share in the regions in which Steel Resources operates. A perfect example of this is our existing relationship with Conti-Lines, which has nearly 100 years of experience as ship operators and agents, it has become an elite maritime holding company with whom SRI has been working for three generations. Another key player in the conveyance of our steel products is Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, also known as MOL, considered one of the world’s largest international ocean shipping companies with over 130 years of experience in
transporting steel products along with different commodities. SRI and MOL have been working together for more than two decades now, enhancing SRI logistics infrastructure. These are just some examples of the size and capacity of the shipping entities that SRI is used to dealing with on a daily basis to ensure to its clients that each piece of material arrives on time.
Steel Resources is indeed a company composed of individuals committed to delivering only excellence to its stakeholders. It’s part of their values, and the same has been translated into the system of their daily operations. In an industry overwhelmed by numbers, tonnage, and oscillating processes, Steel Resources has flourished by remaining determined with the client’s experience and the culture of working together in sign of good faith across its network.
BRIEF HISTORY OF SRI
Steel Resources, LLC is a family-
owned company that started its steel trading business 62 years ago led by Jose N. Charur through a company named Representaciones Internacionales S.S., a.k.a. Repinter, back when the family was in El Salvador. This company acted as the representative of many steel mills and steel traders, among which we can include the following: Nissho Iwai, Marubeni Iida, Tokyo Boeki, Usinor, Krupp, Hoogovens, Cockerill Sambre,
Compañía Siderúrgica de Huachipato, Kukje Corporation of Korea and many others throughout the world.
Due to political and economic turmoil in El Salvador and Central America, the Charur family was forced to move out of El Salvador, deciding that Miami was the best place to relocate their company and family members. They founded a company named Kebaly Investment Company and continued to represent Usinor,
Compañía Siderúrgica de Huachipato (CSH), Krupp, Hoogovens and obtained the representation of C.V.G. Siderúrgica del Orinoco (SIDOR). Also, due to the region’s economy in shambles, they had to become traders, as mills and traders alike did not want to finance any operations in Central America. Thanks to the company’s leadership’s knowledge of the region, the company was more than capable and willing to run the
risks related to doing business in the territory and began trading operations.
As traders, the family established a company called Latin American Export and Import, NV. The Charur family became critical in the Central American area, trading materials mainly produced by SIDOR, CSH, USINOR and Propulsora Siderúrgica of Argentina (PROSID, which today is part of TERNIUM). On the other hand, looking to cover different areas and
STEEL RESOURCES PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING SURROUNDED BY MIND-LIKE CORPORATIONS OPERATING WITH THE SAME BRAND VALUES AND RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS PRACTICES
different suppliers, a sister company was founded: Steel Resources, Inc. (SRI), and began trading in Central and South America, with a particular emphasis on Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. In 1991, SRI obtained the representation of Caribbean ISPAT and began to market their product in Central America and eventually helped LASA establish a direct relationship with them. SRI has, to this date, continued to grow in the aforementioned markets and is now actively involved in sales to Brazil, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Haiti, and the USA.
By the end of 2003, a new company named Steel Resources, LLC (SRI) was created from the merger of Steel Resources, Inc. and Latin American Export and Import, Inc. Today, SRI is active in all of South America, the Caribbean, Central America, West Africa, East Africa and South Africa. It remains a family-owned business, now with the inclusion of the third
generation of Charurs trading steel across the globe. Nowadays, the company continues to nourish its long-term relationship with suppliers, clients, and shipment companies, while simultaneously promoting green initiatives to make a more significant impact globally.
INDUSTRY: Construction
CONTACT:
www.steelresources.com sales@steelresources.com + 1 (305) 459-4000
NATIONWIDE PRESENCE servicing the construction
industry
Pintado
Produced by Jassen
Written by Mateo Rafael Tablado
Interviewee
Asier Amorena, General Manager for Saint-Gobain Weber in Chile
Saint-Gobain Weber has kept a steady presence all along Chile, achieving this accomplishment is possible thanks to the company’s successful strategic partnerships
CONCEIVED FOR ROYALTY FOR GLOBAL AVAILABILITY
Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions for industries such as construction, healthcare and mobility, among many others. The company’s history goes back more than three centuries ago as a glass factory opened under orders of King Louis XIV, in France. Currently, Saint-Gobain has presence in 70 countries with the support of more than 167,000 employees, and in 2020 generated sales for more than $45.4 billion.
Products created by Saint-Gobain are developed under a continuous innovation process and are to be found in many different spaces in everyday life, delivering wellness, execution and safety, undertaking the challenges faced by sustainable construction, resource efficiency and fighting climate change.
BOOSTING PRESENCE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
Saint-Gobain’s presence in Chile also goes back long ago. The company has established key strategic partnerships with businesses such as the El Volcán company and the Vidrios Lirquén glass factory. In 1996, Saint-Gobain incorporated Weber, also a company with French
origins and global presence. In 2016, Weber’s affiliate in Chile expanded in South America after acquiring the Solcrom company, a solid player in the production and distribution of chemical products for construction.
The operation in Chile currently has five distribution centers and two production plants, the newest one opening in July 2022 in Concepción, consolidating the company’s presence in all of Chile.
Asier Amorena is the General Manager for Weber Saint-Gobain in Chile since 2017. Amorena is originally a telecommunications engineer, graduated from the Public University of Navarre (Spain), he worked in this specialty during two years for Agilent Technologies in Stuttgart, Germany. Once back in Spain, Amorena was hired at Saint-Gobain for the Marketing and Development department, for which he earned an MBA from the Barcelona School of
Weber Projects
Management (Spain), adjunct to the Pompeu Fabra University. Besides this degree, Amorena has also taken different marketing courses and seminars in prestigious institutions in Spain, such as IESE, IE Business School and ESADE Business School. His career in Saint-Gobain took a turn in 2011, as Amorena arrived at Brazil as Marketing Director, being named Sales Director five years later; his stint in Brazil
also saw Amorena’s further development in leadership by honing his skills in important business schools with professors with ties to Harvard University and the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), both in the United States.
