Magazine Viajante - Issue n° 17 edition

Marcopolo Magazine

Edition 17 Mar 2016

Ana Rech unit 35 years Date celebrated during Festa da Uva

Interview Alceu Barbosa Velho Collective Transportation is the priority

1째 Volunteer Award Valter Gomes Pinto

Presence in Mexico Products offer is extended

Paradiso 1600LD

S a f et y a n d E rgon om ics Large luggage rack and bold design: Characteristics of the model designed with high degree of technology in order to offer safety to passengers and ergonomics to drivers who travel long distances.

Safety belt saves lives.

Images are merely illustrative. See the representative in your region To learn more about models and their settings www.marcopolo.com.br - on social networks: OnibusMarcopolo

EDITORIAL STAFF

To the reader

Francisco Gomes Neto CEO

The pursuit of excellence is endless

General Coordination Commercial and Marketing Department Texts production and editing Secco Communication Consultancy Sabrina Leme MTB-RS 15062 Graphic Design Communication Sector Printing Cromo Graphic and Publishing Digital Edition www.marcopolo.com.br

No reproduction without prior and express authorization. All rights reserved. Images and product configurations may be changed without notice.

Marcopolo has become a national and international reference in the buses manufacturing. This year, we are about to end an investment cycle of almost half a billion reals in the period 2012-2016. But all the progress achieved, although extremely important, are already part of the past. We need to look forward and keep seeking the excellence to maintain our prominent position and to conquer, every day, more satisfied customers, who are the real “promoters” of our brand and products.

So it was in 1986, when after a trip to Japan, the company created and implemented, in a pioneering way, the projects SIMPS (Marcopolo Integrated System of Solidarity Production) and SUMAM (Improvement Suggestions in Marcopolo Environment). Both were based on the principles of Toyota Production System, allowing growth and achieving high levels of productivity, quality and well-being in the workplace. Now, while we are celebrating 30 years of SIMPS and SUMAM, we are initiating a new cycle, “revitalizing” these programs, taking into account the essence of the principles of Lean Manufacturing concept and using the Kaizen philosophy as a tool, in addition to taking the Toyota Production System as a basis.

From Japanese, the word Kaizen can be translated as “changing to better”. On the other hand, “Lean” is the strategy that must be present in everything that is realized within the

company: from production to administration, through engineering, logistics, commercial, marketing, with all involved employees focused on activities that add value to the customer and deploy those improvements which are needed to the company development.

What do we seek? We seek to further improving our focus on safety, quality, productivity and costs. And what is the way? Standardizing processes in plants worldwide. It means that this initiative will be performed simultaneously in all Marcopolo plants!

It will be a great challenge because to “be Lean” we have to begin by leaders, who must to be mentors and give the example. And then we extend to all employees this deep change that includes reflection about current practices, recognition of problems and finally taking action in improved ways, thus achieving the desired cultural change.

For a company with such customized products and demanding customers, achieving the best results depends on all employees’ effort and commitment. And it definitely does not lack in Marcopolo. Let us direct this positive energy so that all of us seek excellence to produce high quality products, every day and continuously, keeping our customers satisfaction, thus achieving the best results and a promising future.

Good reading!

March 2016

24 Front page

Ana Rech Unit

35 years of the Brazilian bus cradle

06 Visate 30 years 102 new Torino in Anapolis

30 Best practices

Recognition to volunteering

238 ônibus para Porto Alegre New markets in Afric

34 Traveler’s Guide

Mexico: diversifying to meet the demand

Costa Rica: a small paradise in Central America

12 Panorama

Paulo Bellini – 30 years SIMPS and SUMAM Alceu Barbosa Velho - Public Transportation is the way

42 Client De Palm Tours, a complete infrastructure in Aruba

44 Representative Pacyatlán, market resume

16 Mobility 20 Special EFPM: a space where training professionals

45 Visits

ROUTE OF NEWS

Brazil

Visate 30 years: three decades of partnership In February 1986 the company Viação Santa Tereza (Visate) started its activities in the Public transportation in Caxias do Sul. To celebrate 30 years of solid partnership, a lunch in honor of Visate was promoted in the premises of Marcopolo, at the Ana Rech Unit.

Visate representatives, among them directors Sérgio Pereira and Fernando Ribeiro, other directors and collaborators, were received by Marcopolo president emeritus, Paulo Bellini, the company CEO Francisco Gomes Neto, the Bus Business director Ruben Bisi, the director of business operations and marketing, Paulo Corso and by members of the business team.

Also attended the commemoration the city mayor Alceu Barbosa Velho, the first lady Alexandra Baldisserotto, the Secretary of Transporttation, Transit and

Gelson M. da Costa

Mobility (SMTTM), Manoel Marrachinho, the SMTTM chairman, Carlos Noll and the SMTTM transportation director, Gervásio Longui.

In the opportunity, 27 new vehicles were delivered, which will renew the fleet composed by around 350 vehicles.

New Águia Branca identity signed by Hans Donner The 34 new vehicles of Viação Aguia Branca, in Espírito Santo, have a new livery. Designed by the renowned designer Hans Donner, the visual identity of the buses is inspired by the name Viação Águia Branca, in a clean concept where the bus seems to grow wings.

There are eight units of the model Paradiso 1800 Double Decker, two of the Paradiso 1350 and 24 units of the Paradiso 1200, which are intended to intercity and interstate routes covered by the company.

“Our focus is the customer. We want to delight them with different travel service options, bringing the best, most modern, safest and most comfort services in passenger transportation”, explains Paula Barcellos Tommasi Corrêa, Business & Marketing director at Viação Águia Branca. The Releases are

part of the celebrations of 70 years of the Group Águia Branca, completed in 2016.

Caca Lima

Renan Chieppe and Hans Donner during event of presentation of the new fleet

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ROUTE OF NEWS

Brazil Gelson M. da Costa

Viação Garcia and Brasil Sul with Paradiso 1600 LD and 1800 DD Within their continuous program of fleet renewal, Brasil Sul Linhas Rodoviárias and Viação Garcia, from Londrina/PR, acquired 13 units of the models Paradiso 1600 LD and Paradiso 1800 Double Decker. Developed to run medium and long distance routes, the 29 buses are intended for passengers displacement through the states of Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo.

Representatives of management and business area deliver vehicles to Stefano Boyko Junior and José Boyko

The mixed renewal enables lower cost of operation and offers passengers high quality, comfort and safety standards. The vehicles have super soft semi-bed seats with adjustable leg rest, audio and video system with LCD displays, air-conditioning, toilette and instrument panel with soft touch finish and auxiliary driver’s cabin with air-conditioning.

National Award Viação Garcia won the 2015 national competition of fleet painting, in the category of Road Passenger Transportation, promoted by OTM Publishing.

Anápolis has 102 new Torino The company URBAN - ANÁPOLIS URBAN MOBILITY, from

of them are also equipped with air-conditioning system. The other

Goiás, active since November 2015, put its fleet together with 102

18 are Torino Low Entry models and have air-conditioning system,

new Marcopolo Torino urban buses equipped with high backrest,

rear motor and capacity for 79 passengers. URBAN is the first

electro-pneumatic doors and multiplex system.

company in the country to buy the recently released version, which

Among these, 84 buses have semiautomatic elevator and 19

provides increased speed in boarding and unboarding operations.

Gelson M. da Costa

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ROUTE OF NEWS

Brazil

238 new buses to Porto Alegre The public transportation in Porto Alegre/RS has 238 new Marcopolo urban buses. The Torino model vehicles were configured in three versions to meet the demand according to the city region and the application.

The vehicles, which were incorporated to the fleets: Belém Novo, Estoril, Gasômetro, Navegantes, Nortran, Presidente Vargas, Sopal, Sudeste, Viação Alto Petrópolis e Viação Teresópolis Cavalhada, were inspected by Porto Alegre mayor José Fortunati, the chairman of the Public Company of Collective Passenger Transport (EPTC), Vanderlei Cappellari, the transportation director, Maria Cristina Molina Moreira and by company technicians. The entourage was received by Marcopolo deputy chairman for institutional relations, José Antonio Martins, by the

director of business operations and marketing, Paulo Corso, and by Cristiano Hilgert from Marcopeças.

