History

Since its beginnings in 1968, Madeplax has evolved from the marketing of carpentry products to become a global reference in wood, aluminum, glass and steel. Adapting to market changes, the Group has diversified its services, expanding its operations internationally and establishing branches in Europe, America and Africa.

With a constant focus on quality, sustainability and innovation, Madeplax has forged strategic alliances, developed exclusive products and created infrastructures such as Plaza 3 Center in the Dominican Republic, a key center for the Caribbean. Today, the Group continues to grow, driving projects in emerging markets, strengthening its global presence and guaranteeing comprehensive solutions to its clients.

More than 50 years offering global carpentry solutions.

1968 - 1978

The roots of success

The group’s beginnings are closely tied to the sale of woodworking products. When they first started, they established a few sales routes, and their customer base gradually grew. The desire to meet all consumer demand—in terms of models, quality, and delivery times—led them to become involved in the marketing and manufacturing of the products.

Consequently, since their regular suppliers were unable to provide the solutions they needed, they decided to build a factory and began manufacturing plain doors and some custom doors based on customer orders. At that time, they were able to produce 1,000 doors a day with a fully committed staff dedicated to fulfilling their promises.

This production capacity led them to take it a step further and seek out new suppliers of raw materials beyond their borders. With the support of the Chambers of Commerce and the help of credit provided by the Bank of Monrovia, they began operations in Liberia (Africa) and undertook their first trips to Central and South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, the latter serving as a gateway to the United States) and Asia (South Korea, Japan, and China) to conduct a study of the countries best suited to supply and manufacture lumber.

Based on growth projections, the first regional offices were established in Manresa (Barcelona), Madrid, and Málaga.

1968. On April 12, José Tolosa and José Francisco Montes founded the company Madeplax in Valencia, Spain.

1969. José Tolosa, director and founder of the Madeplax Group, completed his military service in Cartagena, Murcia, and took advantage of his time there to expand the company’s business operations into that province.

1974. Workshops and complementary studies are carried out to apply knowledge in the manufacture and sale of products due to the high market demand.

1977. We are establishing a relationship with the faculty of the foreign trade courses subsidized by the Valencia Chamber of Commerce to work at Madeplax.

1979 - 1988

Facing the crisis

Without ever neglecting their carpentry work, they began taking on construction projects and added installation services to their offerings. This new market opened up much broader horizons for them and allowed them to handle relationships with suppliers in other countries with greater confidence.

However, due to the severe crisis that struck Spain in the late 1970s and early 1980s, they had to abandon many international projects and refocus their efforts on Spain. During those years, they continued to work in Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and even Portugal.

Thanks to their existing import contacts and manufacturing capacity, they were able to launch Alcama, a timber importer and distributor that would become the driving force behind all of the Group’s activities, eventually becoming the leading timber importer in Valencia and supplying all the carpentry and related businesses in the province.

They gradually strengthened international relations with African countries engaged in logging, promoting sustainable forest management and responsible logging. They conducted in-depth research on each type of wood and identified its optimal source, thereby diversifying their imports of the various products in demand by European customers.

They eventually reached such a high volume of imports of American lumber that they were recognized as one of the leading promoters of this type of wood from its country of origin. As a result, they received countless visits from businesspeople from around the world, as well as invitations from companies in the United States and Canada interested in their commercial capabilities.

1979. Trips are made to countries of origin of the wood near Spain, to analyze the possibility of production and marketing of products.

1980. It enters the construction and private works market.

1981. Alcama, S.A. was incorporated.

1988. Relations with the U.S. were strengthened.

1989 - 1998

The fruits of one's labor

Susana Tolosa was sent to the United States to specialize, where she earned a diploma in hardwood grading. At the same time, the company established a relationship with one of the country’s leading veneer manufacturers, as demand for this product was beginning to rise sharply among manufacturers—particularly door manufacturers. The company made its first investments in the foreign market, specifically in Fox Wood, Ltd. (Virginia, U.S.). It also established purchasing offices to import products from Asian countries (China and Indonesia) and sell them in Spain. The company leveraged its knowledge of Asian markets to export the first Spanish-made doors to Korea and Japan. In Cuba, the company began its first operations through a specialized agent. In addition to supplying carpentry shops and serving builders and developers, they began working intensively in the hospitality sector, offering what has become the Group’s slogan: “A complete service under one roof.” In partnership with the Fiesta Hotel Group, led by Mr. Abel Matutes, they began operations in the Dominican Republic.

1990. He is entering the hospitality industry.

1992. The first trip to the U.S. is being organized for Madeplax Group customers and employees.

1993. The NHLA-certified inspector is available.

1994. The first issue of the Group's institutional magazine is published.

1996. Acquisition of an equity stake in the American multinational Foxwood, Ltd. and the international company Timber & Venner L.C. The first sales and representative office is established in Atlanta, U.S.

