09/05/2008 15h16
Growth of consumption stimulates Cromexs business
Gazeta Mercantil - 09/05/2008
Masterbatches: Only by this word you are certainly not connecting the name to the product. But, even little known by the great public, all plastic around you would certainly not be colored without it. And what seemed to be only an aesthetical matter ends up being decisive in markets where appearance can be the greatest competitive differential. It is the case of cosmetic, hygiene and cleanliness packages and automobiles that are manufactured every month. With the growth of consumption of this kind of product in the last years, stimulated mainly by the entrance in the market of classes with less purchasing power, companies like Cromex, that has produced plastics color composites and additives for more than 30 years saw opportunities multiply. Last year alone the company - 100% national capital and holding nearly 45% of the market of masterbaches, which already represents more than R$ 520 million (US$ 319 million) - saw its revenue reach R$ 305 million (US$ 187.1 million), which represents a growth of 27% in volume and 18% in income and expects to grow 25% in 2008. The good expectations of the plastic business, which grew more than 8% last year, do not come only from the national market, but also from the foreign one, which already represents 35% of its revenue. In front of this auspicious setting, Cromex decided to invest US$ 3.5 million in the purchase of two new machines to increase its capacity by almost 70% until 2009, leaping from 93 thousand tons to 155 thousand tons per year. "Here in São Paulo we are studying a new investment for the plant of colored plastics, which should include moving the plant from the capital to another more competitive center in the State", affirms Cromex. The São Paulo unit has one of the higher laboratories of colors of the Country, and it has already developed and maintains its basis of more than 13 thousand different colors. Besides, it develops additives that can also be incorporated to the plastic, such as antibacterial or anti fungi ones, greatly used by the industry of sandals, and by solar protection to increase the useful life of items that are exposed, like playground toys.