Identification In order to facilitate identification, the fleet delivered on February 19th during the event on Largo Glênio Peres, was produced with a new visual standard. They are red for South Side, blue for Northern Side, and green for the East Side.

Carris gets an orange hue. This proposal of differentiation will be present only in new buses, but a time line will be established by EPTC for the repainting of the whole fleet.

Julio Soares

Divulgação Madero

Buses to those who make the best hamburger in the world The restaurants network Madero, headquartered in Curitiba/PR, purchased a Marcopolo Ideale developed especially for transportation of employees. The vehicle has unique and characterized graphic design. The model designed for the restaurant of the chef Junior 08

Viajante - Edition 17 - March 2016

Durski has painting in silver color and the traditional image of the brand - a sandwich cheeseburger on rear sides - with the slogan on both sides: “Madero staff, the team that makes the best burger in the world”.

ROUTE OF NEWS

Brazil

Strategic alliance in passenger transportation Planalto Transport and Viação Ouro e Prata, leading operators of road transportation in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, sealed a strategic alliance to operate in partnership in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Santa Catarina and São Paulo.

To meet the demand, the companies purchased 50 Marcopolo Paradiso 1350 coaches, which will be used in 43 intercity and interstate routes covered by the companies, which were recently acquired. In addition to the joint purchasing

for recently acquired routes, the companies also bought 15 units each destined to the traditional routes.

The companies have collaborated to seize a market opportunity. As an increased demand in long distance

stretches had been observed, they decided to join together in order to meet it. The goal is to offer a high quality standard, with Internet connection, USB input for all seats and individual entertainment system.

Ricardo Fabrello

Caxias top view Julio Soares

The Festa Nacional da Uva (National Grape Festival) not only happened in the Events Park, it happened in the whole city of Caxias do Sul. On board of a Viale DD Sunny, owned by Brocker Tourism, those who visited the festival could also visit the main tourist attractions of the city such as São Pelegrino Church, the Railway Station, Dante Alighieri square and the National Monument to the Immigrants.

Double reinforcements Santos Soccer Club from São Paulo, and Santa Cruz Soccer Club, from Recife, have new Marcopolo Paradiso 1200 and 1050 coaches with special configurations to transport athletes and technical commission during the next seasons.

“Baleião” and “Expresso Coral”, as they are known by clubs and fans, have air-conditioning,

Fernando Favoretto

Divulgação Santa Cruz

semi-bed seats with leg rest, LCD monitor with DVD, Wi-Fi, radio, toilette and fridge. The internal

layout also includes a separation wall between the driver’s seat and the passengers’ room.

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ROUTE OF NEWS

The World

64 Buses to Costa Rica Some of the main Transport companies in Costa Rica acquired 64 Marcopolo buses. Among this total, 38 units are models destined to run long distances: 12 Paradiso 1800 DD, 11 Paradiso 1050, four Paradiso 1200, two Senior Turismo and nine Viaggio 1050. In addition, 26 Torino urban models were acquired. The new buses are part of an ongoing program for the renewal of Costa Rican companies. The vehicles were provided to Auto Transportes Caribenos S.A., COMTRASULI (Southovest Transpot Company), Empresa Guadalupe, Eurobus, Ferjovi, Gemon de Cartago, Mepe, Musoc LTDA., Rovicsa, Skyline, Transaro of Turrialba, Transcesa, Transportes Mepe, Transmonteverde, Transnica, Transportes del Tortuguero Exoticos and Transportes Unidos San Antonio.

New markets in Africa Contracts for the supply of buses destined to two new African countries were closed. 16 vehicles will be provided for long distance passenger transportation in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, being them Ideale 770 and Viaggio 1050 models. The deal was done through the Group SMT, a Volvo dealership in the region.

They are 10 Marcopolo Viaggio 1050 to Ivory Coast and six Ideale 770 to Cameroon. With Volvo B270F Chassis, the vehicles can carry 61 passengers (Viaggio 1050) and 68 passengers (Ideale) with 3x2 seating configuration, airconditioning and audiovisual systems with 15 inch monitors and separation wall between the passengers’ room and driver’s seat.

50 years of tradition Diomar Gregorio Núñez and his family gathered friends, authorities and partners in celebration of the anniversary of Nuñez Transport and Tourism, founded in 1965 in the Department of Cerro Largo, Uruguay. The external market sales manager, Ricardo Portolan, the business coordinator Maria Aparecida Lima, and Dusil

S.A director, Jorge del Rio, represented Marcopolo in a festive dinner that took place in the halls of the events space Kibon, in Montevideo. “This group has relevant presence in the Uruguayan passenger transportation scenario and for Marcopolo it is a great honor to take part of this celebration,” says Portolan.

Richard Sosa

Ricardo Portolan and Maria Aparecida deliver a homage to Diomar Gregory Nuñez

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ROUTE OF NEWS

The World

Strengthening market presence Attending as exhibitor for the first time in ExpoForo, in Mexico, an important fair in the segment of passenger transportation, Marcopolo has released new models and presented a novelty: the buses will be fitted with different brands of chassis, aiming to increasingly act in the Mexican market.

During the fair, held from March 2nd to 4th in Mexico City, two units of new models were submitted, including a Double Decker and an Urban Torino, most successful brand models in the Mexican market. Other Marcopolo vehicles were presented in the stands of Mercedes- Benz, Scania and Volvo.

Products will be manufactured in Mexico in the Polomex plant, a joint venture between Marcopolo and Mercedes-Benz. The successful partnership of more than 15 years between the two companies follows, but in order to act in a more competitive way, the decision was to turn business more “flexible” by offering to customers the option of new bus models with different chassis brands.

“This is one of the most

important projects for Marcopolo since the activities in Mexico began and we see the moment as a new beginning for the company in the country. Diversifying allows us to grow and to strength our presence in the market. Some of these new buses will be fully assembled in the Monterrey plant and others in CKD and PKD in Brazil”, explains Paulo Andrade, Polomex general director.

Gonzalo Rocha

30 thousand units manufactured Polomex Disclosure

In Mexico since 1999, Polomex celebrated in its plant in Monterrey, Province of Nuevo León, the manufacture of 30 thousand units.

The bus number 30,000 is a Marcopolo Torino, provided to Zapata Group. The vehicle has Mercedes Benz chassis 1624/52L EuroV and is used in metropolitan routes. The model has 47 urban seats, two right hand side doors which are 870 mm wide, driver’s seat with CVG ergonomic and hydraulic system, electric socket for pre-paid system, air-conditioning Eberspacher model and internal and external lighting on LED. Viajante - Edition 17 - March 2016

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PANORAMA

Management and Leadership Julio Soares

Paulo Bellini Marcopolo President emeritus

At a time of low demand and increased customer rigor, it is essential to produce with quality and to have a great working environment.

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Quality and good working environment has never been so important Economic crisis, bear market, few purchase orders and flexible daily work schedules. At a time like the present, every product that leaves the line makes a difference for the company to maintain production and employment. At the same time, the client becomes even more important because he wants more (quality, service price and stand out characteristics) than in periods of heated market. In this scenario, the SIMPS - Marcopolo Integrated System of Solidarity Production - and SUMAM - Improvement Suggestions in Marcopolo Environment - celebrate 30 years of deployment and have never been as current and important as now to help in overcoming this crisis.

Why? Marcopolo president emeritus, Paulo Bellini, one of those responsible for its introduction, explains the reason.

Viajante magazine - Mr. Paulo, what SIMPS and SUMAM are and with which goals were they created?

Paulo Bellini - The SIMPS program was created in 1986, after a trip to Japan intended to know the administration and production philosophy used in that country. At the time, we gathered all collaborators and shared the news that we had seen, so encouraging the team to think about how to put into practice the ideas that they considered applicable in Marcopolo. The employees reacted so well that several groups of improvements emerged soon. So was born the SUMAM program.

The SIMPS program used techniques and tools that supported production processes, such as Kanban and Just In Time. Over time, the system has been improved and now it includes a set of techniques that aims to produce with quality, in a good working environment, by satisfied people, including the Continuous Improvement Teams and the SUMAM groups’ philosophy (Kaizen).

VM - What do the 30 years commemoration of these programs and their actual revitalization represent?

Paulo Bellini - Basically, it demonstrates and reinforces that they are still fundamental and up-to-date. In the industry and in particular in the buses manufacturing, which demands high committed and skilled workforce, quality is more than crucial and achieving zero imperfections has never been so important as now. Making it right the

first time, with no failure, no errors, no reworking, after all it is what ensures our client satisfaction, the delivery of more orders, production and employment levels, what is so essential nowadays.

Without this perfection and the quality required by the client, purchase orders stop coming, the production becomes less intense and labor, less valued. But it is clear that to reach that point we cannot forget the good working environment. We will only have committed and dedicated collaborators if they are motivated, engaged and satisfied. That is the way to produce perfect buses. And here is where SIMPS AND SUMAM come.

VM - And how to make it right the first time, perfectly, so avoiding rework and waste?

Paulo Bellini - Today the job market is so susceptible that it is even easier to explain now than it was at that time. If our bus is not produced with maximum quality and productivity, i.e. with no rework, the few clients who are purchasing will not buy anymore and there will be no sale, the company will have nothing to produce and the maintenance of jobs will become untenable. As among of the few who are buying, this client is much more demanding now than in a period of heated market. They care much more for details. On the other hand, as the pace in the production lines and assembly is lower, this is the right time to focus on doing well, to devote the utmost care to every detail. All these factors favor to make it right first time.

VM - How do you see the SIMPS and SUMAM revitalization and the introduction of Lean concepts?

Paulo Bellini - First and foremost, the intense work carried out at Marcopolo since 1987, with the implantation of Japanese techniques, has always been and is constantly strengthened and revitalized. SIMPS and SUMAM systems are constantly enhanced, in order to continuously improve productivity and quality of Marcopolo products and services, and even to innovate them.

Afterwards, the quest for improvement never ends. Can we do it even better? Yes, it is possible. It is as I mentioned in my book about Marcopolo history, an Ives Vaet phrase, “Knowledge is an endless road, do not stop halfway”.

Within this continuous evolution of SIMPS and SUMAM, we must enlarge the process. We must improve day by day, at each manufactured bus. And Lean concepts have everything to do with it. Another fundamental point that they have in common is that as SIMPS and SUMAM, Lean must have the involvement and be disseminated by the leaders of the company, as we did 30 years ago. And in order to obtain a result, it must be present in everything that is realized in the company: In order for such new action to succeed, it will be essential to clearly understand what Lean is. In my opinion it can be translated as “to make sure that everything flows seamlessly and balanced within the company”. The more SIMPS and SUMAM, the better. The more Lean, the simpler things will be within our factory and company.

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PANORAMA

Market Vision Ă?caro Campos

Alceu Barbosa Velho Caxias do Sul mayor

We need to understand and educate that collective transport must be a priority to be seen as attractive by society. Only then we will have a more democratic city.

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The world is moving toward public transportation.

Alceu Barbosa Velho had to face and overcome many obstacles to, along with his team, be able to rapidly deploy a mobility project that could suit as an example or model for all Brazilian cities.

Viajante magazine - Why do invest in mobility if, theoretically, Caxias do Sul is a medium city and is far from suffering with traffic chaos as it happens in large cities?

Alceu Barbosa Velho - in the buses land, we had to try to be an example. We had the opportunity to anticipate and, before reaching a critical situation, to adopt a different way that actually provides better transportation conditions to citizens. Public transportation needs to be a priority. And in Caxias it already is. The public transportation in Caxias, when compared to other Brazilian municipalities, had already a high quality standard, but it still wasn’t enough for a good urban mobility. And this is the most important topic: the mobility that we all want to be able to come and go, either individual or collective transportation, it does not depend only on the buses. It depends on a change of culture. People need to understand that there is no space for so many vehicles running at the same time in the city center. In order to make traffic flows and people to spend less time, it is required that more people opt for public transport. And to reach this goal we need to propose an attractive, punctual, safe, comfortable transport, with the fair price.

VM - How did the mobility project arise?

Alceu Barbosa Velho - the focus on mobility arose even before my management. Since the first 2000, studies have been conducted on mobility within the city. These projects had evolved and, at the beginning of 2014, we reached the necessary resources, approximately R$ 40 million, to run the first phase of SIM - Mobility Integrated System in Caxias do Sul. Approximately 15% of these resources come from the municipality.

The other 85% come from BNDES and from the Mobility PAC. RV - What are the biggest obstacles faced?

Alceu Barbosa Velho - The greatest obstacle faced, as weird as it could sound, was not the fund-raising. It was cultural. People from Caxias, and almost all Brazilians, they believe the car is more than a passion, it is a matter of

status. The person who opts for public transport is still seen as one who cannot afford to have a vehicle. This is wrong and needs to be changed for the sake of the population.

The public transport is, and must be seen as a transport option in a city, preferably the most efficient one. It is how it works in many other places in the world that I have visited, in developed countries or not. And we do not need to go to Europe. Near here, Colombia, Mexico and Chile are examples. In these countries people opt for public transport because of the benefits provided in terms of time, comfort, practicality, reliability and safety.

This is the paradigm that we need to break. But this will only be possible if we can offer a service that has all these attributes. The citizen must have the option of an efficient public transport, rely on it and be satisfied. Thus, they will use it. On the other hand, I am not against cars, on the contrary. In Caxias, we have more than 280 thousand vehicles to around 500 thousand inhabitants. Unfortunately, the roads growth does not follow the increase in the fleet and this contributes to all traffic jam problems. We need to encourage people to reflect and see that there is no space for so many vehicles in the streets and that we should be more aware about the use of the car. The car must be intended for “rides� again VM- What is the SIM Caxias and how will it work in practice?

Alceu Barbosa Velho - The SIM Caxias is the largest set of road infrastructure works ever carried out at once in the history of the city. It is a system designed to improve people mobility and to qualify the public transport, integrating it with pedestrians and cyclists. It is the solution searched by those who travel daily, because we increasingly need to think and act prioritizing the collective.

The SIM starting points are the concrete paving of the bus tracks that are most used by public transport and the asphalt repaving of these streets, with new road signs, in order to improve

safety and traffic conditions for those who use the system, as well as the reliability and efficiency of public transport.

The main bus lanes paved with concrete provide more safety and comfort to users. In addition, in order to enable the traffic to flow more efficiently on bus lanes, right turns are prohibited; parking is not allowed throughout the stretches of Sinimbu and Pinheiro Machado streets, and also in some transversal streets. It is an intelligent system, because it keeps some buses away from the city center, avoiding concentration of public transport vehicles along the corridors. The queues of buses stopped on central streets are the main reasons for the delays. It will go into operation in the first quarter and will initially involve users from 18 city districts.

It will work with Main Integration Stations (EPIs), which will receive and redistribute passengers. For example, to come from Forqueta to downtown, the passenger gets off at EPI Floresta and gets on another bus, which can be semi express or conventional, and the passenger only pays one ticket. The main benefits are the lowest time in traveling; most punctual buses; more lines integrated on a single fare, and shorter boarding and alighting VM-What are the next steps?

Alceu Barbosa Velho - The first step is to consolidate the operation of the North-South axis, the most important in the city. We need first to ensure its efficiency and mobility. Then we will start the construction of the East-West axis. The executive project is ready to be performed. Caxias has everything to be an example for the whole country in terms of urban mobility and public transport. The current fleet is no older than four years in average and we will further reduce this index to enlarge comfort, safety and punctuality of the whole system, thus attracting more and more users

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MOBILIDADE

Reinventing the way to travel in cities SIM - Mobility Integrated System goes into operation in Caxias do Sul Launched in late 2013 with the aim of giving priority to public transport, pedestrians and bicycles, the SIM Caxias - Mobility Integrated System starts its operations, transforming the way to get around in the city. More than R$ 40 million invested in road infrastructure and modernization of city traffic, more than two years for its completion, and the challenge to show to the whole country that it is possible - even in a medium-sized city - to improve urban mobility and, therefore, the population welfare.

According to Manoel Marrachinho, Municipal Secretary of Transit, Transportation and Mobility in Caxias do Sul, the project aims to make people

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reinventing the way to get around the city, for the sake of society itself. “There are no miracles. Without a drastic change of concept, the transit in Caxias risks to stop, as it is occurring or will occur in several other Brazilian municipalities. Our intention was to promote the necessary changes”, he explains.

