GMB - What was the work that Atlantis recently completed at the Argentinian Hipodromo de Palermo?
Eduardo Bercovich – The working process in the Hipodromo de Palermo began several months ago with the development of carpet design, choice of color, styles, different types of designs for each of the environments, both in carpets and textile-based wallcovering, antibacterial and shock resistant. We have also introduced as a novelty the MOODS floor, which is a Luxury Vinyl Tile, with geometric shapes and resistance no longer of intense commercial use, but of industrial resistance. This is placed with adhesive membrane to avoid acoustic and humidity problems, and that is comfortable to the step.
What materials have you used in this carpet replacement? And what about in the rest of the work done?
The carpets they chose in the casino are the highest performance that exists with current technology. They are made with 80% virgin wool and 20% nylon to increase their abrasion resistance, without losing the wool, its resilience characteristics, ease of cleaning and presence. It has been made with dyed threads throughout its structure (not on the surface, they are not printed) and knitted point to point, which makes its durability and design definition of the highest category.
Did you work together with Argentine architect Monica Spodek in this remodeling?
We work with the Spodek studio, with whom we have already done dozens of projects and have a work team that makes it comfort for us to deal with due to the level of professionals.
In what other gaming rooms in Argentina and/or Latin America are the company’s products present?
We have hundreds of rooms in Argentina and Latin America with our products. At this moment we are making the main halls of the Mar del Plata Casino, we have Trilenium Videodrome, all the CET, and this week a shipment is leaving, since we won the tender for all the casinos of the State of Uruguay. It was an international tender in which renowned American and Eastern companies participated. Atlantis was favored by large differences in quality and price competitiveness.
In Brazil, we have just finished ACCOR Guarulhos, and we are in four compulsory prices and tenders, right now in São Paulo. Our distinction is that each project is “unique”, since our design department has a creativity potential not comparable with other companies in the market.
The high traffic in casinos generates great wear on the elements ... is it an issue on which Atlantis works to make the best and most durable materials?
The high traffic is critical in the issue of casinos. The only company that makes a technical treatment, specific to increase the abrasion resistance of the threads that make up the carpet is Atlantis. What other companies do is to twist the thread, we do it continuously, but with a much more modern technology that is thermofixed via superva. It is a machine that leaves the twisted threads fixed at a certain temperature and thus does not fray, has greater resistance to abrasion, and the thread remains perpendicular to the carpet making it have a real importance in durability.
The other fundamental element is that we are wool producers, we use our own wool for our carpets, we do not mix qualities, but we use homogeneous batches, and specially classified. We know how to treat our raw material because that is our essence, we do not buy yarn made by third parties.
Does the Argentine crisis with the increases in the value of the dollar complicate the company’s normal operation?
In Argentina, as industrialists, we are affected by the generals of the law, we are not exempt from the complications that our country is having daily. But we continue betting to produce more and better. We continue to export and last week three shipments went to Peru, Uruguay and another to Colombia. Even in difficult times we have sold our products to, for example, Park Hyatt Philadelphia, Park Hyatt Washington, Marriott, Sheraton, Four Seasons, etc. The levels of uncertainty are high, but this is what we know to do.
What other big projects are ahead for the next months?
In the coming months we have to finish two very large casinos in Argentina, a hotel in San Pablo, and at the same time we can inform that we have acquired an industrial plant of plates (tiles or modular carpets). We also are very active both in Argentina and in the Brazilian market, which we have already started successfully, we have our deposit in Brazil, our office, sales representatives and the first operations have already been carried out. We have high expectations in developing this market and offer the Brazilian market a new and more competitive option.
We guess you follow closely the process of legalization of casinos in Brazil. Do you imagine that Atlantis and its know how can act in that new market?
We have been preparing for the legalization of casinos and we are still selling without it. If the Brazilian market demands more actively, we are in conditions and prepared to be present in both designed and modular carpet rugs, or other elements that must provide the best solutions.
Source: Exclusive Games Magazine Brasil
