Birla Carbon celebrates Cubatão, Brazil plant’s 65th anniversary

Birla Carbon celebrated the 65th anniversary of its Cubatão Plant in November 2023. Located in the state of São Paulo, 12 kilometres from the seaport city of Santos, the Cubatão plant has reportedly played a crucial role in Birla Carbon’s global operations.

The Cubatão plant of Birla Carbon came into operation in 1958. The plant’s core proposition is to support the carbon black requirements for local and regional use in tyres, MRG, Plastics, coatings, inks, and niche industries. The plant fulfils its energy requirements through a Cogen facility within its premises, which is not limited to internal use only. Instead, the plant exports electricity to the local grid.

Sharing his thoughts on the 65th anniversary of the plant, John Loudermilk, President and Chief Executive Officer, Birla Carbon, said, “We take immense pride in celebrating this 65-year milestone of our operations in Brazil. This plant has been our pathway to serve the South American market for more than six decades and has a relationship with almost every customer in this region. The Cubatão plant stands as a testament to our commitment to excellence, being the first carbon black plant for us in the region with a sustained level performance.” He further added, “The evolution of the plant over time through expansions in capacity, modernization of technology, and continuous focus on innovation and operational excellence to drive sustainability aligns directly with our Purpose – Share the Strength.”

As part of its corporate social responsibility endeavours, the plant remains committed to supporting education for children and healthcare for women. Since 2015, plant employees have consistently engaged with high school students, emphasizing the significance of technology and the chemical industry in these interactions.

The Birla Carbon plant in Cubatão is an active member of the ABIQUIM (Chemical Industry Brazilian Association), and the CIESP (São Paulo State Industries Center) and is recognized under ISO 14001 / ISO 45001 / IATF 16949.