About Us
Manufacturing Software & Digital Operations
Austral delivers manufacturing software and digital operations services with a focus on plant performance. Our teams combine operational understanding with MES, SCADA, industrial data, and integration expertise.
Our Mission
Helping manufacturers get the most from their technology
We help manufacturers improve visibility, reduce losses, and integrate plant systems through MES, SCADA, and industrial data.
Our engineering approach is built on accountability, clear communication, and ownership of agreed deliverables. We work with your operations and engineering teams to understand constraints, validate solutions, and support their use in production.
“We exist to make manufacturing software work the way it should — with precision, reliability, and a deep understanding of what happens on the plant floor.”
Austral Manufacturing Software
Founding Principle
Who We Are
Small and specialized, by design
Austral Manufacturing Software — also known as Austral MFG — was founded to serve manufacturing enterprises that need specialized knowledge rather than a generalist IT firm. We work exclusively with manufacturing companies, on the problems that determine plant performance: measurement, manufacturing systems, and industrial integration.
Austral was founded and is run by Santiago Gimenez, with 10 years of experience in Proficy Plant Applications and 4+ years in Ignition, in plants of global consumer goods, paper, nonwovens, gypsum board and automotive manufacturers. Santiago personally leads every project, from discovery to support. When the scope calls for it, we bring in trusted partner engineers, always under his technical direction.
We operate through two companies: Austral Manufacturing Software LLC for the United States and international clients, and Austral Soluciones Industriales SAS for clients in Argentina. That keeps contracting and invoicing simple wherever your plant is.
Our Values
What guides every engagement
Clear ownership
Every project has a single technical lead who is accountable from design through handover.
Customer understanding
We listen to operators, maintenance, and operations teams to understand the problem and its context.
Engineering quality
Our teams use documented designs, structured testing, and clear handovers to deliver maintainable software.
Accountability & ownership
We take responsibility for agreed scope, communicate risks, and follow through on delivery and support.
Platform Expertise
The technologies we work with
Our expertise spans the full manufacturing software stack — from device-level connectivity through enterprise reporting and analytics. Every technology listed here is one we implement and support as core competencies, not peripheral skills.
Proficy Plant Applications
Production, quality, and genealogy modules
Proficy Historian
Data collection, archiving, and analytics
Ignition SCADA/MES
Full project lifecycle — design through support
Sepasoft MES
Track & Trace, OEE and downtime on Ignition
ThingWorx (PTC)
Industrial applications and plant data connectivity
OPC-UA / OPC-DA
Industrial protocol connectivity
PLC & DCS Integration
Connectivity with plant controllers via OPC
SQL & Time-Series Databases
Historian and relational data management
ERP Integration
Exchange of orders, consumption and production data with business systems
Certifications
Current technical certifications
These are individual technical certifications, not commercial partnerships with the vendors.
Ignition Core Certified
Inductive Automation
Proficy Operations Hub
GE Vernova
Proficy Plant Applications
Proficy & MES Specialists
Proficy Plant Applications is a core capability at Austral Manufacturing Software. We work with manufacturers and engineering teams on implementation, development, support, troubleshooting, upgrades, and integration of Proficy-based MES environments.
From our engineering base in Villa Mercedes, San Luis, Argentina, we provide specialized Proficy consulting to industrial organizations in Argentina and support manufacturing projects across North America and international markets.
We also provide specialized engineering services to system integrators such as GrayMatter.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What industries do you serve?
We have hands-on experience in consumer goods (diapers, feminine care, paper, personal care and assembly), nonwovens, paper, gypsum board, automotive and water utilities. The approach (reliable data, OEE, traceability and integration) applies to any discrete or process manufacturing plant.
Do you work with companies outside the USA?
Yes. Most of our experience is in North American plants and with global manufacturers. We are based in Argentina: US and international clients contract through Austral Manufacturing Software LLC, and clients in Argentina through Austral Soluciones Industriales SAS.
What's the difference between working with you vs. a large systems integrator?
You work directly with the engineer who designs and delivers the project, with no layers in between. It is the same expertise large integrators bring in for their own projects. Our focus is deliberately narrow (plant performance, manufacturing systems and industrial integration) so you get depth rather than generalist knowledge spread thin.
Do you work with system integrators?
Yes. We also provide specialized Proficy and Ignition engineering services to system integrators such as GrayMatter.
Do you offer ongoing support after implementation?
Absolutely. We provide flexible support contracts including system health checks, upgrades, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement consulting.
Ready to work with a specialist?
Reach out to discuss your project — whether you're planning something new or need support on an existing system.