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Fact Sheet
Growing with Brazil
1937- 1950
DuPont + ICI = Duperial
Imported Products and World War II. Explosives for the country's development: highways, bridges, hydroelectric plants, mining, tunnels, etc.
In 1937, DuPont and ICI - Imperial Chemicals Industries - the English Company joined together to form Indústrias Químicas Brasileiras Duperial S.A. to commercialize products of both companies. The head office was in Rio de Janeiro, the capital of the Republic of Brazil. Their product portfolio was fairly extensive, ranging from caustic soda for the soap industry to X-rays, and explosives very important to urbanize cities and open highways: Important highways such as Anhangüera (1940), Anchieta (1947) and Dutra (1951) date from this period.
The production of many of DuPont's products - including Nylon®, created by the company in the 1930's - was compromised in the United States because of the war effort harming exports. At the same time, Getúlio Vargas's New Republic was encouraging the replacement of imports. Thus, already in 1938, the search began for somewhere suitable for the production of explosives, which only started to be manufactured in Barras Manse in the state of Rio de Janeiro in the late 1940's. At that time, Duperial, (1943) whose head office was in São Paulo, had an extensive distribution chain throughout the country.
1951 - 1970
Then called DuPont do Brasil
In 1953, DuPont and ICI ended the partnership which created Duperial. With the separation, the explosives plant became the property of DuPont. In the following 20 years until 1970, the company concentrated its production in Barra Mansa. In 1957, it began production of Freon® Gas for refrigeration and in 1967, agricultural pesticides.
In the beginning of the 1950's, the government identified some priority sectors in which DuPont and their products had much to contribute such as textiles, chemicals, energy and metallurgy. In the period of modernization of the country - when industrialization was encouraged by the Juscelino Kubitschek administration, DuPont expanded its facilities in Barra Mansa. From there it also offered auto polishers increasing the chain of suppliers that was formed around the fledgling Brazilian auto industry.
1971 - 1980
Diversification in the areas of operation
The "Brazilian economic miracle" and the replacement of imports. New businesses such as coatings, electronics, textiles and partnerships in the chemical sector
The 1970's marked the diversification of DuPont's products, and the company took an active part in the movement in the national economy to replace imports and increase exports. DuPont's expanded its factories to go beyond the Barra Mansa unit (expanded to produce herbicides), with Polidura in Guarulhos; Lycra®, in Paulínia; a unit for photographic products and for the electronic industry in Diadema, as well as chemical businesses in the Northeast, following the trend at the time which sought to associate government with national and foreign capital.
In the last issue of the company's bimonthly publication, "Notícias DuPont" (DuPont News), in 1978, we can read the year-end message of the General Manager in Brazil, Louis Rossi, that the year was the best in the whole history of DuPont in Brazil, with sales "at 3.6 billion cruzeiros and a record in sales of explosives, agrichemicals, Freon®, Lycra® and many of our products sold to wholesalers".
The prestige of Lycra® in Brazil was expected. The Lycra® factory was doubled in size even before starting operations, said Edward Kane, Du Pont's world President in an interview to Exame magazine in November 1974, where he said: "DuPont is in Brazil for the long term, we have faith in this country and in its people".
1980 - 1985
New head office in Alphaville
Investments expanded company's business
DuPont opened its new head office in Alphaville in August 1981, with plans for growth and sales of which chemicals ranked first with 42%, followed by fibers and coatings, with 40%; explosives, 12% and plastics 6%. During this time, the company continued to grow with more investments in the production of Lycra® in the Diadema unit and of explosives.
The association with Renner in 1985, increased the production of coatings at the same time that the company entered the mining sector acquiring reserves of atanase, phosphate and niobium in the state of Minas Gerais and Mineração Del Rey in the state of Paraná - producer of fluorite, used in the production of Freon®.
1986-1990
50 years of Brazil and globalization
Redirectioning DuPont's investments in the country. Argentina, Brazil and Mexico subsidiary operations were united.
The second half of the 1980's started with DuPont redirecting its investments in the country, celebrating 50 years in Brazil in 1987, and ended with the company's globalization which united the operations of Brazil, Argentina and Mexico subsidiaries.
The company decided to abandon the areas where they did not have exclusive technology or where they did not intend to have leadership and sought new growth areas. It sold its explosive business and withdrew from the chemical companies it had been associated with, Salgema and Isocianatos do Nordeste.
In 1988, it recorded the highest turnover obtained in Brazil up until then, expecting to grow 21% in the following year and obtain an income of one billion dollars in ten years, according to a story in the newspaper O Globo of December, 6th.
