The Mumbai based leading pharmaceutical packaging company Ess Dee Aluminium Ltd (EDAL) is expanding its business outreach in the domestic as well as in the international market. The company has chalked out an investment plan worth Rs 150 crore for setting up new manufacturing plants at Sikkim and Dubai. Its Sikkim unit is expected to be commissioned in the December 2007, whereas its Dubai unit will be starting manufacturing activity in the March 2008.

Sudip Dutta, chairman and managing director, said, "To consider our clients move towards excise tax free zone at Sikkim, we are also establishing our business reach in the same area. We are investing Rs 30 crore for setting up new manufacturing unit at Rampo in Sikkim. The strength of the manpower at Sikkim will be around 100 whereas for the Dubai it will go up to 200. To meet the demand from international market, we are investing US $30 mn (around Rs 125 crore) for setting up new manufacturing unit at Dubai".

EDAL has five manufacturing units in India. Its all plants have received the DMF type III approval from the US FDA. The approval will open the doors for the Ess Dee to tap the large US and EU market. Dubai is the hub for African pharma companies, and our Dubai unit will act as the gateway to the developed countries. The company's main motto to establish new unit at Dubai is to cater to the demand from the African European and Middle East Pharma market, Dutta further added.

Few months back, the company has commissioned its PVdC coating line for barrier sensitive high-end pharmaceutical products. It has resulted in growth in revenue as well as better realization of margins. It has also introduced metalized PVC for the healthcare industry. The company also caters the demand of Food and FMCG products industry. EDAL is also expanding its manufacturing capacity at Daman from 3,600 to 18,000 by the end of September 2007.