RICARDO DA QUINTA

Is an engineer with an outstanding track record in the pulp and paper industry in Brazil. His experience covers areas such as Operations Management, PDCA Cycle, Total Predictive Maintenance, and Purchasing Management, making him a key professional in the development of innovative projects in the paper industry in Brazil.

Ricardo's career in the pulp and paper industry has been characterised by a drive to promote innovation and improve production efficiency.   He has a solid foundation in project planning and a deep understanding of the manufacturing landscape, which he has applied to paper mill development projects in the companies he has worked for

He gained special notoriety for his role in the Puma II Project, one of the largest investments in the history of the paper industry in Brazil, which included the construction of two paper machines and a pulp mill with an annual production capacity of 1.4 million tons. All this allowed for the efficient production of a Kraftliner made from 100% eucalypus fiber.

For his ongoing dedication to the paper industry, the positive results of his work, and his contribution to the development and progress of the Brazilian paper industry, we present Ricardo da Quinta with the Latampaper Achievement Award.

CARLOS ALBERTO STEIN

Was born in Limeira (SP) and, while still a child, worked to help his family. At the age of 18, he joined the Brazilian Air Force, where he founded a skydiving club and developed his leadership spirit. Later, he entered the paper industry as an executive pilot and, over the years, took on management and sales positions.

In 1993, he decided to become an entrepreneur. Four years later, he founded BN Papéis in Benedito Novo (SC), bringing together 25 employees around an agile and innovative company based on cutting-edge technology, sustainability and social responsibility. Despite initial challenges, the company grew remarkably.

Today, BN Papéis produces up to 60 tonnes of low-grammage paper per day, serving the Brazilian market and exporting to Latin America, the United States and England. With a focus on quality and sustainable development, it continues to expand its global presence.

Stein's multidisciplinary career has created jobs, stimulated the production of recyclable materials and reinforced biodegradable practices. His determination and vision for the future have transformed a dream into a real impact on the paper industry. In recognition of his exceptional contribution, we honour Carlos Alberto Stein with the LATAMPAPER Achievement Award.

SIDNEI COIMBRA

Has dedicated his career to perfecting the operation of paper machines, improving their efficiency and quality. Since completing his engineering degree, he has worked with prestigious corporations to optimize paper machines and achieve higher quality products with fewer defects and losses. His experience spans Latin America, where he has worked actively to improve paper manufacturing processes.

Sidnei currently leads the growth area in Honeywell's Paper, Pulp and Integrated Solutions (CWS) business for the region. His ability to identify opportunities for improvement in critical processes has enabled the optimization of production and maximization of energy and raw material use. He also stands out for implementing control, quality, and automation systems in paper and tissue machines, thereby strengthening production and profitability in the sector.

These achievements reflect the combination of technical excellence and commercial vision that is driving the digital transformation of the paper industry in Latin America. It is therefore an honor to present him with the Latampaper Achievement Award.

MARGARITO SALVADOR

Born in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico.  He has a long trajectory in the Pulp and Paper Industry starting in 1986.

He has gone through all levels of maintenance activities, since he started at Mexicana de Papel Periodico as a Supervisor Trainee to his current position as Maintenance Manager at the Biopappel Veracruz Plant in Tres Valles.

Within his activities he has covered practically all the sequences of pulp and paper manufacturing. Mechanical Maintenance Plant Services, Pulp Manufacturing, Pulp Preparation, Paper Machine, and Packaging.

We know that Margarito has done his job by always maintaining a quest for excellence and sustainability.

His continuous dedicated and meticulous work has led him to grow within the organization until he now has the total management of Bioppapel Scribe's maintenance.

Latampaper recognizes Margarito's dedicated and essential work in maintaining the production equipment in optimal conditions.  Without this dedicated and continuous work, none of the paper mills in our continent would be able to maintain their efficiency or remain sustainable over the years.

It is a quiet but essential work for which we honor Margarito Salvador Ramos with the Latampaper Achievement Award. 

LUIS ALBERTO RESENDIZ

He began his journey in the paper industry through his father’s business, initially with secondary fiber collection, and later, by participating with him in the installation of a flat paper machine.

In 2000, at the age of 20, Luis Alberto, along with his father, founded “CONVERTIPAP,” a 100% Mexican family business dedicated to the manufacturing and conversion of tissue paper. Luis Alberto has been leading the company since 2020. During his international trade studies, he created a brand that he later used to identify his products.

With Luis Alberto’s diligent work and direction, CONVERTIPAP has grown rapidly and today has two plants, six paper machines, 30 conversion lines for napkins, and another 15 lines for consumer and AFH products.

The growth and modernization of CONVERTIPAP’s plants have continued relentlessly, utilizing increasingly modern machinery, upgrading their largest machine, automating their conversion lines, and dedicating more resources to employee training.

Through all these actions, resulting from his full-time dedication, Luis Alberto Resendiz significantly contributes to the progress and sustainability of the paper industry and the advancement of his country and all of Latin America.

I hope this helps! If you need any further adjustments, feel free to let me know.

ROBERT WEBER

Robert Weber, originally from Switzerland, is a long-time resident of Mexico. He is a Mechanical Engineer specializing in Turbo machines.

For many years he has worked with major manufacturers of turbines and power generation equipment.  Major companies such as Sulzer Escher Wyss, ABB and MAN Turbo.

After that experience with the big houses, he has founded his own company in Mexico from where he supports the paper industry for the installation and repair of gas turbines and the development of sustainable cycles with renewable energy.

Also, within his services he offers turnkey vacuum system modernization for energy savings and zero water consumption to protect the environment.

He has managed to internationalize his company with offices in Canada and Brazil always supporting sustainable and low-cost projects throughout the Americas.

