The remanufacturing of pallets drives the growth of Central de Maderas and its expansion plan in Colombia
Central de Maderas is approaching four decades in the market. Photo: Courtesy
TL;DR
- Central de Maderas is shifting focus from new pallet production to remanufacturing, a key growth driver.
- The company aims to change Colombia's pallet market proportion towards reuse, similar to Europe's 80% reuse rate.
- Sales have grown 15-20% annually over the last five years, with remanufacturing seeing significant unit growth.
- Expansion plans for 2026 include territorial expansion, industrial automation, and logistics strengthening.
- The company operates with 174 employees, with over 70% in operational roles, all earning above minimum wage.
- Central de Maderas exclusively uses reforested wood and practices circular economy principles with pallet reuse.
- In the past year, clients saved over $3.4 billion by switching to remanufactured pallets.
- Investments are being made in new facilities in Cali, Cartagena, and Cúcuta, along with the implementation of Colombia's first fully automated pallet assembly line.
- The company emphasizes supply chain security and reliable inventory management.
- Central de Maderas operates sawmills in post-conflict zones, creating significant employment and community impact.
- They aim to obtain FSC certification within the first semester and manage over 500 hectares of reforested land.