The 2024 DANA has had a profound impact on the Valencian furniture industry, disrupting the production and supply chains of numerous companies. While some facilities have avoided direct damage, the effects have been widespread on a human and logistical level, delaying deliveries and causing material and production losses. Three companies—Punt, Capdell. and Mariner—share their experiences, strategies, and lessons learned while navigating this challenging time.
For Punt, the DANA has had an unprecedented impact, both on a human and industrial level. Several employees lost their homes, vehicles, and other belongings, while production was also disrupted by the domino effect of suppliers that collapsed under the pressure. The company has rolled out a crisis management plan that offers economic and legal support to affected employees, while also temporarily bringing certain production processes in-house to restore operational stability. While they initially received a lot of sympathy from both domestic and international customers, a representative from Punt notes, "People are getting increasingly impatient with the long delays." This situation is pushing them to strengthen their internal production capacity to ensure self-sufficiency in case of emergencies, while also investing in the digitalization of their logistics and production processes.
Capdell's team explains that while their facilities didn’t suffer direct damage, their proximity to the hardest-hit areas of the DANA had a significant impact on their staff, as many employees had family members who lost essential belongings. The company also faced major delays in its supply chain, as their suppliers—working under a "zero-kilometer policy"—are still rebuilding. This disruption resulted in the complete loss of certain orders, such as upholstery, and affected their year-end revenue projections. Capdell dealt with the situation by quickly taking action, providing company vehicles, distributing bilge pumps to employees in need, and setting up teleworking for administrative roles. Looking ahead, they plan to diversify their supplier base to better prepare for any future crises.
Mariner, whose plant is located in the Alter Industrial Park in Alcacer, didn't suffer any direct damage, but disruptions in the supply of raw materials—due to the flooding of its suppliers' factories—caused significant delays in delivery times. The loss of products in transit has also added to the challenges, affecting the normal flow of production. The support from international customers and partners has been vital in easing the uncertainty, which the company describes as “a relief during such challenging times.” Mariner is also exploring ways to adjust its logistics strategy, considering measures such as elevating goods and shortening storage times to reduce future risks.
Despite the varying degrees of direct impact on their facilities, the three companies emphasize the importance of solidarity and agree that the crisis has highlighted the vulnerability of local supply chains and the need to diversify suppliers. Overall, the companies have had to implement preventive and collaborative measures—such as making teleworking more flexible and streamlining logistics processes—in order to rebuild a more resilient and better-prepared industry.
Looking ahead
Despite the challenges and the slow return to normality, these experiences showcase the resilience, adaptability, and solidarity that define the Valencian furniture sector. The affected companies are taking steps to protect their teams, optimize logistics, and ensure production continues, all with the goal of returning to normal operations as quickly as possible. They’re determined to turn this crisis into an opportunity for innovation and improvement.
