50 years shaping dreams
Santos Morte could hardly have imagined, on that morning of May 26, 1975, how far his dream would go when he opened a modest 70m² workshop, of which only 20m² were covered, in the village of Pradejón, in La Rioja, Spain. That day marked the beginning of what would become Talleres Morte, a global leader in the manufacture of ceramic extrusion dies.
From the very beginning, Santos Morte had one thing clear: each die was a challenge and a chance to learn, and at the heart of everything he did was the goal of improving his clients’ profitability through his dies. Driven by deep curiosity and solid industry experience, he quickly discovered the tremendous potential of using inner steel cladding in die manufacturing—a turning point for the workshop. Later, with the introduction of hard metal (tungsten carbide), the company began to stand out for the quality and profitability of its products, growing rapidly and becoming a key player in the Spanish market.
Growth was unstoppable. In 1990, Talleres Morte moved to a new facility of 550m², which was expanded in 1995 to 1.100m². In 1998, the ceramic industry underwent a major transformation: extrusion dies evolved from small-scale production units to larger dies capable of producing up to 15 bricks at once. Talleres Morte rose to the challenge with innovation and constant research into materials and die composition—always striving for maximum efficiency.
The construction boom in Spain drove the company forward for decades, pushing it to grow and evolve. Every die produced was thoroughly documented, every type of clay analysed, and every challenge turned into an opportunity for improvement. In this way, the company’s accumulated knowledge and experience became an added layer of service that set it apart from competitors.
But in 2008, the crisis hit. Spain’s construction sector came to a standstill, and Talleres Morte faced a difficult decision: reduce its workforce or seek new markets. The choice was clear. The company’s commitment to its employees and its community remained firm. It decided to internationalize, exploring markets such as Portugal, France, Germany, Poland, Russia, Morocco, Algeria, and Turkey. In just one year, the company shifted from selling 80 percent of its production within Spain to focusing heavily on exports—proving that its experience and quality could compete on the global stage.
Starting in 2014, the company reinforced its commitment to continuous improvement. It was no longer just about producing the best dies, but also about helping clients become more profitable—offering guidance and innovative solutions to optimize their production processes. The philosophy of Talleres Morte goes beyond manufacturing: it positions itself as a strategic partner, bringing value, innovation, trust, and profitability to its clients.
Today, after 50 years, Talleres Morte continues shaping dreams with the same passion and commitment that Santos Morte had when he founded the company. Its dedication to excellence, innovation, and lifelong learning has made this company from La Rioja a global benchmark. Because Talleres Morte’s dream isn’t just to make dies—it’s to give shape to the dreams of its clients.
