Paintindia 2026: Manufacturers prioritise technical precision and circularity
The recently concluded Paintindia 2026 exhibition at the Bombay Exhibition Centre highlighted a decisive shift toward high-performance substrates and resource recovery, as metal, plastic, and ancillary equipment manufacturers showcased solutions to meet tightening environmental compliances.
09 Mar 2026 | 102 Views | By Abhay Avadhani
Metal and FIBC developments
Deccan Group, a specialist in metal packaging and FIBC bags, confirmed that its operations are now 95% export-oriented, catering to markets in Italy, Argentina, the USA, and Germany. Shyam Kishore, PPC coordinator for plant operations at Deccan Group, said the company maintains a production capacity of 2,00,000 tin cans per day across 10 final assembly lines.
Kishore noted a returning trend toward metal packaging in the edible oil sector, driven by concerns over microplastics and UV degradation in plastic alternatives. He said the company utilises prime grade tin plates from Tata Steel or JSW to ensure food-grade safety. In the bulk segment, Deccan showcased UN-certified FIBC bags, noting that European markets are increasingly adopting automated robotic systems to handle 1,000-kg loads.
Plastic and moulding trends
In the rigid plastics segment, Manika Plastech highlighted its regional expansion through five manufacturing plants located in Silvassa, Hosur, Panipat, Una, and Dehradun. Anand Sharma, marketing executive at Manika Plastech, said the company is expanding its portfolio from 250-ml pails to include new 20-litre and 50-litre buckets.
Sharma said the company utilises PPCP granules from Reliance to ensure container integrity. He stated that premium paint brands are shifting from traditional screen printing toward in-mould labelling (IML) and heat transfer labelling (HTL) to enhance shelf appeal. The company’s R&D centre in Hosur focuses on mould efficiency, ensuring pails can withstand a 1.5-m drop test and a stack weight of up to 900-kg without buckling.
Solvent recovery and sustainability
Addressing the industry's focus on zero-discharge, Innovative Flexotech reported an increase in demand for its solvent distillation systems. Alpesh Thakar, director of Innovative Flexotech, said the company has installed approximately 400 machines in the paint and coatings segment.
Thakar said the technology achieves a 90% recovery ratio and 98% purity level for solvents such as IPA, allowing manufacturers to reuse the material for cleaning vessels and presses. The company, which produces 20 machines per month at its Ahmedabad facility, has expanded its reach into the pharmaceutical, jewellery, and defence sectors to support environmental compliance across the value chain.