GE Expands Brazil Facility To Meet Demand For Advanced Water Filtration Technologies
The new plant will improve the distribution of GE's equipment throughout South America, accelerating delivey times by 60%
Trevose, PA and São Paulo, Brazil — GE Water & Process Technologies today officially opened an expansion of its production facilities located in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil. The expansion is a strategic investment into a long-term growth strategy for the Latin American market that will accelerate delivery times, reduce production costs and leverage local system engineering resources.
The Sorocaba facility will now begin assembling reverse osmosis equipment that is used by many industries, including sugar and alcohol; food and beverage; oil and gas; and steel production. Prior to the expansion of this plant, the majority of these advanced water filtration systems were imported from the United States. By installing an assembly line in Brazil, the company expects to accelerate delivery times by up to 60% and provide system solutions that best meet local needs. With this initiative, GE will be better positioned to meet the increasing demand for its technology in Latin America, which is expected to increase by 25% over the next three year period.
"Our investment in the Sorocaba manufacturing facility expansion will bring advanced solutions that will help Brazil and South America meet its infrastructure needs," said Mr. Tadeu Justi, Commercial Leader of GE Water & Process Technologies for Latin America. "As water demands increase, our investments will help implement sustainable solutions that will benefit industries, businesses, environment and society."
The Sorocaba plant was built in 2007 to supply speciality chemicals in the region. With this new 1.600 m2 expansion the plant will be able to produce over 300 reverse osmosis filtration systems per year, ranging in treatment capacity from 380 – 1.890 liters per minute. These preassembled systems are factory tested and require minimal on-site installation. The modular and preassembled design of these units makes them cost-effective and the new regional production capacity will greatly accelerate delivery times for our customers.
"Our Sorocaba manufacturing expansion is just one way of delivering on GE's ecomagination commitment. We view it as a strategic action to develop and supply technologies that promote energy efficiency and optimize water use while creating value for our customers." added Mr. Justi.
GE reverse osmosis membranes are used in a wide variety of applications, from seawater desalination, to ultrapure water production to wastewater reuse. The microscpoic pores on the surface of the filters are able to remove virtually all impurities from source water.
About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.
GE's activities in Brazil date back to 1919, with sales and marketing offices distributed in several states and industrial facilities located in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. All GE's major businesses are present in Brazil, employing approximately 7,000 people.
About GE Water & Process Technologies
A world leader in water and wastewater treatment and process systems, GE Water & Process Technologies, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), offers the broadest portfolio of global expertise and local capabilities. We invest in forward looking water and process technologies, leveraging the best practices of GE's ecomagination, to help customers balance environmental and economic goals. Our innovative team develops unique partnerships and delivers reliable, long-term solutions for communities, governments and industries that maximize water and energy resources. www.ge.com/water
SOURCE: GE Water & Process Technologies