1991-1995
Suva® gases and titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide factory opened in the state of Minas Gerais
Lycra® was a sensation in the market
The year of 1991 began with an important launch: Suva® gases line, substitutes for CFC, which were distributed by DuPont in the international market. The opening of the titanium dioxide factory in Brazil in 1992 was of special importance for the Brazilian subsidiary, and completed a process that had started in the mid 1980's. In 1994, a new anti-corrosion coatings line was launched and in the following year DuPont increased its share in the joint-venture with Renner from 30 to 46%, creating Renner DuPont Tintas Automotivas e Industriais.
Also, in 1991, DuPont carried out for the first time an advertising campaign for Lycra® in South America: the "Lycra Sensations" campaign was simultaneously produced both in Portuguese and Spanish in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. Development of textiles was significant at that time: in addition to expanding the Lycra® plant in Paulínia, DuPont launched a new fiber in the country - Supplex® - and establishes a partnership with Vicunha to become the largest producer of textile Nylon® on the continent.
1996-2000
Sustainable products are the new focus of DuPont
DuPont gave up traditional business lines
New acquisitions and associations
Once again DuPont innovates and places its bets on the development of sustainable products. It abandoned big businesses such as those in the area of oil (DuPont sold Conoco), and geared its investments to acquire Protein Technologies International and Pioneer Hi Breed, the world's largest seed company.
In 1997, DuPont's executive vice-president Charles "Chad" Holliday, visited Brazil and stated in a press conference that "biotechnology will be the new DuPont's nylon". In 1999, now as president of the company and wearing a Sorona® suit, he states to the world press gathered in the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York that "biotechnology will be for DuPont in the next century what chemistry was in this century".
The new scenario called for a new slogan: "The Miracles of Science."
In Brazil, pesticides were a highlight in the company’s results. In 1997, for instance, it represented the main sales item, corresponding to 25% of the total, according to the newspaper Gazeta Mercantil of 24 September. Thus, the partnership with Griffin, in 1998, came to strengthen even more DuPont’s position in this market.
When the company absorbed the operations of Herberts, a coatings subsidiary of Hoescht, in 1999 DuPont, in Brazil, increased its share in Renner . The company acquired Cobafi's installations in Camaçari, where it produces Nylon® for tires in partnership with the Turkish company, Sabanci.
2000-2007
The five growth platforms and 70 years in Brazil
On completing 200 years since its foundation, DuPont sold its textile and pharmaceutical units and reorganized on new platforms.
In Brazil for 70 years, it has restated its commitment to sustainable development.
DuPont celebrated its 200th birthday on July 19, 2002. Much has changed since the beginning when they fabricated gunpowder in Wilmington, Delaware - and continues to change. In 2001, it sold its pharmaceutical unit for 7.8 billion dollars to Bristol-Myers Laboratory. In 2002, it sold the textile business to Koch Industries for 4.4 billion dollars, saying goodbye to some of its most famous brands, Lycra®, Nylon® and Polyester; however, it promised the fabrication of a bio-fiber obtained from the fermentation of sugar, corn, sugarcane or beetroot.
DuPont celebrated its 200 years by restructuring on five platforms: Electronics & Communication Technologies; Performance Materials; Coating and Color Technologies; Safety & Protection; Agriculture & Nutrition.
In 2003, the association of DuPont with Bunge was announced, creating Solae, to operate initially in the protein and soy lethicin market. The alliance anticipated an agreement in biotechnology to develop and commercialize soybeans with better characteristics and offer products and services to farmers.
On celebrating 70 years in Brazil in 2007, DuPont continued to grow with the country. It maintains investments in Brazil, in Agriculture & Nutrition with excellent prospects for participation in the global plans for developing sustainable products and also in the areas of Coating and Color Technologies, specially those related to automotive paints and Safety & Protection related to civil construction.
The commitment to sustainable development is also reaffirmed by means of initiatives in the areas of education and environment, such as the program "Cultivando Cidadãos" to develop scientific education in public schools in rural areas and the participation in the Instituto BioAtlântica, aiming at the preservation of the Mata Atlântica and related ecosystems.
DuPont, its products and Brazilians' quotidian
1930's
Duperial, the association of DuPont with English company ICI announced an extensive portfolio of products, mainly imported: paint stripper, anhydrous ammonium; anilines; soda ash; tar; active coal; bleaching powder; methyl chloride; clar-apel; solvents and thinner; explosives; tannic extracts; zippers; cinematographic films and X rays; liptonium; plastic materials; metals; fabric backed leather; mineral and organic pigments; caustic soda; sodium sulfide; DuPont paints, Duco, Dulux and Piralmy
The use of cellophane in packaging, developed by DuPont, was highly successful in Brazil. Duco, an all-purpose glue was well known by Brazilians; and chemical dye laboratories for textiles, paper and leather industries operated in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
1940's
The war effort harmed North-American exports which led to DuPont apologizing in the media for disruption in supply to its Brazilian customers. In the Forties, the company was already selling fertilizers and pesticides in Brazil
Nylon® production - a synthetic fiber created by DuPont - was geared to the war effort and postponed the huge success of Nylon® stockings and the numerous uses of the yarn from apparel to yachts.
