December 26, 2008 Wood Values

Volume 11 | Issue 6

Brazil’s forests have been impacted by business, technologies, exports, currency fluctuations, environmental policies, and land disputes. Th

The Amazon has seen the best and worst of environmental practices, starting in the early 1960s, when major deforestation commenced, and carrying to the end of the decade, when the activities there – rife with problems due to the poor soil that made agriculture impractical and unsustainable – drew attention globally and the protection of Brazil’s land became a priority at high government levels.

As markets began to change and develop in the early 1970s, a merger took place that changed the face of the land in the south of Brazil. After more than 50 years of independent operation, the veteran woodworkers of Madeireira Giacomet S.A. and Marodin S.A. Exportação, embraced a responsibility for the serious issues that Brazil was facing, and joined forces in 1972 to become the Giacomet-Marodin Industria de Madeiras S.A. Knowing that their livelihoods and the environmental policies generated in their adopted homeland depended heavily on the support of businesses in this sector, they determined to take action to support rather than exploit Brazil’s vast, but clearly not exhaustive, natural resources.

A GROWING TIMBER COMPANY
The company eventually became known as Araupel S.A., and today, with annual revenues of approximately R$60 million, is one of Brazil’s largest exporters of wood moldings, frames, panels, and components of civil construction, representing 15 percent of export activity in the market. Araupel has 35,000 square meters of building area, plus a lumber sawmill, kiln dryers, manufacturing area, and 1000 employees. Monthly production is 100 containers or 4200 cubic meters.

“We have always catered primarily to civil construction – products for homes and buildings” says Sales Director Enio Marodin.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
The company’s major products include interior millwork, over 3000 styles of decorative moldings, door and window frames, baseboards, and custom woodwork and trim, including unfinished, primed, stained, and pre-finished. Also manufactured are kiln-dried cut wood and edge-glued panels for the furniture industry. Product is shipped locally and internationally, directly to distributors that supply home centers like Lowe’s and Home Depot, already bar-coded and ready for sale. Serving customers from over 30 countries on six continents, international clients are located in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia.

“Araupel offers a quality guarantee and on-time delivery,” Marodin continued. “The quality of our wood trim has given us a respected name. Working in forestry, with all the decisions we make that reflect 20 to 30 years into the future, means we understand lead times and are forward thinking. Our customer service is one of our highest priorities.”

Araupel, he adds, has a strategic vision of the market. “We are looking to partner with our clients, not make just a simple sale, but build a relationship. When we export a product that goes to a store, we want the client of our client to trust in all the security that Araupel offers. Our philosophy is one of working hard, and preparing for the future; of partnering with our suppliers, our clients, our employees, and our investors,” Marodin says.

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