Akzo Nobel is investing in a production facility for melamine impregnated papers in Brazil. The unit will be situated in Curitiba, the capital of the federal state of Paraná. The Brazilian market for melamine impregnated papers, which are used as a surface material for furniture, is growing rapidly. Increasingly, large modern factories for âready-to-assembleâ? furniture ask for local production of quality impregnated papers. Akzo Nobelâs business unit Industrial Products, which trades under the name of Casco Products, is the worldâs leading manufacturer of impregnated papers. Casco Products has been selling its products to South American customers for many years and has a solid business base to build on.
Lars-Erik Thomsgård, General Manager of the business unit Industrial Products, added: âThe site for the new plant is situated close to the Brazilian woodworking industries. It is big enough to house a first production line and a resin plant and also offers space for future expansion. For our customers in Brazil, the decision to produce locally is an important step that will have positive effects on service and inventory. In addition, we expect that our presence in Brazil will stimulate the need for printed, decorative papers in the whole of South America.â?
Start up of production is expected by mid-2002.
