IMMA and SENAI graduate the first Guaporé Project class

160 students to receive professional certification in various areas of the metal mechanics industry

The Indústria Metalúrgica e Mecânica da Amazônia Ltda. IMMA, the hydro mechanical and lifting equipment manufacturer and the National Industrial Learning Service (SENAI) will hold a graduation ceremony this Tuesday, January 6, for the first "Guaporé Project" class. 
During the ceremony, which begins at 6 p.m., at the Casa da Indústria in Porto Velho (RO), 160 students will receive their certificates in boiler-making, welding, mechanical assembly, oxy-cutting, machining operation, quality control and industrial painting areas.

After 250 hours of theoretical and practical classes, the students involved in the Guaporé Project, which began in July 2008 in the Rondônia state capital, have taken their first steps in professionally qualifying for the job market. The training program was run by professionals with experience in quality, occupational safety, manufacturing and human resources, alongside psychologists who accompanied the students throughout the project.

Having qualified professionals running the Guaporé Project was one of the main reasons we were able to face the challenge of transferring technology used in the heavy mechanics industry to the students, in a completely new area for the Northern Region, said Gustavo Almeida, Human Resources manager and project leader.

Of the 160 students involved in the first cycle of the program, 40 have already been hired by IMMA and will undergo another four months training in São Paulo, at the Alstom and Bardella units in Taubaté and Sorocaba, respectively, which will represent a total of 800 hours training. The two companies have partnered to create the new company. Another 80 students will continue to use the Senai workshops in Porto Velho and may be contracted to work at IMMA from May 2009, when the plant starts partial operations.

As the first capital goods company in the North of Brazil, IMMA will be involved in regional hydroelectric projects and will generate new job opportunities in the state. Locals will be able to adopt new professions and benefit from the economic progress in Rondônia and the surrounding region with the construction of the Madeira River power plants.

Alongside the metal mechanics workshop school inaugurated in November of last year, the conclusion of the Guaporé Projects first cycle represents one more step in our efforts to drive IMMA contributions to economic and social development in the State of Rondônia, said Rubens Gunther, president of the companys Consultative Committee.

Enrolment for the next Guaporé Project course will start in February 2009 with an expected 250 places for those interested in training for the metal mechanics industry.

In order to continue fulfilling its aim of contributing to the Northern Region, the company intends to expand placements on the training program to the more underprivileged regions of Porto Velho this year. In order to bring this initiative to fruition, IMMA is in contact with the Porto Velho city hall and the Rondônia state government to establish a partnership. An announcement regarding this new Guaporé Project initiative will be made shortly.


Service
Guaporé Project first cycle graduation
Date: January 6, 2009
Place: Casa da Indústria (Rua Rui Barbosa, 1.112, Prédio da Federação das Indústrias de Porto Velho RO)
Time: 6 p.m.


About IMMA: In order to support hydroelectric projects in the Northeast region of Brazil, supplying hydro mechanical and lifting equipment for projects in the Amazon, Alstom, world leader in energy and transport infrastructure, has joined forces with Bardella, a traditional Brazilian capital goods company with tailored engineering, to build the Indústria Metalúrgica e Mecânica da Amazônia - IMMA.

Involving R$ 90 million in investment, the site, which will be concluded in 2009, is located in Porto Velho, in the state of Rondônia in area covering 235 thousand m2 and 25 thousand m2 of construction. The plant will be equipped with operational machinery, a boiler workshop, shot blasting and painting area, capable of lifting 100 tons and producing 12 thousand tons per year.

INFORMATION TO PRESS

Communications Director of Alstom Brasil: Juliana Souza
juliana.souza@crn.alstom.com / Phone: (11) 3612 7071

Press Relations: CDN Comunicação Corporativa
Mariana Maciel: mariana.maciel@cdn.com.br / Phone: (11) 3643-2734
Fernanda Sobral: fernanda.sobral@cdn.com.br / Phone: (11) 3643-2789