Epic Throwback – 2019, 2020 and a sneak preview of 2021

 

It’s 2021 already and another year has passed into our history books. In this article we discuss the successes in 2020 of our great 2019 achievements and give you a sneak preview of what we have for you on our horizon. 

 

Build of the new press 

Just over a year ago Sonae Arauco completed the upgrade to our state-of-the-art factory in White River, Mpumalanga which included the installation of a world-class Dieffenbacher melamine press to expedite production and produce boards of an exceptionally high quality to meet growing demands.

 

Unveiling 

29 November 2019 was a proud day for Sonae Arauco when we unveiled our R200 million upgraded factory in White River, Mpumalanga, to much fanfare with distinguished guests from South Africa and overseas in attendance. Featured at the Investment Conference November 2020.

 

Celebration of the First Year of the Melamine Press, which is being inaugurated with a South African name

 

MEC for Local Economic Development 

MEC for Finance and Economic Development and Tourism – The Honourable Pat Ngomane –  graced us with his presence and endorsement to grow local development and acknowledged the growth and impact that this investment will have on the local economy. 

 

Health & Safety commitment

We care about the well-being of our employees.

At Sonae Arauco, we hold the safety and well-being of our employees to the highest degree of importance as they form the backbone of our company and help take us further every day. In order to support our employees and their goals, we place a focus on creating an environment that facilitates their professional and personal development. To ensure the continued well-being of all of our employees, we have taken the following steps to improve their experience:

 

•   An increased focus on risk reduction in order to ensure that we prevent accidents, injuries and occupational diseases
•   Ensuring the safety of our employees in our factories and workplaces, especially when handling equipment
•   Offering employee training and encouraging their participation in academic programmes
•   Committing to strive continuously to improve all of these processes

 

2020 to the future 2021…

While 2020 has been a tough year for us all, it’s been a year when South Africans learnt that when faced with any adversity we have resilience and that we can adapt.

 

What “new normal” looks like in the workplace

The teams are interacting and working remotely to deliver on the continued commitment towards wood-lasting relationships. 

 

Our teams also experienced the general difficulties of corporate culture in the midst of the adversity of Covid. The teams, suddenly working remotely, were feeling disconnected from their colleagues and the company itself. They had to adjust to new ways of working with guidance from a distance only and not close at hand as usual.  

 

Robotics/ automation, innovation and 4IR 

 

With advancements on automation within the industry, we are preserving the global practice of sustainable forestry practices within the production cycle. 

 

Human and tech collaboration

The upskilling our employees is improving the collaboration between technology and humans in our workplace. Not only are our employees becoming proficient in their job skills but their general technical skills are being enhanced too. Technology is no longer feared by them.

 

Solutions within the production cycle have been optimised by aligning the skills empowerment of our employees with their development – a win-win solution for everyone.

 

New décors

We were delighted when we recently increased our decorative  range with these 5 new décors:

 

Foundry – a contemporary dark décor inspired by steel.

Chobe Woodgrain – a warm chocolate coloured oak-inspired wood grain with its rippling patterns reminding us of the Chobe river.

Grigio – a subtle marble-like décor, similar to Nero and Bianco, which, with its soft grey tone, offers much versatility.

Pacific Woodgrain – has subtle blue undertones with undulating dark and light shades inspired by the Pacific ocean.

Shadow Blue – a solid colour with a shadowy blue tone that will complement many décors and textures. 

 

New arrivals in 2021

In 2021, we will be introducing: 

 

Our Simulator – a digital design solution for designers, architects and enthusiasts.

Our App as a ‘style companion’ for on-demand information on the growing decorative range.

 

Watch this space!

 

 

Maintaining our Affiliations

 

With a focus on wood-lasting relationships, we will continue to ensure we retain our affiliation with the following organisations for the betterment of our products, operations and our valued customers:

 

The South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) whose mission is “to uphold the dignity of the architectural profession and contribute meaningfully to the enhancement of society and the environment.”  For more information, visit: https://saia.org.za/

 

The Kitchen Specialists Association (KSA), a national association, which oversees the kitchen industry from creditable kitchen manufacturers, associated suppliers, to installers and consumers. Its mission “is to create a professional and stable trading environment in which the industry can prosper and consumers can enjoy peace-of-mind”.  For more information, visit: https://www.ksa.co.za/.

 

The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), is a council which aims “to promote green building practices across the country and build a national movement that will change the way the world is built”. For more information, visit: https://gbcsa.org.za/.

 

Along with ethical business practices integral to providing exceptional service and high quality products, the success of our company continues as a result of maintaining valuable and long-lasting partnerships with our customers and partners. 

 

We thank you for your support and look forward, in the provision of our contemporary top quality wood-based decorative boards to beautify your spaces, to continuing our association in 2021 and beyond.