Feiplastic 2013: PlasticsToday Show Report

Feiplastic 2013: By any other name, Brazilian show still growing
São Paulo-Brasilplast became Feiplastic last year as the biennial Saõ Paulo show sought to better reflect its increasingly international nature, both in terms of exhibitors and attendees, and its roots as a longstanding Brazilian event with a growing global flavor were captured perfectly in the opening ceremony.

Brazil hopes to close its plastics machinery trade gap
Although a stronger real is adding some headwinds, climbing 25% in the last two years, the Brazilian plastics machinery industry continues to see gains in its exports, particularly within Latin America, thanks in large part to an assist from its machinery association and the Brazilian government. That assist comes in the form of the Brazil Machinery Solutions program, which is a joint effort between the Brazilian Machinery Association (ABIMAQ) and the Brazilian government's export program, APEX. Of the approximately 1500 companies that are in ABIMAQ, 200 participate in Brazil Machinery Solutions.

Feiplastic: Brazilian PVC compounder finds local solution to bagging issue
São Paulo-When you're compounding 240,000 tonnes of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) per year, small variations in the packaging phase can have big implications for the bottom line. That's the issue Brazil's Karina faced with its 25-kg bags of PVC compounds and masterbatch, which are produced and packaged at its facility in Guarulhos in the state of São Paulo

Feiplastic: Brazilian printing, inspection market pushes into higher technology
São Paulo-The Brazilian printing and inspection market is growing in size and technological clout, with local suppliers offering increasingly high-tech equipment. Altec, which began 30 years ago in the paper market, now sells web tension controllers, film inspection, and vision systems into a variety of spaces, including plastics. Flexographic printer manufacturer Flexo Tech, meanwhile, began in the market with a 4-color system in 2003, displayed an 8-color printer at Feiplastic 2013.

Feiplastic: Cooling market heats up in Brazil for Mecalor
São Paulo-Process temperature equipment supplier Mecalor is growing as rapidly as the Brazilian and Latin American plastics processing market it serves, while still maintaining its family ties. Speaking with PlasticsToday at the recent Feiplastic 2013 event, sales manager Flavio Pereira noted that the third generation of the founding family began employment at the company during the fair. "Over the last five years, sales have increased almost 200%," Pereira said.

Shut down: Standards group turns off machine at Feiplastic for failing safety standard
São Paulo-Inspectors from a new safety standard enforcement team forced an exhibitor to shut down a bag-making machine on the second day of the Feiplastic 2013 fair in São Paulo, saying the equipment, from an unnamed Chinese supplier, did not satisfy a revamped standard that Brazil is now more vigorously enforcing. The Brazilian machinery association (ABIMAQ) has a working standards group known by the acronym ABET that is participating in a global revision of technical standards for plastics machinery

Feiplastic: Winder manufacturer eyes U.S. for first facility outside Brazil
São Paulo-Vemax, a Brazilian supplier of specialty winding technology, is looking to open its first office outside of Brazil in the U.S. later this year, hoping to reinvigorate an export business that formerly constituted 70% of sales. Julio Altemani, Vemax's director, told PlasticsToday at Feiplastic 2013 that one potential location would be Miami since that city has a branch office for the Brazil Machinery Manufacturing Association (ABIMAQ), of which Vemax is a member.

Brazilian injection molding machine market grows despite trade barriers
São Paulo-If you want one good indicator of the size and prospects of the Brazilian injection molding machine market, here you go: there were 37 machine suppliers exhibiting at the biennial Feiplastic show (May 20-24; São Paulo), with many of those describing the sector as a rapidly expanding one. "Brazil is a growing market," explained Hercules Piazzo, general manager of Milacron's Brazilian subsidiary in São Paulo.

Extrusion towers over Feiplastic, Brazilian plastics market
Attendees at Feiplastic 2013 could be excused for craning their necks skyward at the Anhembi Convention Center last week, as the show hall was packed with rafter-scraping film towers: a testament to the importance of the extrusion market in Brazil and its homegrown machinery prowess within the segment.

Feiplastic 2013: Sumitomo (SHI) Demag expands Brazilian presence with move into gear box site
São Paulo-Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo's decision to construct a new 20,000-sq-m gear box plant in Brazil will now benefit its injection molding business, which will also move into the new site, expanding its inventory, after sales business, training, showroom, and more.

Feiplastic 2013: Chen Hsong to open first branch outside China in Brazil

São Paulo-After falling behind Haitian as the No. 1 Chinese supplier of injection molding machines, Chen Hsong has a plan to recapture the top spot, and it starts in Brazil. The Hong Kong headquartered business will open its first branch outside of China in Brazil, with two locations: one support office with sales, after sales, and spare parts, and a 1200-sq-m site that will initially stock at least 50 machines.