ARGENTINA, CHILE AND URUGUAY

   In Chile, production levels were 8% higher than expected, as a result of increased market demands. The main highlight in the industrial area was the productivity of the melt shop, which exceeded the volumes planned in the design of the mill by more than 10%.

   In Uruguay, Laisa recorded a leap in productivity, with a reduction of 54% in the number of bars lost, chiefly due to the implementation of a failure analysis system and investments in improvements to processes.

  Production at Sipar, in Argentina, was checked by the low demand resulting from the country’s economic difficulties. During the last year, it also worked to achieve gains in efficiency and productivity in the rolling mill, which began to produce light profiles for industry and general metalwork, as well as the basic product lines for civil construction and industry.