Looking at Brazil
| by Austin Gamble
Meeting and Greeting
The Automec 2014 Show was held in São Paulo Brazil at the Pavilhão de Exposições do Anhembi, from
1 to 5 April, and I was fortunate enough to be a guest at the show, courtesy of the Brazilian Association of
Autoparts Manufacturers (Sindipeças) and ApexBrasil. During the show I had the opportunity to interact with
many manufacturers and suppliers, some of whom were exhibiting and some of whom were participating in the
Buyer/Seller meetings that had been arranged to bring companies together in the quest for enhanced global and
regional trade. I bring you three of these companies, who have a South African connection.
F
ras-Le is a global leader in brake technology and innovation,
manufacturing over 10 000 part no’s covering heavy duty
and light duty brake linings, brake pads, clutch facings,
motorcycle brake shoes and pads, moulded and woven brake
linings, and brake shoes for railway and subway rolling stock,
supplying customers in over 100 countries from factories in Brazil,
China and the United States. Fras-le, the leader in the Brazilian
market with a 55% share of the heavy duty brake lining market and
a 35% share in light duty product, celebrated its 60th anniversary
on 22 February 2014. Marcos Brandt told aBr that Fras-le sees
growth through exports, and that South Africa is an important
market, and that they were very happy with their relationship
with the Midas Group, one of their biggest customers worldwide.
For more info go to www.fras-le.com
K
norr-Bremse’s products include air brake systems for
commercial vehicles, such as compressors, valves and
Air Disk Brake. Marcio Martins and Estevam Morais were
using the buyer/seller meetings as an opportunity to network and
to exchange business cards, and treated the 30 minute sessions
as an important platform to improve business opportunities and
relationships. With 30 plants worldwide, Knorr-Bremse is a global
giant, and leverages its extensive geographical footprint to create
inter-regional business. For more info go to www.knorr-bremse.com
C
ontinental’s Contitech main product line is
automotive belts – timing belts, multi ribbed
V-belts and timing belt kits. Worldwide Continental
has eight business units, with production plants across the
globe. The presence at Automec was predicated on Brazil
and Latin America showing market potential, and with the
European influence via manufacturers such as MercedesBenz, Scania, MAN, Volvo and Ford, Continental is well
placed to increase business in Brazil and the continent.
For more info go to www.contitech.com.br
➲ Left to right: Continental do Brasil’s Cinthia Freitas de
Chiara, sales assistant; Carlos A. Teniente Motilla, business
manager; Alexander Papadimitriou, vice president Independent
Aftermarket; and Letícia da Cruz Pereira, show assistant
➲ Right to left: Marcos Brandt, export sales executive
at Fras-le S.A., with guests from Guatemala; OAC
executives Daniel R. García and D. Rolando García P.
➲ Marcio Martins
and Estevam Morais,
responsible for
international sales,
Latin America for
Knorr-Bremse