Entrepreneurs from all over the world are expected at the 38th Meeting of the Brazilian Red Ceramic Industry
From 19 to 22 August 2009, entrepreneurs from Brazil, South America and other parts of the world are expected in Belém, the capital city of the Brazilian state of Pará (Amazon Region). The 38th Meeting of the Red Ceramic Industry is scheduled for that period.
“The National Meeting has been consolidated as the main event in this segment because of the learning possibilities and the exchange among entrepreneurs from various parts of the world. Another highlight is the Fair, bringing state-of-the-art technologies,” stated Anicer President Luís Lima.
During the four days of activities, these entrepreneurs will be offered a forum of speeches, technological clinics, a machinery fair, a gathering of ceramists from South America, technical visits to clay block and roofing tile manufacturing facilities, awards to industry highlights, and opportunities for convivial exchange and business.
The event is offered by the National Association of the Ceramic Industry (Anicer) with support from a number of partners. The last edition of the Meeting boasted more than US$ 15 million in business deals and a qualified audience of 1 600 visitors per day.
International participation is expected to be even greater in 2009, since the venue is so close to important ceramic centers of the world, such as Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Bolivia—countries that have traditionally used Brazilian machinery technology in their industries.
“The international footprint has grown ever more solid with each new event and is expected to reach an apex this year because Pará is so close to several relevant countries and because of the level of the event we are planning,” said Lima.
Forum, technological clinics and technical visits
Focusing on innovation and sustainability, the Forum will include expert speeches and panels and is geared to promote reflections upon the current scene of the ceramic industry and to provide a proper bearing towards a future that will congregate social, human, economic and environmental aspects on an equal basis.
“Our main purpose with the Forum is to provide participants with new thoughts toward including sustainability in the processes, in the products and in the entire cycle of manufacturing activities,” commented the Anicer president.
The Senai/Anicer Technological Clinics are geared to solutions for adversities manufacturers experience in their daily practice. For three days, themes like preparation of the body, conformity, quality, drying and firing are brought forth.
“The highlight of the Technological Clinics is the sharing of information among ceramists, because the solution found by one entrepreneur may often be applied to dozens of industries,” underlined one of the speakers, Anicer Quality Technical Assistant Emerson Marcos Dias.
The National Meeting program also includes technical visits, which promote knowledge acquired directly from the sources. On the occasion, participants are taken on a tour of the manufacturing process for clay blocks and roofing tiles at two companies that are local references.
“The visits enable ceramists to compare solutions adopted by the industry with those they themselves adopt in their manufacturing facilities, which is something that fosters growth and promotes new solutions,” explained Lima.
Still on the novelty side, the 38th Meeting of the Red Ceramic Industry will feature a consumer focused speech on structural and rationalized ceramic brickwork, in yet another initiative to promote the sector, collaborators and products.
Expoanicer brings machinery
The supplier segment has its own space at the 12th Expoanicer (Exhibition of Machines, Equipment, Products, Services, and Input for the Ceramic Industry). An area of 9 000 m² is devoted to displaying state-of-the-art options to fulfill the various segment demands.
The Fair will include 50 national and international brands, which supply Brazilian manufacturing facilities and others in several areas of South America and Europe. Some overseas suppliers that have already confirmed attendance include Verdés, Keyria, Bonfanti, Manfredini & Schianchi and Händle.
“Brazilian machine suppliers have already secured their share in the entire region. Locally developed technology is currently exported as reference to all of South America,” commented Anicer Commercial Assistant Márcia Sales, who is the coordinator of the initiative.
The Brazilian ceramic sector
The Brazilian red ceramic industry is composed of approximately 5 500 companies that generate an annual turnover totaling US$ 3 billion. The sector of ceramic blocks, roofing tiles and vitrified clay pipes is the main supplier of materials for construction, roofs and sanitation development, and can be found in over 90% of all brickwork. The segment represents 4.8% of the civil construction industry and generates more than 400 000 direct jobs and 1.25 million indirect jobs.
