Manufacturers are betting on P&D to grow

The chemical industry bet on research, development and innovation to get through the period of the crisis. Now, the sector expects to reap the fruits of this strategy, especially with the prospect of increased demand in retail.
"The year of 2017 was a lot of uncertainty and the our company invested and prepared to get through the crisis. In 2018, we continue weaving partnerships in research and creation of technologies, "says marketing and communications manager of the Montana chemistry, Michel Sentinelo.
The chemical sector, which faced fall between 2014 and 2016 billing, grew back in 2017. The DCI report heard by the manufacturers pointed out that the market is reacting as a whole, but with the faster pace retail.
"Retail grows strong, the industry is already more slowed down", points Sentinelo. The Montana is headquartered in São Paulo and a branch in Porto Alegre (RS), and acts as protection and finishing products.
"This niche is still small in Brazil. Requires a change of mentality of the consumer to see the wood as a constructive element, not just decorative. It's a market that has room to grow. "
Montana claims to have renewed your industrial park and have invested in the industrial park to increase productivity, security processes and modernization of the assets of the company during the period of crisis.
The brand manager Loctite, Henkel, Paula Gonçalves, says product development influenced the results of the first quarter of this year and that the company is optimistic for the remainder of 2018. "We had positive results, with helping and creating innovations to the market."
Henkel operates in the areas of technology in adhesives and cosmetics and has plants in the cities of São Paulo, Itapevi Diadema and Jundiaí (SP).
"We didn't stop our investments in new technologies. We have our own research centers. " She also explains that the company develops equipment and custom solutions to meet specific needs of clients.
Paula confirms that retail has sued more and also sees growth in supply for industries.
"There is a general improvement. We serve many industries, automotive, electronics and food packaging, as well as construction, which we expect an improvement in the second half. If the pace is maintained, this year will be good, "designs.
Preliminary data of the Brazilian chemical industry Association (Abiquim) established in the first two months of the year indicate that the domestic sales of industrial chemicals manufactured in Brazil grew by 6.25% in the first quarter compared to the same period of the previous year.
Already the production index showed 5.91% indentation in comparison with the first two months of 2016.
According to the entity, the fall stems from shutdowns for maintenance and the lowest number of business days in 2018, as the carnival last year occurred in the month of March.
This smaller volume of production is reflected in the rate of capacity utilisation, 72% on average for the first quarter of the year, against 77% in the first two months of last year.
The marketing representative of the Orbi chemistry, Yolanda Mauro, see more optimism in the industry, but still nothing compared to pre-crisis levels.
"Our company is hitting targets and there is room to grow, with retailers pulling the demand. We hope to grow in revenues and market share this year. " The company, founded in 2006, has a plant in Leme (SP) and develops products for the automotive, construction and industrial maintenance. "We have own laboratory. The segment in which we grew up is in building ", says Yolanda.