Papelera San Andrés de Giles

Sustainability and innovation: two reference points in the quest for excellence

“We are the reference point for quality": this is how Papelera San Andrés de Giles (PSAG), one of Argentina’s top players in the production, conversion, and distribution of tissue paper products for domestic use presents itself. The company was established in 1980 by the Gagliardi family in San Andrés de Giles, some 100 km from Buenos Aires, and immediately began investing in industrial development, determined to become a leader in its sector and to contribute sustainably to the nation’s economic growth. Thanks to responsible management and constant care for the environment, PSAG has been awarded the "Certificado de Aptitud Ambiental" by the Organización Provincial of the Departamento de Sostenibilidad in Buenos Aires.

Resource efficiency optimization, exclusive use of raw materials from reforested areas, reduction of CO₂ emissions, rationalized water, and energy consumption: these are the pillars of the company’s Sustainable Development Policy and its guidelines in the quest for product excellence. Máximo Gagliardi, CEO of Papelera San Andrés de Giles, confirms the company’s approach: “We have based our growth primarily on the quality of our paper and service to the market. Our distinctive products have even won us an award for technological development in Brussels." Back in 2016, the company won the Pulp and Paper International Award in the Tissue Innovation category, a prestigious award that recognizes international excellence in the tissue paper sector and honors leadership, vision, and the achievement of strategic goals. The company reached a similar result at national level in 2018 when it received the annual Pequeña y Mediana Empresa (PYME) award for innovation in industrial processes released by La Nacion and HSBC. Continuous research in technological change, improvement, and shared values, convinced PSAG to ask E80 Group to "transform" its factory. Our Group combines hardware and software know-how designed to offer intralogistics solutions that boost supply chain efficiency and significantly reduce both energy consumption and the carbon footprint.

This partnership has always revolved around the concept of Technovation. "I once imagined the company of the future. Today we are creating that company here in Argentina, using the best technologies in the world." Elettric80 has transformed the CEO’s vision into reality. Our Group has always been able to develop integrated supply chains using advanced systems to deliver major improvements to sustainability and plant safety. Warehouse centralization, just-in-time order management and reliable customer service were the main requests of Papelera San Andrés de Giles: E80 has been able to satisfy them all by creating a tailor-made Smart Factory.

Development of the brownfield site in San Andrés began in 2010 by automating the palletizing and stretch wrapping along with the addition of a dedicated storage solution comprised of a Drive-In rack warehouse. The 10,000-pallet capacity system was designed to safely store 2.6-meter-high pallets up to 5 levels high (15 meters), 13 pallet positions deep, and to be managed automatically by 4 Reach LGVs.

In 2014 production output increased. Additional robotic palletizing and stretch wrapping along with 2 additional Reach LGVs were integrated into the system to meet the new intralogistics volumes and requirements.

In 2016, PSAG & E80 Group collaborated in the development of a new parent reel warehouse to be managed automatically by Elephant LGVs. Designed and constructed for an overall 565-reel stock capacity in a minimal footprint, the 2.78 tall reels weighing as much as 2.200 kg, today are safely stacked 3 levels high (8.34 meters), retrieved and delivered "door to door", by a single Elephant LGV.

Then to meet ever increasing market demands for availability, fast deliveries, and high-quality service, in 2017 PSAG and E80 Group worked together in the design, construction and integration of SmartStore, a fully automated high-density warehouse. The expansion included seven new truck loading docks and two Reach LGVs were added to the fleet bringing the total to eight. Towering over the premises at 23 meters (7 levels high), the new 16,000 pallet positions storage system was inaugurated in August of 2018.

Today the entire intralogistics solution is managed by E80 proprietary software, which coordinates all internal flows, balances all operations from raw material reception to warehousing and shipping, all while ensuring complete product traceability. To ensure total reliability of the PSAG supply chain, E80 team also guarantees a 24/7 digital assistance service that permits the remote support & control of all processes.

Thanks to these innovations, the Argentinian tissue paper producer doubled productivity and is now able to handle 9 times more shipments than in 2007. As to the results of the technological evolution on which he embarked, Mr. Gagliardi commented: "We can foresee further growth in our future, and if we are already in this position today, with the most modern factory in the country, it is because we have always had a long-term strategy despite all the economic and political ups and downs. Basically, the automation and integration of the plant created with E80 have provided us a net improvement in quality, safety, and supply chain efficiency.”

It comes as no surprise, therefore, to learn that Papelera San Andrés de Giles is recognized as the country’s leading tissue paper manufacturer thanks to the most advanced technology in all Latin America, opening to the global market.

Highlights

• Development of a highly digitalized Industry 4.0 factory based on advanced technology.
• Optimization and integration of warehousing operations.
• Increased productivity thanks to the automation of intralogistics processes.
• 60,000 tons of tissue paper produced a year.

Papelera San Andrés De Giles from E80 Group on Vimeo.

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