January 2013, a interesting month for Mavi, quite promissing indeed. Not excepcional, but very good orders mainly from one sector we believed was dead and gone for Mavi, due to intense cheap imports from East Asia: vibratory motors for the construction industry as well as heavy drives as replacement for imported drives.
Another sector which has made us leaders for light to medium scale vibratory equipment in Latin America has been maintenance, rebuilding or retrofitting of old Mavi equipment, some with over 20 years running time. The sugar producing industry is quite active but not investing in modern machinery. Some companies are importing deactivated plants from Europe and reassembling them in Brazil. Others are simply restoring very old plants to operating conditions or buying cheap from Asia. In this case, Mavi has achieved some good orders, rebuilding screeners from the 90´s, as well as some conveyors from the 80´s. New conveyors helped too, one huge replacement for a faulty competing equipment at Usina São Fernando, two for Guarani and a big new conveyor for Usina Cocal.
But some orders regarding new equipment for other sectors have also arrived: for the foundry industry a nice order regarding sand-coolers, shake-outs and feeders for Kuttner do Brasil, as well as one very nice order from the Gerdau Steel Group for an expansion at one large plant in southern Brazil, with a set of Rothaube screw-conveyors, many heavier Elmavi feeders and also many Gatec pneumatic bulk-powder shut-off valves.
And, a small miracle since the bad days in 2008/2009, Mavi has hired some new help in the factory. Modest but hopefuly a beginning of a series.
Anyway, expensive currency and lack of technical assistance as well as a fast replacement parts delivery have led Mavi to a more comfortable position in 2012/2013. Let us hope it keeps going this way.