Partnership between manufacturer, distributor, and mining companies drives high availability and regional growth
Responsible for approximately 97% of Brazil’s gypsum production, the Araripe Gypsum Production Hub, located in the hinterlands of Pernambuco state, is one of the most challenging operating environments in Brazilian mining. Intense dust, high temperatures, long operating hours, and continuous operations demand reliable equipment and high availability of technical support. In this context, LiuGong has strengthened its presence as a strategic partner to local mining companies and industries, with a growing fleet of wheel loaders, excavators, and off-highway trucks operating across different stages of the gypsum value chain.
According to the Araripe Gypsum Local Production Arrangement (APL), the region brings together approximately 510 companies, including 55 mining operations, 185 calcination plants, and around 270 precast manufacturers, with an estimated annual output of 4,44 million tons and the generation of 3.500 direct jobs. It is within this highly competitive environment that LiuGong equipment has been consistently demonstrating strong performance.
Fleet in Operation and Field Performance
At Siqueira Mineração, one of the largest groups in the hub, LiuGong’s fleet is extensive and strategically deployed, including 848T, 856H, 865HE, and 870H wheel loaders, as well as six 922E excavators and three DW90 off-highway trucks. Founded in 2011, the group operates across multiple markets—from cement to calcined gypsum, agricultural gypsum, limestone, and aggregates—and employs more than 400 people.
According to Chico Siqueira, Chief Executive Officer, the decision to standardize the fleet is directly driven by performance and after-sales support. “Selling machines is easy. The real challenge is keeping them running, and that is what Damaq has been delivering. Today, LiuGong ranks among the best machines we have ever operated within the group, and our outlook is to migrate the entire fleet to the brand,” he states.
The Padrão Gypsum Group, which encompasses mining operations, gypsum manufacturing, and new investments in agribusiness, also operates four 922E excavators and one 835H wheel loader. With more than 150 employees, the group highlights close technical support as a decisive factor. “What the industry needs today is ongoing Support. Not just the sale, but a strong after-sales presence, answering questions, ensuring parts availability, and providing technical assistance. That is what we have with Damaq Equipamentos and LiuGong,” says José Mário, Maintenance Manager.
MAB – Mineração Alto Bonito, one of Brazil’s gypsum industry pioneers, founded in 1973 and now in its third generation of family ownership, operates 856H and 835H wheel loaders as well as a 922E excavator. For Geraldo Lesse, Chief Executive Officer, equipment robustness and long-term relationships are key differentiators. “We have been operating LiuGong machines since 2012. They are robust equipment that serve us well, supported by a solid, long-standing relationship between customer and supplier. That makes all the difference,” he emphasizes.
Expansion, Equipment Availability, and Local Support
Vertgesso, a company linked to a national group operating in the ceramics and mineral drilling sectors, currently operates one 835H wheel loader and two 922E excavators, with plans to acquire additional equipment for a new mining front in Araripe. According to Leonardo Ferreira, the company’s mining engineer, physical availability and local technical support were decisive factors in selecting the manufacturer. “Today, we have very strong equipment availability and utilization. What was missing in the region was technical maintenance service, which is now in place. This is essential for the Gypsum Hub,” he states.
The local presence of Damaq Equipamentos, LiuGong’s distributor in the region, is cited by companies across the hub as a true game changer. “Araripe demands strong machines, but it demands even more proximity. We have invested in infrastructure, regional technicians, parts inventory, and continuous relationships. Our role is to ensure that the machines are producing every day, because here, downtime is not an option,” emphasizes Danilo Freire, CEO of the distributor.
From the manufacturer’s perspective, LiuGong’s consolidation in the hub is the result of a clear strategy. “The Araripe Gypsum Hub is one of the most demanding operating environments in the country. Seeing our equipment running with high availability across different customers confirms that we are on the right path. More than selling machines, we are building long-term partnerships, with a focus on productivity, operating costs, and close customer support,” states Hebert Francisco, Vice President of LiuGong Latin America.
A Partnership Driving Regional Development
In a hub that concentrates Brazil’s largest gypsum reserves and operates with continuous mining and material handling cycles, operational efficiency depends directly on fleet reliability. In this context, the standardization of robust machines, combined with high physical availability and a well-structured regional after-sales operation, has made it possible to reduce unplanned downtime, optimize total cost of ownership (TCO), and sustain consistent productivity gains.
According to Danilo Freire, CEO of Damaq Equipamentos, this dynamic requires more than high-performance equipment. “The Araripe Gypsum Hub demands strong machines, but it demands even stronger partnerships. This is not a market for one-off opportunities, but for day-to-day engagement. To operate here, it is not enough to sell equipment: it is necessary to understand the pace of mining operations, be present, anticipate demands, and ensure that the customer’s operation does not stop. Damaq has built its presence in the hub on this proximity, strong relationships, and a long-term vision. What has already been achieved is solid—and represents only the beginning of what we will continue to develop in the region,” he concludes.
As LiuGong’s distributor in Northeast Brazil, Damaq Equipamentos currently operates across six states in the region, with a structure focused on close customer relationships, technical availability, and continuous support. Despite its relatively recent trajectory, the company already ranks among the fastest-growing distributors of the brand in Brazil, contributing directly to the expansion of the LiuGong fleet in strategic segments such as mining, construction, agriculture, and infrastructure. Through investments in local teams, parts inventory, and specialized technical service, Damaq has established itself as a key link between the manufacturer and field operations—translating, in practice, the positioning that guides its activities: being the force that moves the Northeast.
About LiuGong
LiuGong Machinery Corporation is a leading company in the construction equipment manufacturing industry in China. Since building its first wheel loader in 1966, LiuGong has evolved to become one of the fastest-growing global construction equipment companies, offering a full line of intuitive, heavy-duty machines for owners who are constantly challenged to do more with less.
LiuGong provides opportunities for its employees, high-quality products and services for its customers, financial success for its investors, and support for the communities in the regions it serves.
The company began with the arrival of 500 workers in the city of Liuzhou in 1958. Today, LiuGong is a global success story with over 33 product lines, 20 manufacturing facilities worldwide, 16.000 employees, and more than 500 dealers providing customers with the robust equipment they need to get any job done, anywhere. All with local support.
About LiuGong Latin America
LiuGong Latin America (LGLA) was founded in Brazil in 2008 and is a whollyowned subsidiary of the LiuGong Group. Manufacturing equipment in the country since 2015, LiuGong has been expanding in the Brazilian and Latin American markets. The business covers the sale and maintenance of equipment and attachments for construction machines, financing solutions, customer training, technical consulting, and other services.
LiuGong’s portfolio includes wheel loaders, motor graders, compaction rollers, backhoe loaders, excavators, rigid trucks, and aerial work platforms, among other equipment. The company has been increasing its presence in Brazil with investments in its factory infrastructure and training centers in Mogi Guaçu (SP), as well as its commercial office in Campinas (SP). In 2025, it strengthened its presence in the mining sector with the opening of an office in Belo Horizonte (MG), reinforcing its professional team and expanding the qualification of its product portfolio.
Press Contact
MARKETING LIUGONG
marketing@liugongla.com
ADRIANA ROMA
adriana@haproposito.com.br
+55 (19) 9 9816-6272