“SIM Caxias priorities are buses, pedestrians and bicycles. We also want to change the way in which people move, changing old habits so that everyone wins. The important thing is that those who need to move can rely on a public and collective option that is fast, safe, comfortable and trustworthy”, he says.

The SIM Caxias program aims to public

MOBILIDADE

Gelson M. da Costa

transportation in the east-west axis of the city. In order to achieve this goal, besides passenger transshipment in both Main Integration Stations (EPIs), two bus lanes were implanted, paved with hard concrete (and four tracks), turning guidelines in the central area and new signalization. It has two concepts: the express and the semi express services. The express one will stop at a couple of central stations and the semi express will stop at the others, increasing the travel speed from one point to another within the city.

According to the model, the EPIs distribute passengers from districts at bus stops in the central area, involving users from 18 districts, reaching 40,000 users/day. With the transfer stations, the connection to the city center is made by the Troncal line and not by several lines coming from districts, which also used to pass through the city center. Reducing running routes from the districts allows a sensitive gain, because as they were performing similar stretches, these routes used to compete with each other in the central area and

hindered the system flow due to the amount of buses. “For those traveling by car through the city, the important thing is to spend less time in their path, even traveling greater distances. That’s what we have done by creating new routes and disciplining drivers�, says Marrachinho.

According to the Secretary of Transportation, the first changes have already allowed gains in mobility and in the commercial speed of public transport of about 20%. Major factors that contributed to the improvement were the right turns ban and the parking prohibition in certain routes.

The SIM Caxias project will have new stages with implementation of the system through the north-south axis, the construction of new integration stations and the realization of additional works. It also aims to the creation of a bike path in the city, in order to allow improved displacement of cyclists and to integrate the bicycle to the current modes of public transport.

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To r i n o

Ro b u s t n e ss a n d E con omy

In the city we are all pedestrians.

mages are merely illustrative. See the representative in your region To learn more about models and their settings www.marcopolo.com.br - on social networks: OnibusMarcopolo

ARTICLE

Secco Consultoria Disclosure

Let us prepare to resume

Luiz Carlos Secco

Journalist specialized in the automotive sector

Every cloud has a silver lining.

This was one of my father’s phrases to face adversity, to transmit peace to the family. We faced so many difficult moments, such as the effects of World War II, with a petrol shortage, many cars parked in garages - some of them syngaspoweredworrying blackouts (nocturnal exercises without lighting in cities with overflights of FAb airplanes in order to prevent possible air attacks) and queues for the purchase of bread and sugar.

In spite of everything, we won many difficult stages! There were times when the buses were few and I remember the nostalgic Ford or Chevrolet buses (known in Brazil as “Jardineiras”) used in rural areas.

In many cities, the main means of transport were trams which, in São Paulo, on the closed models known

by Camarões (prawns), proudly showed the slogan of the fastest growing city in South America.

Brazil expanded its market and this evolution attracted the automobile industry, which turned the car in a national yearning, buses replaced trams and trucks became

more modern, as well as the roads that practically did not exist. The country was placed among the largest vehicles manufactures, with strong growth, although marked by some difficult periods, which became known as crisis.

Since the commemoration of 30.542 units produced in 1957, in the first official year of the automotive industry, the country surpassed 3.6 million in 2013, And, in almost 60 years of trajectory, it became known as the locomotive of the economy.

Later, as a journalist, I experienced the first threat to the industry growth by an unusual accumulation of vehicles in the automakers patios. I remember the title of the news report that I made on this episode: “Buy 12 thousand cars to save our industry”. This title conveys us the idea of how much we have grown, as industry, as a country and as professionals. The number of vehicles that in 1969 represented a threat of crisis, today is less than the production of only two days of our industry, even in times of crisis.

More difficult moments had come, such as the oil crisis in the 1970s and the retraction of sales, which in 1981 interrupted, for the first time, the sequence of growth. The 30% drop cooled down the enthusiasm caused by the surmounting of 1 million units produced three years earlier.

Necessity is the mother of innovation. Another phrase my father used to say that difficult moments lead professionals to leave their comfort zone and seek solutions through ideas and actions.

In all crises, national creativity overruled. The oil crisis led us to the alcohol engine and, at that time, as

a Ford employee, I received many international journalists who came to know and assess the decanted vehicle moved by the Brazilian fuel. In the 1990s, a new crisis overshadowed the country, but we overcome it thanks to the idea of the subcompact car, which resulted in the 1000cc engine, today considered the best option to meet ecological appeals.

It is true that the current crisis has particular characteristics and merges economic and political problems. But, by history, it only depends on a fluke. And while the saving fluke does not come, we have all the reasons to trust in the future.

What to expect from a country that has one of the largest territorial areas and is among the major world supplier of grains, steel, sugar, coffee, orange, meats and other inputs?

From a country with an automotive industry that keeps its investment programs?

From a country that gathers the greatest worldwide number of automakers and does not stop to attract new companies? And from a country which, in spite of the crisis size, has a historic curve of continuous growth, reaching more than 3.6 million vehicles and an installed capacity of six million units-year?

Having lived and accompanied the overcoming of various crises, I trust that my father’s sentences, spoken 70 years ago, will again be briefly confirmed. It’s just a matter of time and confidence in ourselves and in the strength of a country that, as Jorge Ben’s song says, is blessed

by God and beautiful by nature.

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SPECIAL

Professional Training School

Talent training center Training young professionals, giving them the conditions to enter the labor market and orienting them to a career plan development. These are the goals that guide the actions of the Marcopolo Professional Training School - EFPM, which maintains a partnership with the National Service of Industrial Learning (SENAI) of the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Rio de Janeiro, along with the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS) and the Foundation of Social Assistance of Caxias do Sul (FAS).

With three active units in Brazil (two in Caxias do Sul and one in Rio de Janeiro) and a unit at Marcopolo South Africa, the EFPM focuses on

specific professional development focused on buses manufacture, also fulfilling an important role in the formation of young people.

In 2016, 115 new students are joining the courses of Assembler of Motor Vehicles and Reinforced and Thermoformed Plastic. The practical and theoretical lessons take place at the Marcopolo Training Center, located next to the Ana Rech unit, and allow young people to experience the day to day running of the company. At the end of the course, which lasts for two years, according to their performance, students have the possibility of integrating the company workforce Sabrina Leme

20

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Appearance Two reasons boosted the development of the project: the shortage of skilled labor for the manufacture of buses and the significant number of young people in the local community without technical training to join the labor market.

The first group was composed by 20 young people, brothers or children of Marcopolo collaborators.

According to Irina Eberhardt, coordinator of Marcopolo human resources, over time there have been changes in the target audience selection. “It was noticed that it was necessary to increase the profile of the students in order

to cover other segments. Entries were opened to young people from the community in general, then for young people in vulnerable situations and later for girls. These actions have helped to promote inclusion and diversity from the new generations of professionals”, recalls Irina, stressing that currently around 40% of the members of the school are girls. “It is a significant percentage, if we consider that the branch of metallurgy, by type of activities, is still a predominantly male environment”, she adds. Since its creation, in February 1990, the EFPM has trained more than 1,300 students.

Projects show The continuous improvement of manufacturing processes using innovative technology and prioritizing sustainable development is one of the focuses worked in EFPM. Throughout the course, the students are challenged to develop improvement projects by applying the acquired knowledge in a practical and creative way.

The suggestions are presented in the Projects Show promoted at the conclusion of the course. “We encourage the exercise of looking at the processes in Marcopolo and see where it is possible to suggest improvements. So,

once they have concluded the course, students become part of the team and are perceived by their colleagues as stand out professionals”, explains Pedroni. Two editions of the shows were promoted, and various suggestions were implemented in production areas. “The students of the 2016 classes will be challenged to develop projects based on Lean concepts and techniques aiming to improve people’s safety, product quality, productivity and work environment”, adds Carlos Eduardo do Nascimento Ogliari, Marcopolo Human Resources manager.

