Tetra Pak inaugurates expansion and already thinks in further increase in

The absolute leader in the country in provision of aseptic carton packaging, the famous long life box, Tetra Pak inaugurates today the expansion of Ponta Grossa (PR), with investments of r $ 200 million, and it envisions a new round of growth in the region. The decision, according to the Tetra Pak's Vice President for North America, Central and South, Paulo Nigro, must be taken in 2017, when the production capacity of the new line will be fully taken.
The plant planned for the next few years, however, not necessarily be installed in Brazil, which since 2007 has received € 1 billion in contributions from multinational. According to Nigro, with the expansion of the unit in Ponta Grossa, the Brazilian operation will be able to meet the expected growth in domestic demand. Moreover, given the global reorganization of the group, which resulted in reducing the number of business areas of ten to five and the unification of the commands on the American continent, the Brazil can export packages also for North America, in a move unprecedented for Tetra Pak of Brazil.
Today, by restriction of production capacity, exports approaching 15% of production. Ideally, according to Nigro, would reach between 20% and 25%. "We're working on it," said the Executive, who on July 1 passed the command of the Brazilian operation for mechanical engineer Marcelo Queiroz, who was ahead of Tetra Pak East Africa. At the same time, Nigro, also a mechanical engineer, took command in the Americas and is moving to the United States.
In addition to open potential new markets for the packaging produced in Brazil, the new design of Tetra Pak ' s command, in the evaluation of Nigro, generates synergies and represents business opportunity for customers of the company itself. "There's a big Mexican client who has already demonstrated interest in Brazil and Northern clients may come to Latin America," commented. Ten years ago, said Nigro, a group of 100 customers was responsible for 50% of revenues from Tetra Pak. Today, this slice is generated from contracts with only 43 customers. "This makes the consolidation of management logic," he added.
The new line in Ponta Grossa, which starts commercial production in September, will raise the production capacity of the Tetra Pak in Parana by about 70%, for 13 billion units per year. Considering the other multinational factory in the country, in Monte Mor (SP), which was expanded in 2010, the total production capacity will reach 22 billion packs per year. Multinational's main competitor, SIG Combibloc, which integrates the New Zealand group Rank, is also investing in Brazil and provides for local production of 3 billion packages next year.
"This ability puts Tetra Pak of Brazil in a privileged position. Box not goes missing in the country, "quipped the Executive. The new line is born with a certain occupation, since certain packaging formats that were imported from Tetra Pak itself in other countries will be produced in the country. To enable the production of these items, and reflect the impact of the exchange rate and inflation, the investment in the project rose from R $ 150 million initially estimated for $ 200 million in own resources of the Brazilian operation.
The contracts for the supply of raw material for the expansion project, according to Nigro, have already been signed with Klabin (card), Braskem (polyethylene) and Alcoa and CBA (aluminum), which are historical suppliers of the company. The bet in the country, second largest world market for Tetra Pak, takes into account the significant pace of sales growth for the past seven years: average of 5.5% per year, for 13 billion units in 2013. For 2014, the forecast is for growth of 5% to 6% in turnover, which amounted to r $ 4.6 billion last year, and 4.5% to 5% in sales volume.
One of the main stakes of the Tetra Pak to grow above the average for the packaging market is to invest in innovation. Per year, 4% of the net revenue of the group is designed for this purpose.