Project Partners:
WORLD CLASS QUALITY CABLES MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED IN COLOMBIA Colombia does an excellent job at sustaining its market share, making the most from opportunities arising from recent investments in the country
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he Nexans Group, originally from France, has a presence in 40 countries through 100 production plants operated by 26,000 employees. Its Colombian affiliate contributes with a smooth operation, standing out in areas such as talent management, internal communication and employee satisfaction levels. Nexans Colombia’s six-point gain in domestic market share is a result of a more than 40% increase in sales over the last three years. “We have a very tight workforce and communication is quite clear. We share these practices with the rest of the affiliates globally,” says Luis Ernesto Silva, CEO for Nexans Colombia. Silva, a mechanical engineer,
graduated in 1996 from the Francisco de Paula Santander University. He also took specialisation courses in maintenance and senior management at Santander Industrial University (in Colombia, as well as Francisco de Paula), and also took postgraduate studies in finance and international business from Universidad de la Sabana (Colombia). “I do my best at keeping updated in strategy skills and improving my leadership abilities,” he adds. Catering for every market segment Nexans Colombia is currently an important supplier performing a relevant job for four large market segments:
“We have a very tight workforce and communication is quite clear. We share these practices with the rest of the affiliates globally” – Luis Ernesto Silva, CEO, Nexans Colombia
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Video Corporativo Nexans Colombia S A • DISTRIBUTION AND INSTALLATION. Nexans Colombia’s core business demands a highly competitive level to earn this channel’s end consumers’ trust. • UTILITIES. This segment deserves special attention, mostly when copper is involved in any project. Nexans Colombia is constantly active in RFTs. During the last six years, work with the EPM group has been proactive, and the forecast is for this partnership to continue in coming years.
• OIL AND GAS. The fossil fuel sector is also an important part of Nexans’ operations in Colombia, where traits such as a timely delivery, technical support and cost competitiveness are key factors to success. Ups and downs in commodities prices affect this and other sectors. Nexans Colombia counteracts with possible downtime in this sector by making the most of opportunities in the emerging renewable energy sector.
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• INFRASTRUCTURE. The company is currently a minor player in this sector, but that will certainly change soon now that important investments are being made in the country, especially in urban transportation and highways. Digitalisation at every level High on Nexans Colombia’s priorities list is digitalisation, both for manufacturing and serving
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clients, enabling the company to reduce the time it takes to carry out numerous processes. Nexans’ own digital transformation connects its production plant and every matter related to supply chain, as well as finished products and the company’s sales force. “Capex to increase capacity and tech updating is always present in Nexans as one of our business’ most important variables, along
200+ Number of employees at Nexans Colombia
with talent development and innovation,” Silva points out. Flexible suppliers The key word for companies taking part in Nexans Colombia’s supply chain is FLEXIBILITY, mostly when dealing with commodities, consumables and freights. One of Nexans’ regular priorities is to maintain constant contact with suppliers no matter if there’s low
or high demand for the products and services they provide. This results in an appropriate work capital management, being always able to satisfy clients’ demands. Workforce development, wellbeing and recognition Management of human resources at Nexans Colombia follows three key pillars:
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• PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Training for every employee, even abroad in other Nexans affiliates, is standard, with English lessons and permanent contact with the Nexans global network an important feature. • WELLBEING. An essential part of the Nexans environment, guaranteeing every worker feels secure in his/her position, being comfortable while off-duty with his/
her family, and with certainty that healthcare necessities are covered. • RECOGNITION. Nexans Colombia acknowledges its workforce’s achievements through incentives such as the “employee of the month” award (voted by fellow co-workers) and also other giveaways when workers earn academic degrees. “People are the strongest pillar supporting strategy execution,” Silva adds.
Leaders in the manufacture of PVC, XLPE and HALOGEN-FREE compounds Low and medium tension crosslinked polyethylene
Installed capacity Research and development laboratory
Rigid, semi-rigid, plasticized and expanded PVC compound
ADDRESS:
Halogen-free compound, flame retardant 70 °-80°
Halogen-free compound, crosslinked flame retardant 90°
Year founded
1983 as CEDSA.
Year aquired
2008 Relationships with community and colleges The company, through the Nexans Foundation, has benefitted small towns and villages by deploying electric power to 200 households, and has also worked with NGOs to increase the wellbeing of children in their operational areas. Nexans Colombia is host to students and graduates from local colleges, strengthening relations between businesses and colleges.
Projections Along with other important players in the sector, Nexans Colombia took part in the Feria Internacional del Sector ElÊctrico (international fair for the electricity sector), which takes place in Medellin every two years. The event experienced more visitors and exhibitors than expected during the 2017 edition – feedback obtained from the fair demonstrates how highly competitive the sector has become in Colombia, which
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“People are the strongest pillar supporting strategy execution” – Luis Ernesto Silva, CEO, Nexans Colombia
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now represents an attractive market for companies from China, Italy, and the US, among others. The fair was also the ideal backdrop for Nexans Colombia to launch new products, such as the Easyfil cable, designed to ease installation. Other highlights include products for solar energy, along with the company’s tech support. “The fair is a very positive experience to share with clients and suppliers. It’s also very interesting to witness first-hand what the competition is working on for their business development,” Silva says. Last year was not plain sailing for the economy in Colombia, after pace decreased in the construction and
oil and gas sectors. Nevertheless, Nexans Colombia has sustained its market share, which had already increased in previous years. In 2018 the company is introducing a new strategy by consolidating its traditional markets, but also becoming more active in biddings for infrastructure projects and investing to increase production capacity, with aim to build a larger export operation. The LAN cable business (which it markets in Colombia) will also shift gears starting in 2018, though growth is projected to be achieved in the long run. The digital transformation for Nexans Colombia keeps moving forward steadily both within the company and toward its clientele.
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Parque Industrial de Bucaramanga Manzana B Km 3 VĂa CafĂŠ Madrid Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia Tel. +57 (7) 676-2929 www.nexans.co