Latampaper recognizes Robert Weber as a successful professional with a career marked by his dedication to making the Latin American paper industry more sustainable and for this we give him the Latampaper Achievement Award in the category of Supplier to the Paper Industry.

SANTIAGO REYNA

Born in Lima in 1967, he pursued studies in Industrial Engineering and specialized in Business Management, Corporate Governance, Leadership, Marketing, and Sales.

Santiago has had a long career in the paper industry, starting in 2009 when he began working with CARVIMSA, dedicated to the construction and startup of a paper machine. This allowed the corrugator to become independent from external paper suppliers.

Continuing with business optimization, he led an internal shift towards the use of recycled fibers. With this, he has contributed to promoting recycling, sustainability, and the circular economy.

MARGARITO SALVADOR

Born in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico.  He has a long trajectory in the Pulp and Paper Industry starting in 1986.

He has gone through all levels of maintenance activities, since he started at Mexicana de Papel Periodico as a Supervisor Trainee to his current position as Maintenance Manager at the Biopappel Veracruz Plant in Tres Valles.

Within his activities he has covered practically all the sequences of pulp and paper manufacturing. Mechanical Maintenance Plant Services, Pulp Manufacturing, Pulp Preparation, Paper Machine, and Packaging.

We know that Margarito has done his job by always maintaining a quest for excellence and sustainability.

His continuous dedicated and meticulous work has led him to grow within the organization until he now has the total management of Bioppapel Scribe's maintenance.

Latampaper recognizes Margarito's dedicated and essential work in maintaining the production equipment in optimal conditions.  Without this dedicated and continuous work, none of the paper mills in our continent would be able to maintain their efficiency or remain sustainable over the years.

It is a quiet but essential work for which we honor Margarito Salvador Ramos with the Latampaper Achievement Award. 

GERMANO AND EMILIO PURNHAGEN

We have selected for the Suppliers two people who, with their sustained, detailed and continuous work, have managed to turn a small workshop that started practically from scratch, into a technological leader in the manufacture of machines and accessory equipment for the papermaking industry. We are referring to Germano and Emilio Purnhagen who made the miracle of placing Hergen as a company of world-class presence and technological quality.

Germano Purnhagen succeeded his father, the founder of Hergen, a few years after the foundation of the company and in less than 8 years, in 1988, he was able to successfully deliver a complete papermaking machine with a capacity of 120 tons per day.
His work has been continued by his son Emilio Purnhagen. He has maintained the search for technical improvement and has also sought to consolidate the brand as well as to give the company an international presence.
It has been a technological consolidation and national and international development that has undoubtedly contributed to the progress and sustainability of the papermaking industry that we recognize to each one of them.

CESAR MOSKEWEN

Our tribute this year goes to Cesar Moskewen, Damapel's Technical Director for his achievements in seeking and improving the quality of papermaker products in the industries where he has developed his work.

A great and continuous work for the advancement of equipment, efficiency and quality in the production and conversion of tissue paper and its products.

Of his 51 years of life, he has dedicated more than 30 to his professional activity within the tissue world.  He has participated in 4 papermaker machine start-up projects and numerous conversion line projects and installations.  All this always with a focus on continuous production and quality advancement.  One of his greatest achievements has been the management of a team in charge of the implementation of innovative and sustainable projects, which is a pioneer team in Brazil in the tissue sector.

A career full of continuous successes which have contributed to the development of the Brazilian Pulp and Paper industry. 

And all this without forgetting his biggest project: raising his two daughters together with his beloved wife.

ANTONIO BRUNI

He was born in Venezuela, from an Italian Family with a papermakers DNA, being part of the fourth generation.
In 1979 he began his career in the paper industry when he got his first job at Papeles Venezolanos, one of the largest tissue paper companies in Latin America at that time. This was the beginning of his professional life.
He started as Shift Supervisor Assistant in the Paper Mill Production area. After a few months he was offered the opportunity to start the company's Technical Training Department. He took up his new position with a lot of passion and responsibility. "Learning and Teaching" was the objective.
After a few years, he returned to the Operations area as Production Superintendent. From there he was climbing positions within the Operational and Administrative area. First at the local level, then crossing borders taking Regional Corporate responsibilities until reaching the current position as CEO of the Grand Bay Paper & Group Care Products, of which Papeles Venezolanos is part.

MANUEL ALCALÁ

Manuel Alcalá is the CEO of Smurfit Kappa Brazil. Previously he was Vice President of Panamerican Sales (PAS) based in Miami, where he led the Innovation, Insights and Value Selling work streams for The Americas. He was also VP of the Corrugated Division in Argentina and General Manager of San Felipe Paper Mill in Venezuela. He joined the Company in 1990 starting as a Process Engineer.

Manuel has a Master of Science in Industrial Administration, Master of Science in Pulp & Paper and a bachelor´s degree in Civil Engineer, he is also Specialist in Operations Management.

MARCEL LENSVELT

Manuel Alcalá is the CEO of Smurfit Kappa Brazil. Previously he was Vice President of Panamerican Sales (PAS) based in Miami, where he led the Innovation, Insights and Value Selling work streams for The Americas. He was also VP of the Corrugated Division in Argentina and General Manager of San Felipe Paper Mill in Venezuela. He joined the Company in 1990 starting as a Process Engineer.

Manuel has a Master of Science in Industrial Administration, Master of Science in Pulp & Paper and a bachelor´s degree in Civil Engineer, he is also Specialist in Operations Management.

FELIPE QUINTINO

Felipe Quintino began his career in the Tissue Paper industry more than 20 years ago. He had work for large companies in the Brazilian market.

Almost 10 years ago he founded the Web page Tissue Online.

As CEO of Tissue Online Web page he is dedicated to helping create an increasingly strong Tissue Paper market.