To open highways, build dams and hydroelectric plants, open mines and tunnels, Brazil needed explosives which began to be produced in the country in the late 1940's.
1950's
Automobiles and refrigerators, two modern icons of the times, used DuPont products. Freon® gas, already produced in Brazil, was essential for the operation of refrigerators and air-conditioners and was found in brands such as Coldsport, Climax, Frigidaire, General Electric and Brastemp whilst the fledgling auto industry was using Duco paints.
Neoprene®, synthetic rubber which later became very popular as a raw material for diving suits was already being used in the country for more technical applications (such as covering wires, for example), likewise the different types of plastic supplied by DuPont, raw material for numerous items from wigs to toothpaste tubes.
1960's
20 of the 21 layers of clothing apparel used by Astronaut Neil Armstrong were made of DuPont's products when on July 20, 1969 he was the first man to ever step on the moon. Here on the earth synthetic materials launched before Lycra® which arrived in Brazil in the 1960's such as Orlon® and polyester started a revolution in underwear and fashionable beachwear
1970's
It was in this decade that DuPont greatly diversified its investment in the country. Products made of Teflon® were starting to appear, and Lycra® began to be produced here in the mid 1970's
Cromalin®, a color proofing film, can be found virtually throughout the printing industry. Electronics and information technology were starting to emerge in the country and could rely on DuPont as a supplier of Riston® films, for the printing of integrated circuits and connectors manufactured in Diadema.
Pesticides, traditional DuPont products in the domestic market won the company the "Destaque à Lavoura" (farming highlight) prize awarded by the Brazilian Agriculture Society.
1980's
Corian® was launched in Brazil in the late 1980's. Initially kitchen counters and sinks for start-of-the-art fitted kitchens in the country were made of Corian®. Its use spread to medical laboratories, hospitals and the inside of aircraft and vessels, and today it is also being used by architects and designers to design furniture.
Nomex®, a high temperature resistant material used to make Formula One drivers overalls arrived in Brazil as raw material for professional clothing. Kevlar®, light and resistant aramide fiber is used in bulletproof vests and other protection equipment such as helmets for motorcyclists. Boats are also built from Kevlar®.
1990's
The white pigment used to dye products such as plastic and paper is titanium dioxide which has been produced by DuPont in Uberlândia in the state of Minas Gerais since 1992. In the 1990's, Sustiva®, a medication for AIDS patients, began to be commercialized; and DuPont started to manufacture Nylon® for tires in Camaçari in the state of Bahia.
Investment in biotechnology begins with the acquisition of Pioneer, a seed manufacturer with excellent performance in Brazil.
2000-2007
DuPont's track for the 21st Century includes the development of sustainable products such as agricultural products, biofuel and new energy sources - segments that have excellent outlooks for the Brazilian subsidiary.
Brazil gained significant investment in Agriculture & Nutrition, one of the five business platforms on which DuPont operates, in addition to Coatings and Color Technologies, Performance Materials, Electronics & Communication Technologies and Safety & Protection.
Soya and soy lecithin produced by Solae (a Bunge-DuPont partnership) are present in a great number of food products consumed in the country
In May 2006 starts the use of Surlyn® in sophisticate packaging developed by the French designer Thierry de Baschmakof for the VitActive, anti-age line of treatment from O Boticário.
In the mid of this same year, DuPont announces the DuPont Management Program for Biosafety and Food Safety aiming at promoting in food industry a cultural change involving technology, processes and fundamentally, the human factor.
DuPont also launched the DuPont™ Ti-Pure® R-902+, a new titanium dioxide grade specially developed for the paint industry. The product offers greater dispersion facility and performance consistence, providing reduction in energy consumption, increase in productivity and improvement in the paint quality.
Also in 2006 it launches products and services for the industrial and automotive paint segments with the DuPont Chroma - Generation III line, which adds new advantages to the routine of the paint shops.
In 2007 one of the finalist products for the design award given annually by the Casa Brasileira Museum was an ofuro (traditional Japanese bathtub) made of Corian®.
Marinex® with Teflon® combine the Marinex® resistance to Teflon® practice and durability, making housewives' life easier.
