The future of the Indian pharma machinery industry is bright. The Indian pharmaceutical industry posted double digit growth rates in 2014-15. As in the previous fiscal year, in 2015-16 too, the sector is expected to post the same or higher growth rates despite a few headwinds, according to Rattan Singhania,President of Indian Pharma Machinery Manufacturers Association (IPMMA).
In a recent interview he pointed out that the key strengths and core aspects of the Indian pharma machinery include; robust machine designs incorporating latest engineering technology with highly competitive cost. At the same time, the demand of high quality and advance features from the end-users of pharma manufacturing facilities from India and internationally as well, where Indian pharma machineries are being exported, is the major force for Indian pharma machinery industry to have constant new development in the existing products. Resulting the best outcome by fulfilling these demands offers high performance, minimum product change over time, plug & play options, tool-less change overs, less power consumption, no fine setting required, no skilled manpower required, are more automated and aesthetic and finally are compliant to C-GMP.
Now Indian pharma packaging machine manufacturers are producing good quality machines. However, they need to work on finishing of machines, bring in consistency in machine performance and machines should be manufactured as per customer’s requirements. There should be minimum change of parts & changeover time. They should also provide flexibility for sticker & paper labels and finally should be versatile and flexible with both, glass & pet bottles, he added.
The Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) has forecast that the Indian pharmaceuticals market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 23.9 per cent to reach US$ 55 billion by 2020 from just $6 billion in 2005 and $12 billion in 2013. The Indian pharmaceutical industry, one of the strongest pharma-economy across the world, has emerged as single point resource for pharma machineries, lab equipment and API, bulk actives for the world pharma markets. The Made in India pharma machineries are being exported to more than 92 countries worldwide while India exports API, bulk actives and formulations to more than 120 countries globally. Meeting the quality standards set by international regulatory agencies, Made in India pharma-supplies have gained global recognition and demand with trust of a quality product.
All these developments will also boost the prospects of the Indian pharma machinery industry as pharma companies keeping pace with growth will either modernize their existing technologies or invest in new machineries.
Though till a few decades back, the Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing sector was heavily dependent on imports to meet its needs of machinery and equipment, in the recent years, the tables have turned to such an extent that India now exports pharma machinery to around 92 countries across the world.
Pharmaceutical machineries made in India are installed and under operations at FDA-approved manufacturing facilities in the US, Australia, Africa etc. meeting international standards and parameters. As these countries mandate proper validation of the products, the importance of machinery that incorporate advanced technologies are also increasing.
The Indian pharma machinery industry is well established within Indian pharmaceutical industry, and performing a very crucial role as the backbone of the Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing industry providing robust machines with world-class technology, and quick service after sales as being the domestic market.
The IPMMA is also in continuous efforts to strengthen the client-server relationships through various promotional activities. These include PHARMA Pro&Pack Expo, an annually organized international exhibition on total pharma manufacturing technologies, and concurrent exhibition - PharmaLAB Expo featuring analytical lab instruments and supplies.
PHARMA Pro&Pack Expo exhibition offers an unparalleled business networking opportunities to a smallest entrepreneur to showcase their technology skills to domestic and international buyers. PHARMA Pro&Pack Expo and PharmaLAB Expo are being organized by IPMMA and GPE EXPO PVT. LTD. The co-located exhibition, iPHEX (organized by Pharmexcil) showcase the complete spectrum of pharma chemical – API, bulk drugs, excipients, formulations, contract manufacturing etc.
PHARMA Pro&Pack Expo launched in 2013 has emerged as the largest most Brand INDIA pharma machinery & lab equipment exhibition in the Indian sub-continent.
PHARMA Pro&Pack Epxo 2015 and concurrent event, PharmaLAB Expo 2015 co-located with iPHEX 2015 witnessed participation from 471 exhibiting companies and was attended by over 18,000 trade visitors from India including 580 hosted international buyers from 124 countries.
The concurrent trade shows were inaugurated by Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizer Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Minister for Food & Civil Supplies Girish Bapat. The trade shows also saw visits from a six-member government delegation from Sri Lanka.
PHARMA Pro&Pack Expo 2015 also hosted a Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM) which saw participation from over 70 international buyers and helped Indian pharma machine and equipment manufacturers have a one-to-one interaction with these foreign buyers. At the same time, Pharmexcil invited and hosted 498 international buyers at the exhibition.
The fundamental reason behind hosting the BSM was to promote ‘Made-in-India’ pharma machinery & engineering to the worldwide pharma markets and the BSM strives to directly support and encourage the Indian pharma machinery export trade, especially those from the SME sector.