FAGSA, a San Juan-based company, and Gramont have formalized a strategic alliance, supported by Schneider Electric, to bring automation, energy efficiency, and digitalization solutions to San Juan's industrial and mining sectors. The agreement was officially presented during the Process Industry Town Hall held at the Hotel Del Bono.
The initiative combines advanced engineering, certified electrical switchboards, and local technical support with the objective of strengthening the sector's competitiveness while creating skilled employment. Company executives emphasized that San Juan is preparing for a new phase of mining investment aligned with international standards.
By Panorama Minero
The province of San Juan became the center of technological innovation applied to production with the Process Industry Town Hall: Energy Efficiency and Digitalization for the Industry of the Future. Held at the Hotel Del Bono, the event brought together more than 50 representatives from the industrial and mining sectors to explore the integrated solutions that modern mining requires in terms of sustainability and automation.
The event also served as the setting for the formal launch of a strategic alliance expected to transform the provision of technical services in the region. The partnership brings together the San Juan-based company FAGSA and the Gramont Group – Conex Equipos Industriales. The initiative is backed and certified by Schneider Electric, the global technology company that promoted this collaboration with the objective of introducing international manufacturing and process control standards to the local market.
Representing the Gramont Group, the company's senior executives outlined the technical scope of the collaboration. Jorge Graceli, President of Gramont and Conex, explained that the organization operates through two business units: one focused on engineering, industrial assembly, and electrical switchboard manufacturing, and another dedicated to the commercialization of electrical equipment and components. Alongside him, Jorge Abel Del Valle, Gramont's Operations Manager, highlighted the company's extensive experience in control engineering, industrial processes, and the manufacture of certified electrical switchboards.
The local partner in the alliance is FAGSA, whose management team consists of three partners with complementary backgrounds in the industrial sector. Martín Alacid, the company's General Manager, leads the business alongside Carlos Formica and Juan Pablo Formica. Each partner contributes specialized expertise: Carlos Formica brings nearly three decades of experience in the metalworking industry; Juan Pablo Formica has extensive experience in electrical systems dating back to the early stages of mining development in San Juan; while Alacid contributes more than 20 years of experience in industrial installations.
The partnership aims to address a growing need within the San Juan market by integrating advanced technology with local technical support and skilled labor. While Gramont provides engineering services and manufactures specialized electrical switchboards designed for the demanding operating conditions of the mining and oil & gas industries in accordance with international standards, FAGSA contributes its installation and maintenance capabilities in the field. This operating model seeks to promote skilled employment within the province while enabling mining companies to access state-of-the-art technology backed by the responsiveness of a local supplier.
A key topic highlighted during the presentation was the importance of quality certifications. The Gramont Group recently obtained its Integrated Management System certification, encompassing ISO 9001 for Quality Management, ISO 14001 for Environmental Management, and ISO 45001 for Occupational Health and Safety. In a market where mining companies impose increasingly stringent safety and operational efficiency requirements, these certifications represent a significant competitive advantage.
The origins of the collaboration date back to Expo San Juan Minera one year ago, where the connection was facilitated by IMPO, and Gramont’s long-standing partner on multiple projects. Following that meeting, FAGSA's management recognized that incorporating its partners' automation systems and certified electrical switchboards would enable the company to deliver turnkey solutions for large industrial facilities and major infrastructure projects that it was already executing.
Regarding its operational development, FAGSA has strengthened its infrastructure through a strategic relocation to the Rawson department. The company now operates from a facility located along Route 40, just before Calle 5, where it has consolidated its engineering, administrative, and workshop operations under one roof. This new setup has improved operational efficiency for its current workforce of 30 employees, while providing capacity for future expansion as large-scale mining construction projects move forward.
During the event, participants also discussed the province's economic outlook with cautious optimism. After a period of stagnation in San Juan's industrial sector, recent months have seen an increase in business activity and requests for quotations. Company executives agreed that the province is entering a pre-investment stage ahead of a new wave of major mining developments, drawing comparisons with the growth experienced by Neuquén through the oil and gas industry, while acknowledging the distinct characteristics of the mining sector.
The event concluded with a shared vision that technical preparedness and the establishment of strong strategic partnerships will be fundamental to meeting the demands of the "new mining." The commitment of Martín Alacid, Carlos and Juan Pablo Formica, Jorge Graceli, and Jorge Abel del Valle, supported by Schneider Electric's technology, positions San Juan as an emerging leader in the adoption of more digital, safer, and energy-efficient industrial processes for the years ahead.