NATIONWIDE PORTFOLIO AVAILABILITY
Solutions and products from SaintGobain Weber are useful in projects of
CHEN BUILDING MATERIAL are professional company specialized in the production of alkaline-resistant fiberglass mesh, self-adhesive fiberglass tape, fiberglass wallpaper, paper joint tape and metal corner tape more than 15 years. We also produce ceiling including mineral acoustic ceiling, gypsum ceiling, fiberglass acoustic insulation ceiling etc.
With our policy of “Quality first, Customers prior and Price reasonable”, we have established good relationship with the customers all over the world.
Mineral acoustic ceiling
Gypsum acoustic ceiling
Metal corner tape
Alkaline resistant fiberglass mesh
Self-adhesive fiberglass tape
Paper joint tape
different kinds and dimensions: from repairs, finishes and home remodeling projects to large building construction, offering cement, plaster, mortar, coating, sealers, concrete, silicone and other compounds. These products are available from Arica to Punta Arenas through the three main distribution channels for the Chilean construction industry:
• For the retail market via SODIMAC, the specialized home and construction superstore chain
• Hardware stores
• In construction companies nationwide.
GROWTH VIA DIGITIZATION
The Digital Transformation process at Saint-Gobain Weber Chile is a key factor to the company’s growth with
Saint-Gobain Weber
“WE TRY TO BRING A
FAIR VALUE
OFFER TO OUR CLIENTS AND SUPPLIERS”
- Asier Amorena, General Manager for Saint-Gobain Weber Chile
the development of three main pillars:
• Optimization of managerial procedures
• Improving communication along with thrusting the Weber brand into a digital habitat inclusive to retail clients as well as end consumers of the company’s products, which are mainly
contractors and other construction professionals
• The modernization of the company’s industrial platform through resources set in the Industry 4.0 concept.
PARTNERS, SHAREHOLDERS, STAKEHOLDERS
For decades, the way to success in Chilean territory for Saint-Gobain
Weber has been through the creation of powerful partnerships able to bring win-win situations within a context of absolute and total trust. Both the company and partner El Volcán share this long-term perspective.
“We try to bring a fair value offer to our clients and suppliers. A perspective of value distribution of the shareholder to all of our stakeholders, besides facing the everyday challenge of having a true empathic view with each of our stakeholders,” Amorena declared.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH SUPPLIERS
The provision of supplies, raw materials and other goods to run operations in Saint-Gobain Weber Chile requires specialized purveyors, possessing key traits, such as flexibility, being on time and other attributes which allow establishing
fruitful relationships in the long term. The company has developed key suppliers as well as products with specific requirements, contributing with knowledge and financial support to its value chain.
“Suppliers with operations in Chile are key partners, because they are open to create custom developments adding value to our operations,” the executive said.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO A BETTER PLACE
The “Making the World a Better Home” initiative is a global effort from Saint-Gobain and affiliate companies to help make our surroundings a more sustainable, beautiful place to inhabit.
In facing this commitment, SaintGobain takes its global leadership role for sustainable solutions and focuses on goals such as reaching
Empresa cementera, presente en Perú, Ecuador y Estados Unidos. ¡Y ahora también en Chile! UNIDOS CONSTRUIMOS UN MUNDO SOSTENIBLE.
Avda. Las Industrias n° 4651, San Juan, San Antonio - Chile
Correo: recepcionplanta@unacem.cl Teléfono: (+56) 35-2332300 / (+56) 987772637
Chemical at the service of the Construction Industry, Coatings, Paper, Pulp and Agro Industry.
www.cloramon.cl empresas@Cloramon.cl
Fono: +56 2 24401320 Panamericana Norte 8900, Quilicura, Santiago Chile
Empresas Cloramon S.A.
“SUPPLIERS WITH OPERATIONS IN CHILE ARE KEY PARTNERS, because they are open to create custom developments adding value to our operations”
- Asier Amorena, General Manager for Saint-Gobain Weber Chile
STRONG AND DURABLE CEMENTS WITH MOWILITH®
The high-performance Mowilith® solutions are used for increased durability and strength in cementing operations and to deliver premium mortar performance, including flexibility, waterproofing and offers protection against weathering.
The Archroma Way to a Sustainable World: Safe, efficient, enhanced, it’ our nature.
www.archroma.com
Products created by SaintGobain Weber are in line with the “Making The World A Better Home” program, aligned to the UN’s initiatives about climate change
1996 as Saint-Gobain Weber in Chile INDUSTRY:
a zero CO2 emissions by 2050. This was announced during the UN Climate Action Summit.
This goal contributes to the Business Ambition for 1.5°C global pact, which establishes a maximum increase of global temperature to 1.5°C, considered by science as the limit increase to avoid the worst impacts derived from climate change.
UPCOMING PLANS
Among the upcoming goals for SaintGobain Weber in Chile, the operational platform optimization project stands out, as it does the development of work teams into an intermediate skills mix. It’s been foreseen that once these efforts result in efficient processes and skilled individuals, these will add value to the operation, leveraging growth for the company in the upcoming years.
LEADING COMPANY
in integrated solutions in steel products
Corporación AG is still optimizing its operations and position within the Guatemala and Central America market by taking firm and decisive steps toward sustainable processes along with suppliers and clients
Creative Direction
Interviewee
Rodrigo Gabriel, CEO for Corporación AG
Produced by Jassen Pintado
Written by Mateo Rafael Tablado
Translation by María Murgui
Omar Rodríguez
For almost 70 years, Corporación AG has acted as a valuable ally for Guatemala within the construction sector, leading the transformation, production, and distribution of steel products.
The company’s growth all along this time has allowed it to expand its operations in Central America. Currently, it has presence in six countries, has eight production plants and thirteen distribution centers in Guatemala, Honduras, and El
Salvador, thus generating a working source of 2,321 collaborators. Its human resources management has taken AG to the Great Place To Work platform, which recognizes the best companies to work for, according to their personnel’s criteria.
