Polo in Paraná retrofits and public search of class B

15 years ago, there were no women hired by Nicioli furniture manufacturer, from Arapongas, Norte do Paraná. Today, the 180 production workers, 70 are female. Until two years ago, 15% of the cabinets made by Colibri, which owns the factory in the same town, had mirrors. Now, the item is present in 60% of them. White responded by almost 100% of kitchens made by Poquema, located in the same polo producer. The back of red, blue and shades of wood did the percentage drop to 40%.
The furniture industry is changing. And entrepreneurs from Arapongas and region, before focusing on meeting the class C and D, are keeping an eye on the changes, because they have ambitious targets. Want to attract buyers of higher purchasing power, especially those of class B, and, within three years, put Parana ahead of the segment, which today belongs to Rio Grande do Sul, where is the pole of Bento Gonçalves.
"About 30% of the production of wooden panels is consumed here," says Nelson Poliseli, owner of Poquema and President of the Union of the furniture industry of Arapongas (Sima). According to him, entrepreneurs are investing to improve their products and add value. The Poquema, for example, that makes 30 thousand pieces per month, has earmarked $ 7 million for automation, which included the purchase of Italian equipment.
The numbers of furniture do Norte do Paraná polo take to well apart the idea of joiner loner and his tools used for woodworking. In the region there are 841 industries, with 163 in Arapongas. Together, they generate 18 thousand direct jobs, had revenues of $ 1.4 billion in 2012 and exported US $ 107 million. The growth forecast for 2013 is 10% and Movelpar, which began on Monday and runs through Friday, will be a bellwether for the year.
The Sima does not reveal how much the invest in modernization in recent years. But inside of modern machines do what before required manual work. There are separate areas for cuts, collages, for drilling and fixing of glasses. Elisete Naidu, in charge of packaging in Nicioli, recalls that before the doors of cabinets with glass were finalized with a rubber mallet. Today, a machine closes the process with four ports at a time.
In the same factory, wood, painting with different shades and textures, is made with the use of mats and machines. Are four minutes between the entry of the plate, the passage by treatment, painting and drying. Leonel Nicioli, that is industrial Manager, says that the company has 51 years to make concrete artifacts, such as tanks. Then went to balconies to Mobile sinks, modulated, and now began to manufacture cabinets for bedrooms.
The furniture of the region are made with MDF (medium-density wood fiber) and PRM (Particleboard, medium density wood). In addition to the advances in painting, many manufacturers are using the BP, calls that are already coated plates in various patterns. The Colibri, which makes 28 thousand units per month for bedroom and living room furniture, is one that is expanding the use of BP, says Fabiano Laguna, Manager of programming and production control. The intention is to meet consumer demand.
"The customer has to realize value in the product," he says, about the changes of recent years. The use of BP, more mirrors and aluminum is a challenge, he said, because in addition to making the products, makes logistics more complex. "Increases the number of faults," he explains, on the mirrors, for example. It was necessary to work together with the supplier to find the safest way to transport the products.
The Colibri was created 23 years ago and since 2010 invested r $ 12 million in land, shed and machinery. She makes 60 wardrobes and 250 racks per hour. "20 years Ago, the painting was done by hand, with ink, pistol and took much longer," says the Manager. The changes in the economy led to the changes. The drawers, for example, earn increasingly telescopic, allowing full opening.
In Arapongas still are made popular as a mobile kitchen kit with four doors and two small drawers, one of the oldest in Nicioli, that remains on the line because there is still demand, especially in the favelas of Rio and São Paulo. But the stands of Movelpar display products and more elaborate. Not only in wood. Mattresses and upholstered furniture made in the region display colors and modern models with retractable seats, springs and quality fabrics. "All the Brazil purchase here," boasts Poliseli of Sima, which also wants to increase exports of 8% for polo 10% of production.