theceomagazine.com | 131clusters in China. It offers steel solutions
unique to the Chinese market with
capabilities to blank and level both the
strongest steel grades. It also offers the
advanced technology of producing laser-
welded blanks on coated hot stampable
material. This allows high-tech solutions such
as a complete door ring made out of specific
steel grades, which can be hot stamped in
a single operation.
VAMA has also introduced early vendor
involvement teams comprising experts
with more than 20 years of experience in
ArcelorMittal’s global R&D centres. The
teams are pouring support and resources
into the latest technology and solutions
for the early stages of model design from
all phases of vehicle development. It’s a
proven strategy to boost competitiveness
while reducing research and development
costs for China’s OEMs.
“ArcelorMittal has been developing new
technologies and products that we have been
able to transfer to China,” Fernando says.
“A good example is the new generation of
hot stamping products such as Ductibor®
1000, which offers reduced weight without
compromising vehicle safety or performance.
“Over the next 18 months, we want to
expand VAMA’s growth and build more stable
and long-term relationships with OEMs by
introducing new products from ArcelorMittal.
Value creation, our business model copied
from ArcelorMittal, means selling not only
steel but also the solutions and services in
full partnership with our customers.”
As China catches up with global
manufacturing trends in its drive to be
one of the most powerful automotive
manufacturing nations, it’s fuelling industry
competition to become even fiercer.
“Yes, VAMA aims to become the number
one steel-solutions provider in China to cater
to this,” Fernando says. “We will always be
committed to supporting car makers and face
the upcoming challenges with solutions and
new technology.
“Technology inspires me. Look at what it
has achieved in our lives. It has changed the
way we think and do things in everything.
From medicine to space, from EVs to
satellites. I’m excited about the future.”
To lead his staff to first place, Fernando
has been working on developing the
leadership skills of his management teams.
“I value people. I train and motivate
them to pursue avenues to gain better
results,” he says. “I have used the best advice
from an international company to devise a
customised program. It focuses on leadership
skills such as engagement and ownership, and
having clear and tangible targets to strongly
encourage the team in the right direction.
“We dare people to go the extra mile
to achieve their goals and ambitions. We
inspire them to excel at everything they
do and to grow professionally.
“Great things in business are never done
by one person, they are done by a team
of people. The best advice I was given was
to be persistent and never give up. That way,
you will get there.”“CMI is proud to have supplied two state-of-the-art
processing lines producing superior surface quality for high-
strength automotive structural components to VAMA, and
thus have helped our client in his determination to provide
comprehensive steel solutions that achieve the challenging
target of improving the safety of vehicles while reducing their
weight.” – Fabrice ORBAN, Vice-President, CMI Industry
“Value creation, our business
model copied from
ArcelorMittal, means selling not
only steel but also the solutions
and services in full partnership
with our customers.”
Interview | INVEST