Saint-Gobain sees drop in volume, but must grow revenues in 2016

The increase in prices is what will guarantee security on Saint-Gobain''s revenue this year. With the prospect of having new losses in sales volume in 2016, the Group of building material follows investing in alternatives to stimulate demand.
"The revenues this year will be a little above 2015, because even with the fall in volumes, compensates for inflation. But we are not satisfied with it and would like to grow a little more, "said the INN the Chairman of Saint-Gobain for Brazil, Argentina and Chile, Thierry Fournier.
The Executive does not reveal the performance of companies that make up the group but acknowledged that some businesses are with 10% lower sales volume this year, while others feature better results, offsetting part of the retraction.
The company owns brands such as Brasilit, Isover, Weber Quartzolit and Telhanorte retailer, made R$ 8.7 billion last year, after reaching $ 10 billion in Brazil in 2014.
Changes in business strategy in the country, presented by Fournier to the DCI in May this year, aim to optimize production and predict new destination to the contributions made in the country.
"The construction and automotive markets [glass], in which we operate, are still bad, so our daily work has been focusing on answering as best as possible the needs of customers", said the Executive.
In an attempt to make Saint-Gobain brand best known for customers on the end of the chain, who often know only the companies that are part of the company, the group is investing in a new brand and positioning.
Aware that the recommendation of brands is gaining more strength in the market of building materials, the new logo of the Group reflects the concern of the company to maintain a presence in a sector whose competition is fiercer in shrinkage of demand function in Brazil.
"Saint-Gobain can''t help position your brand at the moment and we can''t save with this. And we believe very much that this will strengthen the positioning our portfolio [building material] and our trademarks with customers, "said Fournier.
He also said that plans to reduce the participation of imported raw material-with quote attached to us dollar business are also advancing.
Innovation
The introduction of new products to the portfolio has not been left aside, even with the slowdown in sales in Brazil. For the Executive, although the Group continue seeking the reduction of expenses, the contribution in innovation will be kept.
"Innovation is always a way to respond better and faster to customer needs, focus of our strategy for a market more difficult as the current. And although Brazil face a crisis today, we know that it will pass and we will have other "mentioned.
According to him, the products that make up the Group''s portfolio for less than five years account for 25% of total sales and Saint-Gobain have "thousands of products released this year".
"We have new technologies focused on greater comfort in buildings, such as the recent launch of a new range of insulating glasses", explained the Executive.
With 57 factories in Brazil, the group maintains all units in operation, even with less productive activity, informed him.
In the evaluation of Fournier, the market of building materials will remain challenging in 2017, with possible signs of reversal in the current trend of drop in demand. "I''m reasonably optimistic, but I don''t see a return to normal market situation before 2018 because we depend on the improvement in the real estate sector," commented.
Saint-Gobain has developed a project for the federal program my house my life, but the Executive acknowledged that the company made a mistake in proposal of products and solutions for the niche.
"We are reviewing the project, because it was too complicated and we missed a little on offer," he said, without giving details about the possible changes in strategy for my house my life.