Revista Paint & Pintura - Edição 220

CLIPPING PAINT&PINTURA | Abril 2017 | 9 theAmericas.AndBrazilisthecompany’slargestmarketinSouthAmerica,”Soaresexplains. Theregionhassomuchrepresentativenessinthegroup’sbusinessthattheBraziliansiteisnow inanexpansionprocess.Thesite located inJandira,SãoPaulo ishavingacapacityexpansion of itssiliconeplant,and isalsogoingtogainamulti-purposeplantproducingdefoamersand functionalsiliconeoils.Thesiliconeoil reactor isexpectedtobe implemented inthesecond quarterof2017,whilethedefoamerplantshouldbestartingupbytheendoftheyear.The investmentamountstoapproximately€7billion. Available inPortugueseonly isthefullversionofthis interviewwewerepleasedtohavewith notonlyGustavoSoares,butalsoWackerexecutivedirectorAdrianoMagalhães. CHEMICALDISTRIBUTION -UBIQUITOUS Thechemicaldistribution industryhasgainedmoretractionastheyearsgoby.Inadditionto delivering thebestproductsolutionsallover theworld, italso invests inservices, technical support, logistics,certifications,specializedcustomercareand lotmore. Theperformanceofthechemicaldistributionindustryfor2016waswellbelowexpectations, but inkeepingwith thecircumstances imposedbyBrazil’seconomiccrisis. “Weexpect to postaveragegrowth inUSdollarsof theorderof twopercentagepoints.Consideringthat westarted fromanegativebasis for 2015, thisperformancesendsuspositivesignals, that we’reovercomingthecrisisandgraduallygettingbackontrackforsomemoderatebutsus- tainablegrowth,”saysRubensMedrano,presidentoftheBrazilianAssociationofChemical andPetrochemicalDistributorsandUnionofSãoPauloStateChemical andPetrochemical Wholesalers(knownforshort inPortugueseasAssociquim-Sincoquim). The industry isexpected tokeep scoringpositivefigures for 2017, according toMedrano. “Ifwesucceed insustainingagrowthcurve,even ifonlyamoderateone, thenthat in itself willbegreatforthedistribution industry.Shouldthisoptimisticscenariobeconfirmed inthe courseof theyear, thatwill bequiteauspicious for thechemical distribution industry.Mr. Medranosaysthattherearenosuchgeneralmeasuresorformulaeavailabletodistributors as could ensure better results for 2017 if pursued. “Each company, as part of their own managementanddevelopmentplanning,will have toadjust topresentmarketconditions if theyare toachieve the targets theyset for themselves,whether thatentailsappropriate marketingactionsorstrict inventoryandcashflowcontrols,alltoavoidcompromisingtheir economicandfinancialposition.” The Industryand ItsDevelopment Chemicaldistributionisadynamicbusinessthatconstantlyrequireschangesandadaptations withaviewtomeetingtheneedsandrequirementsofsuppliersandcustomersalike.“One major achievementwas the industry’s ability to takeupon themselves toprovide certain servicesthatusedtobeprovidedbymanufacturers,whohaveentrustedthemtodistributors aimingatcostreductionsandproductivity improvements.Distributorshavesetupanalytical anddevelopment laboratoriesto improveonexistingproductsandformulationsandcreate newones, and theyhave alsoequipped themselves to control customer inventories and scheduledeliveries, amongmany other capabilities. These advances qualify the chemical distributorsinourmarketplaceasmajorserviceproviders,whilehighlyprofessionalizingtheir corebusiness,which istosell,”Medranopointsout. AnAdvocateforthe Industry It is Associquim-Sincoquim’s job topermanently and relentlessly further the interests of theirmembers,whetherenvironmental,fiscal,legal,institutionalortax-related,accordingto Medrano.“Ourtakingpartinworkgroupswithelectedofficialswithsuggestionsandcoope- rationhasbeenkey renderingenforceablethe innumerablepiecesof legislationgoverning our activities. RunbyAssociquim-Sincoquim, Prodir (short inPortuguese for Responsible DistributionProcess)hasbeenan indispensabletoolof helpingcertifiedcompaniesensuretheiroperationsare managedproperly. Back in2002,withsupport fromamajorityof itsmem- bers,Associquim-Sincoquimwere fortunateenough to roll out the Prodir initiative, which is basedon similar processesbackedby itspeerentities inCanadaandthe US,saidMedrano.“Sincethen, its importancehasbeen recognized andpraised not only by the entire supply chain, but alsoby governmental entities that legislate onand regulateour business activities. AmongProdir- -certifiedcompanies,thatrecognition isunderscoredby their longevityand the support theyprovideby taking anactivepartatworkshopsandotherevents. It’salso importanttopointoutanddemonstrateourrecognition of and gratitude to our advisers, Management Com- mitteemembers, and the leaders and coordinators at ourmember companies, some ofwhichhave already completedtheirfourthre-certification,whichonlygoes toshow thatwithoutallof theirhardwork,dedication and commitment, the very continuity of Prodirwould havebeen impossible.”