The Brazilian joint venture of Biesterfeld Plastic (Hamburg / Germany; www.biesterfeld-plastic.com) has started operations with effect from 1 April. Biesterfeld Simko Distribuição is a 50:50 joint venture between Biesterfeld Plastic and Simbras, a Brazilian subsidiary of Simko (Buenos Aires / Argentina; www.simko.com.ar). Headquarters are located in São Paulo with a local sales office in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina.

The partners’ aim is to become a major distributor of engineering polymers, elastomers, high performance rubber and styrene copolymers in the Brazilian market. With immediate effect, DuPont (Wilmington, Delaware / USA; www.dupont.com) has appointed Biesterfeld Simko Distribuição to distribute its engineering polymers, thermoplastic elastomers and high performance rubber in the country.

The range will be complemented by the product portfolio of Taiwan’s Chi Mei (Tainan City; www.chimeicorp.com), one of Simbras’ channel partners in Brazil. Chi Mei’s range includes styrene copolymers such as ABS, SAN, ASA, SBS, as well as PC, PC blends and PMMA. The company has partnered both Simko and Biesterfeld for more than 25 years.

Carsten Harms, executive board member of Biesterfeld and managing director of Biesterfeld Plastic, commented: “Growth prospects in Brazil for our key market segments are very encouraging whilst European investment and know-how transfer into the plastic processing and automotive sector will continue to play a dominant role.”