Brazil: innovation key to mining and metallurgical industry to compete abroad

Innovation and modernization in systems, processes, and materials are necessary elements for Brazil to become more competitive with the international metallurgical, materials, and mining markets. The statement was made Tuesday (Sep. 27) by the president of the Brazilian Metallurgical, Materials, and Mining Association, Horacídio Barbosa Filho, at the opening of the 71st annual industry conference in Rio.

To exit the crisis and face competition with the globalized world, Barbosa Filho says the industry needs to raise its level of competitiveness and this is done through productivity.  He defended that Brazil should adopt automated systems for steel processing in order to increase productivity and the so-called Industry 4.0 (trend of automation, control, and information technology in manufacturing processes). "Companies are reinventing themselves to compete with the world," he said.

In the automotive industry, Barbosa Filho directed attention to the use of niobium high strength steels, which is a corrosion-resistant metal and a Brazilian raw material. "About 90% and 95% of the [steel in the] world's market is produced in Brazil," he said. According to the businessman, there is a movement around the world to produce this kind of steel that increases the strength and reduces the thickness of the steel sheet metal, adding value to the final product.

Barbosa Filho believes that with such innovation, the Brazilian metallurgical, mining, and materials industries can overcome the Chinese industry—one of the main competitors in the international market. To compete with China, he says that "innovation, productivity, and well-trained employees are necessary."

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta