Minas Gerais will receive R$ 290 million focused on technology.

Minas Agency - The production of semiconductor components, machinery and parts for the vehicle industry, the establishment of a soybean crushing plant, and the expansion of a company producing ingredients for ice cream and confectionery are the new investments that have just been announced through the signing of four letters of intent with the Government of Minas Gerais, through the Integrated Development Institute (INDI), an agency linked to the State Secretariat for Economic Development (SEDE). With a total investment of over R$ 290 million, mainly in technology, the projects are located in Extrema, Juatuba, Uberaba, and Sete Lagoas.

Making technology more accessible to a greater number of people is the goal of Multilaser Indústria de Equipamentos de Informática, Eletrônicos e Ópticos Ltda, which is investing R$ 74,45 million to establish an industrial unit in Extrema, in southern Minas Gerais, intended for the initial production of 500 memory chips (NAND flash and DRAM) per month. The company, which already produces two million electronic products per month, has more than two thousand employees divided between its headquarters in São Paulo and the industrial complex in Extrema, where 300 new direct jobs will be created.

During the signing of the protocol, Multilaser's director, Renato Feder, explained that the company wants to increase business with its own brand. "Starting in May of this year, we will manufacture basic memory for tablets and cell phones. Later, when we reach a capacity of one million integrated circuits per month, they will also be destined for smartphones and pen drives under the Multilaser brand. On the other hand, in-house production will mean reduced costs and improved quality by using our own memory," he emphasized.

The director of Multilaser also informed that this is flash memory, the raw material for which (silicon wafer) will be imported from Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, and will allow for more affordable tablets for the Brazilian consumer market. "Our products have a price that ranges from R$ 300,00 to R$ 700,00. As we expand our production range with technology and quality, we will be able to better explore the market and face the competition," he emphasized.

In 1987, Multilaser Industrial SA began its journey as the first printer cartridge manufacturer in the country. In 2007, it inaugurated an industrial complex in Extrema. In 2013, it entered the toy segment. Its portfolio is divided into six lines: electronics; mobile phones; computer accessories; media; printing; toys; computer accessories; consumer electronics; mobile phones; digital media; printing supplies and toys.

For the production of semiconductor components, Multilaser Industrial SA established a new company, Multilaser Indústria de Equipamentos de Informatica, Eletrônicos e Ópticos Ltda, of which it owns 99,9% of the capital. The distribution of its products covers all of Brazil, through a network of more than twenty thousand resellers and distributors.

Aware of the increase in tablet and cell phone sales in the Brazilian market, Multilaser developed specific quality control systems for these departments. After assembly, all tablets, for example, operate for 4 uninterrupted hours, testing movies, music, photos, and internet. In cell phones, the batteries that were previously inside the device to speed up customer use are now external (avoiding the risk of discharge); and the company purchased new CMU equipment for testing operator signals and SIM cards in 100% of the devices.

Auto Parts

With an investment of R$ 111,97 million, Tiberina MG Componentes Metálicos para Indústria Automotiva Ltda. is transferring its headquarters in Minas Gerais to Juatuba, in the central region of the state. The industrial unit was temporarily operating in Sete Lagoas, assembling and welding imported parts to supply the Iveco and Fiat factories. Scheduled to begin operations in June, it is expected to generate 45 direct and 40 indirect jobs and will be dedicated to the manufacture and sale of structural parts for cars such as longitudinal beams, cross members, side rails, and frames.

Tiberina is an Italian company whose activities involve the production of machinery, equipment, parts, and auto parts for the light vehicle, commercial vehicle, industrial machinery, and cargo handling machinery industries. Based in Minas Gerais since 2010, the group has 22 industrial plants distributed across Italy, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Argentina, employing approximately 3.000 people.

Soybean

CS Agronegócios Comércio Importação e Exportação S/A, headquartered in Uberaba, where it operates in the purchase, sale, storage, and processing of grains and cereals, is investing R$ 65 million in expanding its activities. With this new investment, the company is installing a soybean crushing plant. The main products will be degummed oil for supply to the biodiesel industry, totaling 20% ​​of production, and the remaining 80% will be destined for soybean meal for animal feed.

The company, which will generate approximately 80 direct jobs and another 220 indirect jobs, will have an initial capacity to crush up to 540 tons of soybeans per year. The start of operations at the plant is scheduled for 2016. CS is also studying the implementation of a similar unit in Pirapora.

Ice cream

In Sete Lagoas, also in the central region of Minas Gerais, SDFLC Brasil Indústria e Comércio Ltda is expanding its operations with an investment of R$ 41,6 million in new technology for the production of inputs for the ice cream industry, artisanal ice cream parlors, and other companies in the Italian gelato market. With a production capacity of 400 kilos of products per month, SDFLC intends to double its production within a maximum of two years when the expansion works are completed. During the signing of the protocol, the company's director, Vincenzo Simonetti, explained how the investment is being directed.

"Our priority is to invest in technology and product quality, which already totals more than 400 products. To achieve this quality, investments are being made in new machines, both domestic and imported," he emphasized. On the other hand, he added, "this project will enable, in addition to the expansion of the Sete Lagoas factory, the implementation of two high-tech laboratories and new machinery, allowing the company to grow by around 40% per year."

Vincenzo Simonetti also reported that SDFLC plans to launch a specific line of 30 food service products this year, which will be sold in supermarkets and distribution networks. This expansion will create 15 new jobs, adding to the more than 50 existing indirect jobs, and another 30 indirect jobs, mainly in product sales.

Founded in 2001, Leagel América do Sul Ltda is a Brazilian company, born from the union between Leagel Srl, one of the European leaders in the market for ingredients and semi-finished products for artisanal ice cream and confectionery, located in the Republic of San Marino, Italy, and a group of Italian entrepreneurs already residing in Brazil. In 2013, by decision of the directors and to differentiate itself from the Italian Leagel Srl, the company changed its corporate name, becoming SDFLC Brasil Indústria e Comércio Ltda.