Açotubo renews to meet demand of pre-salt layer
DCI
To meet the demand of oil exploration in the pre-salt layer, Grupo Açotubo, the biggest distributor of steel and tubes of the country should open a new plant in Guarulhos (SP). "The unit gets to São Paulo with the Artex brand, a Rio de Janeiro company that was acquired last year with 20 years of experience in the market", says the project manager of the company, Ivo Hoffmann. According to him, the unit was brought to the market of São Paulo to meet the demand for solutions in the supply for the pre-salt layer, and it should be opened in no more than two months.
Artex is one of the five biggest distributors of stainless steel in Brazil and, through the company, the Açotubo group is increasing the rendering of services in the production chain of stainless steels, including made to order parts. Hoffmann says Petrobras has been increasing its presence in the businesses of the Açotubo group for five years. "We structured ourselves to cater to the oil state company, in an area called Department of Engineering Projects and Tenders, which caters both to Petrobras and to the companies that supply it with products", says Hoffman. Today, 60% of the earnings of the Açotubo group results from the businesses with the State company. "20% to 25% of those businesses are made directly between Petrobras and Açotubo", says the Manager.
The Açotubo group explains the pre-salt layer is already developing a demand for several segments, such as the improvement of rigs, building of ships and new refineries, among others. "In the public tender for drilling rigs, all the companies participating in the bidding procedures asked us about price, and the winners should sit down with us to close the deal", says the manager.
The Açotubo group, formed by Açotubo, Incoteb and Artex, has been in the market for 36 years and its main suppliers are Gerdau, Confab and Vallourec & Mannesmann Tubes. "We are loyal to our partners, therefore we do not think about replacing them", says Hoffman. He also adds the increase in the price of iron ore has already demanded the company to adjust its prices 12% up and, with new increases, the prices should get even higher as of the second half.