Establishment and relaunch
Castisagra is a commercial vehicle workshop and our partner in the province of Toledo. The business is situated in the Las Cárcavas II industrial estate on the A-42 between Madrid and Toledo.
Mariano’s journey to self-employment
Mariano set up the business in 1999. Before that, he had been working as an employee in a lorry workshop. He suggested to his boss at the time that they open a commercial vehicle workshop together. The two of them went ahead with the plan, but working together proved difficult.
After around two years, the business partner left the company. Mariano stayed on and continued to run the workshop with two mechanics. Today, the team comprises eight mechanics. According to Gallardo Otero, the initial difficulties and the parting of ways with his partner shaped the future course of the business.
Relocation of the workshop
New premises in the industrial estate
Gallardo Otero describes the move to new premises as particularly challenging. Castisagra moved to a new industrial estate where, at the time, no one else was based. At the same time, the workshop had to cope with the growing business and a larger workforce.
An increase in orders and staff numbers called for a new organisational structure and more streamlined workshop management.
Workshop Management and Staff
David Gallardo Otero runs the workshop. He cites increasing customer expectations and a shortage of staff as some of the challenges facing the business today. According to the workshop manager, Castisagra is currently unable to grow any further due to a lack of skilled workers.
Qualifications for every recruitment
When searching for mechanics, Castisagra remains firm in its decision: the business does not employ unqualified staff. Instead, the workshop adapts its work to the resources available.
Gallardo Otero links this decision to the requirement to work quickly and to a high standard. Consequently, the number of skilled workers available determines the workshop utilisation.
Customer trust and a sense of belonging to a network
Reliability in day-to-day contact
For Gallardo Otero, his work on commercial vehicles is closely linked to his own life story:
„It’s our life, what we’ve learnt over the years, what we’re capable of.“— David Gallardo Otero, Workshop Manager
What sets this workshop apart? Integrity, professionalism, transparency and trust. According to Gallardo Otero, customers particularly appreciate the team’s personal commitment and attention. Many have remained loyal to Castisagra for a long time.
Castisagra joined our network several years ago. The names Bosch and Knorr-Bremse, along with the technological expertise associated with them, were also key factors. Gallardo Otero cites the reputation of these brands and the technical information they provide as valued aspects of the partnership.
Technological change and the next generation
A foundation for further learning
Gallardo Otero counts the technological changes in day-to-day repair work amongst the key developments in the industry. According to him, this is raising the bar in terms of training and qualifications. Looking to the future, he cites electric commercial vehicles and hydrogen.
His advice to young people centres on a thorough training programme in the commercial vehicle sector:
„You should aim to gain as comprehensive a training as possible and lay a solid foundation that will enable you to acquire new knowledge in the face of constant developments in vehicles and technology.“— David Gallardo Otero, Workshop Manager
Castisagra is thus setting out a specific challenge for the future for our partner garages: specialist knowledge must keep pace with advances in vehicle technology. Within our own organisation, the relevant qualifications are already a prerequisite for employment.
We look forward to supporting our partner workshop, Castisagra, as it moves into the future and to providing it with the best possible support in meeting all future challenges!