Products and services
THE ROLE OF INNOVATION
Oxiteno has a net worth of 219 patents placed throughout its history, a number that has grown considerably in the last ten years, an indicator of relevant innovation that demonstrates the company's efforts to reach and exceed the expectations and needs of the market and the final consumer resolution of key customer challenges.
In the last decade, the company's patent placement jumped from 7 to 19 each year, increasing the protected technology base and enabling the development of innovative solutions.
The sale of new products (those with up to four years since its launch) corresponded to 13.5% of the gross margin. Historically, a significant result for the company. There was also a 53% increase in the innovation rate when compared to 2016.
By 2018, the main growth projects should prioritize products for the agrochemicals market in Asia, Europe and Argentina; of oil and gas to Argentina, with the development of a portfolio that meets the demands of the region; and the Agrochemical, HPC and Oil and Gas segments in the United States. These are mediumto long-term investments that look at the next five years.
NEW STRUCTURE
Aiming at making the innovation strategy even more robust, continuing to offer quality and high performance products and developing new solutions, in 2017, the Marketing and Innovation Board was created, which integrates the company's new organizational structure.
A Oxiteno has implemented a series of new guidelines and governance rules for short, medium and long-term priorities, harmonizing processes with the strategy, adding robustness to project management. The changes included the presence of professionals who act as Project Management Officer (PMO) in the area, responding to the management of innovation projects, including tasks such as defining the structure and resources needed to execute the pipeline projects and the management of systems and tools to support innovation.
In 2017, the process of developing new products was updated, making its stages simpler and more agile. Oxiteno's innovation governance was also approved, which established the project committees, executive committee and innovation committee.
19
patents in 2017
Oxiteno has laboratories for the development and testing of products that support the innovation strategy and collaborate to control the quality and performance of the processes.
Partnerships to generate new ideas G4-DMA
Oxiteno's presence in the innovation ecosystem is highly relevant as it provides interaction with the entities that make up the sector and can enable future partnerships, as well as sharing experiences and knowledge. It is also fundamental, since it allows the monitoring of emerging agendas in favor of innovation in Brazil and the interaction with government bodies.
Among the partnerships, Oxiteno is part of the committees of the National Association of Research and Development of Innovative Companies (Anpei).
The company has more than R $ 140 million in contracts repayable with Finep (Financiera de Estudos e Projetos) for application in its own research, development and innovation projects. Projects have also started in partnership with universities via Fapesp (Foundation for Research Support of the State of São Paulo) and IEL (InovaTec Program). In 2017, three projects were active in the Embrapii (Brazilian Association for Research and Industrial Innovation) program, in partnership with ICTs (Scientific and Technological Research Institutions) of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The dialogs for new projects in this modality have already begun.
530
products available for the market
29
products launched in 2017
Oxiteno is part of the committees of the National Association of Research and Development of Innovative Companies (Anpei).
INVESTMENTS IN R&D1
% Variation in Net Revenue
1 Percentage in relation to the net revenue of Oxiteno.
FINANCING FOR INNOVATION (IN THOUSANDS OF R$) G4-EC4
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finep | BNDES | Finep | BNDES | Finep | BNDES | |
| Oxiteno S/A1 | 2,970 | 10,720 | 24,575 | 2,817 | - | 17,753 |
| Oxiteno NE2 | - | 7,280 | - | 88,065 | - | 7,590 |
| Oleoquímica | - | 2,470 | - | 93 | - | 1,206 |
| Óleos minerais3 | - | 180 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 2,970 | 20,650 | 24,575 | 90,975 | - | 26,549 |
1 The units of Tremembé, Suzano and Mauá are part of Oxiteno S/A.
2 The units of Camaçari (except Oleoquímica) and Triunfo are part of Oxiteno NE.
3 The Mineral Oils unit, also known as EMCA, is located in Camaçari.
Eco-efficient products
Greenformance
The pursuit of the development of innovative, sustainable products that meet the needs of society is the motivating line for Oxiteno's R&D area. To support this process, there is the permanent support of the Greenformance Platform, which guides the development of products based on raw materials from renewable sources, respect for the environment and promotion of health and well-being.
