Degussa’s Bleaching & Water Chemicals Business Unit makes an investment in the growing Latin American marketplace

14-Nov-2002
A new manufacturing plant was put into operation today in Americana, Brazil, by Degussa’s Bleaching & water Chemicals Business Unit. The new factory will manufacture products for the water treatment, paper and mining industries. Completed in just nine months at a cost of EUR 5 million, the facility has an annual production capacity of about 7,000 tons. "Degussa’s strategy is to focus on attractive international markets that are experiencing above-average growth - like Latin America, a region with tremendous potential for the water treatment and paper industries. At the same time, our new investment in Americana is another milestone in our ongoing effort to strengthen our position in Brazil’s special chemical market," explained Utz-Hellmuth Felcht, Chairman of Degussa’s Executive Board. Brazil plays a central role in Degussa’s Latin American strategy. In spite of the region’s current economic difficulties, Degussa was very successful there last year. The concern employs 600 people in Brazil and achieved sales volume of EUR 210 million in 2001 (compared with EUR 196 million in 2000). All of Degussa’s Business Units are active in Brazil. In addition to the Bleaching & Water Chemicals Business Unit, three other Degussa Business Units maintain plants in Brazil: Construction Systems Americas, catalysts & Initiators, and Flavors and Fruit Systems. In Paulinia, located 120 kilometers northwest of São Paulo, Degussa’s Advanced Fillers & pigments Business Unit recently opened the world’s most modern production facility for carbon black. Americana - where Quab is also produced - is the second production facility Degussa’s Bleaching & Water Chemicals Business Unit has opened in Brazil. Another of the Business Unit’s main products has been produced in Barra do Riacho, in the state of Espírito Santo, for several years already: the environmentally friendly bleaching agent hydrogen peroxide. Responsible for sales in the Latin American region is Degussa Brazil.

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