SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Carbon black producer Birla Carbon completed 60 years of operations in Brazil in October 2018. The South America region of Birla Carbon commemorated the event with the celebration of the 60^th anniversary of its plant in Cubatão, a city in the state of São Paulo, 12 kilometers from the seaport city of Santos.

Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, John Loudermilk, Chief Operating Officer, Birla Carbon, said, “As a leading global carbon black producer, Birla Carbon is happy to be able to serve customers in any part of the world. We were one of the first global carbon black companies to operate in Brazil.” He added, “Birla Carbon’s ongoing dedication to the carbon black industry and the South America region can be seen with the accomplishment of this milestone. We continue to live our purpose – ‘Share the Strength’ — through our commitment to be a global supplier of choice for our customers and partners.”

Speaking about the anniversary, Ronaldo Duarte, President, South America region, Birla Carbon, said, “Since the beginning, Birla Carbon has been supporting the ever-growing demands of customers and economy fluctuations in the region. The accomplishment of this milestone means a lot to the people who have spent many years building a strong foundation for the business in South America.” He further stated, “When the Cubatão plant was set up, it was a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Over the last six decades, the plant has evolved and adapted to become a world-class facility and match the growing demands of the industry. Today, the Cubatão plant is one of the safest and most sustainable units at Birla Carbon.”

The Cubatão plant of Birla Carbon began operation in 1958. The plant has a production capacity of 150,000 tons of carbon black per year. The plant’s core proposition is to support the carbon black requirements for local and regional use. The plant also produces its own energy through a cogen facility within its premises.

The plant, over the last 60 years, has focused on sustainability and community initiatives hosting volunteer programs to give back to the society and its employees. The plant has implemented projects and programs to drive reduced water consumption, greater energy efficiency and greater product capabilities while always remaining focused on safety and security of its employees, contractors and suppliers at the plant.

As part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, the plant has continued to support education for children and healthcare for women. Since 2015, the plant employees have maintained regular engagement with students at the high school level, speaking about the importance of technology and the chemical industry.