Brazilian company Cipatex, of Cerquilho/SP, is one of the country's main suppliers of PU and PVC laminates to the footwear industry. Cipatex has opened a new factory in the district of Nova Hartz, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. US$ 1 million was invested in building the new unit and purchasing state-of-the-art equipment. The new equipment will make it possible to produce short runs of material as well as accelerate the production of samples.