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Chronology
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1937
Indústrias Químicas Brasileiras Duperial was founded in Rio de Janeiro, the result of the association between the North-American DuPont and the British ICI.
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1943
Duperial headquarters move to São Paulo.
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1948
Operation of the explosive plant in Barra Mansa, Rio de Janeiro.
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1953
The association with ICI is terminated and the company receives a new name: DuPont do Brasil S.A
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1957
Freon® gas production in Barra Mansa.
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1967
Production of Manzate® (fungicide) in Barra Mansa.
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1971
Brasiflon, to make Teflon® items.
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1972
Opening, in Diadema, São Paulo, of the Riston® film cutting unit. The film was used by the print houses and the print circuit industry.
1972
Acquisition of Polidura, a paint plant in Cumbica, São Paulo
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1974
Production of Lycra® in Paulínia, São Paulo.
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1976
Association with Petroquisa and Petroquímica da Bahia, creating the company Isocianatos do Brasil in Camaçari, Bahia, to produce the basics for polyurethane foam.
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1977
Production of caustic soda, chlorine and hydrogen in Maceió by Salgema, an association of DuPont Euvaldo Luz (a Group from Bahia) and the BNDE (National Bank for Development).
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1978
Production of herbicides and water gel explosives in Barra Mansa.
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1979
Production of connectors in Diadema.
1979
Empress is the first Brazilian manufacturer to use Teflon® II in its pans.
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1980
Experimental Agricultural Station in Paulínia. The purpose was to test in practice the DuPont's pesticides in several crops.
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1981
Production of conductive pastes in the electronics plant in Diadema.
1981
New DuPont's headquarters in Alphaville, São Paulo
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1983
Duplication of Lycra®'s production capacity in Paulínia
1983
Duplication of connectors and Riston® production in Diadema.
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1985
Acquisition of mining rights for athanasium, phosphate and niobium, in Minas Gerais, aiming at the production of carbon dioxide.
1985
Acquisition of fluorite reserves in Paraná, to intensify the production of Freon®
1985
Acquisition of Statomat-Macafil, in Paraná, to provide tooling to the Diadema plant.
1985
Association with Tintas Renner.
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1986
The explosive business is sold to Britanite.
1986
Foundation of Norcom-DuPont Compostos Termoplásticos do Nordeste S.A., in association with Polipropileno S. A., to produce thermoplastics in Camaçari - hard plastics used in the automotive, household appliance, electronics and computer industries
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1989
DuPont integrates Argentina, Brazil and Mexico's subsidiaries.
1989
Launching of Corian® in Brazil
1989
Statomat-Macafil is sold to Metal Leve
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1992
Production of titanium dioxide in Uberaba, Minas Gerais.
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1994
Launching of the new anti-corrosion automotive paint line.
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1995
DuPont expands from 30 to 46% its participation in the association with Renner and founds a Renner DuPont Tintas Automotivas e Industriais.
1995
Association with Vicunha to produce textile Nylon®.
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1997
Production of herbicides for soy in Paulínia.
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1998
Production of industrial Nylon® for tires, by Dusa - an association with the Turkish company Sabanci. The manufacturing facility is at Cobafi, in Camaçari, acquired by DuPont.
1998
Association with Griffin, sharing businesses in the agricultural segment.
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1999
Starts investments in Biotechnology.
1999
DuPont launches in Brazil the campaign with the new company's slogan: "The Miracles of Science".
1999
Receives the "Sherwim Williams Award", in the category Pigment Supplier, DTT area.
1999
Award "Q1 Preferred Quality Status", from Ford, DPC area.
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2000
Receives the "Paint & Pintura Award", from Paint & Pintura, in the category Titanium Dioxide, DTT area.
2000
Receives, for the second time, the "Sherwim Williams Award" in the category Pigment Supplier, DTT area.
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2001
DuPont Safety Resources, industrial and operation safety consulting starts its operations in Brazil.
2001
In association with the Group Cipatex, Duci is founded to manufacture non-woven in Cerquilho, São Paulo.
2001
"Annual Safety Contest" of ABPA - Brazilian Association for Accident Prevention, for the lowest rate in lesion disabling frequency; SHE area.
2001
"Autodata Award as Best Company", in the category Chemical Group, DPC area.
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2002
DuPont celebrates 200 years of operations in the United States and restructures its business platform: Coatings and Color Technologies; Performance Materials; Agriculture & Nutrition; Electronic & Communication Technologies; Safety & Protection.
2002
With Aracruz Celulose, Petrobras and Veracel, DuPont founds the Instituto BioAtlântica (Bio-Atlantic Institute).
