FIRJAN and ITW enter partnership to conduct research on welding

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sistema FIRJAN (the FIRJAN System - Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro, or Federacao das Industrias do Estado do Rio de Janeiro) and the company ITW, whose portfolio includes brands such as Miller Electric, Hobart Brothers, E.H. Wachs and Orbitalum, entered into a partnership last Thursday, May 8, during OTC Houston, to conduct research on welding and to implement training of Brazilian professionals in Houston, Texas (U.S.)

Pursuant to the agreement, the ITH group, which provides integrated solutions for welding, cutting, raw materials, accessories and automation, will donate the latest generation cutting and welding equipment to SENAI Rio and provide the opportunity for SENAI specialists in Houston to develop technologies associated with welding processes using a collaborative approach.

"ITW has clients in Brazil who are demanding this equipment, as well as professionals who have mastered these technologies.  FIRJAN will also be collaborating in the development of processes associated with the use of these new technologies in the context of training or methods in the welding environment," said Mauricio Ogawa, manager of the SENAI Welding Technology Center.

This partnership is the culmination of a contact that first began at last year's edition of OTC, and it will also include a room for SENAI professionals inside the research center that ITW is inaugurating in Houston. There, Brazilian professionals will be trained in the new technologies that are being used in Brazil, in keeping with the local content policy.

"This partnership goes far to facilitate the execution of the company's mission, which is to promote the success of our clients in the metal working industry. It will also benefit our end customers through all of the technological investment that the company is making with an institution that has the highest credibility throughout Brazil.  ITW is gaining a great deal, FIRJAN and SENAI are also gaining a great deal, and above all, so are our end customers and our country," said Amauri Simoes, Manager of the Business Unit of ITW Welding do Brasil.

"We have a longstanding relationship with SENAI.  In recent years challenges have arisen within Petrobras' large projects, and through SENAI's Technology Center and ITW, it was possible to develop new technological solutions to overcome these challenges.  This contract will facilitate our providing the institution with new products and new processes, so that ITW will also benefit," said Simoes.

Another benefit is the possibility of a partnership with the Federation of Industries' social program SESI Cidadania (SESI Citizenship) for training the work force. ITW has a non-profit institute that focuses on training for the job market.  SESI Cidadania, for its part, offers a variety of free services to residents of the pacified communities of Rio de Janeiro, chiefly professional education, making employment possible for young people in Rio de Janeiro.

OTC visitors approve technologies presented by the Federation of Industries

At the event, which took place May 5th through 8th in Houston, Sistema FIRJAN highlighted technological solutions, the provision of professional education and job safety services for companies in the oil and gas industry. Solutions presented take into account market needs and trends, the business objectives of each company, and technological possibilities.

Magda Chambriard, general manager of the National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP – Agencia Nacional do Petroleo, Gas Natural e Biocombustiveis), who was present at the Federation's booth, expressed satisfaction with the things on exhibit at the Brazil Pavilion. "The OTC is an incredible fair, the technological solutions for oil are here, and all companies attend the event. I am pleased to see the Brazil Pavilion so well represented," Chambriard observed.  

According to Glicia Carnevale, FIRJAN's manager for Oil and Gas, the Federation is assuming a leadership role, particularly in the domain of oil and gas. "Each year we are expanding our participation, bringing new solutions and new information. This year, we've also brought the results of the recent study, Decisao Rio (Decision Rio)."

According to Alexandre dos Reis, Director of Market Relations, participation at the event should be looked at as a whole.  "Once again we're present at the OTC, promoting business in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The decision to be here is accompanied by results, such as the partnership we signed today with ITW for nearly half a million dollars."

Investments in the state of Rio were announced at the event

At breakfasts sponsored by the Brazilian Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investment (Agencia Brasileira de Promocao de Exportacoes e Investimentos) (Invest Brazil 2014), and by the Brazil-Texas Chamber of Commerce (Brattec Offshore 2014), executives of Sistema FIRJAN announced R$ 235.6 billion in investments that Rio de Janeiro will be receiving in coming years.

The purpose of these gatherings was to present the challenges facing the oil and gas industry in Brazil in the next few years, providing information on the country's attractions for foreign investors and developing new business.  

According to the study, Decisao Rio, released recently by Sistema FIRJAN and presented to executives attending the event – among them Magda Chambriard and PPSA President, Oswaldo Pedrosa – 60.7% (R$ 143 billion) of the investments that the state will be receiving is related to the Oil and Gas industry. 

Investments are from all kinds of companies, both national and foreign, with participation in the blocks already auctioned by the ANP.  Prominent among them is Petrobras, which by itself will account for more than 85% of the total projected for the industry during this period.

Media Relations – JeffreyGroup

Sabrina Orlov | General Director - Rio de Janeiro Office
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SOURCE FIRJAN