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.
According to Indian Pharmaceutical Machinery Manufacturers Association (IPMMA), out of the annual sales of Rs. 500 crore, more than Rs. 200 crore are by way of exports and the annual sales are growing at the rate of 20 per cent.
In Latin America, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Chile are some of the major markets that the IPM manufacturers are targeting. IPMMA has already appointed representatives in some of the countries in this region.
"One-fifth cost advantage of Indian machines compared to European and US standards, a better adaptability of Indian machines to the pharmaceutical manufacturing requirements in these countries and strict GMP compliance followed by Indian machinery manufacturers are the factors for a growing demand from these markets. After all, however less expensive your product is, it will never find an international buyer until it meets international good manufacturing requirements," said Ratan Singhania, general secretary, IPMMA.
Besides, major Indian machinery companies have started to follow proper documentation and maintenance of records for every manufacturing and maintenance procedure, which is demanded by international buyers, according to Rashmi Shah of Pharmalab.
Another reason for the Latin American pharma manufacturers to look for alternative machinery sellers from India compared to traditional US or the West European countries is the tight economic scenario in these countries. The currencies in countries like Brazil and Argentina faced severe devaluation with respect to dollar last year.
"Indian machinery manufacturers are perfectly evolving with changing times. Today, Indian machines are far better in quality and in par with international standards, than it used to be 15 years ago," said Dr. P.G. Shrotriya, director, Technical, MJ Biopharm Pvt Ltd. Indian manufacturers follow the ISO 14000 and 9001 series of quality certification.
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.
15-20 per cent of the machinery used in the pharmaceutical industry in India is imported from abroad from countries like Germany and Korea. These are high-end machines used in tableting and capsuling.
"Machines are tailor made meeting requirements of the pharma industry. Every pharmaceutical company has its own system of procedures (SOP) for manufacturing and maintenance of its machines, as an effort to meet the latest GMP compliance. Keeping with this line, it would want the machinery manufacturer to follow a set of procedures with proper documentation in the manufacturing. Most of the time, it is the pharma manufacturer, which educates the machinery manufacturer on the latest fashion in the machinery and the upgradation in WHO GMP norms," said Dr. Shrotriya.