Recognitions For its role in human development and social responsibility, the project received the Top Human Being 2012 award, promoted by the HR Brazilian Association of HR in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (ABRH- RS). The strategy of professional qualification yielded to EFPM the Gaucho Seal of Commitment to Learning, granted in 2015 by the Ministry of Labor and Employment and delivered during the 1st Learning Fair in Rio Grande do Sul.

6% Leadership and Management

9% Administrative areas

15% Technical Areas

70% Operational

Area of operation of ex-students.

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21

SPECIAL

Professional Training School Sabrina Leme

A word from those who took part Evandro, Franciele, Luana, Adriano and Iandra: ex-students share their experiences.

Adriano José de Costa - Manufacturing Engineering Coordinator, student of the first group in 1990.

Graduated in Economics and Business Administration, post graduated in Business Process Management, MBA in Business Management and Master’s degree in Production Engineering.

“As soon as I had concluded the course, I went through an immersion in various sectors of the company, in order to know the product and its processes. This period in EFPM has enabled me to better apprehend and comprehend the culture of the company, to experience how synergy and relationship between people and areas work. This understanding was crucial in my career within the company and made me seek a background in various areas of expertise to meet the management needs for processes, strategic vision and business.”

Evandro Busato Saciloto - Pricing Coordinator student in the 1992 class.

Graduated in Business Administration - Qualification in Foreign Trade, post graduated in Business Management and Academic Master’s in Business Administration.

“Attending the school has contributed a lot to my personal and professional life. Team work and zeal for common areas and equipment of the school made me learn core values, principles of collectivity, responsibility and commitment. I also learned that without effort there is no reward. And, in my understanding, this is the most important lesson”.

Iandra Magnabosco Speguem - Communication Analyst, student of the 2004 class.

Graduated in Business Administration, Post graduated in Corporate Communication and an MBA in Marketing.

“I started at the school and after a year I was transferred to work as production assistant in the Tubes Cell Sector. I was the 22

Viajante - Edition 17 - March 2016

only girl in the sector. After 11 months I took part to an internal recruitment and started working for the Marcopolo Foundation where I found my passion for the area of communication and events, which guided the choice of my specializations. After eight years in the Foundation I started in the Internal Communication area - Human Resources, where I work to the date. The experience in various areas was very important for my personal and professional growth”.

Luana Vanessa Schiavo - Engeneering Administrative Assistant, student of the 2012 class.

Student of Accounting Sciences “My class was the pioneer of the Projects Show and this was a great chance to show and refine the potential acquired during the course. I have great affection for EFPM, since it was through it that I began my professional career. It worked as the basis and helped me to draw my first personal and professional goals. They teach us to live with rules and together, which, with no doubt, is fundamental for our growth as human beings”.

Franciele dos Reis - Trainee, student of the 2014 class.

Student of Economic Sciences “Being part of the school was certainly a great opportunity for me and I am very grateful for the space that I found here at Marcopolo. In the first year of the course I was directed to the purchases department, where I work developing services in the company’s supplier portal and in the SAP. I love my work and I have been dedicating my best because I know I still have a lot to learn. While I was attending the course, I was able to meet ex-students and people with nice life histories, people who are leaders today, supervisors and engineers, who spoke about their career here in the company. We saw that everyone had worked hard to get where they are now. And for us who are younger, their history is an encouragement not to give up when an obstacle come our way”.

FRONT COVER

35 years of the Brazilian bus cradle

About 5,300 employees and capacity to produce more than 30 units/day.

T

he Marcopolo industrial complex, headquartered in Ana Rech district, Caxias do Sul, celebrated 35 years of activity on February 20th. With continuous investments in innovation, modernization, expansion of its capacity and implementation of the most advanced production processes and technologies, the unit has become the cradle of the bus made in Brazil and meets by itself, according to data from the National Association of Buses Manufacturers - FABUS, 20% of national production.

It was inaugurated in 1981 and is one of the world’s most modern bus factories, with capacity to produce more than 30 vehicles daily having already surpassed more than 220,000 buses, including coaches, urban and minibuses. In a total area of 471 thousand m² and built up area of 88 thousand m², the unit has the most advanced equipment and installations and received, since 2012, more than R$ 150 million in investments, especially for modernization of equipment, quality upgrading, increase of production capacity, ergonomics and improvement of employees’ comfort, qualification and training.

Ana Rech is the largest Marcopolo manufacturing unit 26

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in the world. Its great advantage over most of the world bus factories is the degree of customization that the production line applies to meet customer demand. They vary from special livery to stand out internal finish, such as artists’ and singers’, with dressing room and internal studios, or the football teams’ ones, to specific settings, such as off road buses, which run Amazon roads, the removable roof ones destined to the United Arab Emirates, or those powered by hydrogen, which run in São Paulo.

The unit also houses the Marcopolo Research and Development Center, with more than 300 technicians and engineers dedicated to continuous development and enhancement of the models.

Marcopolo also concentrated in Ana Rech the areas of PDI (Inspection before delivery to the customer) and technical assistance, as well as the manufacture of components and equipment for vehicles, as seats, dashboard finishes, side parts and internal coatings, among others. The manufactured parts are also sent to the other units of the company in Brazil and abroad.

History Aiming to supply the growing demand of production at that time, the unit situated in Ana Rech inaugurated in 1981, with the presence of the then president of the Republic, João Baptista Figueiredo. The construction, initiated three years before, projected the deployment of modern systems of manufacture, which were planned and developed to obtain high degree of rationalization and productivity.

Ten years after the foundation, the factory celebrated the production of the bus n. 60,000, the coach Paradiso of the then Generation 4. In 2001, Ana Rech unit was considered a “factory model’, with equipment, specialized personnel,

industrial processes and product development. In 2015, it was produced the vehicle n. 400,000.

In addition to the production, administration, business and engineering areas, the factory hosts a training center for employees and clients qualification, in addition to a unit of the Marcopolo Professional Training School, meant to the training of minors from the community. The unit has also a wide support structure for employees, such as restaurant, medical services, pharmacy, banks, dispatchers, insurance company, library and store partnership.

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FRONT COVER The presence of Marcopolo in the Grape Festival is already a tradition. At the company stand on the 31th edition of the Festival held between February 18th and March 6th, a Paradiso 1800 DD and a Paradiso 1350 were showed and various events shared the commemoration of 35th anniversary of the Ana Rech unit with the community and visitors.

Gelson M. da Costa

Paulo Bellini e Viviane Pinto Bado, along with Marcopolo board of directors and the Festival Queen and Princesses received the Rio Grande do Sul governor, José Ivo Sartori, Caxias do Sul Mayor, Alceu Barbosa Velho, the city and state’s first ladies, Maria Helena Sartori and Alexandra Baldisserotto, Caxias vice mayor and member of the Festival Commission, Antônio Feldmann, and Caxias former mayor, Pepe Vargas. The stand was also visited by the couple Festival President, Edson and Cristina Nespolo.

Gelson M. da Costa

PARADISO 1800 DD Luiz Centenaro, director of the company TJ Turismo from Erechim/RS and owner of the Paradiso 1800 DD showed during the Festival and that will be used in the transport of passengers in Niterói/RJ.

30 years of CTG (Gaucho Tradition Center) Marco da Tradição Founded in 1986 on the initiative of Marcopolo employees, it has as its motto “union and loyalty ties” and has currently 300 members, including dancers and family members, who participate in presentations at company events and rodeos in the region.

Gelson M. da Costa Sabrina Leme Gelson M. da Costa

Volleyball challenge

Meeting with clients Clients from Serra Gaucha, Porto Alegre and region, other Brazilian states and also from other countries were received during Festival days.

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Two of the most consecrated volleyball athletes, Roberto Minuzzi Jr. and Gustavo Endres, bid farewell to the volleyball courts in an event promoted by the University of Caxias do Sul, the Grape Festival and Caxias City Hall. Before the farewell game, the athletes visited the stand.

to the Ana Rech unit to invite Celebrating with the went collaborators and their families to the traditional festival.

Queen and Princesses visitAccompanied by the company director, the Queen of the Grape Festival Rafaelle Galiotto Furlan and the The Grape Festival Royal Court

princesses Laura Denardi Fritz and Patricia Piccoli Zanrosso visited the factory and the Marcopolo Foundation, where they were able to know the social work developed in favor of the Community.