In 2021 the company became the first Central American company to become certified for its Integrated Management System, which includes the Quality Management System ISO 9001:2015, the Anti-bribery
We must keep our priorities and centralities on our clients and customers under a sustainability focus which allows us to combine our growth strategy
- Rodrigo Gabriel, Chief Executive Officer at Corporación AG
Con Voluntad de Acero, transformamos el presente para construir el futuro que todos soñamos
Management System ISO 37001:2016, the Health and Safety Management System ISO 45001:2018, the Environmental Management System ISO 14001:2015 and the Corporate and Social Responsibility Management System ISO 26000:2010. Corporación AG also belongs to organizations such as Pacto Global and CentraRSE, which are
committed to Guatemala’s and the Central American region’s sustainable development.
“We must keep our priorities centered on our clients’ and customers’ needs under a sustainability focus which allows us to combine our growth strategy”, commented Rodrigo Gabriel, Chief Executive Officer at Corporación AG.
WORLD WIDE EXPERIENCE
A TOTAL COMMITMENT TO QUALITY PRODUCTS AND IMPECCABLE SERVICE
CAREER-LONG LEADERSHIP COMMITTED TO THE COMPANY
Rodrigo Gabriel has been managing Corporación AG for five years, after being in charge of the company’s supply chain during the previous five years before he was appointed Chief Executive Officer.
He graduated from Rice University (Texas, USA), besides earning an MBA degree specializedin Finance from the ESADE Business School (Barcelona, Spain).
“My commitment is based on
the legacy that started almost 70 years ago and on the corporation collaborators’ trust”, the CEO pointed out.
A DIFFERENT AND BETTER KIND OF PRODUCTION
Over the years, Corporación AG has increased the catalog of products it manufactures, thus currently offering wire, iron, profiles, prefab, construction products, and loading/unloading products from transmetalation, among others.
One of the company’s distinctive factors is that the steel production processes at Corporación AG are carried out using electric arc furnaces, whose energy comes mainly from renewable resources. This factor helps reduce the company’s carbon footprint, which is currently Scope 1 and Scope 2 and aims at achieving Scope 3 through melting scrap metal.
GROWTH THROUGH ACQUISITIONS AND EXPANSION
While seeking to offer more products
related to the construction sector, Corporación AG recently enlarged the rolling mill at its SIDEGUA Plant, which is located in Masagua, Escuintla Department. This enlargement means an increase of 42% of this plant’s capacity, going from a 350,000 tons to a 500,000 tons capacity.
The detection of inorganic growth opportunities has also delivered results in recent times. Only in 2021, Corporación AG accomplished three important acquisitions, when
SINOMETAL, with more than 25 years of experience in the field of Metallurgy, is dedicated to supplying top quality graphite electrodes and inputs, expert technical support and a high level of service for the Steel and Foundry Industry around the world
| www.sinometalunion.com
jack@sinometalunion.com graphite@sinometalunion.com
One-Stop Service for Steel Industry
Lonsun Metallurgy is one of the leading producers of mill roll in China with 30 years’ experience in mill roll manufacturing. Through constant study and research, we always keep abreast of the demands and advance of the steel industry.
ventas - América Latina
My commitment is based on the legacy that started almost 70 years ago and on the corporation collaborators’ trust
- Rodrigo Gabriel, Chief Executive Officer at Corporación AG
incorporating TUBAC, a Guatemalan company that commercializes plumbing and flat steel for Central America and the Caribbean. This deal also brought its sister company TYPSA, which, from Honduras, operates in the commercialization of structural tubing, zinc and aluminum/ zinc coated steel sheets, besides other flat products for different uses, and which operates in Central America.
The third acquisition was the company Megaproductos, which
offers integrated solutions for the construction sector.
“These acquisitions will allow us to expand our operations toward new markets to go on innovating, to become the best operator in the region and offer solutions for the construction industry” declared Gabriel.
ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY REACH THE SUPPLY CHAIN
Corporación AG’s dealings with suppliers goes beyond mere
commercial transactions. The company works hand in hand with its business partners, especially when dealing with issues related to eradicating robbery, fraud, and bribery in all types of transactions. Therefore, it encourages an ethics, integrity, and zero-tolerance-based
culture before corruption acts through by-laws established in their CEAG Code of Ethics and their Management Integrated System.
Communication is a key factor between the company, its suppliers, and interested parties to detect and improve weaknesses within the value
chain. They work jointly on training collaborators and suppliers to share the best practices and keep ethical and transparent commercial relations.
“We work hand in hand with our suppliers to reduce risks through the implementation of transparent and long-term training, policies, and relations”, added the executive.
INCREASING ONLINE PRESENCE
Corporación AG’s seven-decade presence in the construction sector in Guatemala and Central America is due to different reasons, one of them its adaptation capacity. The appearance
On the other hand, the Steel Academy is a free online training platform that is aimed not only at the company’s collaborators, clients, and suppliers but also at anyone of relatively recent media, together with events such as the recent global pandemic have led the company to widen its presence in virtual networks, not only with its current presence via its website, which contains information about the company, but also developing platforms for sales and online training.
Since 2021 the company is carrying out trials to optimize the future launching of Portal AG. This digital showcase will allow its clients and customers not only to place orders but also to enter personalized profiles in which, besides purchasing products, they will have access to data such as their purchase history, tracking orders, account statements, as well as special and exclusive offers, and new products, among others. This portal is still in its trial phase and it is expected to start working soon to speed up and improve commercial interactions with the company.
“The last trial with the Portal AG was finalized with selected clients, who shared their comments, doubts, improvements, and wishes with us. We will be launching it for 100% of our clients shortly”, added Gabriel.
WORKING YOUR IDEAS IN METAL
wanting to know more about the products the company offers. The courses are organized into 30-minute modules and have tests and a scoring system besides giving passing and participation certificates. Just as any online training tool, it offers the advantages of receiving courses with no schedule restrictions or infection risk due to the pandemic.
“AG goes for continuous improvement, so we know that training our clients and customers about our products and uses is
essential”, commented the Chief Executive Officer.
