Image courtesy: Granula AG

Swiss masterbatch producer Granula AG and Som Shiva (Impex) Ltd, an Indian plastics company, announce the formation of their joint venture in India under the name Granula Masterbatches India Pvt. Ltd. to produce and sell masterbatches in the local market.

The new company will build a state-of-the-art masterbatch production facility equipped with the latest production technology near Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat. Granula Masterbatches India (GMI) will be one of the first occupants of the new industrial zone that is being developed here.

The company will mainly target sectors including the food packaging, medical, cosmetic and automotive industries in India. According to Granula, production is projected to start in the second quarter of 2017.

The increasing need for technical competence in plastics in India is boosting market demand for masterbatches. Granula's masterbatch formulations modify and enhance end product properties, providing the consistent results that global brands depend on. Where international food contact approvals and competence for the medical or the automotive section is required, the new company will be one of the first addresses to contact.

"Right now, there is a huge, unmet demand for basic consumer goods in India. But this is changing fast with a vastly increasing middle class," explained Jürg Weibel, owner and director of Granula AG. "As masterbatch producers, we see enormous opportunities in the steps India is taking to open up the domestic market and moving to higher quality products. We want to be part of that change."

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