What technological advancements has Asturmadi Doors undergone in recent years?
This is a company that is already quite automated when it comes to its production lines. We must not forget that we have been using support robots for years in the assembly, painting, and packaging processes. This helps us achieve optimal production rates. To this we must add the main production line. It is based on specific sheet metal formats for our standard doors and is equipped with a warehouse and a shearing machine to provide maximum flexibility to the process.
It is important to highlight the implementation of custom-built software programs that allow us to configure our orders, generate production orders, and purchase the necessary materials to best serve our customers.
What is your most important production line?
Without a doubt, the punching + paneling + profiling line. All of our doors go through this line, and it allows us to manufacture both standard and custom doors with more than acceptable line changeover times.
How is production scheduling carried out?
We review all new customer orders on a weekly basis and create a detailed schedule of delivery dates, taking into account our factory’s available capacity in each case. In addition, we monitor the order backlog daily to ensure we meet our committed deadlines and stay ahead of any unforeseen issues that may arise.
What challenges has COVID-19 presented for you?
The truth is that it has been a major challenge, but we can finally say that we’re starting to get through it.
We’ve all had to make an effort and change the way we do things. We know that the health of our employees and their families is the most important thing.
We have followed all health recommendations from the very beginning, and this approach has yielded good results.
From a procurement and production standpoint, how does the increase in raw material prices affect your industry?
The current global situation regarding both material prices and delivery times is making things difficult for manufacturing companies. It is causing our delivery times and costs to rise and could lead to a shortage of supplies that no one wants.
We hope these issues will be resolved soon, to prevent a public health crisis—which has already had an economic impact on retail, hospitality, and tourism in general—from turning into a crisis that affects other sectors, with all the negative consequences that would entail.
Asturmadi Doors specializes in manufacturing fire doors. What kinds of components do they use? What technical challenges do they face?
We manufacture galvanized steel fire-rated and multipurpose doors, which are painted at our own facilities. These doors feature various types of internal insulation depending on our customers’ needs and the certification they require.
The biggest challenge we face is the ongoing renewal of the fire tests required to remain in the market, which entail a significant financial and personnel investment.
Are there any tasks you’d rather outsource?
Most of the door-related tasks are done at home.
We typically outsource the manufacturing of small metal and plastic parts to local workshops that produce them using their own molds, dies, and cutting tools.
Finally, do you have any short- or medium-term investments planned for new equipment, or any new projects that might require new machines?
Asturmadi is a company that, by its very nature, is always thinking about future investments. Fortunately, we continue to work at a steady pace and can at least look for opportunities to improve.
We are currently exploring the possibility of upgrading the powder coating facility, installing a new frame profiling line, or setting up an extraction and filtration system to improve the working environment in a specific area, among other options.
