Dibyajyoti Sarma

Cosmo Films Inc. USA, a subsidiary of Cosmo First Limited (Formerly known as Cosmo Films Limited) has announced expansion in North America with installation of a 120-inch wide new high-speed slitter (3000 ft/ min). With this new installation, the company aims to meet the budding demand for flexible packaging solutions across North America. The new machine is a strategic investment by Cosmo Films to enhance customer service with faster delivery solutions for its diverse range of films across the US market.

Hi-Tech Inks, one of India's fastest-growing ink companies and a leading "Make in India" success, has recently installed a cutting-edge Novaflow dispensing machine at its Vapi plant. This strategic integration is set to further enhance Hi-Tech Inks' manufacturing capabilities and commitment to quality, efficiency, and sustainability.

Hubergroup, a global leader in specialty chemicals and print solutions, has announced the successful closing of its acquisition by a consortium comprising Mavco Investments, a private entity belonging to select members of the Murugappa family, and funds managed by Avenue Capital Group.

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Countries did not reach a final agreement at the fifth round of negotiations (INC-5) for a global plastics treaty, which closed on 1 December in Busan, South Korea. Team WhatPackaging? ruminates on the fallout.

Kris Flexipacks is in the news. The reason: Its ability to provide high-speed sleeving solutions in PVC and PET with multiple micron levels. The shrink-sleeve labels are intended to enclose items, fitting around them like a second skin. These labels are easy to apply because they come in roll and cut forms matte glass, metallic, holographic, and embellishments.

The Frugal Bottle weighs just 83-g so it is up to five times lighter than a normal glass bottle, making it easier to carry and lighter to transport.

Dabur India has announced a consolidated net profit of Rs 425-crore for the second quarter of 2024-25 on a revenue of Rs 3,029-crore. The company has announced that it has agreed to merge Sesa Care, subject to regulatory approvals. As part of the transaction, Dabur will acquire 51% of the total paid-up cumulative redeemable preference shares (CRPS) of Sesa from its existing shareholder, True North (a private equity fund), for Rs 12.59-crore at face value.

UPM specialty papers and Michelman have collaborated to create multiple solutions to replace multi-material non-recyclable packaging with paper-based alternatives.

Dr Naresh Tyagi, chief sustainability officer at Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, recently published a book which offers a timely and compelling narrative challenging the notion that sustainability is a modern concept.

Sun Chemical will highlight its complete portfolio of sustainable solutions for the packaging and narrow web, tag and label markets during this year’s Pack Expo International in Chicago.

PharmaGuard, the polypropylene (PP)-based recyclable blister concept has now won the Swiss Packaging Award in the Sustainability category.

JPFL Films (Jindal), a flexible packaging giant which is a part of the BC Jindal Group, has announced full capacity utilisation for the capacitor film business. To cater to the growing capacitor market, the company is doubling its capacity. With a capex commitment of Rs 250-crore by 2025, the company is capitalising on the technical success of the films, among various customers in India. The quick turnaround and success are also due to close working collaboration with its own group company, Treofan GmbH.

The Bengaluru-based startup iD Fresh Food has reported a 16% increase in its operating revenue to Rs 395.76-crore in FY24 from Rs 340.9-cr in the previous year.

In a move that will impact the packaging industry, the shareholders meeting at International Paper confirmed its proposed “combination” with DS Smith.

B2B packaging solutions platform DCGpac which is headquartered in Gurugram revenue from operations has grown by 21.4%, and notched up Rs 96.5 crore in FY24. This is up from Rs 79.5 crore in FY23.

Pharmaceutical packaging startup Sorich has raised USD1 million in the pre-IPO funding round led by BizDateUp. Sorich has reported a turnover of USD 2.4 million in 2023-24 and is targeting 3X growth in the current fiscal year.

A panel discussion on Global Opportunities in Packaging - Is India Ready? was held on 24 May 2024 at LPS Auditorium, PHD House, New Delhi. The roadshow to promote Pack Mach Asia Expo 2024 which will be held in Mumbai on 23-25 October, was organised by PHDCCI, in association with the Institute of Packaging Machinery of India (IPMMI) and Messe Muenchen India.

In fact recognising the ongoing environment-related work in Tamil Nadu, the Union government has selected three projects being implemented in the state for discussion at the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP28) to be held in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December. Totally, seven projects have been hand-picked by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for the global event. This includes the Meendum Manjappai campaign, which launched in 2021. The aim: to promote the use of cloth bags and discourage use of plastic bags, has made significant headway.

As the debate surrounding plastic rages on, the WhatPackaging? Team handpicks five books that offer a ringside view of how plastic affects our lives

According to the IPMA, paper consumption in India will reach 30 million tons by March 2027. And so, on the one hand most paper companies have improved their balance sheet. On the other hand, a Crisil Ratings analysis says, the revenue of paper makers will crumple 8-10% this fiscal. The prediction is: Healthy profits and modest capex spend to support credit risk profiles.

Paper prices are seeing a correction. With demand during the festival season likely to increase with the packaging boom as well as gifting items. Dibyajyoti Sarma tries to decipher what the recent price hike means against the backdrop of a slowdown in the US and European markets as well as sluggish Chinese demand not picking up.

Ahmedabad-based Soparkar & Kothari Technologies recently invested in a Flexomaster HR 500 high-speed CI flexo printing press from Echaar Equipments, Mumbai.

Authentication Solution Providers' Association (ASPA) in association with Messe Frankfurt India hosted the fifth edition of the flagship Traceability and Authentication Forum on 6 and 7 July in Delhi to encourage and nurture traceability, authentication and anti-counterfeiting ecosystem in the country.

With the recent developments in generative AI, it is high time the industry started working towards integrating digital within the company setup, from workflow management to supply chain management. This also aligns with the government’s mandate towards a digital India. To bring home the point, CII and the Tata Communications Centre for Digital Transformation hosted a conference on digital transformation in the printing and packaging industry on 9 June 2023.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2023 on 1 February. The Budget focuses on two key aspects, growth — through a large outlay for capital spending — and fiscal consolidation — by slashing subsidies and spending on the job guarantee scheme.

Pidilite Industries reported a surprise 15% fall in quarterly profit, hit by higher input costs and weak demand. The numbers are: net sales for the nine months stood at Rs 9,077 Cr; EBITDA before non-operating income for the nine months stood at Rs 1,525 Cr; and PAT stood at Rs 308 Cr.