True Pack, a dedicated pharmaceutical packaging major and a leader in the south India is investing around Rs. 8 crore to set up a state-of-the-art plant close to its present premises at the Peenya Industrial Area in Bangalore. The facility, which is around 60,000 sq ft. will confirm to class 100/10k standards. The first phase of construction of 20,000 sq ft. is expected to be completed by March 2006.

The new plant will allow the company to manufacture of packaging for small volume parenterals, with the unique Halogen-free resin- COC, which is a superior replacement for Type I glass. In addition, it will also manufacture import substitute containers for oral solids with DMF No. screw/CRC caps) for the US generic market.

The company's expansion plans come in the wake of a growing export market for pharma packaging. Currently, exports, contribute only 10 per cent of its turnover of Rs. 16 crore. Aggressive strategies are being planned to increase the exports earnings to 40 per cent. An increasing number of pharma companies are looking at global markets because of the non-lucrative scenario in the domestic market with the excise duty on MRP.

"In such a situation, innovative technologies and international certification in packaging stands to gain," said MS Chandra Narayanan, head, finance, True Pack. "Our cGMP complaint facility, development of containers with child resistant closures for US and approval for the DMF number from the US FDA gives us the much-needed edge to grab global orders."

For the future, True Pack plans to set up its own gamma sterilisation plant in Bangalore.

The 8-year-old True Pack which is a part of the London based Comcraft & Tecapet Group has pioneered the concept of design and manufacture of three piece droppers using Injection Blow Moulding Technology (IBM), which is housed in a modern Class 10K facility at Bangalore. This product finds is used for packing ophthalmic, nasal and other oral drops.

The company's capabilities include product design and development. It has a customised lab for validation and testing of process and products apart from quality control departments. The company obtained ISO 9001-2000 and is now in the process of awaiting the ISO 14000.

Some of its leading clientele includes Dr. Reddy's, Alcon, Sun Pharma, Novartis, Indoco Remedies, FDC, Cadila, Sunways, Himalaya, Micro Labs, Wintac, Medreich Sterilab, Syntho Pharma and Shalina among others in India. Global orders come in from UK, Middle East, Malaysia, Philippines and Nepal.