Ess Dee Aluminium Ltd, a Mumbai-based leading pharmaceutical packaging company, is expanding its packaging business through investments in its wholly owned subsidiary Flex Art Foil Pvt Ltd (FAFPL) at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh.

"Currently, FAFPL has an installed capacity of 600 tpa, which will be increased to 2000 tpa. We have already completed most of the work for the new plant and commercial production is expected to commence from the mid-Feb of the 2007," chairman and managing director of Ess Dee Sudip Dutta told Pharmabiz.

FAFPL supplies aluminium foils slit of specific widths and printed proprietary designs to pharmaceutical customers. Its enhanced capacity at Baddi will be used to cater to the ever-increasing demand from the pharmaceutical customers. Due to the concessions offered by central and state governments in Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Jammu several pharmaceutical companies are taking advantage of it and are heading to these areas.

Commenting on the excise free zone, he told, "Now the government is considering similar offers to other states like Assam and Kerala. With these concessions, several pharma companies may enter in this zone. To cater the demand of the pharma company, we will also make our way into that zone in near future,"

Currently, company has six manufacturing units in India and investing in expansion of Daman unit. In the Daman unit, the company is increasing its assets. "We are negotiating for the tie-up with a leading multinational company and a final deal is expected by this month. Among all kinds of packaging units, the pharmaceutical packaging industry is currently witnessing a spurt in growth," he further added.

The company has business deals with several pharma giants including Pfizer, Cipla, Ranbaxy, Dr Reddey's Laboratories, Wockhardt, Zydus Cadila, JB Chemical, Sun Pharma and GSK.