Japanese Horiba invests US$ 9.4 million in new plant
DCI
Regardless of the time of crisis in the economy in its country of origin, the Japanese multinational Horiba will invest R$ 15 million (US$ 9.4 million) to build a new plant in the interior of São Paulo. The works are scheduled to begin in May and it aims at allowing the increase of the installed capacity by 50%. The multinational, specialized in the manufacture and distribution of measurement and analysis equipment, will produce three million liters of reagent used in hematological tests every year. The companies expects net earnings of R$ 57 million (US$ 35.6 million) in Brazil for 2011, compared to the R$ 48.5 million (US$ 27.6 million) of 2010.
Horiba is one of six large Japanese companies that will inject capital in Brazil in 2011. In April, Canon and Nikon, manufacturers of cameras, Mitsubishi and Suzuki, automakers, and AGC, glass producer, announced investment values together with Horiba amounting to R$ 2 billion (US$ 1.3 billion). According to the President of Horiba Brasil, Hamilton Ibanes, the company headquarters is located away from the epicenter of the accidents. It is located in Kyoto, nearly 400 km from Sanday, which did not damage it.
The Executive added that segment of hematology grows 10% a year, but the company beats the average of the market. "Every year, we register 13% of growth and if we fail to expand we will have restrictions in the future", said Ibanes as he revealed the limit of capacity of the company will keep up with the demand of the market only until 2013. The President indicates the improvement in the quality of life due to the heated economy is the main factor of stimulation of the sector. "Today, the population has access to health and one of the first exams asked for obtaining medical diagnosis is the blood test", said the Executive. Besides the rise of classes C and D, which allows the prevention and detection of diseases, the economic stability and growth of the Southern Cone as a whole encouraged the change and expansion of the plant.
The new piece of land the company will occupy is located in Jundiaí (SP) and it has ten thousand square meters, five thousand of which will be built-up area. The inauguration of the work is planned for the beginning of 2013 and it will generate 200 jobs. According to Ibanes, Horiba holds 32% of the market share of the segment and intends to analyze the first years of the performance of the new facility to decide whether or not they will manufacture machines for sale in Brazil. "They are currently made in France, but after generating more demand we will see if it is possible to produce them in national territory".
The company made R$ 3.5 million (US$ 2.2 million) available for the purchase of land in the city and it is estimated that another R$ 7.9 million (US$ 4.9 million) be spent in the construction of the new plant. The company will also invest another R$ 979 thousand (US$ 611.9 thousand) in the purchase of equipment and R$ 163 thousand (US$ 101.9 thousand) on road works. The new headquarters will host the operations of two of the five companies that constitute in the world: Horiba Medical, present in Brazil for nearly 10 years, and Horiba Scientific, dedicated to Research and Development and Quality Control in all kinds of industry.