1997. A sawmill is being inaugurated in Cameroon. Initial technical work is underway in the Dominican Republic.

1997. Outstanding participation at the Maderalia Fair.

1999 - 2008

Embracing globalization

They expanded their global presence by traveling to timber-producing countries and making frequent visits to the Caribbean, particularly the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Faced with high demand from international hotel chains, which requested wood, aluminum, and glass joinery, they expanded their services to include these products in response to the requirement for warranty certificates and undertook rigorous R&D&I efforts to seek out alternative products. They established branches in Bávaro (Dominican Republic), Quintana Roo (Mexico), and Montego Bay (Jamaica), in addition to those in Ibiza and Huelva-Portugal, and set up the first mobile workshops in the Caribbean, capable of serving customers anywhere in the world.

They launched the Wood Industry Hardware Fair, inaugurated the permanent exhibition at the headquarters in L’Alcudia, and began operations in Algeria, Morocco, and Brazil. The Group’s size led to the spin-off of the lacquer, hardware, sheet metal, and moldings divisions into independent companies. In 2007, the first 9,000 m² of Plaza 3 Center in Bávaro were pre-opened, out of a total of more than 35,000 m², an industrial facility designed to better serve customers, thanks to the work of architects Cesar Martinez and Juan Stiuck and Spanish capital investment. In 2008, Plaza 3 Center was officially opened, completing the commercial-family area and connecting it to the industrial area, with the support of public and private investment and improvements such as the new highway.

2003. Alcama has been included in Dun & Bradstreet Spain's Prestige Rating Book.

2005. The business diversifies into the hotel sector and the first branch office is created in Bávaro, Dominican Republic.

2006. The first Hardware Fair for the Wood Industry is held at the Group's facilities. Trips to the Dominican Republic are organized for the Group's customers, suppliers, and employees.

2007. The first visit by the international press committee organized by Confemadera takes place. Work begins in Algeria. The Plaza 3 Center holds its pre-opening event.

2008. Work begins on the first project in Brazil (Salvador de Bahía). Plaza 3 Center opens.

2009 - 2018

Sowing again

With the onset of the crisis, the Madeplax Group continues its operations in countries less affected by the global situation. The Caribbean and Morocco have emerged as new markets in need of the Group’s services. Branches in Europe and the rest of the world have been established and strengthened, and strategic alliances have been forged with manufacturers in Spain, Brazil, the United States, and Asia to meet demand and create cost-effective and functional alternatives. The Group’s presence in Africa—such as in Algeria—is growing, and the major hotel chains in the Caribbean continue to place their trust in the Group, expanding the market to Costa Rica and other countries on the continent. The infrastructure of Plaza 3 Center is being upgraded, and plans are underway for the Punta Cana Technology Park, Bávaro’s future logistics and financial hub, which will facilitate imports, exports, and storage for the Group, its clients, and other foreign trade companies. In addition, the Group is focusing on the Asian market through a company dedicated to identifying and implementing new products, forging partnerships with manufacturers, producing materials patented by Madeplax’s R&D&I department, ensuring rigorous quality control, and creating new sales and distribution channels—all of which expand the product range and open up new markets.

2009. The first social work begins in Morocco. The first delegation is established in the country.

2010. Strategic alliances with factories located in Brazil and Asia materialize.

2013. The first representative office in Algeria is established with Spanish-Algerian investment.

2015. Investments are being made in the creation of the Industrial and Commercial Complex (Coíncoba) project.

2018. The Punta Cana Technology Park is being planned, born out of the need to create one of the most important logistics and commercial hubs in the Bávaro area.

2019 - Present

A mature group

Since its inception, Madeplax has been committed to R&D&I, patenting products and systems to create a much more functional product without compromising on design. That is why the MRH (Water-Repellent Composite Wood) brand was created—a 100% moisture-resistant product resulting from years of research. The company-supplier relationship is strengthened through regular visits to factories to understand market concerns and seek shared solutions that benefit everyone. The first phase of the Punta Cana Technology Park is completed, bringing together companies from the hospitality sector at its facilities and creating new partnerships that benefit the Group in the development of new projects. The COVID-19 crisis impacts the hospitality sector, prompting the Group to strengthen its sales channels toward the construction sector by undertaking large-scale projects in Spain and the Caribbean. Construction of the second phase of the Technology Park begins and is completed within a year. This phase includes the construction of facilities belonging to the Madeplax Group, where new workspaces and processing areas for wood, aluminum, glass, and steel are being prepared, along with the new showroom and administrative offices. The third phase of the Technology Park gets underway. The Caribbean reopens to tourism following the low incidence of COVID-19 over the past year, leading to expectations of a recovery in the sector and the launch of new projects.

2019. The MRH (Water-Repellent Engineered Wood) brand is patented, enabling the company to supply the market with 100 % moisture-resistant materials.

2020. New marketing strategies are being implemented to strengthen channels in the construction sector in response to the COVID crisis, which has allowed for a reduction in the pace of work during the pandemic.

2021. The third phase of the Punta Cana Technology Park is underway.