India Expansions: Cosmo commissions new BOPP packaging line; Huber opens India’s first production facility for direct food-contact inks

Indian film maker Cosmo First says it has commissioned a new BOPP (Biaxially Oriented PolyPropylene) film line with Capex of Rs400 crores+ at the company’s existing manufacturing plant located at Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The new line will have a rated capacity of 81,200 tonnes/year, increasing its BOPP capacity by 40% to 2.7 million tonnes/year.

Speciality sales at Cosmo First have been growing at a CAGR of 10% for the last 6 years. The new BOPP Line will support Cosmo in further expanding its product portfolio across speciality films and packaging. The company plans to further strengthen its speciality films product portfolio with several new products in the pipeline, expected to be launched in the upcoming quarters.

Speaking on the developmentPankaj Poddar, Group CEO, Cosmo First, said, “We expect the line to get filled fast due to current favourable gap in demand and supply in the domestic industry. Further, the new BOPP film line shall be eligible for state government incentives beside being the most cost-efficient line in India. The company’s focus will be on taking full leverage of the new investments including BOPP line and grow specialty film sales.”

Meanwhile in other news, Germany-based printing inks supplier Huber Group Print Solutions says it has openedIndia’s first dedicated production facility for Direct Food Contact (DFC) inks. The facility in Silvassa is entirely separated from other production areas, setting new standards in safety, sustainability, and innovation for food packaging, says the company.

The new facility produces the sheet-fed ink series MGA Contact, specifically developed for direct contact with food. These inks comply with stringent international safety standards and allow printing on the inside of paper and cardboard packaging, when coated with a dispersion varnish such as Huber’s Acrylac DFC series. This opens up new design possibilities for packaging products like chocolates, fruits, and fast food, supporting the transition to more environmentally friendly, paper-based solutions.

All raw materials used in the production are thoroughly screened, and the final inks undergo strict quality controls. The production adheres to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) principles and is designed to minimise carbon footprint and utilise renewable materials.

“We are very delighted about this inauguration, as it establishes us as a frontrunner in the Indian market,” says Prasanta Sarkar, Vice President, Technology Print Solution at Huber Group India. “The mission of the new facility is clear: to make packaging safer, more sustainable, and more innovative. Our DFC inks and varnishes meet strict global safety standards and are designed with both people and the planet in mind.”

Huber Group adds that the inauguration of this specialised production facility in Silvassa underscores its commitment to innovation and sustainability in the packaging industry. As a strategically important site within the company's global network, the facility contributes to increased supply security and offers tailored solutions to customers worldwide, the firm concluded.

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