The Greenformance guidelines consider:
- Use of raw materials from renewable sources, replacing, wherever possible, synthetic inputs and petrochemical derivatives from inputs of plant origin.
- Care of the environment, which is reflected in concentrated and biodegradable products, allied to reducing energy use, water consumption and packaging.
- Promoting health and well-being through high performance formulations, minimal by-products and softness.
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) OF PRODUCTS
Connected to the Greenformance platform, Oxiteno has since 2009 used Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools to help manage its eco-efficient products. The methodology, standardized by ISO 14040 and 14044, allows to quantify the environmental performance of a product considering all its cycle of existence. In practice, with the adoption of the tool, it is possible to identify in which stages (extraction of the raw material, distribution, manufacture, use or final destination) are the main environmental impacts of that product and, from this survey, to simulate changes in processes that maximize its benefits.
Oxiteno seeks to develop products and solutions that are innovative, sustainable and meet the needs of society.
Oxiteno integrates reference-group companies for product impact analysis.
During nine years, Oxiteno accumulated a bank of 60 mapped products and 13 finished studies for the various segments of the company. In 2017, three reports were delivered for the Personal Care and Home Care and I&I segment and one for the Paints and Coatings segment. Another important advance for Oxiteno's leading position when it comes to the ACV methodology was formalization as a member of the Board of the Brazilian Entrepreneurial Network of the Life Cycle, now composed of the main companies in the most diverse segments. For 2018, the expectation is to carry out three new studies, in addition to actively participating in the sixth edition of the Brazilian Congress on Life Cycle Management, in Brasília (DF).
NEW RENEWABLE PRODUCT CERTIFICATION
In 2017, Oxiteno obtained the Cosmos Referential certification (for natural and organic cosmetics) for its OXISMOOTH® product line, which integrates the company's HPC portfolio. The seal was awarded by the specialized certifier Ecocert, and the expectation is to conquer the renewal in 2018.
Agrochemicals
Oxiteno develops products that meet the challenges of its customers, as well as guarantee quality support with tech nical capacity. Its products increase the performance of the agrochemical assets and, mainly, the use of surfactants in agrochemical formulations, reducing the volume of active ingredients applied to the environment. In this way, its portfolio contributes to increased productivity in agriculture and food availability in a world that is expected to reach 9.2 billion people by 2050.
In synergy with the areas of R&D, Marketing and Innovation, and Sustainability, Oxiteno analyzes the adoption of new technologies and the entry of new products, and monitors the performance of products considered old in the market, verifying factors such as production volume, product and regulatory context. This process supports decisions about how the company's portfolio will adapt to future changes.
As part of the infrastructure implementation strategy in 2017, investments were made that added even more quality and efficiency to the portfolio.
The Hattiesburg R & D Center in Mississippi (USA) develops solutions for the North American market and collaborates with Oxiteno's expansion efforts in the region. With a trained team of masters and doctors, the laboratory enables the development of various types of solutions and formulations for agrochemicals and adjuvants in the United States.
Highlights
Solutions for crop protection support the productive process of agricultural activities.
BIOSOLUTIONS
In partnership with one of its customers, Oxiteno contributed to the development of a biopesticide that combats the helicoverpa in cotton, soybean and corn, through the formulation of the microorganism with Oxiteno surfactants. There was progress in the validation of the final formulation and the field and industrial scale tests were started. The product will be launched in 2018. A partnership with the Senai Institute of Innovation also began to evaluate the compatibility of Oxiteno surfactants with common micro-organisms in biopesticides. The data will make it possible to create the knowledge base necessary to formulate and innovate in biopesticides of regular use and in seed treatment.
CROP PRODUCTION
Developed in an initial prototype in previous years, two innovations were commissioned and approved on a pilot scale in 2017. Both are part of the company's strategy to provide high-performance components for challenging formulations: the green solvent made from vegetable acid with favorable toxicological profile and the polymer dispersant developed in an innovative and more sustainable process.
