AWL Mexico through the lens of its Managing Director Lucas Diaz

When Lucas Diaz joined AWL 7.5 years ago, AWL Mexico primarily played a supporting role within the organization. Today, he leads a team that designs jigs and builds complete machines and production lines for customers in North America. Lucas does not see this development as a classic growth story, but rather as a story about people. “What we have built here didn’t happen overnight,” he says. “It grew because people dared to take ownership, stayed curious, and continued to seek each other out.”

From support role to full partner within AWL
In its early years, AWL Mexico primarily focused on installing and commissioning machines built in Europe. Gradually, that role began to change. It started with building tooling, then complete machines, and eventually full production lines. “Not because we suddenly knew how to do everything,” Lucas explains. “But because people wanted to learn. When something was unfamiliar, we figured it out together.”

This approach made the team increasingly independent and versatile. Today, AWL Mexico operates as a full-fledged machine builder within the AWL Group. The site works closely with colleagues in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, the United States, and China. Projects are executed collaboratively, and knowledge is actively shared across locations. “That collaboration is essential,” Lucas says. “We build locally, but always as part of a collaborative global AWL network.”

Multidisciplinary collaboration as a natural way of working
On the shop floor, boundaries between disciplines are less defined. Robot programmers contribute to mechanical solutions, and engineers regularly look beyond their own field of expertise. “Sometimes the solution comes from a place you don’t expect,” Lucas explains. “When you understand each other’s perspective, you reach solutions faster, and they actually work.”

The result is well-considered, efficient, and practical solutions. The focus is on technology without unnecessary complexity and on stable and reliable production processes.

Reliability, especially under pressure
According to Lucas, collaboration ultimately comes down to trust. This becomes most visible when projects are under pressure. “We never walk away from a project,” he says. “Even when things get challenging, we keep going until it’s done right.”

That mindset requires commitment and accountability. At the same time, it is exactly what customers recognize and value. Agreements are not intentions. They are promises. This applies within AWL Mexico and across AWL as a whole.

Leadership across cultures
As Managing Director, Lucas works daily across different cultures and ways of working. He connects Mexico with other AWL locations worldwide. He sees his role primarily as a connecting one. “I try to bring together the best of different cultures,” he says. “The flexibility and trust within AWL, combined with the strong commitment and work ethic of the team here in Mexico.”

This requires clear goals and well-defined expectations. It also requires a work environment where people feel safe sharing opinions, admitting mistakes, and supporting one another. Open dialogue and short communication lines play a key role in this.

Space to keep building together
With the opening of its new 5,000-square-meter facility, AWL Mexico is taking the next step in its growth. Lucas shares proudly, “We now have sufficient space and the right electrical capacity to realize larger and more complex projects.”

Located in a modern industrial park, the facility provides a solid foundation for AWL Mexico’s future ambitions. “Still, it’s not about the building,” Lucas adds. “It’s about the people working inside it and how they work together.”

That culture is visible on the shop floor. There is a strong focus on performance, but also room for enjoyment and engagement. Colleagues know one another, hold each other accountable, and help each other move forward.

A strong link in the bigger picture
AWL Mexico is more than just one location within a global organization. It is a team that takes ownership, collaborates across borders, and contributes to the bigger picture. “What we do here, we never do alone,” Lucas concludes. “Together with colleagues around the world, we build solutions that help our customers make their processes smarter and more productive.”