Haf Cennydd is the Global Brand Director for the ICSE, InnoPack, P-MEC and BioPh events for UBM Live, a division of UBM Plc , a leading provider of business information services for diverse industries. Her role encompasses strategy, planning and operations of these pharmaceutical events throughout the world. Haf joined UBM in 2006 as an Events Director before being promoted into this position in late 2009. She has an extensive background in event management and specializes in working with the strategy and planning of global events with extensive attendee requirements. Haf Cennydd, in an email interview with A D Pradeep Kumar gives her views on the global pharma machinery & packaging industries , Indian pharma machinery & packaging industry and future plans for PMEC India.
What are your views on the global pharmaceutical packaging market ?
Overall, the global pharmaceutical packaging market is likely to continue the growth rate of around 5.5 per cent annually to reach US $18.5billion by 2014. This growth pattern has effectively become comprehensive with certain areas experiencing steady growth and other areas absolutely booming. For example, the demand for primary pharmaceutical containers is expected to increase 5.2 per cent annually to US $11.3 billion in 2014, with plastic bottles remaining the most widely used type of packaging for oral drugs distributed in bulk and prescription dose volumes. If you look at pharmaceutical blister packaging you will see evidence of high margins of growth based on its ability to adapt dose size and format, offer expanded label content and high visibility, and new built-in track and trace features.
Another large factor within this market has been packaging for transportation which will continue to grow across all facets, including end-users, storage and transportation. Demand for pouches for dose packaging of transdermal patches, powders for reconstitution, and topical creams and ointments will continue to rise as will bags for ingredient transportation and materials to make the pharmaceuticals. The market has been encouraging innovation and development which has an exceptional stream of new products which need to be packaged.
What are your comments on the global pharmaceutical machinery market?
Globally, the pharmaceutical machinery market has changed. A paradigm shift towards eliminating contamination risk and considering the environment has altered the way that manufacturers create, test, package and distribute their products. For the continued growth in this market is for pharmaceutical machinery makers to create market awareness of the options they provide to manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and related products, as well as to continue to cater to customer feedback.
What are your views on the growth prospects of the Indian pharma industry?
The Indian pharmaceuticals market has truly been booming and expectations for this market project it to reach US$ 55 billion in 2020 from US$ 12.6 billion in 2009. If the market moved more aggressively, this potential could even reach US$ 70 billion by 2020. This growth is supported by the fact that India has many factors to make it a strong player in the global pharma market. These factors include a competent workforce, cost-effective drug development, established legal, financial and technology frameworks, no language barriers and access to the global market.
What are your comments on the pharmaceutical packaging market in India ?
The Indian pharmaceutical packaging market will most likely mirror the aggressive growth pattern of the global market. As India is moving to the forefront of the pharmaceutical market, the growth will further support the ability to reduce cost while still providing innovative and effective solutions to end users. Additionally, the market is heavily geared towards low-priced generics that will compete against high-priced blockbuster drugs with the same results. The anticipated high volume generics output in India will have a ripple effect and no doubt spike the growth of pharmaceutical packaging market .
What do you feel about the growth prospects of pharmaceutical machinery industry in India?
Pharmaceutical machinery industry in India has continued to grow, as companies look to re-focus on exploring new innovations, as well as redefining quality measures and turning to standardization as a requirement. At present, India is the fourth largest manufacturer of medicines in the world and has the highest number of FDA approved facilities outside of the US. As these manufacturing facilities are being upgraded and expanded to better compete with regulated markets, the output of the Indian pharmaceutical market will increase and act as a catalyst for further demands for innovation and supplies of pharmaceutical machinery within India.
What are the changes you are witnessing in the global pharma machinery & packaging industries over the years?
Currently, UBM Live hosts P-MEC (Pharmaceutical Machinery and Equipment Convention) in all our major pharmaceutical event markets, including Europe, China, Japan and India. As the creator and host of the global P-MEC series of events, UBM Live has seen this market change and the transition over the last decade.
Globally, there has been a transition in the exhibitor profiles that has closely mirrored the changing focus areas and methodologies in the pharmaceutical industry. Also consistent throughout our time hosting these events has been the steady growth of P-MEC within each market which is a clear indicator of the growth within the pharmaceutical machinery and packaging sectors as a whole.
Most notably, the industry is experiencing a stronger focus on quality and standardization, as well as a paradigm shift towards sustainability and green chemistry. This has driven these two areas to come together and function more seamlessly than ever before as the changing market continues to create new and increased demand for pharmaceutical machinery and packaging.
What are the future plans for P-MEC India?
P-MEC India, now in its fourth year in 2011, is able to offer attendees unprecedented direct access to the Indian pharma market. When hosting the event, we take time to look at historical happenings in the market, but the real driver of P-MEC India comes from what is currently trending in this sector and where the future is projected to go. UBM Live has targeted both the events, and the Indian market in general, for expansion and will work to ensure that we move with the demands of this market.
P-MEC India 2011 has high expectations. Alongside CPhI India and ICSE, the 2010 event hosted over 26,000 attendees and 804 exhibitors. The exhibitor profile will continue to offer attendees with exhibitors who provide core resources for equipment, including: analytics, automation and robotics, batching, cleanrooms, filling, filtration, separation and purification , health and safety, instruments, laboratories, machinery, packaging, plants and facilities, process automation and controls, processing, RFID, tablet and capsule filling, testing and measurement and validation.
As UBM Live moves forward in planning P-MEC India and the co-located events, continue to keep in mind that the market we are hosting in does have existing venue constraints. By keeping an eye on various future options we can further grow the events by hosting them in a venue that is able to comfortably accommodate more exhibitors and, in turn, offer visitors more resources. We will continue to deliver events in India that are attractive to international decision makers and look to improve navigation where possible. Another key focus will be on expanding offerings for networking opportunities and content such as the conference programmes.