SURFOM® MIX 8251
In 2018, a blend will be launched for the adjuvant market that combines properties that ensure flexibility and reliability in the combined application of pesticides and fertilizers. The product solves a very common problem at the time the farmer prepares the tank mix, as it is called the product mix carried out before spraying in the field, ensuring safety and efficacy of the application. The differentials of the product technology further promote better scattering and less foaming during stirring.
TANK MIX ADJUVANTS
There have been advances in solutions in adhesive spreaders identified as performance enhancers for fungicidal herbicides and insecticides. Development is in the prototype phase, under evaluation, but tests started in 2017 have already shown the potential for the US-focused segment.
More safety and less environmental impact in the application of pesticides and fertilizers.
Personal care & Home care and I&I (HPC)
The increase in the performance of formulations and the reduction of the environmental impacts of its ingredients are two of the main guidelines that guide the performance of the segments of personal care, domestic and institutional cleaning. By 2017, these goals have gained even more room in the company's innovation process, which has worked to add value to products and especially develop solutions to customer challenges.
Each year, there is an increase in the percentage of co-generation experiences with customers, which recognize in Oxiteno a reliable partner for the development of innovative or taylor-made solutions. This model begins with a briefing, meeting, in which the customer exposes his challenges, giving rise to research and development projects carried out by the Oxiteno researchers.
There is also a growing number of companies requesting data on the raw materials used in Oxiteno products, reinforcing the weight that traceability has for the company and its customers. It is worth mentioning that Oxiteno is the only company in Brazil that produces fatty and sulphated alcohol derived from vegetable base, differentials that already revert in market gains for the company.
Highlights
JUST RIGHT FOR THE CUSTOMERS
In one of the co-creation projects, carried out in conjunction with a strategic client, it was possible to reformulate its product line, enhancing the performance of the items, while maintaining the same concentration of ingredients. In this way, the customer obtained quality gains and reduced production costs. Another action developed in partnership with a client of international action allowed the simplification of formulations, reducing the mix of ingredients, helping to optimize costs and facilitating their geographical expansion, since the standardization facilitated the access of these products in countries with different legislations. It was also possible to increase the use of raw materials of renewable origin, increasing the gain in relation to the environmental impact.
OXISENSE® F 1100 is a solution developed by Oxiteno based on polyalkoxylates and non-ionic surfactants for formulations of regular and concentrated fabric softeners.
The technology of OXISENSE® F 1100 enhances the action of cationic actives, favoring the substantivity of these ingredients in the textile fibers, making the fabrics softer, smoother, easier to iron and protected from the wear caused by day-to-day washing, extending its life. The product is from renewable source.
Co-creation: customers support Oxiteno in the development of solutions that enhance the value of products.
Paints and coatings
As a consolidated supplier of chemical solutions in the paint, adhesives and coatings market, Oxiteno has diversified its portfolio with the introduction of technological platforms for additives, building blocks, coalescents, emulsifiers and oxygenated solvents, in which Oxiteno is a benchmark in the Brazilian market. The expansion of the portfolio, through new technological platforms, allows the company to meet the needs of the paint market, being the basis for its growth in this segment.
A constant concern in product development is the reduction in toxicity and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, ensuring more safety during the application of the products. Highlighting the ULTRASOLVE® H product line, developed from the new market requirements for paints and varnishes with low toxicity, with low impact on classification and labeling according to the GHS (Global Harmonized System), offering high performance and excellent competitiveness.
In 2017, researchers at Oxiteno developed the book Manual Descomplicado de Tecnologia de Tintas (Uncomplicated Paint Technology Handbook), to share knowledge in a didactic and objective way. The handbook addresses topics such as formulation, life cycle assessment and good practice and safety in laboratories, among others The book, published by Editora Blucher, was launched at the congress of the Brazilian Association of Paint Manufacturers (Abrafati), the main fair of the sector in Brazil, and reinforces the position of Oxiteno as a reference in this segment.
Highlights
OXITIVE® 7000
The Oxiteno line of additives consists of NPE free products (nonylphenol ethoxylate). With excellent wetting properties, fundamental to assist in the dispersion step of the pigment in the medium, the OXITIVE® 7000 line was developed for applications in water-based and pigment concentrate paints.