SUSTAINABLE ACTIONS FROM OPERATIONS AND STRATEGY
Only through the execution of its processes, Corporación AG contributes to the environment and sustainability being the company that recycles the most scrap metal in Central America, thus contributing to circular economy as it uses waste collected by more than 130 suppliers all along the country, to transform them in high-quality steel products for construction, contributing by generating business and reducing the impact on the environment.
To these daily operations, we
should add the Aceros de Guatemala Sustainability Strategy, which established guidelines aiming for 2025 to comply with environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria, named ASG (Spanish for Environmental, Social, and Governance projects), by operating responsibly and empowering collaborators, neighbors, clients, and suppliers. Its purpose is to have a positive impact on the region’s development when creating longterm value and prosperity, growing responsibly and increasing the company’s presence in the region, strengthening its position and competitivity within the established term with responsible leadership,
Click here to read Corporación AG’s first Sustainability Report (in Spanish)
We work hand in hand with our suppliers to reduce risks through the implementation of transparent and long-term training, policies, and relations
- Rodrigo Gabriel, Chief Executive Officer at Corporación AG
integrity, innovation, and proper treatment to its personnel, excellency in its commercial offer, besides optimal financial and economic results.
The strategy means the continuation of the vision that has kept the company seeking new results for decades and in years to come, so it can proudly celebrate its 70th anniversary.
The recent steps the company has taken regarding sustainability have been acknowledged in its first Sustainability Report, in which the efficient actions and numbers Corporación AG generates regarding this issue are listed.
“We commit to fulfilling our purpose of transforming the present to build the future we all dream of through the implementation of our strategy for the next years”, ended Rodrigo Gabriel, Chief Executive Officer at Corporación AG.
FOUNDED: 1953
INDUSTRY: Construction
NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 2,321 CONTACT: www.corporacionag.com Tel:(502) 2290-9400 / 01
Those companies on the leadership and forefront in every sector don’t become such just by decree, but rather by years of hard work supporting every achievement; many of such efforts were driven by the goal of surpassing -not necessarilyown challenges and limitations, but also those shared by the context and even the times. Corporación AG showcases its leadership in inclusion not just by creating a related program, but by actually making it part of its day-to-day operation, hiring professionals that have become...
Women of
Written by
Gabriela Roca, Head of Corporate Affairs and
Sustainability at Corporación AG
Creative Direction Omar Rodríguez
Produced by Jassen Pintado
I’mproud of belonging to Corporación
AG, where I’ve experienced family values becoming corporate values, which currently drive what we know as AG Culture.
AG Culture is made of different elements that may be very difficult to describe, but what I can tell is that it openly allows women participation by creating spaces where knowledge, experience and different perspectives are appreciated, turning teams with diversity into appraised teams.
I take part in a young executive team gathering industry knowledge, longterm vision, and awareness about the importance of decisions and its impact on our parties of interest. It’s a different kind of leadership and this is experienced from the brain.
During my professional career I’ve had the opportunity of meeting
different executive teams, some of them really good and tight, and others with a lot of improvement opportunities in leadership and capability among its members.
Nevertheless, since being hired by Corporación AG I was surprised by the interaction, openness and what I call “a world without individual ‘corporate policies’”, but rather an executive team whose members are motivated by common good, the group’s cause, and therefore, the company’s purpose.
The famous saying used more and more frequently, “tone at the top”, takes place; hence, the message to the rest of the organization is similar.
Openness, inclusion and opportunity are part of the AG Culture; though unwritten, such elements are experienced every day, becoming living stories that we can share.
I’d like to start with Carol Juárez’s
practices deployment supervision, creating routines for processes as management tech engineer. From this position, she had the opportunity to know the profiles, flat and rolling plants. This experience resulted in her promotion to Managing Tech story, who joined Corporación AG ten years ago as an engineer for control quality process in the wire drawing plant, two years later she took the challenge of moving to the Management Technology department, where she was appointed to best
Chief. The steel mill got her attention and soon after a better engineering position opened, that’s how she became part of the production process. Nevertheless, the higher challenge she embraced two years later was the management position in the Metallic Grounds; “The Grounds”, as we know it, means a relevant process to us, the plant where everything begins. Carol leads more than 70 workers, the management of thousands of tons of metallic material in every variety. Carol became the first woman in charge of “The Grounds” in Corporación AG’s almost 70-year story, and she undoubtedly broke a paradigm. In this position, Carol reached record levels in different processes, summing it up all as “a great experience with many professional and individual accomplishments”.
She’s currently the Head of the Manufacturing Front in what we call the “Transformation Office”, which, as properly described, transforms our business.
From the manufacturing front, Carol supports initiatives aiming at bringing improvements into every facility, with the purpose of optimizing the company’s day-to-day operations. Undoubtedly, Carol’s experience in transforming, improving process management and leading efficient teams is highly relevant and praised within the staff at Corporación AG. She expresses that “AG is a place to work offering multiple learning opportunities with individuals sharing their knowledge and always offering their support.”
At Corporación AG, when we talk about quality, Luisa Yat is on our
“AG is a place to work offering multiple learning opportunities with individuals sharing their knowledge and always offering their support”
- Carol Juárez, Head of Manufacturing Front
mind; Luisita, as we call her. Luisa is an industrial mechanical engineer, and she’s been with AG for more than ten years. She began as an engineer working in plant management technology. Years later, she was in charge of deployment for management tools in nine of Corporación AG distribution centers. Always on the lookout for more options, Luisa stepped forward to become a key developer and user in the “Everest” project, deploying the SAP-HANA system in the organization’s system. Afterwards, Luisa continued her
journey along processes, working directly in the LBA rolling plant, one of our main lines. Some time later she took on a new challenge joining our strategy team, taking over the deployment of a new project related to quality. As part of the development opportunities, she pushed herself to take part in a recruitment project -actually an internal promotion-, which resulted in her being named Quality Manager, where she is in charge of our products’ and processes’ quality, a very important role within the company and its clients.
