REVISTA DEL ASCENSOR IN CHILE
The construction boom in Chile, previous to Covid 19 pandemic, made the elevator fleet in Chile had reached more than 45.000 installed equipment in a short time, which at the same time meant a very important growth for the Sector. And one of the leading companies in this expansion is SOTECSA ASCENSORES S.A., a leader in the Fifth Region.
To talk about the company and other current issues, we interviewed one of its owners, Mr. Víctor Montenegro Gueiza, in charge of Operations Management.
Until March 2020, Chile had a huge real estate growth, a boom that showed no signs of exhaustion or stoppage. More than 362 investment projects have entered since 2016, for a figure close to the US $ 40,000 million, generating more than 34,000 jobs. But today the landscape has changed and the first response of this experienced Chilean businessman is about this topic:
Revista del Ascensor: – Is building construction still active or has it stopped?
Víctor Montenegro Gueiza: – Indeed, construction was affected by restrictions on the transfer of construction personnel, in addition to the interruption of production processes of some important materials for the industry, all caused by the pandemics.
Even so, the solid structure on which Sotecsa Ascensores is based allows it to continue in full growth, led by Don Víctor and his partner, Patricio Lofat Castillo. Both tasks and locations are shared by them as the material warehouses and maintenance workshops are located at Viña del Mar and Santiago headquarters. But Sotecsa also covers the north of the country with its headquarters in Iquique, smaller and in charge of two technicians natives of the area who receive support from Santiago and Valparaíso.
This expansion has to do with the fact that they were asked by their customers to expand to the Capital and to the north region of the country.
We asked Don Víctor how he started his activity l and he answered us the following:
– V.M.G.: – In 1981, recently graduated as a senior technician from an important technical training center (INACAP). As an installer, I joined a company that was representative of Otis Elevators in Chile. I worked in every area of the company, including the attention of the emergency service. After 10 years of continuous learning and experience accumulation, I made the decision to become independent together with two partners. As time went by and for different reasons, the former company was dissolved, and together with new partners, we made up Sotecsa Ascensores S.A in 2003.
– R.del A.: – In which city did your activities begin?
– V.M.G.: – Our company was born in the Valparaíso region.
SOTECSA ASCENSORES TECHNICAL PROFILE
Mr. Montenegro tells us that his company employs 25 people in its three offices and, now speaking of the firm’s technical-business profile, he explains that they specialize in installations, maintenance, repair, and modernization of elevators. “All the materials we use come from abroad – he adds – mostly from Europe and Asia. We do not manufacture, we prefer to work with certified materials and components”.
They most of all serve residential buildings, clinics, medical centers, hotels, which require constant attention due to the high frequency of traffic in their establishments. They also work with community managers who hire them.
We asked Mr. Montenegro about the current regulations that govern the activity in Chile and he replied that “there are very strict regulations for the different activities related to the field, we are currently in the full development of the elevators certification, all of them. In this certification, the demands aimed at reducing the number of accidents suffered by users or maintenance personnel; they are being applied quite seriously, and the communities are collaborating”.
Regarding the technician’s training and technical qualification who work in the different companies in the Sector, he answered that: “As in all the countries that I have visited, there are good and bad, but the majority of serious accidents, including fatal consequences, have happened to large companies, not all of them, but it is enough to review the statistics.
With regard to the qualifications, it is something debatable since mistakes can be performed by someone very qualified. Rather, it is the experience that matters. For this reason, the certification of labor competencies is being implemented through an organization called Chile Valora; this recognizes the candidate’s experience with a pattern of aptitudes and attitudes required for each job competency”.
– R. del A.: – Is the accident rate high?
– V.M.G .: – The level of accidents for users is very low, not so for those in charge of maintenance who often do not use the safety elements and suffer minor accidents. Scissor doors are almost inexistent and semi-automatic doors are in retirement, due to universal accessibility regulations and others that have been implemented.
The important commercial alliances of SOTECSA
“The immediacy of communications, the agility of financial system for payment transactions abroad and the free trade agreements with almost all the countries of the world allow us a wide range of suppliers, the best prices, good quality and reaction times that give an advantage to imports from Europe and Asia ”, remarks Víctor Montenegro. In keeping with these standards, the firm established agreements with the Chinese company Asia-Fuji Elevators, to be its exclusive representative. It provides them with elevators throughout the range; they are also distributors of the Spanish companies Eninter, Imem and Eleser.
