Braskem won, for the second year, the ABIQUIM award of Technology, one of the most important awards of the chemical area in the country which is given to the most innovative  companies. The case - The development of a business and process model and equipment of high productivity for producing disposable products in polypropylene was responsible for the prize. "The award reinforces the commitment of the company with the technological innovation as a way of creating value for its shareholders and for the productive chain of petrochemical and of plastics", says Luis Felli, director of polypropylene business.

Furthermore, Braskem is also the winner of the award ABIQUIM Exportation, first given this year, in the category Club Exporter, that is given to companies that annually export more than US$ 100 million. "This award is the result of a successful strategy taken by Braskem to keep a strategic resence in the international markets and a long term relationship with its most important clients", ays Luciano Guidolin, director of exportation. 

Braskem won, with the same project, in the beginning of the week, the FINEP award of Technology and Innovation in the category Process. According to Felli, the potential market for the use of polypropylene in disposable products is of approximately 90 thousand tons/year and it"s been increasing at a 7% rate per year. The substitution of polystyrene by polypropylene in these products presents several advantages for the transformers and for the final consumer, with more resistance and transparency. Besides, the cost of the equipment is approximately one third in comparison with its similar imported.

Braskem counted, during this development started in 2001, on a partnership with Zanatta Disposables Company, one of the most important transformers of the country. The solution is already conquering other markets such as the Argentinean, where Braskem is exporting the first equipment to.

"The focus on innovation has allowed Braskem to offer in first hand to the regional market more updated technologies, promoting a good relationship with clients and offering more resources for research", states the director of Technology and Innovation of Braskem, Luis Fernando Cassinelli.

The Technology an Innovation Center of Braskem, where the integrated solution in polypropylene was developed, is the most modern and the best equipped of the petrochemical industry in Latin America. This Center, located in Triunfo, has technological actives evaluated in more than R$ 320 million, invested in seven pilot-plants and 11 laboratories. It counts with a team of 160 researchers and technicians, prepared to offer all the support to the clients of Braskem in the development of products, processes and new markets.

Last year, Braskem won the Award ABIQUIM of Technology with the development of UTEC, an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene of high added value. Braskem is the only producer of this material in the country and the second in the world.