Quality is such a difference-maker for AG, quality in steel products, specially in seismic territory such as ours, is relevant, it’s a very important responsibility to take on. Luisa takes part in different committees in which, in her managerial role, she shares decision-making with other managers and leadership positions, creating a difference in our business. In this role, Luisa has never felt that being a woman limits her role’s performance, on the contrary, she feels her capabilities are respected, listened to and considered for decision-making.
“I want to keep growing, contributing with value and learning new things, and keep myself opening new paths in my journey in this sector,” Luisa commented.
Another AG leader experiencing growth in her area, clearly achieving the kind of leadership that enables our organization to drive our culture is Patricia Morales, or just Paty. She
joined Corporación AG almost four years ago as Culture and Development Manager; her position began with a team of five professionals, still a very diverse group in a time in which the business went through a lot of changes and transformation. Paty took on this challenge with support from the organization’s leadership, precisely from top management, taking her career as a psychologist and her master’s in leadership and coaching to the service of Corporación AG from day one. Her leadership flourished, she learned about the steel business and how to manage company culture in an organization with almost 70 years, with very deep values as well as a need for change, in order to be prepared for the future.
Paty took on the challenge of transformation, not only culturewise, but also business-wise, her department went through a series of changes that allowed for a custommade vision design, centered on
“I want to keep growing, contributing with value and learning new things, and keep myself opening new paths in this sector”
- Luisa Yat, Quality Manager
Michi joined AG for an internship before graduating as an engineer in industrial technology. She was individual workers. She’s now in charge of the Human Resource Management department, with a team that is part of every business and with a strategic role, developing the systems and processes in human resources able to bring value to talent development, culture and workplace relationships for the corporation, including change management. To me, Paty symbolizes the assurance of inclusion at every level, due to her professionalism and also with her capacity to look beyond, her
sensibility of understanding that talent management is about individuals, many fathers, many mothers and entire families that are part of our dear Corporación AG.
Another inspirational story is the one about Michelle Sosa, Michi is a leader able to show that effort, persistence and focus in the right company brings results.
assigned to the electricity area in the steel mill, the heart of our business, as we call it. Michelle went through different areas, stepping up to every challenge learning and training for each task she was assigned. She didn’t know much, but she was always willing to learn. Even though at first glance she perceived not being a technical specialist meant an obstacle,
her insight was that the company culture at Corporación AG and the leadership’s teaching ability closes such gaps, she recalled.
Michelle competed for a Project Corporate Management position, and her skills not only earned her this position, but she also became the youngest manager in the corporation. She has many stories to tell, but
“In AG there’s a culture of respect which has allowed me to develop in a pleasant way without any hassles. Being a woman makes us focus more on details, enabling us to create a culture about respect, safety and display details as a result of our femininity”
- Michelle Sosa, Manager in Charge of Production Facility
she considers her biggest challenge was to co-manage the LBA -our rolling facility- reboosting project.
This was, after the setup of Parque Industrial Sidegua, the largest project driven by the corporation, and as such, there were hurdles to surpass: aligning domestic and foreign teams, language barriers, culture clashes and unexpected events such as the pandemic and the logistics and transportation meltdown. Seeing the rolling mill working the first steel billets with a new technique
has been one of the most gratifying experiences, being the result of her and her mates’ teamwork, focus and constant efforts. “This project was like obtaining approval for my thesis,” Michelle commented, huge challenges resulting in the best apprenticeship.
Michelle’s latest challenge was becoming Manager in Charge of Production Facility at the transmetal, mesh, cutting and folding plants, thus accomplishing one of her main goals by becoming part of productive processes.
“In AG there’s a respect culture which has allowed me to develop in a pleasant way without any hassles. Being a woman makes us focus more on details, enabling us to create a culture about respect, safety and display details as a result of our femininity.”
The company’s finances are a
very important subject, and in this area we rely on Fabiola López’s leadership. Fabi joined Corporación AG as Accounting Manager, applying her more than 15-year experience in finance and project management in different endeavors. In AG, Fabi’s leadership is focused on guaranteeing the operational continuity upon wide-scheme scenarios, such as
the pandemic. Fabiola applies her knowledge and, from upper management she has taken on changes in processes, accounting leadership in new businesses, support for sourcing and planning.
She expressed that Corporación AG is a place that enables her to grow professionally as well as taking her place as a mother and wife.
When Fabi is part of a group, we are certain that things are happening with accuracy, compliance and transparency.
Before coming to an end, though there are plenty of stories from our Women of Steel, I would like to acknowledge Adriana Menéndez’s story, who has a professional success journey in Corporación AG, a story at the heart of our processes. Adriana started in AG more than nine years ago as Engineer in Quality Process Management, she was also involved in the Steel Mill and Electric Welding facilities, learning the industrial processes, which she was attracted to from the beginning. Afterwards,
“Corporación AG enables me to grow professionally as well as taking my place as a mother and wife”
- Fabiola López, Financial Analyst
Adriana received the opportunity to be promoted to Chief of Quality Control in both facilities, as she began to experience leadership with staff reporting to her. She focused on slag quality improvement analysis and wire rod chemical composition analysis, focused on meeting clients’ requirements to achieve satisfactory results, among other factors. In 2016, the Steelworks facility manager handed her the opportunity to become Steel Mill Chief of Production, being the first woman taking control of this process, where she had the opportunity to operate the furnace, a process considered the heart of our production. One year later, she applied to the Fire-Resistant Goods and Recipients Direction, which she obtained. In this role, Adriana and her team are in charge of maintenance for fire-resistant molds and containers, essential elements for steelworks
and its journey. This year, she led a time-shortening optimization during container change, thus achieving savings in this process. Adriana’s leadership is evident, and, along with her team, they keep contributing and thinking about different ways to improve processes, living one of the company values: “We strive every day to become the best.” Adriana expresses her satisfaction and is thankful for the opportunity to work in a company such as Corporación AG, where, besides using her creativity, she can also contribute with ideas, teamwork and relying on an always supportive leadership from the company.
