Revista Paint & Pintura - Edição 237

CLIPPING 6 | PAINT&PINTURA | Outubro 2018 EXPECTATION FOR GOOD NEWS STILL HIGH Brazil still is in a delicate placewith its economy, whi- ch is having a hard time resuming growth in a steady and consistent way. Among other things factoring in, many are the actions and investments being postponed, especially due to the coming elections, which are slated to take place in October. Major political insecurity is also among the factors accounting for the ordeal Brazilians are currently living through. According to Fundação Getúlio Var- gas (FGV), any economic recovery over the next few months will just not be so rapid. After the elections, however, lots of things can change, and hopefully for the better. We hope that we, the people, vote both responsibly and wisely this time around, so that we may once again have some confidence in our nation. This will be key to turning expectations around and for the news on Brazil to be as good as they can going forward. According to the latest information available, the Economic Activity Index published by Brazil’s Central Bank (IBC-Br) for Julywas up 0.57 percent relative to June, exceeding the most optimistic of projections. In addition, the country’s GDP (gross domestic product) for the second quarter was one percent higher compared to the same period of last year, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The paint and coatings industry, like every other sector, is waiting for some good news to come out and boost the demand for products and services at large, putting the consumption of finished products on an upward curve, leading investment plans to come to fruition, and allowing Brazil to be viewed again as a country of great potential. Despite the state of alert, suppliers of rawmaterials continue to invest in environmentally friendlier products that combine improved performance with favorable cost-benefit ratios, which is exactly what the current situation calls for. You can see the related innovations in the pieces featured in this issue of Paint & Pintura Magazine on acrylic resins and surfactants. And that same phenomenon can be seen on the equipment front, with manufacturers not only innovating, but also rolling out actions to make it easier for customers to buy their machines. That, too, is clearly reflected in our featured article on the theme of colorimetry. The events that took place in September also provided a significant contribution to growth across the board in the coatings industry. Held on September 11, the 38th Paint & Pintura Coatings Technology andManagement Forum, South Region, was sponsored by major companies like Croda, Elementis Specialties, IMCD, Rentank, Rudnik, Rhodia, the MAST Group, Quimisa, and Mineração Ser- ra Branca, which brought along with them their latest innovations. September also saw the 11th edition of the Feitintas paint and coatings trade show, which marked the resumption of growth by the industry in Brazil. Over the course of the four-day event, from the 12th to the 15th, 45,000 visitors came to São Paulo Expo, showing great interest in the sheer quality of the trade show and the product technologies on display. This issue also brings you a preview of the grand event that is going to happen early in this month of October. The 39th Paint & Pintura Coatings Technology and Ma- nagement Forum and Exhibition, Greater Campinas, which is taking place in October 3 and 4 at Royal Palm Tower Indaiatuba, in the namesake town of Indaiatuba, São Paulo, is going present to attendees coming from all over the region not only lectures on technical and management-related issues, but also an exhibition fe- aturing key companies in the industry, such as ANGUS, Archroma, Brenntag, CarbonoQuímica, Covestro, Croda, Elementis Specialties, the MAST Group, IMCD, Imerys, Lanxess, MCassab, Miracema-Nuodex, Mineração Serra Branca, quanitQ, Química Anastacio, Rentank, Rudnik, andWacker. Find the event’s entire program in this issue.