‘Packaging industry holds independent identity’

Piramal Glass recently scored a double hatrick, when it received the Best Vendor Award from Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI). Vijay Shah, Managing Director, Piramal Glass, gives more details to Usha Sharma

What would you count as the major achievements of Piramal Glass?

In the last decade, we have been awarded the OPPI award five times. This is the sixth time that we have received the award. We have the world’s largest pharma glass bottling furnace at a single location in Jambusar, Gujarat. We follow USP type 1, type II and type III norms for all our products. We have an SA 8000 certification, the only glass bottle supplier from Asia to have this certificate. OHSAS 18001: 1999 certification, ISO 14001: 1996 certified by BVQI, are some of the certificates awarded to us. Also, we manufacture the entire range of pharma products right from 2 ml to 2.5 litres amber and flint type I, II and III. In terms of internal processes, Piramal Glass is at the forefront with SAP phase I and phase II implementations, manufacturing excellence initiatives being carried out at the plants.

For our people, we have done a balanced score card implementation as well, so that execution is in line with strategy. At the heart of the company, are the corporate values of knowledge, action and care. As a business, we use knowledge in all actions we take. And we do so with care as our guiding imperative.

What are the new packaging products to be expected from Piramal Glass?

Piramal Glass has a firm belief in being at the forefront of technology, when it comes to meeting and exceeding customer requirements for the same. We keep on developing products for our customers. Depending on the market and the customer requirements new developments are an ongoing activity. Also, development of wide mouth packer series for abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) and chemical bottles etc are some new products we have developed.

What is the current size of the Indian packaging industry and what are the factors driving its growth?

The domestic pharmaceutical sector is worth $4 billion and is growing annually at over 10 per cent. Packaging accounts for approximately five per cent of this market, which is about $200 million. Pharmaceutical tablets and capsules are sensitive to moisture, temperature, oxygen, etc. It is crucial that they are packed in the right material to ensure that they retain their potency. On reacting with moisture, some tablets/capsules may become toxic, resulting in health hazards to the patient. Optimum packaging of the tablets and capsules ensures longer shelf life along with the safety of the drug. Packaging also plays a crucial role in creating brand awareness for over-the-counter (OTC) drugs — which is going to play a crucial role in the years to come with increasing volumes of OTC versus prescription drugs.

Do you think that the packaging industry is becoming a standalone industry worldwide?

Yes, packaging is becoming an important ancillary unit for any pharma company, especially primary packaging as the same comes in direct contact with the product.

Do you think the Indian pharma packaging standard is similar to western countries?

For glass bottles and vials most of the Indian companies have to follow either US Pharmacoepia (USP) or European Pharmacoepia (EP), which is a regulatory requirement. But a lot of glass companies may not be producing bottles which comply with the latest USP guidelines. Piramal Glass is one of the few companies which have ensured that USP norms are followed for its products.

Could you comment on the different packaging products available in the market? And which is widely applicable?

The packaging which is most applicable in the market is glass bottles for syrups and tablets, glass injectables, vials for injectable materials and blister packs or aluminium packs for tablet packaging. Besides glass bottles and injectables, blister packs, virgin polyjars (eg Dabur Chyawanprash), tetra packs (for mineral salts), glass line pouches, form filled plastics (like ear, eye, nose drops) etc are widely used.

How can pharma packaging combat the adverse effects of humidity?

Humidity adversely affects the shelf life of pharma products. Also humidity is harmful especially for hygroscopic products. Glass packaging is one of the best when it comes to ensuring humidity does not come in direct contact with the product.

What are the career options in the packaging industry?

Packaging is gaining more and more importance not only because of the regulatory requirements but also because of brand building efforts. This has resulted in growth opportunities in the industry. As the industry has expanded, more R&D work is also being undertaken by Indian firms. Packaging industry provides a high end engineering job with a variety of assignments. It’s a process industry and hence provides numerous professional challenges.

usha.sharma@expressindia.com