Market Overview
Nitro Quimica has experienced strong growth both in Brazil and globally
Nitro Quimica is a Brazilian multinational company currently experiencing strong expansion both in Brazil and globally. We supply nitrocellulose products to customers in more than 70 countries on all continents and have operations in Brazil, the US and Austria. We are a globally leading producer of chemical specialties for nitrocellulose-based formulations. Our company is Brazilian-owned and has a robust corporate governance framework, including a Board of Directors comprising leading executives and entrepreneurs who apply industry best practice in the day-to-day management of the business.
Our recent R&D pipeline has developed a range of new products that significantly reduce operational complexity for customers in a variety of segments, including flexible packaging, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and wood, leather and automotive refinishing coatings.
The acquisition of US-based Alchemix has added to our portfolio of systems for the pharmaceutical and dermatological segments. Beginning in 2017, part of our nitrocellulose-based solutions portfolio will be produced at Alchemix for US customers.
We work to build close collaboration with our customers
Our customers’ industries
G4-8Nitrocellulose and nitrocellulose solutions are widely used in the manufacture of coatings in various segments, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, flexible packaging and wood processing. Our products offer the unique properties needed for each application, while also providing the end product with a more sustainable formulation, one of our key differentiators.
Cosmetics
The nail polish market accounts for the bulk of our cosmetics business and is forecast to outgrow other beauty segments in Brazil trough to 2019, according to global industrial research firm Technavio. It is a highly dynamic market with a large variety of products differing in both color and texture. Product differentiators can include, for example, allergen-free nail polishes for certain applications. These products require the use of high purity, non-toxic raw materials providing good durability and uniformity following application, with no alterations in color and gloss. These combined properties are dependent on the quality of the nitrocellulose feedstock.
Our nitrocellulose and other portfolio products are used by the leading global players in this segment. In 2016 we invested substantially in developing new products for this segment and improving our production processes through a newly implemented best-practice program based on the requirements of the beauty segment. This program will continue into 2017.
Flexible packaging
Nitrocellulose is a key component in flexo and gravure ink performance properties such as good adhesion, fast drying speed and pigment dispersion.
Responding to the dynamics and challenges of this segment, in recent years we have expanded our product portfolio and pipeline to support our customers in achieving productivity and superior ink and varnish performance.
Wood processing
Due to the cellular structure of the substrate, wood surface treatment products need to be formulated with raw materials possessing unique technical qualities. In addition to enhancing the natural grain of the wood surface a high-quality varnish should accommodate the naturally occurring contraction and expansion with changes in temperature and air humidity, especially where a wood structure is exposed to the elements. Furniture and interior woodwork applications, in turn, require non-toxic and odorless products. Nitro Quimica’s nitrocellulose-based products are specially formulated to deliver these properties.
Automotive refinishing
Predating the automotive assembly line, nitrocellulose has developed with technological progress in automated refinishing, and is used in a number of stages of the body repair process, from body fillers through primers to enamels. Nitrocellulose can be used to formulate coatings with high solids content and quick drying speeds.
Leather
Nitrocellulose is used to produce fast-drying top coats that impart a high-gloss finish while maintaining the natural aspects of leather surfaces.