A successful partnership - Extralum, Costa Rica
The Central American aluminum window specialist Extralum and Roto have been working together for seven years. Due to the high product quality of the hardware systems and the reliable overall performance, Extralum’s Purchasing Manager Jorge Rodriguez saw his supplier as an ideal partner right from the start.
The Costa Rican company uses, among other things, the Tilt&Turn hardware system Roto NX, the Lift&Slide hardware system Roto Patio Lift, the hardware system Roto Inline for simple sliding windows and doors and various solutions for outward-opening windows from the Roto Outward Opening hardware range.
On course for growth
“First-class quality windows and doors, prefabricated ready for installation in our own factory. That’s our promise to our customers,” says Rodriguez, describing the aluminum expert’s corporate performance.
Together with Roto, the company has now set the course for further growth, as Extralum is pursuing an ambitious goal: the company wants to become the largest manufacturer of window systems in Central America and the Caribbean, and is also targeting North America. A first step has been taken in 2019 with the commissioning of a new, 17,500 square meter plant for window and door construction in Grecia (Costa Rica).
In addition to the outward-opening windows commonly used on the American continent, the high-density tilt-and-turn elements of European design were also of interest to more and more customers, builders and investors.
“There is a growing demand for tightly sealed elements – this is a huge opportunity for Extralum and Roto.”
In-house component production
The system house already produces the necessary components for its aluminum building elements itself. These include, among other things, the aluminum profiles as well as hardened, laminated glass.
Broad-based sales
Extralum serves private end customers as well as dealers and manufactures curtain walls for large-scale projects in accordance with the scope of services of a system house. With ten sales offices in Costa Rica, three more in Panama and Honduras and with the help of the online shop “La Tienda", Rodriguez believes his company is well positioned to play a leading role in façade, window and door construction in Central America.
Quality guarantee
But that’s not all. In the future, the company also wants to expand its portfolio to include the frame materials timber, aluminum and PVC. This is another reason why Roto is the right partner, because:
“Here we get high-quality, reliably functioning architectural hardware for every opening type and frame material from the same supplier.”
Compatible hardware systems, always the same contact person and training from a single source would offer Extralum great added value and make it very easy for the employees to process the components, describes Rodriguez, summarizing the benefits for his company.
Firm foundation of partnership
Instrumental in strengthening the partnership between the two companies, especially during the months of the Corona pandemic, was the tireless support of Roto Team Mexico and Roto Aluvision, he said. “Through their commitment to training and project development, both virtually and in person, we were able to continue working on our projects without delays,” says Rodriguez.
Tools such as the virtual consulting platform Roto City have not only significantly supported collaboration during this time. Roto City continues to be a fixed component for quickly gaining insight into Roto innovations andenables Extralum to present comprehensivesolutions to its customers virtually, even when not bound by time or location.
This article was published in Roto Inside 55.