The Israel Santos Metal Productions Company, commercially known as Duralmet, relies on its manufacture capabilities to become the main supplier of metalwork for the national housing construction program. Nor does it rule out making its products a new exportable item for the nation.

Last year, the entity belonging to the Ministry of Construction provided modules of windows and doors to seven thousand homes and, in 2020, its plan is similar. However, according to the director-general, Raúl Quiñones Romero, from its workshops could come out just over twice that amount.

In 2019, the factory was not exempt from the effects of the US blockade on the national economy. There, it expressed in the lack of raw materials and spare parts, which forced to stop its machines for two months.

Nevertheless, last September they resumed their work and managed to exceed the sales plan by 14 percent and the profit plan by 10 percent.

Quiñones Romero expressed his optimism that the measures adopted by the Cuban Government in recent months achieve their purpose of encouraging state-owned companies. It is not surprising then that among the strategic objectives, which are drawn this year, several are focused on export. Thus, for example, they will continue in the search for suppliers that allow them to gradually renew their current technology in the manufacture of doors and windows.

Likewise, he said, they have proposed to accelerate the approval of a carpentry packaging proposal in line with the demands of the international and border markets, such as the Mariel Special Development Zone, now the scene of several new works that could be an opportunity to get in touch with potential foreign clients.

The plant is a fruit of the boom of social investments in Cuba, at the beginning of this century, in the heat of the Battle of Ideas Program. Now, its role could be equally defining in government plans with the aim of re-boosting the building of new homes for Cubans. In its workshops, in addition, steel strapping staples are produced; accessories that were previously imported by the Cuban steel mills, whose manufacturing allows the public coffers saving 25 thousand Euros per year.