Sika prepares expansion and wants to double size until 2010
Gazeta Mercantil - 01/21/2008
Confident that the growth of the Brazilian civil construction registered in 2007 is the result of a sustainable movement of the sector, Sika Brazil prepares the next steps so as to reach its goal of doubling its size in four years, until 2010. For this year, the company foresees growth of 20% in relation to the R$ 140 million (US$ 79.5 million) of sales it had in 2007. The expansion of the manufacturer of additives for concrete and mortar, waterproofing, sealing and adhesive materials, which decided to review its strategy of operation in Brazil in 2006, has a large project to adequate its capacity. This year alone, Sika intends to increase its product offer by 12%. Moreover, the company has already purchased some land beside its productive unit, in Osasco, in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo, for future expansion projects. The increase of the local capacity of the company will also result on the nationalization of part of the products currently sold by Sika, assured Daniel Monteiro, General Manager of the company in Brazil. "Today the imported products are responsible for 40% of our sales, but our goal is to reduce our dependence on these products. We intend to nationalize some items, such as the industrial floor line", he said. With a setting for the civil construction which is more favorable than it was planned at the end of 2006, the General Manager believes that the possibility of the company's achieving its goal of doubling its size is closer. And, in order to do so, it is essential to have the confidence of the Sika headquarter, in Switzerland. "I managed to pass, for this last year, an investment budget 200% greater than the level we had last year. That shows the group is betting their bottom dollar in Brazil ", emphasized Monteiro. The volume of investments to be made by the company in 2008, which was not disclosed, will be the greatest ever made available by Sika in last the 10 years and also the greatest of the company in Latin America, surpassing Colombia.