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www.paintshow.com.br 8 Março 2012 PAINT & PINTURA
Emulsions’ business manager for Latin America, the crisis has
been affecting some markets, including emulsions, especially in
more developed countries, such as the US and the EU. “In emerg-
ing countries like Brazil, the demand keeps on growing, and the
main effect of the crisis is actually a tighter competition because,
in such a scenario, all markets, whether or not developed, are
equality important to the industry. However, what may seem to
be a troublesome period as competition gets fiercer is also an
opportunity for technological innovation and enhanced com-
petitiveness in the industry. We believe it’s a win-win situation
for the emulsion market, only it needs to innovate first.” Pereira
Filho adds that 2011 was a year of accommodation to the strong
growth experienced in 2010, with no significant changes. “The
year 2012, on the other hand, will be more dynamic because
the industry needs to keep on growing. We believe that a deeper
focus on technology and consumer requirements will be the most
frequent discussion themes in this market.”
Reichhold Brazil’s Coatings Technical Service and Market Devel-
opment supervisor André Luiz de Oliveira states that the emul-
sion market cannot be said to be experiencing difficulties in Bra-
zil, as the domestic consumption has remained stable, especially
on the back of building and construction, which turns round the
most product volumes, while keeping a good investment pace.
“In the world scenario, however, we see some fear and caution in
the emulsion market due to recent developments in Europe and
America. In spite of the times of caution in the emulsion market,
Reichhold had very positive results for the year 2011, mostly
thanks to the increased consumption of decorative paints. For
2012, Reichhold remains optimistic due to the investments Brazil
will continue to make in infrastructure,” says Oliveira.
Água Química’s José Mário Gugisch de Oliveira Filho concurs that
the great progress that Brazil has been making in infrastructure
explains the boom in decorative paint consumption. “We believe
that this growth will continue for the next few years and that the
only thing that can adversely affect in Brazil are climate condi-
tions in certain seasons. In 2011, the emulsion market responded
very well, and it will continue to grow at the same pace thanks
to the international event that the country will host and the
heavy investments that Brazil has been receiving. Another very
important factor is that the average income of Brazilian citizens
has been increasing significantly over the past few years, leading
to higher home improvement investments. The emulsion business
is directly linked with these growth factors,” says Oliveira Filho.
Polyurethane Resins - Innovation with High Performance
Where physical and chemical strength, resilience and high per-
formance are required in paints, polyurethane resins will get the
job done.
As in most other industry segments, manufacturers of poly-
urethane resins have been seeking sustainable innovation. The
demand for waterborne resins remains intense, and they are
now specified and demanded by companies who have adhered
to international standards and have an environmental policy in
place. “Without a doubt, waterborne dispersions are the most rel-
evant technological advance in polyurethane resins for coatings.
Major efforts are being made in this market to replace solvent-
based coatings with waterborne systems to reduce hazards in
the workplace, lower the risk of fire and eliminate emissions that
are detrimental to the environment,” says Ricardo Cesar Araujo,
polyurethanes development coordinator at FCC.
These resins are supplied to customers in almost all industry seg-
ments. Because this resin system requires a lot of chemical and
mechanical strength, as well as more specific features to meet
further requirements, it stands out from all other technologies
available on the market. “Polyurethane resins have consistently
evolved, and now, in addition to solvent-based systems, there are
resins and catalysts available for waterborne systems, and that
really makes a difference in terms of technology. These resins can
deliver numerous different properties, depending on customer-
specific requirements, in this has a direct effect on the perfor-
mance of the finished product,” stresses Galstaff Multiresine
Brazil’s sales manager Mario Fernando.
According to BASF’s polyurethane sales representative Sergio
Alves, the most relevant technological advances in polyurethane
resins are for the furniture market. “One example is the finish
varnish, which is used on a large scale and is an increasingly
scratch-resistant product. The idea is to prevent the varnish from
yellowing to keep the good appearance of the finish,” he explains.
Alves adds that customers in the automotive and furniture indus-
tries have been using this kind of resin due to the greater physical
and chemical strength that it provides.
Another important advance refers to nano-technology. “The evo-
lution in nano-technology, as employed in formulations, allows
for the application of smaller finer and finer paint coats onto the
substrates. That optimizes application costs and provides a more
appealing end product,” says Anilton Flavio Ribeiro, sales and
manufacturing director at Arinos-Univar.
Impacts of FIFA World Cup and Olympics on the Paint
Industry – Part II – Industrial Coatings
Growth Superpower
The large investments that are already being made in Brazil and
will stick around for many years due to the major international
events to be hosted by the country, ensuring sustained growth in
the industrial coatings market.
The Brazilian Association of Paint Manufacturers, known for