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The Impact of Technology and Sustainability on Brazilian Metalworking
The metalworking sector, one of the main pillars of Brazil’s economy, is reinventing itself and standing out in the industrial market. According to a study by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), this segment employs more than 200,000 people and contributes about 3.1% of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With growth expectations aligned with GDP in 2024, projected at 1.7%, the metalworking sector aims to maintain its relevance through investments in technological innovations and sustainability.
The industry is focused on maintaining productive efficiency, investing in innovative management systems and modern machinery. The concept of “figital”, which merges the physical and digital, is a growing trend. After the pandemic, metalworking companies are returning to value physical points of sale, without neglecting the strong impact of digital, especially on e-commerce platforms.
Artificial Intelligence and Energy Efficiency: Keys to the Future
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already present in the commercial sector, especially on e-commerce platforms. However, its application in production is still limited. Metalworking companies are focused on investing in intelligent machines and solutions for the factory floor, aiming to reduce dependence on operators and increase productivity.
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CATL manufactures more batteries for electric cars than all its competitors worldwide combined, and the company founded 14 years ago in a coastal city in China that no one knew delivered 661 GWh in 2025, commands 39.2% of the global market and supplies batteries to Tesla, BMW, Toyota, and Volkswagen.
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BYD produces up to 4,400 cars per day and one vehicle every 20 seconds at its largest factory in Xi’an, surpasses Tesla in industrial pace, leaves Volkswagen far behind in pure electric vehicles, and consolidates China as the birthplace of the world’s largest electric car manufacturer.
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While cities suffocate with smoke and fields burn worthless straw, India transforms sugarcane bagasse, non-recyclable plastic, and agricultural residue into bricks to build cheaper rural housing.
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With 50 tons of plastic waste, a 30-meter bridge was assembled over a river in Scotland. It seems like an ordinary construction, but it doesn’t use traditional wood or steel and can even be disassembled.
Another central concern of the sector is energy efficiency. Being the largest energy consumer in the country, the metalworking industry is attentive to optimizing energy consumption, aiming to reduce costs and improve production. The growth of the alternative energy market and the migration to the Free Energy Market (MLE) are strategies being adopted by many companies, seeking more transparency and economic advantages.
In summary, a single, disruptive trend is not expected for the metalworking sector in 2024. However, the agendas of technological innovation, energy efficiency, and sustainability will solidify even further. For companies in the sector, understanding and implementing these trends will be essential to align productivity, strategic governance, and sustainability.
Source: Christian Speyer.
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