OXIMULSION® 9800/9900
An innovation for paints and coatings, the OXIMULSION® 9000 line allows the processing of resins, generating oil-in-water emulsions used in paints for wood, metal and masonry painting. This line of surfactants enables the conversion of solvent-based enamel technology to water based, through a simple process that guarantees the same properties and quality of the final product, with a significant reduction of environmental impact. The effects of this innovation also generate a significant reduction in the environmental impact of chemical inputs, which is a global need. Among the reduced impacts, we can mention: odor, toxicity and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
ULTRASOLVE® H
With a new generation of molecules derived from propanol, this line of oxygenated solvents is made up of products with different chemical functions and varied evaporation rates, which enables it to serve different segments such as automotive paints, industrial paint, wood paint and printing inks.
Because it is HSE-friendly, the ULTRASOLVE® H line enables the formulator to obtain paints and coatings with high performance and excellent competitiveness, as well as low toxicity and low impact on classification and labeling according to the GHS (Global Harmonized System).
Oil and gas
In view of the trends in this market characterized by extreme conditions such as high and low temperatures, high pressure and critical salinity levels, Oxiteno also invested in the diversification of its Oil and Gas portfolio through technological platforms. With solutions for Drilling, Stimulation, Production Optimization, Asset Integrity and Flow Assurance, the portfolio delivers precision chemistry, helping customers cope with critical conditions with high performance and low environmental impact products.
In pursuit of a more robust performance in the United States, due to the commencement of operation of the Texas alkaloxing unit scheduled for 2018, R&D and business teams have intensified customer relationships and product benefits in the region. West Texas oil emulsion tests were also conducted to enable the launch of specific products that serve the North American oil. Oxiteno's new lab and pilot plant in Mississippi have enabled the development and small-scale production of these new solutions as well as support for local customers. Previously, the molecules were only tested and produced in the Brazilian laboratory.
In addition to commercial partnerships, proximity to major global research centers and universities allows for the analysis of specific scenarios and accelerates the product development and approval process. In the national market, one of the partners is the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), which studies the use of computer simulation to improve the selection process of the ingredients applied in the formulations and solutions. This partnership was the topic of a presentation held during the Abiquim Seminar on Technology and Innovation, sponsored by the Brazilian Chemical Industry Association (Abiquim).
Highlights
LINE OF FLOWBACK AIDS FOR STIMULATION FLUIDS
Composed of NPE-free surfactants (free of ethoxylated nonylphenol), the line provides reduced interfacial tension and optimizes both acidic and water-based fracturing systems.
LINE OF EMULSION PREVENTERS FOR STIMULATION
It brings together Oxiteno's leading products to act in the prevention of emulsion formation, promoting the instant separation between oil and fluids used in the stimulation activity, guaranteeing the integrity of the reservoir, avoiding damage to the formation and contributing to guarantee the efficiency of oil production and the quality of the water separated.
AWARD
For the development of a synthetic solution for drilling fluids with high biodegradability and low toxicity, Oxiteno received the Kurt Politzer prize, promoted by Abiquim. The product is intended for offshore oil prospecting applications, while offering greater safety to the marine ecosystem and excellent performance.
Precision chemistry for extreme conditions.
Diversified and versatile portfolio for diverse applications.
Performance products
With an eye on the main international trends and attentive to develop products tailored to the needs of customers, Oxiteno is enhancing the OXIPURITY line. The objective is to achieve more purity in the products and to assure the service to more demanding applications in the European market. One of the products, OXIPURITY 1410, 1410, is used in cosmetic, perfume and fragrance and pharmaceutical applications and has a low content of monoethylene glycol (MEG) – a by-product of the manufacture of ethyldiglycol. A new guideline of the European Union determines the reduction of the use of this substance.
Another product of the line, the solvent OXIPURITY 2170, is responsible for giving a characteristic banana odor to the final product and has its improved formula, making it smoother and more pleasant. This process of improvement was also highlighted by involving several areas of Oxiteno in a multidisciplinary and synergic team focused on meeting the needs of the customer.