People and Partnership

Raquel, what is your motivation as a packaging expert?

I´m driven by a deep commitment to improving our projects in terms of sustainability, which I believe is critical to preserving our environment, addressing climate change, and ensuring a more equitable and just society for all. Ultimately, I want my work to have a positive impact and leave a legacy that future generations can be proud of, especially in my case as a mother of a young child.

What role does partnership play in creating better packaging solutions?

Partnership and teamwork are essential – the support within our team and the support we receive from product managers, engineering, purchasing, or suppliers. Leveraging collective skills, knowledge, and resources on every project enables us to achieve our goals more efficiently.

Here in Ovar, we work closely with the production team. We go into the plant and see where things can be improved. We ask other factories if there is a need, and we get requests from all over the world to develop or improve packaging. We then discuss their ideas in detail and look for ways to implement them as effectively as possible.

What joint success are you particularly proud of?

There are several. A few years ago, my first project was to optimize the transport boxes in one of our plants. By making a small change to the package size, we were able to fit a lot more product into the container. That project saved us 500,000 euros in one year – and, above all, a lot of CO2. It was a real success for the team.

What are you currently working on with your team?

There is a lot of new legislation – all around the world. In Australia, for example, all packaging components made of EPE/EPS are to be banned. We will therefore have to change a lot of packaging. This will be a big challenge for our team, but the end result will be in line with our main goal of sustainability.

César, what challenges do you face when it comes to security?

We have very special security requirements here at our port, as we are close to drug trafficking routes. Ports are like big marketplaces, there are a lot of transactions, a lot of movement, and a lot of people. Our job is to keep track of who is doing what and whether they are doing the right thing. But we can´t have our eyes everywhere, and that´s why it´s important to me that we use the latest technologies, like AI cameras. This enables us to detect and prevent potential crimes. I know that 100% security is not possible, but we want to get as close to it as possible.

How did the partnership with our team come about, and what do you value about it?

We were challenged by the fact that our cameras placed on 40 m high poles were not delivering sharp images – mainly because of the wind. We tried many things, but nothing worked. On recommendation, we contacted your team. They understood what we needed and did a really good job.

We are in close contact. They always ask us how everything is going. Many suppliers forget this once they have sold their product. Selling is easy, but what matters is how much support and advice you get afterwards.

What joint success are you particularly proud of, and what’s next?

We are very satisfied with the sophisticated camera solution on the 40 m poles. It provides us with reliably sharp images in all weather conditions and integrates seamlessly into our existing video management system.

Learn more about our monitoring solution with intelligent video analytics for Puerto Paracas >

But we are not stopping there. Our next joint project is the so-called “container patch”. With two high-performance cameras on each side, we will be able to monitor the container area over a length of 350 meters. This allows us to detect and track people within these boundaries, further enhancing perimeter control.

Paulo, the Ovar site has developed very dynamically. How do you manage to implement projects so quickly?

Partnership and teamwork are the key. When we construct or renovate a building, for example, we don´t just need suppliers, we need partners. Partners who understand us, can meet our quality requirements, and also keep up with our pace. A good partnership with local authorities is also crucial to moving construction projects forward. We do everything we can to ensure that the decision-makers fully understand our strategy. And in return, they tell us what we need to do or change to meet the requirements.

What joint successes are you particularly proud of?

Of particular importance to us was the continued improvement of the health and safety culture, especially with regard to the well-being and mental health of all associates. In the area of facility management, of course, the extensive refurbishment of the Ovar site. But also the many improvements to our processes, from R&D to production and logistics. The installation of the large-scale photovoltaic system was a milestone on our sustainability path and we are already working on a second system to save even more CO2 and increase our efficiency.

Learn more about our photovoltaic system at our site in Ovar >

Do you work with the community in other areas?

Yes, we participate in sustainability and environmental education projects every year. We ask the community what their agenda is and support these activities, such as beach cleaning. We advertise it and try to get the maximum number of volunteers from our site – including their families. I have participated with my two children and they have loved it. My oldest son keeps asking me when we are going to clean the beach again.