Company

History and Background

Industrial Metalmecánica S.A. was born from the union of the Krautmann and Hofer families, carriers of a work culture and values from Germany. From the very beginning, these families passed down principles that still represent us today: respect, love for family, effort, and dedication to work. At the beginning of the 20th century, those men from the old continent arrived in Argentina seeking a better life after the end of World War I. It was here that they laid the foundations of what, over time, would become a solid company and a benchmark in the metallurgical industry.

The Early Years

At first, it was a small workshop where machines were driven by flat belts operated by a group of workers. The machines were connected to a main shaft driven by an electric motor, which powered lathes, milling machines, planers, and shapers. The entire process was completely manual. The cupola was loaded by hand with iron, coke, and limestone. Molding sand was sifted by throwing it with a shovel against a screen. The movement of heavy parts depended on a “crew of men,” whose number varied according to the weight and size of each part.

Over the years, the incorporation of overhead cranes marked a turning point in production: it allowed parts to be handled by a single operator, optimized time, reduced physical effort, and freed up space, considerably improving workshop efficiency.

Evolution and Growth

Even though the company was initially linked to the sugar industry, sustained growth and the incorporation of new production capabilities gradually expanded its presence across various industrial sectors. Expansion into new markets allowed us to prove technology, quality, and solid technical knowledge.

Over time, dedication, discipline, and an innovative spirit drove the company to expand, incorporating modern machinery, new processes, and building expansions. That “artisanal” operation thus evolved into a complete, modern metallurgical infrastructure.

Who We Are Today

Currently, Industrial Metalmecánica S.A. is recognized for its decades of experience in addressing complex needs of the heavy industry; for its state-of-the-art machinery and certified manufacturing processes; for its reengineering, precision, and tailor-made solutions to enhance each part; and above all, for its commitment to quality, guaranteed by a specialized Quality Assurance Office, supported by a highly trained technical team and a proven track record.

Historical overview

Year 1923 – Front of the workshop, with dirt roads where traffic moved in both directions and transportation was carried out in carts pulled by horses or oxen.

Front of the workshop, the street was called “9 de Julio Prolongación.”

Year 1937 – Some machines were powered by flat belts. Movement was achieved through a main shaft with pulleys driven by an electric motor. This way, lathes, milling machines, planers, shapers, etc., were operated.

The work was manual. In the foreground, frames for filter presses are visible, which were previously used to filter sugarcane juice.

Flat-belt-driven machines.

Year 1943 – Excerpt from a newspaper article.

Year 1948 – First 100m³ vacuum pump, manufactured in the country. This pump and sluice valve were sent to the San Andrés Sugar Mill (Province of Jujuy).

Vacuum pump.

Year 1957 – Second mill-cylinder lathe designed and built entirely by our company.

Year 1962 – Workshop expansion and incorporation of a 20-ton overhead crane, carrying a cylinder with its shaft and reinforced columns, which in turn supported 5-ton overhead cranes in the side bays.

Year 1964 – Pfauter gear shaper.

Radial drilling machine Heller, drilling a grey cast iron piece (called a steam trap) from our foundry.

Radial drilling machine Hettner, operated by a worker drilling press cloths for continuous centrifuges in stainless steel from our steel foundry.

Aurrera boring machine from Bilbao, Spain.

Year 1968 – Acquisition of a new Tos boring machine from Czechoslovakia for machining parts weighing up to 20 tons.

Year 1971 – Purchase of a lathe from Mercedes Sugar Mill, and installed in our metallurgical plant.

Year 1973 – Set of five continuous centrifuges fully built in our metallurgical plant, operating at Leales Sugar Mill.

Double-bed lathe machining a basket for a continuous centrifuge cast in stainless steel.

Electric furnace for melting steel, fully built in our company, with a 4-ton capacity.

View of the modernized foundry with an 80m-long bay and two overhead cranes: one 20-ton and another smaller, one with a Demag 3-ton two-speed hoist, both built in our metallurgical plant.

View of the foundry, where in the foreground one of the first models made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) can be seen. Previously, patterns were manufactured exclusively in wood, but this new material was widely adopted for its simplicity and lower production cost.

Cupola furnace used for melting grey cast iron components, capable of producing parts weighing up to 20 tons, such as sugar mill cylinders.

Gear shaper machine, already installed and operational.

Year 1981 – Visits are received from the National Ministry of Industry. At this moment, the Minister was shown a steam turbine rotor during its dynamic balancing.
Fom left to right: Eng. Alfonso Mozatti, Mr. Pedro Krautmann and Eng. José Krautmann.

Year 1989 – Tos boring machine machining the exhaust port of a Fiat gas turbine and a dynamic balancer — manufactured in our company — balancing a 15-ton steam turbine rotor.

Year 1992 – 75MW steam turbine rotor arrived at our company for repair and balancing. The blades to be replaced were manufactured in our metallurgical plant.

General view of the company’s machining section and, in the background, part of the assembly section.

Mission

Our mission is to provide comprehensive, customized solutions for the manufacturing of spare parts, essential components, and assemblies for industrial machinery and equipment. We specialize in the engineering development of production methods and the selection of appropriate materials, ensuring superior performance, durability, and efficiency in every product. All of our operations are carried out in strict compliance with the quality standards established by ISO 9001, thereby ensuring customer satisfaction and the continuous improvement of our processes.

Vision

We aspire to establish ourselves as regional leaders and a benchmark in the manufacturing of spare parts and machinery solutions. Our goal is to be recognized for the superior quality of our products, the reliability of our services, the technical expertise of our team, and the innovation applied to every project. We strive to build long-lasting relationships with our clients based on trust, efficiency, and operational excellence.

Values

Professionalism: We conduct every stage of our operations with responsibility, integrity, and technical expertise. Our team is equipped to deliver precise, efficient solutions tailored to the specific requirements of each client and project.
Integrity: We are committed to honesty, meeting agreed deadlines, and delivering the quality we promise. We value transparency and consistency between our words and our actions, fostering strong and lasting business relationships.
Customer Commitment: We are dedicated to gaining a thorough understanding of our clients’ needs in order to provide timely, effective, and sustainable solutions. Customer satisfaction is our highest priority, and we continuously strive to exceed expectations with every delivery.