Evolving the Family Factory

In this episode of the Connected Shopfloor Podcast, we speak with David Molina, COO and Co-owner of Plásticos Benito (PLASBESA), to explore how a family business with a 40-year history is reinventing itself through technology, engineering, and industrial agility. With a background in Industrial Technical Engineering (specializing in Mechanics) and prior international experience at Martifer, David leads the factory alongside his sister, balancing financial management with product development, tooling/molds, and production.

The conversation focuses on the generational transition and the evolution of their business model: moving from standardized mass production toward tailor-made projects, rapid prototyping, and shorter production runs using 3D printing and thermoplastic injection molding. David openly addresses the challenges of running a family-owned manufacturing plant, the importance of aligning sales with actual shopfloor capacity, and portfolio diversification away from heavy automotive dependency.

The episode also examines the role of recycled plastics in the face of new regulations and the urgent need for digitalization across industrial SMEs. David shares how replacing manual records with automated data capture and real-time analytics using proGrow transformed plant productivity—enabling them to detect hidden downtime, optimize costs, and make faster, more accurate decisions.