2002
Start up of the "Cultivando Cidadãos" Project, for the rural sector.
2002
Received, for the second time, the "Paint & Pintura Award", from Paint & Pintura, in the category Titanium Dioxide, DTT area.
2002
Award "Supplier of the Year - Ford Motor Company Brasil", in the category Finishing, DPC area, 2004 and 2005.
2002
Honda Award "Quality Honors", DPC area.
2002
Award "DeskTop 2002", Product of the Year - Cromalin Digital Color Proofing, from DeskTop Magazine, area DuPont Color Communication.
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2003
DuPont says good-bye to famous brand such as Nylon®, Lycra® and Polyester, selling the textile business to Koch Industries.
2003
The industrial Nylon® business is sold to Sabanci.
2003
Acquisition of Renner's part in the paint plant, creating the DuPont Performance Coatings.
2003
Association with Bunge, creating Solae, to operate in the protein and soy lecithin market.
2003
Award "Score Card" from Spring Carrier - for continuous improvement in quality, services and cost in the Fluorchemical area.
2003
Award "Business Merit" from ACISE / CDL, category Industry, area Solae
2003
"Suppliers Award 2003", from Volkswagen, DPC area.
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2004
Acquisition of part of Griffin from the association formed in 1998.
2004
Opening of the new DuPont Performance Coatings plant in Guarulhos.
2004
The Brazilian Department of Agriculture adopts the BAX® System, developed by DuPont, as the official method to detect salmonella in food samples, water and the environment.
2004
DuPont Camaçari received for two years in a row the "Pólo Award - 4 Stars", from the Committee for Industrial Development of - COFIC, in the Chemical & Petrochemical area.
2004
Received for the third time the "Paint & Pintura Award", from Paint & Pintura, in the category Titanium Dioxide, DTT area.
2004
"Minerva Trophy" from the Regional Board of Chemistry - Distinction in the Chemical Industry - area Solae
2004
"Phytosanitary Merit Award" from Andef - National Association of Vegetal Defense, in the category Industry.
2004
Receives for the fourth consecutive time the "Graphprint" Award in the category Proofing Systems - Cromalin, from the Graphprint Magazine, area DuPont Color Communication
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2005
Receives for two years in a row and third time the Award "Supplier of the Year - Ford Motor Company Brasil", in the category Finishing, DPC area.
2005
The most Admired Company for eight consecutive years in the ranking of Carta Capital Magazine.
2005
Award "Camélia da Liberdade" from CEAP - Articulation Center of Marginalized Populations by actions of value and inclusion of afro-descendents.
2005
"Oswaldo Moreira Trophy" from da Revista do Frio - Miguel Cazavia from Fluorchemicals was elected Personality of the Industry.
2005
"ECO 2005" Award from Amcham - Modality Environment, for the AMAI Project- Friends of the Environment in Itumbiara - area Pioneer
2005
"ECO 2005" Award from Amcham - Modality Environment, for the project "Sanitary Education - Pesticide, Human Health and Environment" - area Pioneer
2005
"Business Merit" Award from ACISE/ CDL, category Ecology, area Solae
2005
"Top Human Being" Award from ABRH (Brazilian Association of Human Resources) - Rio Grande do Sul State, for the Safety Culture Change in the Plant of Esteio, area Solae
2005
Awarded for three consecutive years with the "Top of Mind in Protection - The Brands that are in the Minds of Preventionists", from the Proteção Magazine, in the category Special Protection Equipment
2005
"Vida Profissional SodexHo Pass" Award, in the category Benefits, for the Multiflex system implemented by HR.
2005
DuPont Camaçari received the "Pólo Award - 5 Stars", from the Committee for Industrial Development of Camaçari - COFIC, in the category Chemical & Petrochemical.
2005
Received for the third time the "Sherwim Williams" Award, in the category Supplier of Pigments, DTT area.
2005
Receives the award "Distinguished Company of the Year" from Yamaha, for the second consecutive time, DPC area.
2005
Receives for the fifth consecutive time the award "Honors Merit" from ABFLEXO - Brazilian Association of Flexography, as Photopolymer supplier - Cyrel®, area DuPont Packaging Graphics
2005
Receives for the second time the award "Advertiser of the Year" from ABFLEXO - Brazilian Association of Flexography, for its Cyrel® photopolymer, area DuPont Packaging Graphics
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2006
DuPont do Brasil is ranked the 143rd company among the 500 largest companies in Brazil, according to Exame magazine.
2006
Ranked among the 25 of the Good Citizenship Guide of Exame Magazine.
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2007
DuPont celebrates 70 years of operations in Brazil.
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