Texas Berea's tile production jumped from 3,000 to 250,000 per day in 60 years.
The episode is an interview with Andrea López, HR manager at Texas Berea, a tile manufacturer in Mesilla, Galicia. It begins with her describing two educational initiatives: 'Entéllate' for primary school children and 'Cerámica con futuro' for older students, aimed at addressing labor shortages by introducing youth to industrial careers. López highlights the rural context and the need to attract skilled workers. She then details the company's history, noting a production increase from 3,000 to 250,000 tiles per day over 60 years, attributing this to industrial advancements. The discussion covers export markets, with 35% of production going to places like Florida, Texas, and Latin American countries. López explains the tile production process from clay extraction to finished product, emphasizing sustainability and energy efficiency, including Passive House certification. When asked what impresses visiting children, she mentions robots used in packaging. The interview touches on competition, with Texas Berea being a market leader in northern Spain, and training challenges, particularly in electrical maintenance. López discusses expansion plans, focusing on product diversification rather than relocation, due to proximity to clay quarries. She notes ongoing quality research by internal technicians. The episode concludes with promotional announcements for a live radio event in La Coruña.
