The pharmaceutical machinery market is estimated to have touched Rs. 1,500 crore, and is growing at an annual rate of 10 per cent according to Indian Pharmaceutical Machinery Manufacturers' Association (IPMMA) officials. This estimate also includes market for allied segments like processing and packaging machinery, utilities, equipments and other ancillary products. The pharma machinery segment contributes to about 3 per cent of the overall machinery sector.
Pharmaceutical machinery manufacturing in India is predominantly a small-scale industry. According to IPMMA, there are 400 organised pharma machinery manufacturing companies and an equal number of unorganized units in the country. The unorganized manufacturers are usually component makers, who then supply to the organised manufacturers, makers of complete machine. About 150 manufacturers are already registered with IPMMA and are its members.
"Currently all machinery manufacturers are upgrading their machines to meet new international requirements in terms of GMP, cGMP, CE, CFR 21 part 11 validation and all other directions," said Ratan Singhania, Gen Secretary, IPMMA.
Indian pharmaceutical companies prefer domestically manufactured machinery over imported ones due to their easy adaptability, cost and user friendliness, latest design & technology, better after sales services. The Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) on Indian machines is available at less expensive price compared to AMC on imported machinery, he said.
Pharmaceutical machinery worth Rs. 200 crore is exported annually to non-regulated, semi-regulated and regulated markets of the world. The exports are growing at an annual rate of 15 per cent. Indian pharmaceutical machinery manufacturers are all set to enter the regulated markets in developed countries. Several of these manufacturers have started getting enquiries from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Finland and some semi-regulated markets like Latin America, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
About 5 per cent of the total domestic pharmaceutical machinery requirement is imported from countries like Germany and Korea, said Singhania.