In Corporación AG there are women in leadership positions, I can’t mention all of them, nevertheless, we are all part of this Women of Steel squad. We are aware that there’s still a very
“Openness, inclusion and opportunity are part of the AG Culture; though unwritten, such elements are experienced every day, becoming living stories that we can share”
- Gabriela Roca, Head
of
Corporate
Affairs
and Sustainability at Corporación AG
wide gap in Guatemala about inclusion and opportunities. This makes me engage even more with the need to show that diversity is a “very good business”, because there’s diversity in the world, and it will become better as we can find in a table -in every table-, individuals with different opinions, different
perspectives, different life experience, working together for one common goal.
I hope the future awaiting us is a more open, inclusive world and having every woman reaching the ceiling they set themselves to reach. From Corporación AG we keep striving to “Transform the present to build the future we all dream about.”
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
AND BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Over a century of prestige and growth make of Gerdau one of the main suppliers of long steel products in the Americas. This strength, strategic partnerships and sustainable management have consolidated Gerdau Corsa in Mexico
Interviewee Denis Gomes, Director of Supply Chain, Metal and Energy for Gerdau Corsa
Creative Direction Omar Rodriguez
Produced by Jassen Pintado
Written by Mateo Rafael Tablado
Translation by María Murgui
Gerdau’s history goes back to 1901 at the hands of German immigrants settled in Porto Alegre, in Southern Brazil. The nails factory started by Joao and Hugo Gerdau began its transformation in 1946, when Curt Johannpeter -Hugo’s son-in-law- took the reins of the company, thus spreading its business and operations.
The territorial growth began in the second half of the 20th century, and in 2007 the company arrived in Mexico.
ALLIANCES, ACQUISITIONS AND INVESTMENTS FOR SUCCESS IN MEXICO
The acquisitions and strategic partnerships have been a key factor for Gerdau’s consolidation in the Mexican market.
Upon its arrival in the country,
Gerdau purchased the totality of Siderúrgica Tultitlán (SIDERTUL steelmaker), which already had more than 50 years of experience in steel production.
A year later, Gerdau acquired 49% of the stocks of the Aceros Corsa company and its distributors’ network. After this strategic alliance, investments were planned to build the largest construction profiles plant in the country in Cuidad Sahagún, Hidalgo. These facilities started working in 2015, after a US$600M investment. Their set-up capacity is of a million tons of liquid steel and 700,000 tons of laminated products.
“We are supported by 120 years of experience in the steel industry, we are one of the main long steel products manufacturers in America and one of the leading special steel suppliers in the world”, added Denis Gomes, Director of Supply Chain, Metal and Energy for Gerdau Corsa.
Gerdau Corsa
“We are supported by 120 years-experience,
we are one of the main producers of long steel products in the world”
-
Denis Gomes, Director of Supply Chain, Metal and Energy for Gerdau Corsa
PROVED LEADERSHIP ALL OVER THE CONTINENT
Gomes graduated in Business Administration at the Federal University of Santa Maria (Brazil) and, afterwards, he earned an MBA with specialty in Finance at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, also in Brazil. He also took updating courses during his years spent in Peru. In 2020 he finished his studies in the High Management Perfection Program, at the IPADE (PanAmerican Institute for High Business Management, in Mexico). Also, Gomes took part in the Núcleo Preparatorio de Oficiales de la Reserva (Reserve Officer Preparatory Core), in the Brazilian Armed Forces. Regarding his work, Denis Gomes started his career in Coca-Cola, working in the Finance, Accounting, Marketing and Strategic Planning departments. During his time in this company he earned the certification as Chief Auditor of the Coca-Cola Quality System and took part as Quality National Award Examining Board Auditor in Brazil.
After joining the Gerdau Bank, hecompleted the Trainees Program and later he became an integral part at Siderperu, being appointed Leader of Finance and Relationships with Investors, with the aim of achieving the Company’s financing reorganization; during that period he took part in the Global Comptrollers Training Program, and he got achievements such as the implementation of the financing area into the Shared Services Center (SSC) in 2012, thus centralizing the financing operations of six countries in Latin America.
In 2015 he took over the SSC General Management, thus incorporating part of the United States operations, and in 2018 he was appointed Finance Manager at Gerdau Corsa, where his main challenge was to optimize the financing and capital organization for the expansion and growth of the Company in Mexico. In December, 2020, Denis took over as Director of Supply Chain, Metal, Logistics, Energy and S&OP (sales and planning).
Gerdau Corsa
GERDAU CORSA in Mexico
Three steel production and lamination plants
More than one million tons of liquid steel made a year
Seven scrap metal process and recollection units
Leadership in construction profiles production
RESOURCES TO FACE CHALLENGES
As well as for many other industries worldwide, matters such as logistics and the supply chain have meant a series of challenges for Gerdau Corsa since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.
However, solutions to those problems through a digital mindset and the implementation of digital tools have allowed a quick and efficient performance. The use of Artificial Intelligence has been useful for the automatic and remote classification for the recollection and processing of metal raw materials. Also, the implementation of the Gerdau Tracking System (GTS) for the Logistics area allows accurate monitoring of deliveries to each client.
“The most prepared companies, and those which reacted in a quick and efficient way were the ones to transform the supply chain’s basic functions”, the executive declared.
“The most prepared companies, and those which reacted in a quick and efficient way were the ones to transform the supply chain’s basic functions”
-
Denis Gomes, Director of Supply Chain, Metal and Energy for Gerdau Corsa
EVOLUTION OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN
Gerdau’s Supply Chain consists of the following areas:
• Purchase and Processing of Metal Raw Materials
• Logistics
• Energy
• Co-products
• Supplies
• Sales and Planning (S&OP)
The latter is now in charge of managing and integrating the rest of the areas according to the market’s needs identified by the Business area, of the optimization of each of the resources with the aim of reaching maximum production capacity, as well
as guaranteeing the raw materials from a deep knowledge of the impact of the market’s prices and tendencies.
The main purpose of this integration is to deliver the products to each client timely and in due form, customizing the work each of them may require. For that purpose, the Company is supported by the development of Business Intelligence programs, which allow the identification of prices, tendencies, raw materials demand and other factors. Also, a Supply Chain Innovation Day has been created, an event which gathers the whole supply chain and invites sector-related startups, besides giving recognition to best practices and implementations.
