The incorporation of Cerâmica Monte Carlo, a producer of vitreous china located in the municipality of Cabo de Santo Agostinho (PE), was an integral part of Duratex’s strategy to improve its service in the North and Northeast regions, facilitating its production logistics and product distribution in these markets, which account for approximately 30% of the consumption of ceramic ware in Brazil, and which has been growing strongly in the last few years. The purchase of Ideal Standard, with plants in Jundiaí (SP) and Queimados (RJ), expanded the company’s business in the Southeast.

With the exception of the Queimados unit, in the last quarter of 2008, the companies owned by Duratex were operating at a high level of installed capacity. After these acquisitions, Deca became the only producer of vitreous china with industrial installations in all the main geographical regions of Brazil that have seen a significant expansion in the civil construction segment. As a result, significant gains are expected related to cost savings in terms of freight as well as an improved service in these markets.

With the recently-acquired units, the Deca Division now has seven industrial plants in Brazil: Metais São Paulo, in the capital, Metais and Cerâmica Jundiaí, both in the State of São Paulo; and Cerâmica São Leopoldo, in Rio Grande do Sul. The company also has Deca Piazza in Argentina. To increase its production capacity, expansion work is to be carried out at the Metais Planidil unit (in Jundiaí), which will increase the existing installed capacity by 35%.

This sizeable industrial complex guarantees Deca’s leadership in the domestic market for metal bathroom fittings, and a top-ranked position in the vitreous china segment. The installed production capacity in 2008 reached 23.8 million pieces, which are sold under the Hydra brand, for flushing valve systems, and Deca, for metal and vitreous china; and their respective accessories.