By By Adrienne McKenzie
Alto Products, Corp. was the host to customers from Venezuela Monday and Tuesday.
Officials from Partes Automaticas, a client of Alto Products, visited Atmore and Alto to view where the products they buy are manufactured.
Jose Montalvo translated for Enrique Sanchez, president of Partes Automaticas.
"We are so happy to be here," Sanchez said. "This little town has changed our company dramatically. Citizens of Atmore have made a big impact."
Sanchez believes that because of Atmore and Alto Products, the growth of Partes Automaticas has been successful.
"We started small," Sanchez said. "Our growth through the years is thanks to the efforts in Atmore. We still want to expand our exploration."
Partes Automaticas is one of Alto's largest international customers. In 1988, when the two companies began doing business together, the annual exports of Alto to Partes Automaticas reached $18,000. The projected sales to the Venezuelan company from Alto are an estimated one million dollars this year.
Because of Sanchez's collaboration and efforts, the presence of Alto is unparalleled in Venezuela, which is one of the largest automobile markets in Latin America.
Sanchez distributes a local brand, named KRAMCO, which have allowed Alto's clutches to control more than 75 percent of the markets share of automatic transmissions clutch usage.
Sanchez buys Alto's friction and steel clutches but also supports the complete Alto line of Automatic Transmission Parts and Components. Sanchez promotes the Alto brand throughout Latin America and also is valuable in introducing specialty products, such as high energy, or high performance, items.
Not only has Sanchez been helpful to Alto but Alto has been helpful to Partes Automaticas. Alto has welcomed Sanchez's top distributors as well.
In order to allow the customers of Partes Automaticas to understand the manufacturing facilities, vision and quality policy of Alto, David Landa, Alto president, decided to allow them to come and visit the facilities. Along with Sanchez were Amable Toro, Norberto Lizardo, Rafael Sanchez, Enrique Sanchez, Jose Sanchez, Hector Vergara and Rixio Garcia. These men are Sanchez's top distributors in Latin America.
Landa believes that the relationship between Alto and Partes Automaticas are important in surpassing boundaries between the U.S. and Venezuela.
"The business has grown tremendously over the last few years," Landa said. "One concern we have is that Venezuela and the United States don't have the best of relationships. It is very important to develop these relationships and to transcend boundaries."
Landa was also very welcoming of the men from Partes Automaticas.
"It is a real honor that they have come from so far away to visit us," Landa said. "We are so happy to have them here."
Sanchez's son and daughter-in-law, Rafael and Lillibeth Sanchez, are taking Partes Automaticas to a "new level." New communication methods and expansion concepts are being developed to endure today's market system. The Sanchez's are planning to expand into Miami, Fla., to base a sales headquarters. The group from Partes Automaticas intend on continuing to work with Alto in building great business relationships.
For more information on Alto Products please visit www.altousa.com.