A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

Extolling the opportunities in Latin America’s thriving project market is something that comes easy to Murilo Caldana, project director at Brazil-based logistics specialist FOX Brasil and former president of The Heavy Lift Group.

“I’m always very excited talking about this region. We have the political issues here, of course, but there are so many projects to get done, so many developments going on,” Caldana told Breakbulk from his offices in São Paulo.

“Infrastructure I would say is number one. Then we have projects for oil and gas and all the support that needs – FPSOs, platforms, refineries; there’s a lot of investment there. We are quite active in ethanol plants and biomass, not only in Brazil but also Latin America, and we even export to the U.S. Pulp and paper is booming as well. Brazil is now the new hub for this industry.”

Renewable energy is another sure source of project work. Besides impressive growth in domestic installed capacity, Brazil has also emerged in recent times as a major supplier of machinery and equipment for the global energy sector.

In a recent move, FOX Brasil oversaw the delivery of oversized components for the Yacyreta hydroelectric project in Corrientes, northern Argentina. The plant, which has been generating power since 1994, was recently upgraded with 18 new excitation systems. “We supported the cross-border overland transport of transformers, control panels, and assembly materials from multiple locations throughout Brazil to the Yacyreta job site, as well as the customs clearance of goods,” Caldana said.

Caldana began his logistics career 25 years ago as a trainee with Bosch Brasil. After a spell with Brazilian industrial company Wabco, the executive joined German logistics group Dachser, enjoying stints in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Kempten where the executive could put his German language skills – which he had learned at school – into good practice.

Following an assignment in Dachser’s Mexico City offices, Caldana returned to Brazil in 2010 to focus on project development before joining FOX Brasil two years later to launch its new project logistics division. His first task was masterminding a shipment of components from Brazil to a worldscale ethanol plant in Venezuela.

“It was a challenge for us because we had to build a team, to build everything from scratch because we didn’t have any tools. But the project was successfully delivered,” Caldana said. “And from then on, we started getting many projects in Brazil. Of course, we were competing with the big companies, but we also got respect. Because here we directly compete with deugro, DHL, Schenker and others. Nowadays, for sure, we are in the top ten –maybe the top five for projects.”

In 2014, FOX Brasil became a member of The Heavy Lift Group, or THLG, a worldwide network of companies involved in large-scale industrial project forwarding, crane operations, machinery installation and rigging, vessel chartering, port operations, oversized road transport, engineering and barge operations.

A regular at THLG’s meetings, Caldana’s dynamism, vision and passion for breakbulk logistics were quickly spotted by the group’s “old guard,” and after a short stint as volunteer business development officer, he was invited to put his name forward for president – he secured the necessary votes, becoming the firstever Latin American to lead the group.

“I think my communication skills were an important factor in the decision. Latinos are very easy-going, very open – we like to bring people together. This was maybe the reason they chose me,” the executive said. “But it wasn’t just about connecting people. My idea in the THLG was to build trust among our partners so we could work strategically together on worldwide projects. For example, we have a project right now in Brazil for a nuclear power plant. We have a member company in Germany that is working with the supplier, we have a team in France that can handle the equipment, and we have here the plant in Brazil. We approach the customers as a group.”

THLG’s membership during Caldana’s two-term mandate – which concluded in May – increased from 45 to 65 companies, a remarkable feat given that much of his tenure coincided with the pandemic that brought a large chunk of the global project market to a standstill.

The baton has now passed to his colleague Elisabeth Cosmatos, THLG’s first female president. Cosmatos, general manager of Greek transport and logistics firm Cosmatos Group, has been part of the THLG executive committee for more than six years, previously overseeing the group’s marketing and corporate image.

For Caldana, Cosmatos’ appointment is testament to THLG’s progressive values and its recognition of the integral role that women play in a still male-dominated industry. “This is something new, for sure, but a sign of a new generation coming through. It’s a big change that I respect, and one that I like. I see (Cosmatos’ appointment) as very positive for all our members, showing that it doesn’t matter if you’re male or female –being professional is what counts.”

Given the demands of the job and a young family to support, Caldana may be forgiven for wanting to take things easier in his spare time, but no such luck. The executive – a fitness enthusiast – is currently training for El Cruce, a 100-kilometer trail run through the Andes mountains from Argentina to Chile. More than 2,000 participants from over 35 countries are expected to compete in the grueling three-day race in December.

“I’m training three days a week and the other two I’m at the gym to make sure my muscles are in shape. It’s already quite intense, and it’s going to get even more so. Last Sunday I woke up at 0600 hrs and did two hours and 40 minutes of training up and down the hills,” he said. “It gets tiring, for sure. But I’m focusing on my health –I’m 42 now, so I hope for another 40 or 50 years I can stay healthy. I try to be more relaxed and for me, sports and keeping fit is the best way.”

FOX Brasil will be exhibiting with GPLN at Breakbulk Americas, taking place on September 26-28 at the George R. Brown Conference Center in Houston, Texas.

Colombia-based Simon West is senior reporter for Breakbulk.