Technology as a Catalyst for Health, Hygiene in Hospitals

Q: With over 35 years of experience in countries such as Switzerland, Taiwan, Brazil, China and Spain, what have been the greatest lessons of working in Mexico?

A: I have learned the most in Mexico because of the challenges of working in a fragmented system and an emerging market. When I arrived here 20 years ago, I brought my knowledge, experience and best practices to the sector. At that time, everything was completely new: the regulatory authorities, the market and the companies. Regulatory authorities like COFEPRIS have been key to the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Mexico and although I think COFEPRIS is doing a good job, there is still a long way to go. The sector must implement more international standards to be completely competitive globally but it is going in the right direction.

Q: What is the company’s top goal here and where will it expand to next?

A: Valtria’s team comes from a Swiss multinational company that operated for years in Mexico but it decided to close its offices in different parts of the world, including Mexico. That company still exists, but under another name and it is now one of our competitors. Within three years, Valtria, which specializes in the design and installation of clean rooms and controlled environments, would like to be recognized as a highly professional company with excellent engineering solutions for the health and food sectors. We are also planning to expand to Central and South America in the midterm.

Q: Within its range of solutions for construction and equipment, which sector is more relevant to Valtria?

A: Valtria believes the pharmaceutical sector in Mexico is the most attractive for its operations. We have realized that large multinational pharmaceutical companies are not growing as fast as before while domestic companies are more likely to grow and expand in Mexico. We also have the possibility to offer our services to the food industry because sanitary and engineering conditions are increasingly demanding. The same applies to the cosmetology and dermatology industries, which we are also planning to address.

Q: What is the company doing to position itself in the health industry? What added value does your portfolio offer for companies in Mexico?

A: Valtria hires personnel with previous knowledge and experience in the pharmaceutical sector and this new talent is introducing new contacts and companies to collaborate with us. We are a completely new company with a little over one year in Mexico but we already have a solid client portfolio. We work to provide our clients with a complete report and documentation of the projects we develop for them, which allows for us to implement preventive measures and follow-ups in the future.

Q: In Mexico, it is estimated that the frequency of infections in hospitals varies from 2.1 to 15.8 percent per year. How does Valtria offer a solution to this problem?

A: Valtria can install a unidirectional laminar flow that makes the air pass from A to B without turbulence, which allows a greater guarantee of air quality. This solution for hospitals reduces the amount of antibiotics required by a patient to avoid an infection. Investing in Valtria’s engineering represents an improvement in health but also a cost-efficient benefit for hospitals. We need to change the Mexican mentality to promote an attitude of prevention and investment in health through technology. Many times, the cheapest solutions in the short-term are more expensive in the mid to long-terms.

Q: What growth expectations does Valtria have for Mexico? How do you plan to achieve these goals?

A: We mainly want to triple our sales in services and position ourselves in the market. It is important for Valtria to be recognized in the sector but also by other industries that need our services. Valtria sees potential growth and development of the market in Mexico but it needs the support of everyone who participates in the process.