Pioneers at Heart
NEXT LEVEL SERVICES NOW
Primetals Technologies Mexico located in Apodaca N.L. nearby the USA border, a services and products company part of the pioneer Primetals Technologies group, founded in 1994 focused on furnaces and recently for the past years giving specialized solutions for casters and mills.
Recently Primetals Technologies Mexico conditioned a third new workshop, some of the mention bellowed are part of the new equipment:
• CNC Table Type Horizontal Boring Mill 6”
• Gray CNC vertical mill 84”.
• Boring Mills, Vertical 56”.
• [2] Gantry machining centers.
• [2] Lathe 6T260L
• Lathe 5100LB
• Welder 2T
• Conventional Lathe
• Milling machine
• [3] Laser trackers and a measuring Arm.
• Handyscan latest version.
• Nickel plating station.
www.primetals.com contact@primtals.com
For further details please direct to:
• Alfredo Salazar (USA Account Manager) alfredo.salazar_cortes.ext@primetals.com
• Marco Rito (MX & SA Account Manager) marco.rito@primetals.com
• Luis Gamboa (VP & Sales Director) luisd.gamboa@primetals.com
BOOSTING SUPPLIERS
Gerdau Corsa has created alternatives to funding programs for its supply chain along with different banks. These mechanisms have the purpose of developing and strengthen suppliers who are considered Business Partners for the Company by easing their access to credit, besides contributing to economic recovery.
EFFORTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE... AND FOR THE PRESENT
All of the production output from Gerdau Corsa is made from millions of tons of recycled materials, making Gerdau the largest recyclers in Latin America.
Among other related efforts, the processes developed by Gerdau have allowed the company to reduce its carbon footprint, considering that per each ton of steel produced in the world, 1.89 CO2 tons are emitted (global average quantity within the steel industry) whereas the Company has reduced its average down to 0.93 CO2
“We will continue working to update our industry and become a model to reach other 120 years and contribute to a more sustainable world”
- Denis Gomes, Director of Supply Chain, Metal and Energy for Gerdau Corsa
tones per each steel ton produced, besides assuming the commitment of reducing it to 0.83 CO2 tons until 2031.
Another remarkable effort was the sustainability agreement entered into with BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizacaya Argentaria) for the import of strap metal with an investment of US$60 million, positively affecting with this transaction the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), thus making sure to stock the company up with recycled raw materials and promoting the reuse of solid materials, and at the same time
COMMITTED TO THE SERVICE
Specialists in rental of scrap metal handling equipment
Gerdau Corsa
contributing to Circular Economy.
“We are in continuous search for the improvement of environmental management which makes us become a leading company and a model within the industry”, Gomes explained.
GROWTH AND DIVERSIFICATION IN PERSPECTIVE
For the future, Gerdau Corsa foresees a growth in the country which will keep present challenges related to logistics and energy, which are subject to each country’s regulation and policies. There are plans for a markets diversification beyond the iron and steel industry. The Company is also working in contributing to a more equitable community through diversity and inclusion policies and working in social projects related to education, environment and health which will allow it to contribute in neighboring communities.
“We will continue working to update our industry and become a model to reach other 120 years and contribute to a better world”, concluded Denis Gomes, Director of Supply Chain, Metal and Energy for Gerdau Corsa.
Saint-Gobain states its firm conviction
TO IMPROVE EVERY PERUVIAN’S QUALITY OF LIFE AND TO TAKE CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Produced
by
Jassen Pintado
Interviewee
Nicolás Pesaque, CEO for Saint-Gobain PPC Peru
Creative Direction
Omar Rodríguez
Saint-Gobain PPC is positioned in Peru, thrusted by its rapid growth to the leadership in the market for construction and finishings, besides taking a step forward toward sustainability in its operations and construction solutions, aligning this purpose through its value chain
Saint-Gobain has presence across 70 countries contributing to the construction sector. The company’s more than 350-year history began as a glass and mirror manufacturer for King Louis XIV, working in widely-known historical projects, such as the Palace of Versailles, in France. Besides its worldwide expansion, the company has also increased its specialized product portfolio for different tasks in construction and finishes.
Saint-Gobain Productos para la Construcción (Saint-Gobain PPC, “products for construction”)
arrived at Peru in 2013 through the launching of Weber mortars, which became a leading brand in 2019 after acquiring Pegamentos y Fraguas de Celima (Celima adhesives and forges).
In 2021, Saint-Gobain acquired Soluciones Constructivas Volcán, a company established in Peru since 2011, specialized in manufacturing and marketing of the drywall system. And in late 2021, the company finished its acquisition of Z Aditivos, thus thrusting its way into the chemicals for construction industry.
Saint-Gobain PPC covers all of Peru directly and through strategic partnerships as well.
“We want to become a reference within the construction sector supported by the experience we bring to the market through our innovative products and solutions, with a high service level and a sustainable operation,” commented
Nicolás Pesaque, CEO for Saint-Gobain PPC Peru.
MULTISECTORIAL CAREER
Nicolás Pesaque Roose leads the operation at Saint-Gobain PPC Peru. He earned a degree in Industrial Engineering at the Peruvian University of Applied Science, in Lima. Afterwards, Pesaque earned an MBA from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management, in Australia.
Pesaque’s career began in ASA Alimentos, a food production company commonly known for the “Negrita” brand. In ASA, Pesaque performed in the operations area. Afterwards, he joined Alicorp, becoming part of the company’s marketing team on an international level.
Pesaque entered the construction industry in 2016 as Business Manager for Soluciones Constructivas Volcán, taking over as General Manager for the
- Nicolás Pesaque, CEO for Saint-Gobain PPC Peru
company in 2018, and being named CEO for Saint-Gobain PPC Peru during early 2021.
RELEVANT STRENGTH IN DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING
The company supplies the construction and finishing works industry from five production facilities,
“WE
WANT TO BECOME THE GLOBAL LEADER
in light, sustainable construction”
strategically located in Arequipa, Lima and Trujillo.
