Mapei in Panama: from major works to renovations

Mapei products have been marketed in Panama for over 20 years, but it was not until 2011 that the Group began operating stably in the country after taking over Cimpex International S.A.’s operations for supplying admixtures for the Panama Canal and then setting up Mapei Construction Chemicals Panama S.A.

Being involved in the Panama Canal project provided the Group with a gateway into the entire region: the company has supplied various types of admixtures for concrete both for modernising the old canal and the new extension project, as well as mortars for repairing concrete, structural strengthening/finishing products for the locks and membranes for waterproofing ancillary water basins (see Realtà Mapei International no. 40, 56 and 59). “The fact that it managed to win a contract to supply materials for this gigantic work of engineering is concrete proof of Mapei Panama’s success both in meeting all the requisites for products used for this kind of gigantic infrastructure and in working alongside some of the world’s most prestigious firms also involved in this huge enterprise”, so Pedro Graniela told us, the Technical Director of Mapei Construction Materials Panama, S.A.

The subsidiary has a manufacturing plant in the capital city, Panamá, mainly used for manufacturing admixtures for concrete, a sector the Group has always considered to be crucial for expanding in this and other neighbouring countries. By purchasing products from the mother company and other Group subsidiaries, Mapei Panama can supply its customers not just with admixtures for concrete, but also all the company’s solutions for installing ceramics, stone and resilient materials, waterproofing agents, products for cementitious and resin floors, structural strengthening solutions and underground building products, as well as products for repairing masonry, cement additives and wall coatings.

So, it is hardly surprising that Mapei products (and not just admixtures) have been used for constructing other major works in Panama, such as lines 1 and 2 of the Panamá underground railway line, Terrazas del Rey Residence, the third stage in the extension to the Coast Belt (Cinta Costera), urban redevelopment projects for the Colón-Altos de Los Lagos Residence in Colón and Ciudad Esperanza Residence in Vacamonte.

The Panamanian subsidiary, which also works with the Group’s North American team focused on major works employing admixtures for concrete, now has 52 staff, a manufacturing output of 120,000 tons-a-year and total revenues of 9.7 million Euros in 2018.

These successes are also due to plenty of marketing and training operations carried out by Mapei Construction Chemicals Panama: from January to July this year the subsidiary has organised training sessions for approximately 1500 people, almost 400 of whom attended Mapei Tours, travelling training sessions organised throughout the country by company technicians using a specially equipped van.

MINUTO MAPEI are also very popular point of sales training activities where sales promotors explain to the final customer the advantages and applications of the Mapei products. The expertise of Mapei professionals is taken directly “to the homes” of customers by means of training sessions and simple but effective video tutorials Mapei Construction Chemicals Panama posts on-line.

SERVING THE HISTORICAL HERITAGE

Mapei products and systems are not just enjoying great success with major engineering works in Panama. The renovation of masonry walls and historical buildings in general is another highly promising sector for the Panamanian subsidiary. At the moment, a considerable number of architects and professionals are working throughout the country on restoring the national historical heritage and, in particular, the city of Panama, which is celebrating the 500^th anniversary of its founding this year. “Our job is to provide them with support, supplying products and systems that make their work easier” claims Graniela. This is possible because, for some time now, the Group has been manufacturing ranges of products specifically serving structural strengthening and masonry renovation purposes, such as the MAPE-ANTIQUE line of materials that can be adapted to those used on all the old buildings at the time of their construction. Building projects like this using Mapei solutions include Iglesia de La Merced, Concordia Boutique Hotel, Demetrio H. Brid Town Hall and the National Theatre in the Casco Antiguo district of Panama, as well as about 20 renovation projects on private buildings in the province of Colón.