Fountain: https://vivirenelpoblado.com/una-planta-que-cambiara-la-historia-textil-de-suramerica/
Quimicolor inaugurated the first high-speed plant in South America capable of producing Spunlace, a fabric for a variety of uses. With this news, we begin a new section: stories of entrepreneurs.
The excitement of Antonio (father) and Daniel Mendivil (son) was evident last Friday, August 9. That day, they inaugurated a high-speed plant in Guarne for the production of Spunlace, a fabric that has several uses (for household items or cleaning; wet wipes are an example) and has become fundamental in people's lives.
Thanks to the speed of its machinery and processes, it can now produce around 10,000 tons of nonwoven fabric in rolls per year. This will revolutionize the market, as, until now, this material was imported from Asia. It is estimated that around 40,000 tons of this fabric are consumed annually in South America.
The fact that a significant portion of this percentage is produced in Guarne eases costs and logistics, and changes the textile landscape. This story began years ago, more precisely in 2004, the year in which Quimicolor, the plant that creates this fabric, was born.
With the courage he demonstrates when speaking out, Antonio Mendivil bought all the shares and assumed sole ownership. In 2009, perseverance, enthusiasm and confidence in the power of technology brought novelty: the company had grown by 120 %.
With the pandemic, another clarification came: the desire for greater independence. At that time, with markets closed and production shifting to Asia, local companies faced shortages and slower production.
This led him to consider his own production, and other possibilities. Regarding what's next, he says: “I want to go further. I dream of my employees having the same health as me. I want people to be here for more than just a salary. I want them to believe in the project, to feel motivated when they get up early to come to work.” He also describes a bit about his entrepreneurial journey: “Give, keep going, fall, get up. It sounds cliché, but it's true.”
