Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, recently announced that the construction of its new greenfield production facility in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India is proceeding as planned and is expected to begin production of desiccant canisters by the second semester of 2017. This plant will be a significant contributor to Clariant’s global desiccant canister production.
Clariant’s business line healthcare packaging had conducted the ground breaking ceremony of this plant in January 2016. This facility will manufacture desiccant canisters, the primary desiccant platform for high-speed, high-volume packaging lines, often the case for generic drug manufacturers. In addition, Clariant is already assessing plans for expanded production, including plans to add high-capacity multi-lane production of its versatile Continu-Strip desiccant packets, which can be inserted with numerous types of standard desiccant insertion machinery.
Clariant's extensive manufacturing footprint ensures quick delivery and competitive pricing, as well back-up capacity to meet the BCP (Business Continuity Planning) requirements of global players in the pharmaceutical industry. All products produced at the Cuddalore facility will meet US FDA and EU standards for use in pharmaceutical applications and will be USP <670> compliant. The Cuddalore facility is equipped with an ISO Class 8 clean room and will implement GMPs and environmental controls with a path toward ISO 15378 certification.
“The new site will serve the Indian pharmaceutical industry with state-of-the-art desiccant products produced under the strictest quality and compliance standards, and within a secure, truly global manufacturing network,” said Matthias Brommer, Head - Clariant Healthcare Packaging. “We are extremely excited that facility construction, and production plans are moving at full speed ahead, according to schedule. The production capabilities at this new facility will add significantly to our global desiccant canister production capacity during 2017.”
Ketan Premani, Head – Healthcare Packaging India, adds that, “The facility will also offer the full range of globally produced Clariant protective packaging systems and components and link customers to Clariant’s global packaging design capabilities. The facility and the other Healthcare Packaging facilities around the globe ensure available back-up capacity to meet the BCP (Business Continuity Planning) requirements of our global customers.”
Advanced canister mold and assembly designs ensure their ability to withstand the rigours of high speed insertion, packaging, and use. Colored labelling — including bright red — is available to help differentiate desiccant canisters from drug products.
Clariant Healthcare Packaging is the leading supplier of pharmaceutical desiccants in India, with a long history of working with both branded and generic drug manufacturers. The Cuddalore facility, the newest in the rapidly expanding global manufacturing network through which Clariant Healthcare Packaging produces and delivers its desiccant and sorbent products, joins existing production facilities in the USA., France, and China. The new facility is strategically located within the Bangalore/Chennai biopharmaceutical cluster, one of India’s busiest pharmaceutical hubs, and is positioned to leverage Clariant’s existing network and logistics resources to serve customers throughout India.