Exclusive: Lohia Corp highlights cost reduction for raffia bags at Interpack

Sajay Kumar, vice-president - sales at Lohia Corp, said the raffia industry is increasingly pivoting toward recycling technology and higher automation despite current geopolitical headwinds affecting global exhibition footfalls.

He noted that while automation in raffia remains limited compared to other packaging segments, customer expectations are driving manufacturers to bridge this gap.

“People are looking for automation. Although it is currently limited in raffia, customers are expecting developments to come in,” Kumar said. He identified recycling as the second major trend, with a surge in enquiries for machines capable of end-to-end processing of raffia waste.

Lohia Corp is currently working to enhance its footprint in the flexible packaging industry, moving beyond its traditional raffia stronghold. Following the launch of its CI flexo press during Plastindia in February, the company is now building a dedicated team to tackle the technical requirements of this segment.

“We are looking at enhancing our team as well as our footprint in flexible packaging. We are just entering this, as our expertise level is currently lower than required, but we are building that team now,” Kumar explained. The company intends for its printing technology to eventually serve all segments, including flexible packaging and high-speed raffia printing.

In addition to printing, Lohia Corp has hinted at a new development in lamination technology currently in the plant-testing phase, which is expected to be showcased within the next six to eight months. New looms are also part of the company’s immediate R&D pipeline.

A primary concern for raffia bag manufacturers remains cost reduction. Lohia Corp has demonstrated solutions to lower the cost per bag by utilising calcium fillers or integrated recycled content.

“Every customer is expecting how to reduce the cost of the bag. Our machines are capable of using recycled material to achieve this,” Kumar said. The company is also focusing on increasing speeds for both printing and lamination to boost overall shop-floor productivity.

Despite a lower footfall at Interpack 2026 which Kumar attributed to various reasons including rising travel costs, Lohia Corp remains on a strong growth trajectory. The company achieved a massive turnover last year, and expects to maintain a growth rate of 10% to 12% in the current fiscal.

“Our order book is very strong across the globe,” Kumar noted. While the exhibition response was more subdued than in previous years, the company’s decision to focus on customer meetings rather than large machinery displays at the booth aligned with the lower-than-expected visitor numbers.