‘Automation will be the key for Indian pharma machinery manufacturers’ P V Narayanan, Secretary General, The Institute of Packaging Machinery Manufacturers of India (IPMMI), opines on strengths and weaknesses of Indian pharma machinery manufacturing sector, in an exclusive discussion with Sachin Jagdale What are the major challenges for the pharma packaging machinery manufacturers in India? The total number of pharma machinery manufacturers is over 500 in India. For them, the challenges would be the quality aspects, meeting the global needs and standards, accuracy, compatibility, versatility, ease in operation and switch over and maintenance. The other aspect would relate to service capability and availability of spare parts. Tell us about the major achievements of IPMMI. The primary achievement is the success of bringing the major packaging machinery manufacturers together. This has helped in organising various national and international events like exhibitions and conferences and industry meets. The IPMMI could also showcase the capabilities of the members through these forums thereby benefiting them in their market expansion, diversification and possibly overseas collaboration and joint ventures. The IPMMI could also enter into understanding with leading overseas exhibition organisers for organising events in India and promote the interests of members overseas. There has been a steady increase in the membership of the association including those who offer ancillary equipment and services. Overseas packaging machinery manufacturers are considered superior to their counterparts in India. What are the steps needed to be taken to minimise this quality gap? Speed and automation/ sophistication is expected from Indian pharma machin-
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ery manufacturers. If one carefully analyses this fact, one will bear out the outputs and at the same time acceptance and growing demand for the Indian made machines in various other parts of the world clearly reflects the capabilities of the domestic sector. Also, many overseas leading packaging machinery manufacturers looking at India to market and subsequently resource the domestic capability to produce machinery in India for the global market speaks eloquently of the Indian capability. Yet, the domestic sector may have to address the issues on import substitution of niche component and develop more automated and sophisticated machinery and equipment keeping the future in view. Cost reduction, environmental, ergonomics, quick changeover, reduced waste are some other considerations the industry could look for. Do you conduct educational activities/seminars for your members? What are the common complaints/suggestion you hear from the participants? The IPMMI organises series of training and orientation programmes besides national and international seminars. The institute has also organised programmes at the behest of the DSIR, Ministry of Science & Technology, and IIFT, Ministry of Commerce. Recently, IPMMI conducted an in-house programme for the Fonterra group, at Sri Lanka on packaging technology. The IPMMI has now launched a certificate distance education programme in packaging technology. The training and educational programmes need to be strengthwww.expresspharmaonline.com
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ened through hands on training and shop floor/operator level programmes need to be implemented to bridge the void currently felt. For the association all our members are equally based and each are specialists in their own fields. Our website will give details of the product/service range of the members. The IPMMI has over 80 members now. Efforts are regularly pursued to increase the membership albeit successfully. What are the future plans of IPPMI for its members? We want to increase the membership to strengthen the institute. We also want to set up an exclusive development council for the packaging machinery manufacturers. This will collectively address the industrial and fiscal issues faced by the industry and identify the assistance required to be extended. To extend fiscal assistance for imported niche spares and components, to make the machinery more cost effective, to extend ade-
quate fiscal assistance/financial help for promotion and participation of IPMMI members in international exhibitions, to expand the training and educational activities in all related segments is also on our priority list. We will work to strengthen and expand the technical services for the packaging sector, packaging audit, packaging design and development, survey and feasibility project studies. We will publish technical reports and industry-related guideline notes. It is necessary to strengthen and expand the directory and newsletters publications with more coverage on a global basis. Efforts will be taken to liaise with international counterpart bodies to expand information base and provide more opportunities to the members. We also want to participate with national programmes in all related activities including environmental and areas of specific social interests. sachin.jagdale@expressindia.com November 16-30, 2012