A city within Caxias do Sul The unit located in Ana Rech is actually a city. About 5,300 employees who, in addition to working in the buses development and manufacture, have to move and eat, as well as to be met in their physical and psychological needs and, equally important, to achieve professional and personal fulfillment in what they do, namely manufacture the buses that

will run in Brazil and worldwide. “The whole process and management of the operation in Ana Rech is complex. And we have the daily challenge to make increasingly advanced products, which are customized and have high standards in quality and efficiency�, explains Lusuir Grochot, Marcopolo manufacture director.

Ricardo Finco

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BEST PRACTICES

Prêmio Valter Gomes Pinto

Gelson M. da Costa

An attitude of kindness A tribute to the man who had always devoted himself to others and a recognition to the work carried out by volunteers in public schools and charitable entities in Caxias do Sul. The Volunteer Award Valter Gomes Pinto can be defined as such. I was created by the Marcopolo Foundation with the aim of stimulating and valuing transforming actions directed to children and adolescents in situations of social and personal risk, so reducing social inequalities.

13 projects took part of the Award 1st Edition and the disclosure of the winners occurred at the Marcopolo stand during the Grape National Festival, where Valter Gomes Pinto served as a volunteer for many years. “We hope that this award represents a stimulus to people who devote themselves to voluntary work, even in their families, so to improve life and the world”, says Therezinha Gomes Pinto, Valter Gomes Pinto’s widow.

The Award, promoted as a competition, had the support of Parceiros Voluntários (Volunteer Partners), an entity that is a reference in voluntary work in Rio Grande do Sul, which helped to choose the awarded projects, accrediting those 30

Viajante - Edition 17 - March 2016

entities that have developed them as suitable to receive volunteers.

According to Osmar Piola, Marcopolo Foundation director, in its first edition, the Volunteering Award Valter Gomes Pinto surpassed expectations and achieved its objective to identify and stimulate transforming actions promoted by volunteers with projects related to children and adolescents in situations of social and personal risk.

With the support of the Volunteer Partners, during the selection of the projects, we managed to promote voluntary work; to support social projects through volunteer work, and, through such actions we were able to cooperate in reducing social inequalities. We hope that this prize will encourage people to devote themselves to the voluntary work, even in an unknown way”, he emphasizes.

The Valter Gomes Pinto Volunteering Award happens every two years, during the Grape National Festival.

Gelson M. da Costa

Finalists Association SOS Vida (SOS Life) Centro de cuidados (Care center) Nossa Senhora da Paz Municipal School Senador Teotônio Vilela Serviço de Convivência e Fortalecimento de Vínculos (Service of coexistence and bonds strengthening) José Luiz de Medeiros Ramos

Evaluated criteria: Ability to give continuity to the project with own resources Innovation Number of children, adolescents and volunteers involved Ability to establish partnerships with other entities

Winners: 1th Place: Serviço de Convivência e Fortalecimento de Vínculos José Luiz de Medeiros Ramos Project: Revista dos Jovens (Young People Magazine) The workshop for the creation of a printed magazine for young people, idealized by the volunteer Gabriel de Aguiar Izidoro, a professional journalist who supports the discovery of new talents, was born in early 2015. It was created to strengthen the intellectual and social development of teen participants, demonstrating the importance of reading and writing for growth and development as a citizen.

2th Place: Association SOS Vida Project: Future Entrepreneurs The SOS Vida project Future Entrepreneurs, under the coordination of the volunteer Juliano Cechinato, awakens the entrepreneurial spirit in adolescents by encouraging the development of those competencies needed for the inclusion of young people in the labor market such as motivation, decision making, creativity, concentration, commitment and self-confidence. The project also provides tools to create alternatives that generate income, so improving life and citizenship conditions of young participants.

Gelson M. da Costa

The effective participation of children and adolescents in the design and implementation of actions Contribution to the reduction of the situations that can cause personal and social risks and origination of opportunities to the young people involved.

Legacy and example Valter Gomes Pinto was born in 1932 in Passo Fundo and joined Marcopolo (then named Nicola) when he was 32 years old. Over 49 years, alongside Paulo Bellini, he helped to build the image and the identity of the company.

A reference persona for the business and the community from Caxias, he was vice-chairman of the Community Commission of the Grape Festival and chairman of the Superior Council of the Chamber of Industry, Trade and Services (CIC).His strong presence yielded himself, in 2000, the title of Cidadão Caxiense (Caxias Citizen).

He died in 2013, aged 81, after treading a path marked by dedication to volunteer work in social, cultural, religious and business areas in Caxias, being remembered as a great leader by all those who knew him.

Homage

The devotion to the National Grape Festival rendered homages to the businessman. Among the changes made to better receive the visitors of the 2016 National Grape Festival there is the construction of the new traffic circle named after Valter Gomes Pinto, which gives access to the Exhibition Center.

Saiba mais sobre os projetos contemplados: www.fundacaomarcopolo.com.br Viajante - Edition 17 - March 2016

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SUSTAINABILITY

Progress and preservation side by side Sustainable development is the proposal to maintain the balance between environmental preservation and material and economic progress.

The Marcopolo Industrial Solid Waste Landfill Class II, in operation since 2013 in the locality of Apanhador, between the municipalities of Caxias do Sul and S達o Francisco de Paula, is where the unrecyclable waste generated in Marcopolo is destined. 30 kilometers away from the Ana Rech unit, it has an area of 16 hectares and is intended to last 25 years.

And, inevitably, great works cause environmental impacts. Therefore, ventures that cause significant interferences in the environment should pass through the environmental licensing process which analyzes all the stages, from the planning to the beginning of the operation.

For the construction of the landfill in accordance

with the strictest standards of control, an Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out to define parameters for the preservation of fauna, flora and water local resources and also to enshrine health, safety and well-being of the population who live near the project. After the completion of the work, the Marcopolo Environmental Management System started to monitor flora and fauna of the region with the purpose of identifying possible changes.

Acervo Marcopolo

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Monitoring Program

Waste Management

The program follows the ecological corridor growth, vegetation planted to unite the two forest fragments located around the landfill and that allows animals transiting through the woods without entering the constructed area. The animals’ behavior is also observed every six months by means of biologists’ visits and image collection.

The assessment of the animals and plants adaptation to environments that were altered by a venture is important to propose effective actions in order to protect the species. “The monitoring result shows that there has been no change in the behavior of the animals living in the region. This confirms that the activity, which was considered feasible by the studies presented and by the assessment of the competent environmental organ, is kept under control”, says Eliana Paula Zanol De Oliveira, Marcopolo Environment Coordinator.

Beyond fauna and flora, other factors are also monitored.

Assessments of surface waters and groundwater samples are made periodically. According to Eliana, with the correct operation of the landfill, the results do not indicate any risk of infiltration into the soil. “That means the manta used in landfill waterproofing remains intact and that all the requirements for the deployment and operation are fully answered”, she adds.

The process of licensing of the Landfill demanded five years, involving environmental impact studies, public hearing, and installation and operation prior license.

Eliana emphasizes that waste management is essential to extend the life of the landfill and to decrease the interference in the environment. The process begins still in the factory, with the correct separation of discarded items, followed by the treatment of materials in the Waste Processing Unit and finally by the continuous training of operators, who maintain the operation quality and safety. “Progress does not necessarily need to be an enemy of the environment.

No matter how complicated the activity is. When the implementation complies with current legislation, while maintaining strict activities control, it is possible to merge preservation and development”, Eliana concludes.

Espécies registradas por biólogos durante saída a campo

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33

TRAVELER’S GUIDE

Tourism

Cahuita corais - Jairo Miranda

Bungee Jump - Odreman Suites

Surf - Chris Goldberg

The only country in Latin

Ocean

strong

waves.

And,

cities, and 4.8 million inhabitants,

America to be included on the list

between its coastlines, there

the nature is exuberant and life

of the 22 oldest democracies in

are mountains, volcanoes and

is everywhere. The Costa Rican

the world, the small Costa Rica

tropical forests.

territory houses 5% of the planet’s

democratic also because of the

For Costa Ricans, or ticos,

several destination possibilities

Pura Vida is more than a popular

offered to tourists. On one side

phrase used to express well-

of the coast there are the calm

being in the state of mind or as a

and turquoise waters of the

greeting. In the country with 51

32 national parks, 51 wildlife

Caribbean beaches and on the

thousand km², divided in seven

refuges, 13 forest reserves and

other side there are the Pacific

provinces, subdivided into 81

eight biological reserves.

biodiversity and has 26% of its extent covered by environmental preservation areas.

