History
Timeline
1930S:
Young engineers Antônio Mascarenhas Barbosa and João Roscoe invest in the dream of having their own construction company. On April 9, 1934, they founded Mascarenhas Barbosa and Roscoe. In 1936 the company strengthened and won a public bidding for the construction of Hospital Estadual Colônia São Francisco de Assis, in Bambuí, and established its place in the market. A first sample of its philosophy: quality service and competitive price.
1940S:
In 1941, they won a public bidding for drainage works in João Monlevade for Companhia Siderúrgica Belgo Mineira (Steel Company). The successful partnership continues during the construction of that city. In difficult times, the partners’ strategy is to stay away from political conflicts and to grow gradually, in a calculated and solid way.
1950S:
With JK in the presidency, Brazil consolidates its industrial park and enters the developmental era. Mascarenhas takes on larger works with great responsibility. In 1958, the construction of Belgo’s wire drawing plant in Contagem begins – a complete work, all built in underground galleries. In João Monlevade, the company takes on the construction of the Belgo’s cable car, with 52 kilometers in length, sliding of almost 1,000 buckets (carts), transporting up to 50 tons of coal per hour and crossing three municipalities. Juscelino inaugurated it in October 1960.
1960S:
In 1962 the company became a Private Limited Company. In 1963 it challenged the time by building the Emergency Market on Avenida (Avenue) Amazonas in just 40 days, before the contractual term. Still in 1963, it carried out drainage works for Gabriel Passos Refinery, in Betim. In 1965, it carried out the Water Treatment Station, the first of several works in Brasilia. In the same year, Viaduto da Prainha was inaugurated, on Rodovia do Aço (Steel Road), the second largest free space in Brazil at the time. In January 1966 the company lost Antônio Mascarenhas Barbosa. Always remembered for his boldness and competence, the engineer has his name engraved on his last work, by decree of Governor Magalhães Pinto.
1970S:
Mascarenhas continues its growth by carrying out an unprecedented work in Belo Horizonte, in 1971: the construction of an underground pipeline network for Companhia de Força e Luz, Cemig’s predecessor. The operating engineering was called Armadillo Operation, in an allusion to the holes and ditches that the workers opened in the city center. The construction works were so successful that the people of Minas Gerais incorporated the expression “Armadillo Operation” as a synonym for well done work. From 74 to 76, Mascarenhas participates in the construction of Fiat’s facilities in Betim, whose opening was anticipated by one year. Other expressive works of the decade were those of Samarco and Mannesman.
1980S:
Despite the strong economic crisis, Mascarenhas remains firm, thanks to the maintenance of its strategies of strict compliance with deadlines and the quality of its services. In 1980, the construction company accomplished several works for Companhia Siderúrgica de Tubarão. In 1985, a special project: the renovation of the old building of Belo Horizonte Central Station. Starting in 1986, it participated in the construction of the subway in the capital of Minas Gerais, carrying out a complex of works that aimed to integrate it into the urban road network.
1990S:
The company underwent great change with the departure, in 1990, of João Roscoe, after 56 years of work. In 1994, Luiz Fernando Pires held the position of Executive Director and, in 1999, he assumed the shareholding control and the presidency of the company. The construction that deserves to be highlighted for the benefit brought to the society is the Sewage Treatment Station in Piracicaba, SP, nominated for the award from the Secretary for Environmental Management of Latin America and the Caribbean. Other important works were the civil construction of Belgo’s new rolling mill in Monlevade; the Lafarge cement plant in Arcos; the Fairway Texturing Unit, in Alfenas; the paint and press shed for manufacturing Palio at Fiat and Carrefour Pampulha, with 65,000 meters of built area.
2000S:
Starting in 2002, Mascarenhas built several units for Merial, a company in the pharmaceutical sector, specializing in this new branch. In 2003, BHBUS of Barreiro was delivered to Belo Horizonte City Hall, an undertaking that covers 35 thousand square meters and comprises a bus station and Via Shopping Barreiro. In 2002, it resumed Porto Trombetas, in the Amazon region, to increase the productive capacity of Mineração Rio do Norte – a project full of challenges and with unique logistics that required a lot of planning. In Piracicaba, it was responsible for expanding the production capacity of the Belgo plant.
2010S:
Mascarenhas Barbosa Roscoe started the 2010s as one of the largest and most respected construction companies in the country, with a modern management system and effective actions of social responsibility. Currently, it is present at CSN Cimentos in Arcos/MG; at VSB in Jeceaba/MG; in João Monlevade for Arcelor Mittal; and in the biggest work of the steel industry in Brazil, ThyssenKrupp CSA, in Rio de Janeiro.
