A fleet of 15 Actros transports the bricks of La Paloma Cerámicas

Economics & Logistics

Tradition meets avant-garde.

La Paloma Cerámicas is the market leader in bricks on the Iberian market. RoadStars spoke to Managing Director Francisco A. Rodríguez about 3D software, the advantages of having your own fleet, and the Holy Sepulchre.

Boosting export. Francisco A. Rodríguez, Managing Director of La Paloma Cerámicas, concentrates on the growing markets in Europe, America and Asia.


Since it was founded in 1979 in Pantoja (Toledo), La Paloma Cerámicas has set up more and more new production sites and purchased companies such as Gres Acueducto and Cerámica Elu. They joined the corporation in 1994. What next?

Antonio Rodríguez, who set up the firm, is still actively involved in the business. Basically, I've concentrated on foreign markets. At the moment, 25 percent of our turnover is what we export to Europe, America and Asia. And this proportion is rising.


High-tech for construction applications. At La Paloma Cerámicas, robots ensure efficiency during brick manufacture.
High-tech for construction applications. At La Paloma Cerámicas, robots ensure efficiency during brick manufacture.

What quantities and products are involved?

Our annual production capacity is 800 000 tonnes. We currently produce about 500 000 tonnes per year and we have seven production plants in Spain and Portugal, which turn out a total of 600 different products, by which I mean different models, colours and so on, and lots more. That's one of our strengths: we're very active in developing new products and we try to notice changes in the market very early on.

What's the latest trend in bricks?

As regards colours: clinker in neutral colours – white, black, grey – which enables the architect to produce an avant-garde design. About ten years ago, earthier shades were fashionable, aimed at more classic architecture. Nowadays, the building industry demands more and more ready-made parts so as to shorten the building time, which is why we're currently working on a series of ready-made parts with an bricked outer wall surface.



You use the Building Information Modelling (BIM) method. How does that work?

Basically the software allows us to set up a virtual digital model, before the actual design. It provides virtual materials for this. We as the producer provide products in BIM format for download and to include in the project. Each product has specific parameters: dimensions, weights, properties and available formats. BIM provides architects, engineers, developers and contractors with technical and graphic information. Each element is displayed in 2D and 3D.

Some of your products are guaranteed for more than a hundred years. How is that possible?

We produce high-quality bricks. In order to provide this guarantee, we've done our research.


Ex-works to the customer. Within a radius of 150 kilometres from the factories, a fleet of Actros 1848 models transports the products.
Ex-works to the customer. Within a radius of 150 kilometres from the factories, a fleet of Actros 1848 models transports the products.
Ex-works to the customer. Within a radius of 150 kilometres from the factories, a fleet of Actros 1848 models transports the products.
Ex-works to the customer. Within a radius of 150 kilometres from the factories, a fleet of Actros 1848 models transports the products.
Ex-works to the customer. Within a radius of 150 kilometres from the factories, a fleet of Actros 1848 models transports the products.
Ex-works to the customer. Within a radius of 150 kilometres from the factories, a fleet of Actros 1848 models transports the products.
Ex-works to the customer. Within a radius of 150 kilometres from the factories, a fleet of Actros 1848 models transports the products.
Ex-works to the customer. Within a radius of 150 kilometres from the factories, a fleet of Actros 1848 models transports the products.

Since it was set up, La Paloma Cerámicas has chosen to have its own trucks. Why?

It's a question of image, quality and respect for our customers. We've just updated our fleet with 15 Actros 1848 models. Because of the type of goods and for viability reasons, our fleet transports our bricks within a radius of up to 150 kilometres from the factories. These shipments make up 25 percent of the total production. The rest is collected by our customers directly from the factory, or we commission other freight companies to do it.

What was your most exciting project yet?

The restoration of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. For this highly symbolic work, we produced bricks that are identical to the original ones in shape and appearance. The work on the Holy Sepulchre was done in 2016 and 2017. We then launched a new range on the market with similar properties and versions, which led to the “Jerusalem” range of bricks.

Thank you for talking to us!


Photos: Begoña Tremps

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