There are

SĂ­lvio Quirino

TRAVELER’S GUIDE

Tourism

San José

San Jose - NBphotostream

Costa Rica Capital since 1823, the city founded by the Spanish in 1738 has museums, galleries, historic buildings transformed into restaurants and upscale hotels, as well as an exciting nightlife. On the outskirts of San José it is possible to visit volcanoes, go rafting or simply contemplate the nature.

In the town there are places that present the cultural and artistic content, as the National Theater and the National Museum and the Museums of Costa Rican Art, de los Niños and del Oro Precolombino. Gold, jade, ceramics and pre-Columbian stones, colonial religious art, contemporary art and natural history are the most highlighted collections.

Teatro Nacional - Trey Ratcliff

No matter what Costa Rican region you visit. Throughout the territory there are unique habitats and ecosystems that shelter great variety of plants and animals species.

The private biological reserve of

Monteverde - Matt Diehl

36

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Parque Nuboso de Monteverde and the Tortuguero National Park are some of the shrines that preserve the animal life.

Located along the Serra de Tilarán, between the provinces of Alajuela and Puntarenas, Monteverde Reserve is considered rare due to its high cloudiness index in a rain forest. It has 13 km of trails, belvedere, guided services, coffee shop, restaurant and a mountain hostel: “La Casona”, which can host up to 47 people. Besides trails, other activities in the park include tree

Monteverde - Jake Travers

climbing, the hummingbirds garden, suspended bridges crossing and horse rides. You only can go through the channels that lead to Tortuguero National Park and the village that has the same name by boat. With 75 thousand hectares, the Park is the most important place for sea turtle spawning in Western Caribbean and harbors hundreds of mammals, birds and reptiles. Within the protected area, 400 species of trees and over 2,200 types of other plants were identified.

Tortuguero - Ian Billenness

The Caribbean coast, with approximately 200 km of extension, is known for its variety of aquatic ecosystems and its calm and crystalline water beaches, perfect for fishing and diving. The hot and humid climate creates scenarios with beaches surrounded by typical woods. Highlights go to the Cahuita National Park and its reefs ideal for diving, Porto Velho National Park, Barra do Colorado and Manzanilla beach.

Puerto Limón is the heart of the Caribbean coastal province of Limón, which is the largest city in the region, with approximately 85 thousand inhabitants.

Bays, peninsulas and gulfs enrich Costa Rican coastline along the side bathed by the Pacific, where large tourist centers are housed. In the search for perfect waves, the beaches Avellanas, Playa Negra, Boca Barranca, Pavones, Hermosa, Tamarindo and Jacó are some among those that receive more tourists.

Coast to coast

It is possible to cross the country by car, going from the Atlantic to the Pacific in approximately five hours.

Cahuita Vista aérea - Bernal Saborio

Ilha de Cocos Ilha dos Cocos, the largest uninhabited island in the world and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is 532 km southwest from the Costa Rican southern

Coast. Its area is 23.85 km² and is the only in the Eastern Pacific Ocean with tropical forest. The crystal waters make the National Park one of the best places for diving.

Ilha de Cocos

Canopy - Costa Rica Guides

Action to the extreme Costa Rica is a destination that challenges adventure enthusiasts. It is possible to choose among rafting, hot air ballooning, bungee jumping and canopy, a kind of zip line created by Costa Rican biologists to observe animals on the trees. Suspended on a chair similar to those intended for climbing, the adventurous slide between platforms attached by steel cables. The speed can reach up to 80 km/h.

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37

TRAVELER’S GUIDE

Tourism

Volcanoes’ Territory

Famous for beautiful beaches and luxury resorts, Costa Rica is also considered one of the most volcanic areas in the world.

Arenal According to the legend, pre-Columbian tribes

In Laguna del Arenal, artificial reservoir located

believed that the Arenal volcano, 1.650 meters

near the volcano and formed after the construction

high, was God Fire’s abode. 150 kilometers away from San José, it was considered extinct after 400 years of inactivity Until on July 29th 1968, when it erupted again. The city of La Fortuna is the entry

of a dam in 1979, it is possible to practice nautical sports or even sports fishing. For those who want to stay with a view to the Arenal, the Resort

to access the Arenal volcano and offers the visitors

Tabacón is the perfect place, with its swimming

a unique opportunity to explore the region.

pools of volcanic origin thermal waters.

Sílvio Quirino

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Vulcão Poás_M.Prinke

Poás Located in the Poás National Park, approximately 40 km from San José, is 2,700 meters high and has two craters: an inactive one - with 1,320 km of diameter, where today is located the Botos Lake, with its turquoise

waters - and another that is still active and reserves one of the most impressive volcanic landscapes in Costa Rica. In the park it is possible to go trekking in order to know the nature of the region and to find lakes in craters.

But, without notice, volcanic eruptions may happen and tourists visiting the park may be surprised. For this reason, the volcano is monitored all the time by cameras. Signs indicate the safe way to leave the place in case of activity.

Irazú In the indigenous language, the name means “thunder mountain”.

It is the highest volcano in the country, 3.432 meters, located 50 km away from San José. It occupies an area of 18 km² km and from its summit it is possible to see both Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The main crater is 300 meters deep and a kilometer wide.

In its interior there is a greenish lake. An image printed on many postcards. It is possible to visit other four craters. Historically, the most active volcano had the first recorded eruption in 1723.

Vulcão Irazu - Kinta Beaver

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39

TRAVELER’S GUIDE

Gastronomy

Along with the Imperial beer and expression “Pura Vida”, Gallo Pinto is one of the national brands in Costa Rica, so that international fast food chains incorporated the dish among offered options. The combination of rice and beans is served since the breakfast and may be repeated in all meals of the day with various side plates.

In a frying pan heat up 4 tablespoons

cooked beans, strained and re-

of olive oil and sauté 1 medium

frigerated. Mix carefully not to pinch

onion, 1 red pepper without

the bean grains. Heat up the mixture, add 5

seeds, 3 cloves of garlic, 1 gre-

tablespoons of Worcestershire

en pepper and 1 red pepper,

sauce and 1 cup of bean broth

all of them finely chopped.

When the

and keep mixing. Turn off the heat and add

chili peppers and still tender, but not

a handful of finely chopped fresh coriander

raw tasting, put into the frying pan

leaves, cure it and serve the dish with boi-

2 cups of refrigerated cooked

led eggs and butter-fried bana-

rice and a cup and a half of

nas cut in half (with their skin).

www.puntomenos.com.br Instagram: puntomenosoficial

Recipe: Tiago Daltoé Photo: Graziela Chiattone Martins Viajante - Edition 17 - March 2016

41

CLIENT

De Palm Tours

Divulgação De Palm Tours

T

he white sands and warm ocean of the Caribbean beaches and the Central American countries attract approximately 22 million tourists per year. Aruba is on the list of one of the

most visited destinations in the area.

The paradise island with over 103 thousand inhabitants

Divulgação De Palm Tours

has quiet beaches for those who seek for quiet places; caves and historical regions for adventurers; ecological sanctuaries for admirers of nature, casinos, discos, bars and shows for those who prefer the nightlife.

Such diversity has contributed to the development of a

diverse hotel infrastructure. Aruba welcomes, every year, more than 1.5 million tourists on the happy island. Aruba’s tourism alone is responsible for 90% of GDP of the island.

In 1960, when Aruba only had one major hotel, Mr. Luis

De Palm, founded De Palm Tours. Eleven years later, in 1971, Mr. Harold Malmberg and Mr. Ramon Richardson bought the company from Mr. De Palm. At that time the number of employees was only

Ricardo Malmberg

6 and the bus fleet consisted of 4 small non air-conditioned buses.

One of the first priorities was to renovate the bus fleet, diversify the company and offer a bigger selection of tours and activities to the tourists and local population.

