Eighty years of manufacturing excellence, family leadership, and industrial commitment. Director, Emilio Santos, tells us the story of how MR Accesorios Industriales came to be.
“Today, I want to honour the legacy of my parents, Manuel E. “Lolo” Santos and María “Bity” Mercado, founders of Casa Santos in 1945, a company born with a clear purpose: manufacturing high-quality bearing housings for Argentina’s growing industrial market.”
What began as a plummer block factory soon expanded, and by the 1960s the company incorporated the production of pulleys and large industrial chains, strengthening its capabilities and building strong, long-lasting partnerships with clients and suppliers.
Over the decades, the manufacturing lines evolved significantly. Today, MR Accesorios produces a wide range of bearing housings, including SN, SNL, SAF, TVN, FNL, and SONL types, engineered for reliability across the most demanding applications. They also continue to manufacture pulleys and industrial chains while commercialising bearings, industrial belts, couplings, and a broad selection of industrial accessories. These product lines represent the technical heritage of Casa Santos and the foundation of the company’s contribution to the industrial sector.
“As the business grew, so did our family’s commitment. Over time, all nine of us, my brothers, sisters, and I, joined with enthusiasm, responsibility, and a shared spirit of teamwork.”
“Together, we faced the challenges of an ever-changing national landscape, always standing alongside our customers and suppliers as trusted allies. Our strength was never only in the products we made, but in the people and values that shaped every step of our journey.” Emilio explains.
In 2005, Emilio Santos acquired the company and took on the role of Director, continuing the family legacy under MR Accesorios Industriales SRL, together with his wife, Mariana Calicchio, who brought a global vision to the business. They expanded their commercial reach throughout Latin America, offering a comprehensive distribution catalogue. This evolution was made possible thanks to the incorporation of Emilio’s sons: Manuel A. Santos, General Manager and specialist in the international industrial market, and Ramiro Santos, Sales Manager with deep expertise in belts and industrial accessories, both of whom are now leading the company into a new era.
Throughout this journey, MR Accesorios also succeeded in building a highly skilled team across sales, administration, and logistics. Their professionalism and dedication allow them to provide technical guidance, personalised service, and reliable support, qualities that have positioned them as genuine allies to both suppliers and clients. They consider this human capital one of their strongest competitive advantages.
Guided by this same spirit, seven years ago the company opened its Miami headquarters, allowing them to support a wide range of companies through the importation of high-quality products from Europe and Asia. From this strategic location, MR Accesorios now serves industries from Alaska to Ushuaia, ensuring efficient distribution and technical support across the entire American continent.
“It is challenging to summarise eight decades of work in just a few lines, but I felt compelled to share the story of a company built through perseverance, teamwork, and the vision of three generations.
“Our journey is deeply rooted in our ikigai, the passion and purpose that give meaning to our work and our lives. And as we look to the future, that same purpose continues to drive us forward.” Emilio concludes.
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