“We highlight among our main suppliers of components and spare parts the companies G&G Industries Co. Ltd and Sanjin, both from China, which provide us with components of excellent quality, certified and guaranteed.” More information can be found on the company’s website: www.sotecsa.cl
Outstanding installations of SOTECSA ASCENSORES in recent years
2017: Supply and installation of 14 elevators for the Rosa Agustina Resort in the Olmué commune.
2019: Supply and installation of 6 elevators for the Santa María de Renca residential complex, Metropolitan Region.
2019: Supply of 3 elevators for the Eurobrisa Reñaca residential complex.
2019: Supply of 4 elevators for the Cumbre Del Bosque residential complex in Viña del Mar.
THE ARRANGEMENTS SET OUT BY SOTECSA FOR WORKING DURING PANDEMICS
– R. del A.: – Don Víctor, how does your company deal with this complex issue of pandemics? Did you establish a protocol?
– V.M.G .: – Yes sir, we have taken concrete actions in this regard:
PREVENTIVE
– A rigorous action protocol coordinated by our risk prevention officer and the mutual security company to which we belong, was established to ACHS. Its main objective is to prevent Covid spread to our staff and our elevator user customers.
Despite the prevention, if this contagion occurred, there is a protocol to take the appropriate decisions to minimize the effect on our staff and their environment.
– Alcohol gel dispensers at different points, mandatory use of face masks, gloves, disposable coveralls, ammonium spray quaternary, daily vehicle sanitation, etc.
– A periodic sanitation contract was signed with a company specialized, whose coverage includes our offices and work spots, warehouses, bathrooms, and staff dining room.
CONTROL STRATEGIES:
– Service personnel was assigned two persons per vehicle at most. Always the driver going to pick up and to drop off his house partner. In this way, no one makes use of public transportation.
– Vehicles must be sanitized at the end of each day.
– On Mondays, all staff obligatorily attends talks on security to report special situations that could be modified to improve prevention.
– From Tuesday to Friday the group is divided, alternately attending work only 6 out of 12 workers per day, thus distancing and avoiding a massive contagion.
ECONOMIC
– We haven’t fired or suspended our workers’ contracts. We can get ahead with everyone’s effort and commitment.
-R. del A.: – How has the Chilean Vertical Transport sector faced a whole year of pandemic – until now? Did they close down companies or are they still active?
-V.M.G .: – Our union was greatly affected by the closure of retail, restaurants, schools, universities, etc.
-R. del A.: – Are the protocols difficult to accomplish while working? Do they cause delays?
-V.M.G.: – The work is hampered by the restrictions of Covid protocol.
-R. del A.: – Is it known how users reacted to the social distancing measures? Have they fulfilled them?
-V.M.G .: – Most users comply with social distancing measures and collaborate with the protocols established for each occasion.
-R. del A.: – And how did SOTECSA do in this unprecedented year?
-V.M.G .: – Sotecsa Ascensores experienced a drop in its turnover but maintained and still does its personnel.
-R. del A.: – What aspect of recent times can you highlight?
-V.M.G.:- I highlight the attitude and behavior of our users in recent times who have taken the opportunity to carry out the necessary repairs and adjustments to comply with the elevator regulations.
-R. del A.: – Since you mentioned, the certification of elevators seems to be a very important item in Chile, is it so? Do maintenance companies have to work with them compulsorily?
-V.M.G .: – Certifying companies should not be linked to maintenance or installation.
-R. del A.: – The supplies from abroad have continued to arrive fluently? Did you have trouble stocking up?
-V.M.G .: – The great problem we have today is that maritime transport increased its value in some cases by 500% and more.
SOTECSA ASCENSORES
Location: Manuel Villagra 830, Viña del Mar, Valparaíso. / Lynch Norte 561, La Reina, Santiago.
Phones: +56 32 236 6799 (Viña del Mar) / +56 2 2933 1432 (Santiago)
Mail: plofat@sotecsa.cl / vmontenegro@sotecsa.cl
Web: www.sotecsa.cl