Harold´s son, Ricardo Malmberg (President & CEO), joined

the company in 1982. The company has a strong position in the Aruba tourism industry. His daughter, Lisette, is the Director of the Board and joined the company is 1984.

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Divulgação De Palm Tours

Complete infrastructure for exceptional experiences What does De Palm Tours offer to the Aruba tourists?

De Palm Tours employs over 300 tourism professionals and offers a wide range of services to the visitors of Aruba. Our current bus fleet consists of 34 air-conditioned state of the art Marcopolo buses, which gives us the ability to transport more than 1500 passengers in deluxe comfort.

What does the tourist who arrive in Aruba expect from De Palm Tours?

We offer airport transportation services, island tours, off-road tours, bus tours, catamaran snorkeling tours, submarine trips and much more. We also have an all-inclusive private island paradise, where tourists can snorkel, helmet dive, make use of the zip-line, waterslides and many other recreational and sports activities. We include transportation to all these activities.

De Palm Tours also counts with a Destination Management Department. How does this service work?

This department was created in 1975, and we have highly skilled professionals, who are able to plan and organize events, meetings, conventions and exhibitions.

Everything is conducted in a personalized way in order to provide an unforgettable experience to any tourists or groups.

Does diversifying the customer experience provide competitive advantages for the company?

Yes. To be able to offer the customer everything they need during their stay is an advantage. As we are a “one stop shop”, we are equipped to meet and exceed the visitor’s needs during their stay in Aruba.

De Palm Tours, as well as many other companies, have a family history. Does this fact influenced the way the business expansion was conducted?

In some companies, the attachment to family traditions can influence decision making, but when it comes to business, we need to be innovative.

We have to seize opportunities as they arise and grow together with tourism industry. You have to keep on investing

in the expansion and development of new activities. As the demand of the visitors change, continuous improvement is what De Palm Tours strives for.

Aruba attracts more than one million people a year. The business model adopted by De Palm Tours can be applied by companies operating in markets with lower volume of tourists?

I am sure it can, but with much less equipment and investments depending on the number of visitors to this market. Other important factors are your market share and number of competitors in your field of business.

The planning and consistent high levels of service delivery are key factors.

In an increasingly competitive environment, what can companies create or exploit to differentiate themselves?

The level service, human capital (employees), high quality equipment, accessibility to the customers (sales locations) and understanding the customer’s needs are the major and important facts.

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REPRESENTATIVE

Pacyatlán

Retomada de mercado After two years without Marcopolo representation in Costa Rica, the Pacyatlán assumed, in March 2014, the challenge to reintroduce Marcopolo brand in the country’s market. In two years, while drawing up a strong work of repositioning, positive results are already seen.

Along 2015 90 units were sold, a higher performance compared to 2014. “Many of the sales were made to the largest transportation companies in the country, which consequently generates Marcopolo exposure in the market and attracts the attention of other companies to our product”, says Miguel Ángel Castro Ramirez, Pacyatlán’s general manager.

In a passenger transport scenario that is proportional to the number of the country’s inhabitants, only 4.8 million, and characterized by the predominance of small family businesses and companies which grew over time so becoming market leaders, the most sought models are the urban Torino and the intercity coach Viaggio 1050, followed by the coach models of the lines Paradiso and Senior Tourism. “Costa Rican operators search buses at competitive prices which offer fuel efficiency, so representing thrift, besides bus bodies with quality finish and characteristics that provide comfort to passengers”, he says.

Besides Ramirez, the team has three other professionals responsible for technical, financial and managerial sectors, who work following a philosophy that prize core values such as respect and responsibility. “Customers can expect a committed team that seeks to deliver customized solutions, ensuring them purchasing security, ensuring monitoring throughout the process and after-sales service”, says Ramirez.

The expectation for 2016, in addition to overcoming 2015 numbers, is keeping a fast and efficient service, focusing on after-sales service and on a large inventory of spare parts.

“The challenges are constant, but it is important to strengthen the relationship with Costa Rican customers to present the existing added-value in Marcopolo bus bodies, competitive benefits and advantages that operators may have when choosing the brand”, he concludes.

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Pacyatlán disclosure

“Costa Rican operators search buses at competitive prices which offer fuel efficiency, so representing thrift, besides bus bodies with quality finish and characteristics that provide comfort to passengers.”

Pacyatlán disclosure

Miguel Castro, Juan Carlos Soto, diretor da Pacyatlan, Mariana Corrales e Minor Castro.

VISITS

Canasvieiras Transport - Santa Catarina

Approximating generations From 25 to 28 November, clients’ children from internal and external market participated at the Approximating Generation, the event that gives opportunity to young people who already work in their family company to experience the daily life of the factory and allows experience exchange among participants. Visiting Marcopolo and knowing the company’s philosophy also enables to strengthen existing partnerships between the company and its clients.

La Santaniana and MCAL. LOPEZ S.R.L - Paraguay

Scania Delegation Sweden

Euclides Paese, Manaus representative, and his family

Peru Entourage Entrepreneurs of Civa Tourism,

Linea

Tourism,

Movil Bus, Cruz del Sur and

Oltursa,

Peruvian

transport operators and a Volvo Peru representative visited Marcopolo accompanied by sales, export and marketing executives.

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VISITS

Viação União Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz do Sul/RS

STC – Ghana

Transco - Democratic Republic of Congo

Santa Cooperative- Ecuador

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Viajante - Edition 17 - March 2016 - Douglas Melo, Gelson M. da Costa, Sabrina Leme e Vinicius Pauletti

Meeting with clients In

December,

customers

from

Caxias do Sul and region took part to an end of the year lunch celebration and presentation of off-the-shelf vehicles. The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Marcopolo Foundation. The members of the company’s board of directors and commercial team were also present.

Boa Esperança Transport - Belém

Al Shirawi Enterp. - United Arab Emirates

Nisotur Travel and Tourism Agency Rio Grande do Sul

Rodoviária Gravataense and Irmãos Rocha – Recife

Metropolitan Area Network of Collective Transport - RMTC - Goiânia

Viação Castelo Branco - Paraná

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VISITAS

Les Doctoriales Doctoral students participating in the 2nd edition of the Project Les Doctoriales Rio Grande do Sul. The technical visit integrated the seminar program that enables students to enlarge their professional area knowledge by encouraging academic excellence and enhancing innovation. The initiative is promoted by the Metropolitan Foundation of Planning (Metroplan) in partnership with the Research Support Foundation of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Fapergs), along with the State Foundation of Metropolitan and Regional Planning - Metroplan.

Flota Bolivar - Bolívia

Representatives of Ethiopia Embassy

The Royal Police - Oman

Gaúcha Bus Company - Sogal - Rio Grande do Sul

Turismo Presidente - Presidente Getúlio - Santa Catarina 48

Viajante - Edition 17 - March 2016 - Douglas Melo, Gelson M. da Costa, Sabrina Leme e Vinicius Pauletti

Representatives of the National Fund of Education - FNDE and Inmetro

Porto Alegre Bus Company - Sopal - Rio Grande do Sul

TSL - Nigeria

Viação Mauá Rio De Transaro de Turrialba - Costa Rica

Janeiro

Mexico Entourage Entrepreneurs of the companies Albatros, Buscefalos, ETS, Golden Traveler, Omnibus Cancun SA de CV, San Pedro, Santa Clara, Vip Travel and Xcaret, in addition to two Scania representatives in Mexico, were received by sales, export and marketing executives.

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MEMORY

55 years across boundaries

Uruguay was the destination of the first vehicles exported by Carrocerias Nicola S.A., as it was named in 1961.

Acquired by the Compañia de Ômnibus Pando S.A. - COPSA, the urban models manufactured on Mercedes-Benz chassis could carry 27 passengers and had a 120 Hp engine. After crossing Rio Grande do Sul, passing through Porto Alegre, Pântano Grande and Bagé, the two buses followed toward Montevideo, running more than a thousand kilometers.

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Find the nearest representative www.marcopolo.com.br

on social networks: OnibusMarcopolo

Paradiso 1350

E ff i cie n c y a n d S o p h is t ic a t ion

Safety belt saves lives.

Images are merely illustrative. See the representative in your region to learn more about models and their settings www.marcopolo.com.br - on social networks: OnibusMarcopolo