Advanced Protective Films Enhance Comfort, Sustainability

Q: What main challenges does Películas Útiles address in vehicle production?

A: Our primary goal is to protect finished products within the automotive industry. During manufacturing and assembly, parts can be damaged by movement or handling. Our protective films help prevent damage on the production line and during transport of the final product to dealerships.

All our materials meet the specifications and tolerances required by the industry. We ensure that each component complies with flammability and performance standards, which are essential for guaranteeing the safety of occupants. We also aim to enhance the user experience by reducing noise and vibrations inside the vehicle. Our materials include noise-reduction solutions, acoustic insulators, and non-woven fabrics designed to prevent noise from entering the cabin and provide a quieter, more comfortable environment. All automakers and Tier 1 suppliers highly value this type of performance in their vehicles.

Q: How do these solutions impact operational efficiency and cost optimization for clients?

A: Our products directly contribute to productivity and profitability on assembly lines. We offer solutions that are easy to apply and remove, such as external protective films, as well as permanent components like noise-reducing foams or felts, which enhance process efficiency without complicating operations. To optimize costs, we design our materials, whether sheets or films, according to specific dimensions to maximize their use. This significantly reduces waste or scrap generation, resulting in lower costs and a more efficient operation for our clients.

Q: What elements distinguish Películas Útiles’ products in the highly competitive automotive market?

A: Our protective films stand out thanks to their high level of specialization. We offer bi-layer and tri-layer products designed to provide optimal performance in various applications, such as between carpets, under flooring, or on high-gloss paint surfaces, polypropylene, and other substrates. These films are engineered to leave no adhesive residue, a critical aspect for manufacturers and brand preservation.

We also have extensive experience collaborating with clients and optimizing products through cost reduction, engineering analysis, and material architecture proposals. This approach enhances material performance and ensures consistent results. By applying the best practices required by different automakers, we always deliver high-quality service and diverse solutions.

Q: How does Películas Útiles contribute to improving innovation, performance, and design in the industry?

A: We promote the adoption of lightweight, durable, and recyclable products aligned with the circular economy. All our materials are recyclable thermoplastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, nylon, polyamides, and EPDM, which minimizes environmental impact and facilitates component reuse. This allows the industry to meet safety and sustainability standards without compromising performance.

Q: How are you leveraging the new advanced materials entering the automotive industry?

A: With the advent of electric mobility and fuel efficiency, the industry requires lighter vehicles. We are applying low-density foams and materials like EPDM and polyethylene, which provide thermal, acoustic, low water absorption, impermeability, and reduced weight. Our protective films use water-based and acrylic adhesives that make installation and removal easy without leaving residue. We offer high-, medium-, and low-adhesion options, as well as static films without adhesive. 

We also have strategic partnerships and a laboratory, allowing us to stay at the forefront of materials by evaluating critical properties such as tension, elongation, and adhesion, and offer innovative solutions to automakers and Tier 1 suppliers.

Q: How does sustainability influence the design of new products and the selection of raw materials?

A: Although we do not design final products, we are IATF 16949 certified and work on the architecture of our materials to optimize performance, avoiding unnecessary costs for the client. We focus on developing lightweight, durable, and substrate-friendly materials that are compatible with products made of polymers, glass, and stainless steel, among others. Even our automotive paint films are designed to provide temporary protection without leaving residue, allowing for safe and efficient removal in line with sustainability criteria.

Q: What initiatives have you implemented to reduce your carbon footprint, such as recycling programs, the use of bio-based materials, or improvements in energy efficiency?

A: We use solar panels to supply a large portion of our needs. We are also incorporating state-of-the-art technology for the production of water-based adhesives, allowing higher production speeds and lower electricity consumption. We use filters in critical processes to prevent the release of volatile compounds into the atmosphere. All our adhesives are water-based and non-aggressive. We also participate in sustainability programs with clients, including Ecovadis, which evaluates environmental performance and the implementation of sustainable best practices.

Q: How is the rapid adoption of EVs influencing your product development priorities, considering that an electric motor is much quieter than a combustion engine?

A: With quieter vehicles, it is essential to optimize acoustic control inside the cabin. For this reason, we work with open-cell foams, where a higher cell openness significantly improves sound absorption. We also develop materials for battery protection, using high-thermal-resistance polystyrenes that provide efficient and safe insulation of the unit, replacing what was previously known as the “firewall” and enhancing the overall performance of the EV.

Q: What challenges have you encountered in thermal management of insulators for EVs?

A: EVs require materials with adequate thermal resistance for various applications, from the cabin and trunk to motor components and labels. The technology we use, developed around 10 years ago in Israel and adopted by EU manufacturers, allows materials to withstand temperature ranges from -30 °C to 135 °C, sufficient for current requirements.

Q: OEMs are increasingly focusing on customization, premium finishes, and cabin comfort. How are you adapting your portfolio to meet these expectations?

A: We offer decorative films for exterior applications, a specialty we developed in the 1980s. These high-performance materials protect against weather, water, sun, acid rain, and other factors, ensuring durability throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle and meeting the 10-year replacement standards required by the industry.

Our in-house laboratory allows us to respond faster than the competition, opening opportunities with new clients. Películas Útiles’ value proposition is to deliver immediate solutions, from project reception to the delivery of samples ready for testing. Thanks to the combination of advanced technology, internal testing, and experience, we can develop solutions in half or a third of the time it would take competitors, strengthening collaboration with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.

Q: How are consumer expectations regarding comfort and aesthetics expected to evolve?

A: The trend points toward smarter, more functional materials capable of delivering better performance and cost reduction, replacing metals like steel or aluminum with advanced polymers. We have optimized processes to improve cycle times and productivity, incorporating software and AI-driven robotics that allow precise control during production shifts. This ensures operational efficiency while meeting the comfort and aesthetic standards demanded by OEMs.

Q: How does process control impact the company’s productivity and profitability?

A: Having precise control over productivity — including labor hours per part, operator performance, and piece count — allows us to improve ROI and reduce downtime. Thanks to Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) monitoring systems, we can measure and optimize machine utilization, shorten production times, better plan materials, and adjust shifts based on actual needs, avoiding unnecessary costs.

The implementation of new technologies over the past three years has increased operational efficiency and improved the group’s profitability, enabling us to maintain double-digit growth and a solid EBITDA.

Q: What have been the main challenges of operating in the Mexican automotive market?

A: Challenges are mainly related to costs and productivity. We integrate new materials and work with business partners to optimize processes. Government regulations and industry standards are always strictly followed, thanks to a culture of compliance and certifications established since the founding of Películas Útiles.

Changes in tariff policies have led to challenges in the importation of materials, which affects the entire industry. To mitigate this, we work with approved and alternative suppliers that meet the same OEM and Tier 1 specifications, and we are developing more local suppliers to reduce dependence on imports.

Although about 85%–90% of our products are intended for export, the new tariffs have created challenges, especially for heavy vehicles. However, these changes have also opened opportunities for greater market penetration in Latin American markets, allowing us to leverage trade agreements and strengthen our regional presence despite uncertainty.

Q: What are Películas Útiles’ main short-term priorities for the rest of 2025 and 2026?

A: Our priorities focus on strengthening our presence in the automotive market, exploring opportunities within the categories and products we manage. We aim to work with new automakers and expand the penetration of our products across the country, consolidating the diversity and reach we have developed so far.

Revenue has historically grown at a double-digit rate year over year. For 2026, the objective is to maintain our market position, ensuring financial stability and an estimated growth of 16%, while continuing to advance toward our 2030 vision.