Saint-Gobain PPC Peru’s business units are:
• Weber and Weber-Celima mortars
• Drywall products from the Volcán and Placo brands
• Chemical products for construction from Weber and Z Aditivos
Atlas Copco, proud to be Saint-Gobain PPC strategic partner in their compressed air projects
Our air compressors, gas generators and air treatment products, provide our strategic partners, like Saint-Gobain PPC, innovative, efficient and sustainable industrial solutions. Working with the largest service network in the region, we are ready to help you wherever and whenever you need us.
Atlas Copco, Home of Industrial Ideas.
www.atlascopco.com/es-pe/compressors
FACTORS FOR SUCCESS
To the more than three-century experience and network support implied in Saint-Gobain’s global operation, other factors are added, contributing to a successful run for Saint-Gobain PPC Peru:
• Excellence in customer service
• The experience shared with customers and users
• The base of knowledge open to serve the market
• Permanent innovation in every product, solution and service platform
• Sustainable operation regarding resources and the development of neighboring communities
CONTRIBUTING TO A BETTER HOME THROUGH GROW & IMPACT
The Grow & Impact plan, from SaintGobain, is a global strategy designed to bring growth to the company through a wide array of solutions and its operation model, boosted by its performance on the marketplace.
This way, Saint-Gobain remains a leader in every market by developing sustainable products, resulting in a wide reduction of the carbon footprint, hence a better use of resources, relying on materials able to contribute to building better homes and buildings, answering to the company’s purpose of “Making the World a Better Home”.
Saint-Gobain PPC Peru is focused in this program, sharing its premises
“IT’S OUR DUTY
TO ENCOURAGE DECARBONIZING IN PRODUCTION PROCESSES.
We
will be summoning every player in the sector to achieve this”
- Nicolás Pesaque, CEO for Saint-Gobain PPC Peru
“A SYMBOL OF OUR WORK IS TO BE ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE MARKET NEEDS”.
PSQ Argentina S.A. comprises different fields related to construction, painting and adhesives. It is worth highlighting the offer of waterproof and antifungal additives that help to preserve and extend lifecycles of buildings.
For further information, please contact us at: tecnica@psqargentina.com www.psqargentina.com
ARSIL® Sodium silicate powder
BIOCIBAC® Biocides and fungicides
GLUTABAC® Preservatives
STEAR-CA® Stearates
OLEO PLUS®
CHROMIUMSIX FREE Sodium oleates
throughout its supply chain, its own products and their life cycle.
“We want to become the global leader in light, sustainable construction, improving everyday life through high-performance solutions,” Pesaque added.
SUPPLY CHAIN: ALIGNED GOALS
One of Saint-Gobain PPC advantages is working in Peru with many of the company’s global suppliers, which means goals and principles are aligned toward the same purposes, including in factors beyond the marketplace, as it is with reducing any environmental impact.
“It’s our duty to encourage decarbonizing in production processes. We will be summoning every player in the sector to achieve this, working like an ecosystem is the only way to become successful in the
implementation of this goal,” the executive said.
FULFILLING DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN ELEMENT
Company culture within SaintGobain PPC Peru is highlighted by its diversity and respect between the staff and inclusion. For key factors such as personnel development, three main subjects are considered:
• Strengthening an own management culture, supported on reliance, empowerment and collaboration.
• Obtaining tech skills able to increase agility in taking on innovation and its transference onto the market.
• Technical knowledge of every construction solution offered by the company.
THE FUTURE:
OPTIMIZING EVERY FRONT
The future ahead of Saint-Gobain PPC Peru is certainly shining, considering the company has every necessary element to deliver on set goals. As its main focus, the company is after an efficient integration of businesses recently acquired, and afterwards thrust these into a sales volume resulting from a new value proposition and a strong portfolio. The company also foresees upcoming acquisitions with the purpose to increase the number of categories covered by the current portfolio,
thus becoming aligned to the plan of increasing Saint-Gobain’s leadership in Latin America.
To achieve all of these goals, new technology is to be deployed, enabled to increase production capacity in an efficient and sustainable manner.
In other matters, from within the
company, Comunidad Saint-Gobain (Saint-Gobain community) is being created with the purpose of improving the personnel’s housing conditions, and afterwards extending this collaborative effort to communities surrounding the Saint-Gobain PPC Peru operations.
Because we are the FIRST, we are the BEST
Leading company in its field, dedicated to the construction of parts, packaging and wooden stretchers.
elsolsac@hotmail.com pym_deloriente@hotmail.com www.grupochacaltana.com.pe
Security and Quality in the Service
VL Servicios, a Peruvian company, dedicated to the transportation of personnel and heavy cargo. Our Mission, to be a strategic ally of our clients, we guarantee the safety and quality of our service, always adapting to their needs.
Contáctanos:
+51 943.227.962
www.tianpuchemical.com sales@tianpuchemical.com
www.tianpuchemical.com
• Heat-shrinkable sheets
• Biodegradable sleeves
• Bags • Packaging
• Laminates for the industry in general
• Flexographic printing up to 8 colours.
• Pouch and Doy Pack bags
Headquarters: (0051) 1-326-0663 (0051) 1-326-0664 (0051) 1-326-0665
Av. Mariscal Caceres N° 446 Urb. Valdiviezo Ate Lima, Perú www.bolsipol.com.pe
“WE SHARE ENDEAVORS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALONG EVERY COUNTRY IN THE TERRITORY, the most important of which is to make sure every Peruvian has access to proper housing”
- Nicolás Pesaque, CEO for Saint-Gobain PPC Peru
“We share endeavors and accomplishments along every country in the territory, the most important of which is to make sure every Peruvian has access to proper housing,” concluded Nicolás Pesaque Roose, CEO for Saint-Gobain PPC Peru.
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: FOUNDED: CONTACT: 170,000+ (global) 1665, since 2013 in Peru
www.saint-gobain.com nicolas.pesaque@saint-gobain.com INDUSTRY: Construction
