Today the Indian pharma machinery industry is giving a tough competition to global players,says Mahendra Mehta, President, IPMMA. In an e-mail interaction with AD Pradeep Kumar while giving an overview of the PHARMA Pro&Pack 2016 edition , he says that thanks to Internet, global trade and industry exhibitions, the Indian industry is able to showcase its strength to the world. Because of all the tireless efforts put in by the industry, imports of machinery used by Indian pharma industry are now limited to some niche technology areas only.
Kindly give a brief about PHARMA Pro&Pack 2016 edition?
PHARMA Pro&Pack Expo and PharmaLAB Expo 2016 are the concurrent events featuring analytical and biotech instruments and consumables. These exhibitions are being jointly organized by the Indian Pharma Machinery Manufacturers' Association (IPMMA) and GPE Expo Pvt. Ltd. to promote IPMMA member companies as well skills of the other non-member machinery and ancillaries manufacturers on national and international business platforms. The international Buyers - Sellers Meet (BSM) is being organised in association with the EEPC India (set up by Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India) to encourage the exports of the Make in India pharma machineries and allied products needed for the pharma manufacturing plants. The co-located exhibition, iPHEX 2016 is being organized by Pharmexcil to focus on trade and business development of pharmaceutical & healthcare sectors of India. All these events are being annually organized for three days at the same venue. The exhibitions are being supported by 10 national and international pharma trade associations.
What is the theme of the event this year? What are the highlights and main features ?
The exhibitions are aimed at promoting and nurturing the domestic as well international trade of Made in India pharma machineries. IPMMA member companies are the backbone of the Indian pharma industry - one of the powerful pharma economies of the world. At the same time, IPMMA members are also exporting highly competitive world-class engineering technologies with affordable costs to pharma industries of more than 105 countries world over. Year after year, the PHARMA Pro&Pack Expo, PharmaLAB Expo and iPHEX exhibitions are getting more and more recognition from domestic and international pharma markets and increased number of trade attendees through pre-registration as well as walk-in registrations have also been observed. The first time participation from the pharma machinery & allied segment has also increased for the year 2016 exhibition.
How many exhibitors are expected this year? What is the exhibitor profile?
Approximately more than 350 exhibiting companies put together for PHARMA Pro&Pack Expo, PharmaLAB Expo and iPHEX exhibitions are expected to exhibit more than 5,500 products / services in the three-days show. The exhibitors' profile include pharma processing machineries (tablet / capsule / liquid / injectables / ointment / dry syrup), packaging machineries, packaging materials & consumables, bulk drugs, additives, excipients, pharma finished products, formulations, lab reagents, glassware & equipment, analytical, R&D equipment & biotech instruments, environment control eqpt & services, utilities products & services, turnkey contractors, project consultants, analytical instrumentation & systems, instruments for physical & chemical analysis, chromatography, spectroscopy, microscopy & optical imaging, biotechnology, lab instruments & apparatus, lab planning & furniture, lab automation, lab glassware & balances, testing & measuring instruments, material & water testing, quality control in industries & research labs, educational lab products for all levels and drugs, pharmaceutical and healthcare industry.
How many visitors are expected this year? In what way would the event would be beneficial to them? How much growth is expected compared to the previous year?
The overall footfall of approximately more than 19,000 trade visitors are expected at the exhibitions. Since these exhibitions are happening for the fourth time, it has already made a mark and more and more serious buyers who are looking for Made in India pharma machineries and allied products / services are attending the exhibition.
Please tell us about the recent trends and growth of the pharma packaging and machinery industry in India?
Times are changing and all of us have to get attuned to the changing times. Demands are clear from the end - machinery users who are mature in understanding and fine-tuned their demands. These customers are regular visitors at many global trade shows and also go through scores of international reference books on latest developments in machinery and also having experience of both European and Japanese technologies. These customers are very clear about what they want, so the process of supporting these clients and their demands have already begun. Indian machinery manufacturers are coming up with good R&D. In fact a few of our equipment in the R&D segments are equal or better compared to European equipment. I can only say that the era of Indian machinery manufacturers making machines with high end technology and equipment needed for research and development labs has kicked off in the right earnest.
What are the challenges faced by the pharma packaging and machinery industry in India? What are your suggestions to overcome them, and how would the the Pharma Pro &pack expo play a role in it?
The pharma machinery manufacturing segment is likely to face several tests, challenges and threats and the industry at large should prepare itself for all sorts of eventualities. The major risk I foresee is the demand which is going to be low. Quality cannot be compromised in pharmaceutical sector as it is directly linked to human lives. Also the financial condition of companies and countries are unstable and we need to secure our receivables. I feel that the challenge will be to come up with low cost innovation without compromising on quality. Plug and play products which minimises after- sales cost will be the key to prevail & succeed in global markets. To meet the challenges at the world level and to develop a global perspective, Indian pharma machinery industry will need to run an extra mile.
Today the Indian pharma machinery industry is giving a tough competition to global players. Thanks to Internet, global trade and industry exhibitions, the Indian industry is able to showcase its strength to the world. MNCs in India are demanding global standards and the Indian multinationals are supporting our industry to cope up with the demand rather than just depending on imports. Because of the tireless efforts put in by the industry, imports of machinery used by Indian pharma industry are now limited to some niche technology areas only.
Please give an overview of the last year's event?
The year 2015 was the third edition of Pharma Pro&Pack expo and has been successful in terms of foreign delegates visiting the exhibitor’s booth and considering the Make in India program initiated by the current government. It was very interesting to have foreign buyers coming and inspecting products in their own ways. “Seeing is believing” concept is always the basis of conducting these exhibitions and when you showcase and demonstrate the working of your products to buyers at the show, the product speaks for itself.