Branch Spotlight: Querétaro, Mexico

11.15.2022

A few months ago, we welcomed our second branch in Mexico to help keep up with the growing demands from multiple industries. Opening up another location here was an opportunity we couldn’t ignore, and after giving everyone a sneak peek at the 84,000 sq. ft. facility in a video a few weeks ago, people wanted to know more. Here it is, a whole branch spotlight devoted to our brand-new Kloeckner Querétaro metal supplier.

There might be fresh glaze sealing the warehouse floor at Querétaro, but Commercial Director, Hugo Gonzalez spoke to a foundation that’s just as important, “Kloeckner has been building a commercial presence in the Bajio region for over 10 years.” He continued, “the Kloeckner name is strong, but this new facility gives us a local processing presence.” 

Safety

This shiny, completely new site comes with a blank safety slate, and we’re excited to report they’ve already joined all other Kloeckner Metals branches in working towards the KPIs outlined in our Top Dog safety program. We’re also confident that Roberto Mercado, Regional General Manager of Kloeckner Metals Mexico, and Xico Gamiz, Operations Manager of Kloeckner Querétaro, will provide the best structure of safety knowledge for all employees. The facility might be brand-new, but the leadership is seasoned! 

Gamiz is pleased with the team mentality and remarked, “We have already formed a great family in Querétaro and started learning the virtues of each team member. He followed this by driving home the quick adoption of our company’s safety culture, “we are committed to watching out for each other, focusing on the Safety Always, inside and outside the plant.”

Capabilities 

Querétaro is perfectly placed to take on many industries, including the automotive sector, HVAC, and appliance manufacturers, alongside metal forming stampers, telecommunications, and electronics enclosure builders.

The first piece of key equipment we’ve outfitted the facility with is a Braner Slitter, capable of handling material up to ¼” thick and 72” wide. It’s a tight-tolerance slitting machine that ensures consistency for our customers. Querétaro is also home to a crane with a 44-ton maximum lift. 

From day one, they began working toward becoming IATF 16949:2016 certified by 2023. Obtaining this international automotive industry quality standard is part of what signals to fresh leads that we’re a reliable business partner. 

Another piece of the puzzle we were certain we’d need immediately is a fully dedicated rail spur. Querétaro’s is serviced by Kansas City Southern de Mexico and is set up to receive upwards of 12 cars per day. 

Performance

Querétaro is strategically located in the center of Mexico, creating a logistical advantage for the central entity to establish trade relations with other regions of the world. The site will faithfully service Querétaro, México City, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, Guadalajara, Puebla, the United States, and Mexican border territories. 

Though the branch has only been operating for a few months, Gamiz is already building a strong team, who are quickly filling the space with inventory to support their Just-in-Time, Kanban, and consignment programs. Querétaro routinely stocks HR P&O, cold rolled, galvanized and coated steel, ultra-high strength carbon steel, aluminum, and stainless steel.

When he spoke about the first few months of production, Gamiz said, “We’ve recruited a great team full of quick learners that have already come up with ideas for improvement to make their work more efficient.”

We’re so pleased to welcome Querétaro and can’t wait to see what this team brings to our Americas portfolio. If you haven’t seen the video, take a look at this beautiful plant and hear from a few folks who will be leading them toward success.  

Lauren Wiggins
Lauren is the Communications & Engagement Manager at Kloeckner Metals, spearheading different programs that facilitate conversation throughout the entire organization, while enhancing company reputation across digital mediums. Lauren has a background in experience in social media management, as well as copywriting for big brands from an ad agency position. She’s a graduate of the University of South Carolina, an AmeriCorps alumna, and a published storyteller.
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