The emergence of Brazil as a major economic force and its need to improve infrastructure is proving a magnet for investment. Patrick Smith reports
Brazil is now the sixth biggest economy in the world according to its Finance Minister Guido Mantega.The largest country in South America with a population of 190 million and one of the BRICS, (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Brazil’s economy grew 2.7% in 2011 and is now worth $2.5 trillion, having overtaken the UK. With big oil and gas reserves still being discovered many companies have and are investing heavily in Brazil, which will host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 summer Olympic Games.
More recently it was the country’s biggest city, São Paulo, that attracted interest as the 8th M&T Expo, the largest to date and the largest trade show for the construction and mining industries in Latin America, was held at the Centro de Exposições Imigrantes exhibition ground. It featured 498 exhibitors (226 international); over 1,000 brands, and attracted an estimated 45,000 visitors.
According to M&T Expo organiser, the Brazilian Association of Technology for Equipment and Maintenance (Sobratema), some R$1.2 billion (US$ 666 million) of business was expected to be carried out during the five-day exhibition.
“At the moment the economies of Europe and the United States are not so bright for our industry so the eyes of the world are turning to emerging economies such as Brazil, China and India,” said Alfonso Mamade, Sobratema president.
Indeed they are. Major construction equipment manufacturers took large stands and the opportunity to launch new equipment and announce development plans.
Meanwhile, Ciber (one of five brands that make up the
Other Wirtgen Group companies’ equipment was also on display including a variety of rollers from
Another new product offering was the
Seen for the first time in South America were Caterpillar’s AP255E compact asphalt paver; the 226B3 and 242B3 compact skid steers and the H75E hydraulic hammer.
Also launching a number of new products was
Chinese construction equipment manufacturer
Sany Brazil launched 20 new machines including 5.5-46tonne excavators and highlighted a 43m reach concrete placing boom pump developed by
SDLG claimed sales of over 100 units at the event and showcased its LG918, LG938L and LG959 wheeled loaders. It also unveiled its newly launched excavators, the LG6150E, LG6210E, LG6225E, and LG6250E with capacities of 13.8, 20.7, 21.7 and 24.3tonnes respectively.
Another launch at M&T Expo was
Glauco Teixeira, vice president construction sales area Brazil said: “The M&T Expo is a great opportunity for Sandvik Construction to show its commitment to offering high quality solutions to customers and to meet the great number of customers and visitors we usually welcome to our stand.”
The new line of skid steer loaders was one such novelty with the range moving from the current five to nine models, MC60C, MC70C, MC85C, MC95C, MC105C, MC115C, MC125C, MCT70C and MCT125C.
“Safety, versatility, comfort and easy access for maintenance are the main features of Volvo skid steer loaders,” said Yoshio Kawakami, president of Volvo CE Latin America.
New Holland claims a quarter of the grader market in Brazil with its main factory in the state of Minas Gerais being a main centre of development and production for its graders, which have been upgraded to include the RG140B, RG170B and RG200B.
To celebrate 40 years of manufacturing skid steer loaders the company created a logo to be displayed at industry events, it also presented its latest telehandlers, the LM1445 and LM1745.
Case also launched its line of midi excavators, models CX75SR and CX80, which means it now has a portfolio of 32 products in Brazil, a 150% growth since M&T 2006.
Backhoes, wheeled loaders and excavators will be produced in Brazil by the end of 2013 when two under-construction factories will be ready, and the company will maintain the import of a comprehensive line of motor graders and crawler dozers.
The Brazilian factories, one in partnership with
Both are being built in Indaiatuba, São Paulo, John Deere’s regional headquarters in Latin America.
The jv is building a 10,200m² manufacturing facility in Vespasiano, Minas Gerais with an initial investment estimated at US$25-$30 million, and products initially manufactured will include Astec aggregate and mining jaw and cone crushers with expansion to additional products and brands in the future