Versaflex Expands in
South American Polyurea Coatings
by Charles W. Thurston
Latin America Correspondent
thurstoncw@rodmanmedia.com
Kansas City-based Versaflex has expanded its footprint in South America through a co-marketing
agreement with São Paulo-based Renner
Coatings that will result in a new polyurea coating line brand, RenFlex, now being prepared for distribution.
While the largest market for the joint
venture’s polyurea coatings will be Brazil,
Renner’s existing manufacturing capacity in Chile will add that country as a top
target. Bolivia, Peru and other countries in
the region are expected to be added soon,
according to Fernando Costa, the business
manager for Versaflex South America.
“Without a doubt, the polyurea mar-
ket in South America will grow. One of
the reasons for this growth is the matur-
ing nature of the markets in countries
like Brazil, Chile and Peru, where the
technology is no longer seen merely as a
concrete waterproofing agente. In these
markets it is also now seen as a coating
for protecting metals, for offshore plat-
form use, for mining and for other appli-
cations,” said Costa.
“We are selling more despite the clouds
of crisis circling here, as industries are
seeking solutions that are more durable,
more efficient and more effective. The
quest for a reduction in cost is not result-
ing in cuts in maintenance, rather in a
reduction of the amount of maintenance
that is necessary, which is one result of
the polyurea technology,” Costa added.
“Another reason for growth in the market,
and especially in Brazil, is the new norm
ABNT 16545:2016 that defines the uses
for polyurea and expected results.”
“And last but not least, what will also
make polyurea technology grow is the
number of Polyurea University qualified
and certified applicators on the South
American continent that has increased
dramatically. Over the past two years,
the number qualified has risen from only
four to 22. With the VersaFlex & Renner
partnership, in addition to technical sup-
port and local stock, the qualification of
applicators will be intensified, with lo-
cal training sessions in Brazil and Chile,
which will be given by our director of
education and development, Mr. Dudley
Primeaux II, the world’s largest expert on
polyurea technology,” Costa explained.
“The mining market in Chile is un-
doubtedly one of the most important for
us in South America. I will go further
and say that the mining market of South
America is one of the most important
global markets for polyurea technology.
However, we will also focus on the oil
and gas, chemical, agriculture, pulp and
paper industries, along with basic infra-
structure such as water and wastewater
not only in Chile and Brazil, but also in
Bolivia, where we are close to partnering
for local distribution, and in other South
American countries where we hope to es-
tablish partnerships soon,” noted Costa.
Brazil in particular has high import
taxes for paints and coatings, which encourages many international companies
to manufacture locally. “VersaFlex is not
closing the door to any opportunity, but
at the moment we still think it is premature to go ahead with a plan to expand our production in South America,”
Costa concluded. CW
