Ess Dee Aluminium Ltd (EDAL), engaged in producing specialised pharmaceutical packaging, will soon introduce Alu/Alu packaging and child resistant packaging solutions. The Alu/Alu packaging of the company is claimed to be the first of its kind products in the Indian market.

Sudip Dutta, chairman and managing director, EDAL said that the company would also explore export markets in countries like South America, Africa, and Middle East for the new products. "Today pharma industry is growing rapidly. To cater 'ever-increasing clients demand' we have increased our present capacity of 3,600 tons to 9,100 tons in this fiscal year and now increasing it to 18,000 tons in next year. In Goa also we are expanding capacity from 4200 tons to 5800 tons. Because of particular gauge aluminium, we are into great advantage of production", said Debdeep Bhattacharya, President of marketing and sales of the EDAL. The pharmaceutical segment is contributing nearly 95 per cent of total revenue of EDAL.

In the Indian market, products for all solid dosages of packaging are Blister films range, Aluminium foils, Cold formed blisters (Alu Alu), and Wrap systems and Vacuum packaging are used for packaging of all solid dosages. However, the pharma industry is now started using Aseptic packaging.

Manufacturing is done in a classified environment under controlled temperature and humidity, conforming to cGMP norms. "Our plants have the capacity to meet all pharma packaging needs with flexibility in volumes and specifications", he added.

EDAL is in the business of cold rolling of aluminium "foil stock" to aluminium foil. These foils can be converted into printers stock through the process of lamination for strip pack and also coating for blister pack. The company has four units located at Daman, Baddi, Goa and Vasai. Its Daman unit has received certification from US FDA for the type III pharma packaging.

As EDAL has some major clients like Cipla, Wockhardt, Ranbaxy, Pfizer, Lupin, and many MNCs. Among the packaging companies, EDAL has stiff market competition from the Bilcare Packaging System. At present the company is exporting to Nigeria, Kenya, Chile, Colombia and Ghana.

EDAL's Goa unit has a calendaring line from Germany consisting of high speed and cooling mixer. This unit meets the cGMP requirements of the pharmaceutical industry enclosed area with AHU. The line is totally dedicated for calendaring only pharmaceutical grade rigid-PVC films. The product is offer in the range of 100 microns to 800-micron thickness in transparent, tinted and opaque colours as per industrial requirements.

Bilcare Ltd, pharma packaging research Pune based company, offers best in class global expertise in packaging development and operations. The close association with leading global manufacturers of pharma packaging machines, technical institutes and experts gives Bilcare the edge. Bilcare is an established supply chain partner meeting of the packaging needs of leading pharma manufacturers the world over. Bilcare has state of the art manufacturing and R&D facilities at campuses located in green, highly scenic surroundings in India, Singapore USA, Germany, Brazil and China.

Bilcare, a unique organization with a strong research foundation and an unending quest for global leadership. An organization, integrated with global pharmaceutical having best in class manufacturing and research facilities spread worldwide, with a focus on pharmaceutical packaging research. Pharma companies have the expertise in their core business of formulation development, manufacturing and marketing. In typical pharma company operations, this important core area, which constitutes 80 per cent of the activity, gets only 20 per cent of the resources. This is mainly due to the fact that non-core areas like packaging and support functions utilize more time and effort than is justified.

Global pharmaceutical packaging demand will grow 6.7 per cent annually through 2009. China, India and Brazil will generate the strongest gains while Western Europe, the US and Japan will remain dominant. Refillable inhalers and syringes will grow the fastest while plastic bottles will sustain the largest share of demand.

EDAL's net sales reached at Rs 62.46 crore and it earned a net profit of Rs 9.78 crore during the year ended March 2006. Its net worth amounted to Rs 17.38 crore. Bilcare achieved net sale of Rs 239 crore during the year ended March 2006 and earned a net profit of Rs 40 crore.