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SOUTH AMERICA
Inauguration of Expansion at ABC Valadares
The inauguration of the new compounding unit at the headquarters of ABC Valadares took place on the last Saturday of July in Governador Valadares (Minas Gerais).
The plaque of inauguration was revealed in the presence of the partner-directors of the ABC, Ângelo N. Nunes Coelho, Edelson Nunes Coelho, Edmundo H. Nunes Coelho and Lauro L. Nunes Coelho. The mayor of Governador Valadares, Elisa Coast (PT), the Municipal speaker of the house of Governador Valadares Heldo Armond (PT) and the state deputy José Bonifácio Mourão (PSDB), official representative of the governor of the state of Minas Gerais, Antonio Anastásia, were guests at the event, as well as president of the Regional Parliament, Rio Doce, Rosani Azevedo and the speaker of the house of Logistas Controllers de Governador Valadares (CDL/GV), Dênis Leite.
The inauguration included the participation of the commercial assessor of Brazilian Association
Retreaders (ABR), Eduardo Martins, who made a speech on behalf of the tyre market.
The construction of the new compounding plant had been initiated back in 2009, in partnership with the Bank of Development of Minas Gerais (BDMG) and the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), with an investment of R$3,5 millions. The new compounding unit covers 2000 square meters. Two compounding lines have been installed with Banburys, each with a 100 litre capacity.
The layout of the plant was designed to offer ergonomic working conditions, including updated illumination and ventilation.
New changing rooms have been added to improve conditions for the workforce.
With this expansion ABC Valadares will triple its current production, allowed it to adapt quickly to fluctuations in the rubber market. With modern technology the new sector contains many automated operations and machines and has
an efficient ventilation system - something that is critical for comfort and the working environment in the local climate. Compounding is one of the core elements of the ABC Valadares operation - mixing being one of the key operations in the manufacture of rubber.
As part of the launch of the expansion the company celebrated its first 35 years with a series of 11 plates showing historical images from the company's history.
The industrial director of the ABC, Lauro Nunes Coelho, received from Elcimar Deckers, the representative of the System of
Management of Qualidade (SGQ) of the company, the trophy of recertification to ISO 9001:2008. The recertification was granted by the Bureau Veritas Certification. The ABC Valadares markets its products throughout Brazil and in Bolivia, Paraguay and Venezuela, through its sales teams and representatives.
The company employs 190 staff and occupies an industrial site of some 51,000 square metres.