Horiba plans building plant in Brazil in 2010
Valor Econômico
The Japanese pharmaceutical group Horiba Medical will build, in 2010, its plant in Brazil, at a place yet to be defined, in order to expand its activities. Specialized in the manufacture and distribution of equipment and reagents for analysis and measurements for various applications, particularly in the hematological area, the company intends to invest nearly R$ 10 million (US$ 5.8 million) to build this new unit that should go into operation until the end of 2010. The company currently occupies a leased plant in the neighborhood of Jurubatuba, in the capital of São Paulo.
According to Hamilton Ibanes, President of the multinational in the country, Horiba is a leader in the market of in vitro diagnostics and in the area of Hematology. In coagulation, the company is the third one in the country. Like the large multinational companies of the pharmaceutical area, the company invests a great part of its earnings on Research and Development (R&D). In 2008, the investments in innovation amounted to nearly US$ 115 million, or 7.9% of the earnings of the company.
Headquartered in Japan and with 43 branches in 23 countries, the company operates in five divisions in the global market: medical, scientific, semiconductor, automotive and environment. The Horiba plant of São Paulo produces chemical reagents used in machines that take its brand. Nearly 110 thousand liters of reagents are produced every month. The Flagship in Brazil, the area of hematology has a line of ten measurement and analysis pieces of equipment intended for (small to large size) laboratories and hospitals. In coagulation, Horiba is a partner of the French Stago, manufacturer of equipment for hemostasis exams (coagulation) since 2006. Horiba also operates in the area of biochemistry. The company has equipment responsible for routine exams and specific tests - everything that is not related to blood - such as urine, glucose and proteins. Worldwide, the main activity of Horiba is the automotive sector that is responsible for 36% of the earnings of the company. The medical part represents 20% of world earnings. The scientific, environmental and semiconductor areas are responsible for the remaining of the earnings.