Innovation durability, & guarantees flowing
accordingly
Produced by Jassen
Pintado
Written by Mateo Rafael Tablado
Translation by María Murgui
Creative Direction Omar Rodríguez
Interviewee
Hermann Varon, CEO of LATAM Norte for Saint-Gobain PAM
Continuous and dedicated Research and Development, aligned with the principle of placing clients at the center of operations, have led SaintGobain PAM LATAM Norte to the leadership in water pipelines and other industries
Saint-Gobain PAM is a French company established in 1856 dedicated to pipe production. Evolution has undoubtedly been one of its constants, reflected in both material development and techniques to achieve increasingly better functionality.
In the 1970s, PAM joined forces with SaintGobain, a French company dating back to the 18th century, created under orders of HM Louis XIV. This merger gave rise to various specialized activities, leading to the current Saint-Gobain group, with an international presence on all five continents. Since its foundation, Saint-Gobain PAM has been dedicated to the conception, design, manufacture, and marketing of ductile iron products for water supply, sewerage, irrigation, and industry.
The company’s foray into Latin America began with the arrival of the first pipes at the port of Guayaquil (Ecuador) in the 1920s, establishing a significant presence on the continent by supplying pipes, accessories, and PAM valves to its major cities’ water networks.
Saint-Gobain PAM owns production plants in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, with its two plants in Brazil supplying approximately 50% of the products for sale. The company is supported by commercial offices in Mexico, Colombia, and Peru, where it also has strategically located distribution centers. “We are a significant actor in the global water and sanitation sector,” said Hermann Varon, CEO of Saint-Gobain PAMLATAM Norte.
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE COMPANY, NOW LEADING OPERATIONS
Varon is a civil engineer who graduated from the Julio Garavito Colombian Engineering School
(Escuela Colombiana de Ingeniería Julio Garavito), specializing in Environmental Sanitation at the same institution. He also completed a specialization in Commercial Management at the University of La Sabana, (also in Colombia). His tenure at Saint-Gobain PAM dates back more than 15 years, during which he has held different positions in commercial areas, being appointed CEO of Saint-Gobain PAM-LATAM Norte in late 2021.
A
REFERENCE IN WATER AND VARIOUS INDUSTRIES SOLUTIONS
Saint-Gobain PAM specializes in designing and manufacturing products and services capable of preserving water quality and the environment, not only in the present but in a lasting manner that benefits future generations.
The company provides comprehensive solutions for ductile iron pipelines, serving not only the water and sanitation sectors but also the general industrial sector as well
- Hermann Varon, CEO of North LATAM for Saint-Gobain PAM
We are a significant actor in the
as mining, being a reference in water conveyance projects.
Constant contact with markets, its clientele, and the development of increasingly better solutions provide Saint-Gobain PAM with a leadership position, expanding its reach to new markets.
“Our reputation is based on our know-how, the reliability of our products, and the performance of the services we provide,” said the executive.
UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES ABOVE STANDARDS
In addition to close client relationships, what distinguishes Saint-Gobain PAM and sets it apart from the competition is the durable and highly functional material that allows for robust solutions, from which the following attributes stand out:
• Use of ductile iron, composed of an alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon, with resistance features resulting from the spheroidal
shape of the graphite obtained by magnesium treatment. PAM ductile iron pipes are solid under loads, and resistant to pressure, and impacts.
• The standard automatic selfsealing joint is quick to install. Its angular deflection provides flexibility and adaptability, which is crucial in unstable terrains, and is reconfigurable when obstacles are present. This element requires no on-site welding or reprocessing for coating repairs.
• The internal lining in highfurnace cement mortar, applied by centrifugation, is certified for potable water pipes, ensuring perfect adherence to the pipe’s internal walls, and guaranteeing hydraulic capacity.
• External coatings of zinc, aluminum-zinc, or Biozinalium ensure long-term protection with a self-repairing coating that responds to various soil types, even highly corrosive ones.
Revolucionando el cuidado del agua
“All our products are certified and even surpass requirements of international or European standards,” added Varon.
THE
CLIENT AS MAIN
FOCUS
AND AS A PARTNER
All solutions and products offered by Saint-Gobain PAM, as well as their features, aim to provide clients with the best resources available.
The company offers a catalog with over 50,000 entries, facilitating the design of networks of any size and complexity, considering different variables, including the availability of digital tools such as the PAMCAD software, available in different languages and indispensable for different processes in each project, as well as BIM libraries. Additionally, there are fast
installation solutions for builders that do not require specialized personnel, equipment, or machinery. These also do not need welding processes, X-ray tests, coating repairs, or demanding foundations. The assembly rate of ductile iron with sockets is unparalleled due to its robustness, allowing it to withstand high usage pressures and external accidents. The quality of the coatings protects pipes from external corrosion, preserving water quality. Each product is highly durable, and entirely reliable throughout its lifespan, allowing for sufficient and high-quality water supply.
“We see our clients as long-term strategic partners, which is why our solutions are designed to be easy to use, quick to install, and reliable throughout their lifespan,” explained the CEO.
LONG HISTORY AS LEADERS IN INNOVATION
Globally, the Saint-Gobain group of companies ranks among the top 100 most innovative companies. Therefore, Saint-Gobain PAM constantly works to optimize the performance of materials,
coatings, and joints. The company’s engineers and specialists have developed more than 150 inventions, resulting in over 1,500 patents to date.
Saint-Gobain PAM’s Research and Development Department was established in France in 1933. This
“Technocenter” is operated by a team of more than 130 professionals, including engineers, technicians, developers, and postgraduate students, dedicated specifically to researching and developing new solutions until industrialization. The capacity for generating optimizations, development, and market introduction of new products is such that one in every four products sold by SaintGobain PAM did not exist in the market five years ago. At a global level, in 2020, these new products represented approximately 30% of the company’s total sales.
COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
At Saint-Gobain PAM, environmental preservation and sustainability are commitments fulfilled through actions on all fronts. Between 2018 and 2021, the company invested over US$148 million in its entire industrial
apparatus to reduce its production’s environmental impact.
These measures have resulted in reduced water and energy consumption, waste generation, and discharge of industrial water. The company maintains objectives such as reducing CO2 emissions by 2025, and aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The LATAM Norte operation of Saint-Gobain PAM, as well as others worldwide, is supported by PAM Bionergia, a division located in Brazil dedicated to the cultivation, processing, and transportation of charcoal, used as vegetable fuel in the company’s blast furnaces in Barra Mansa. Currently, it is the only company using vegetable charcoal instead of mineral coal for its production processes.
“We are committed to respecting the environment,” said Varon.
CONTINUING TO GROW, INCORPORATING NEW PRODUCT AND SERVICE SOLUTIONS INTO OUR PORTFOLIO, AND DEVELOPING NEW BUSINESS MODELS ARE TASKS WE FOCUS
ON TO
BUILD THE FUTURE
- Hermann Varon, CEO of North LATAM for Saint-Gobain PAM
A FUTURE WITH GREATER EFFICIENCY
After a successful 2022 in the North LATAM region, Saint-Gobain PAM maintains high expectations for the end of 2023, despite the challenges in this and other industries.
The Digital Transformation process the company has undergone since 2022 will result in becoming a more
efficient operation in industrial, logistical, and commercial matters.
“Continuing to grow, incorporating new product and service solutions into our portfolio, and developing new business models are tasks we focus on to build the future,” concluded Hermann Varon, CEO of North LATAM Region for Saint-Gobain.
FOUNDED: 1856
INDUSTRY: Construction CONTACT: Hermann.Varon@saint-gobain.com www.pamline.com.co
