Omar Nasser, from Fiep*
Curitiba – Romagnole, one of the main producers of parts for electric networks in Latin America, based in city of Mandaguari, in the north of the southern Brazilian state of Paraná, is discovering the Arab market. For the time being, exports – uniquely to Saudi Arabia – are no grater than US$ 1 million. If it depends on the company interest, however, the figure may rise. "It is a very promising market, where we hope to obtain good results," stated Oli Cleiton Vidal, the company exports director.
Company sales to the Middle East began in 2004, but still represent a small share of total exports, explained Vidal. With a productive capacity of over 1,600 tonnes a month, the company has a line of products of 3,000 galvanized metal items. To Saudi Arabia, Romagnole exports only electro-technical products, metallic items used to fix wiring to electricity posts.
One of the factors that make the opening of new markets slow for the Middle Eastern company is the lack of international standards for electrical energy distribution products. "Each country has its own specifications," explained Vidal. "With each new market, technicians and engineers need to create specific products to supply the needs of that country, a slow and expensive process," he said.
Products
Romagnole production is divided into three lines: electrical hardware, concrete artefacts (like lamp-posts) and transformers, that may be turned to industrial applications, for buildings, urban and rural distribution. The company also produces enamelled wire in electrolytic copper, which makes them more resistant to abrasion, as well as more flexible. The company concrete poles may be used in transmission, distribution and telephony networks.
The organization has seven industrial units in the cities of Mandaguari, Pindamonhangaba (in the southeastern state of São Paulo), Cuiabá (in the midwestern Mato Grosso) and Itaboraí (in the southeastern Rio de Janeiro). The organization also has an office in the city of São Paulo (capital of the southeastern state that goes by the same name). They have representatives throughout Brazil, in South and Central America and also in Africa.
Contact
Romagnole
Rua Rocha Pombo, 335 – Centro
Mandaguari – PR – CEP: 86975-000
Tel.: (+55 44) 3233-8000
E-mail: romagnole@romagnole.com.br
*Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná. Translated by Mark Ament
