THE word ‘plastic’ may no longer imply fake or cheap, considering the emerging trends in the Indian plastic products industry. The industry is fast moving up the value chain, from manufacturing lower-end everyday products like buckets and mugs to high-end applications such as auto fuel tanks or hot-water pipes.
These new plastic products are also transforming a number of other industries where they are used. Using plastic pipes for plumbing and sewerage has become increasingly common in the construction industry, which was totally dominated by galvanised iron or cement till a few years back. The conventional brick-and-mortar used in construction is being challenged by plastics as seen in the success of prefabricated structures pioneered by Sintex Industries in India.
India’s plastic consumption has traditionally been low. As against world average of 25 kg and 125 kg in the US, an average Indian consumes just around 6-kg per annum of plastic products. This could go up to 12 kg in the next couple of years, mainly due to these increasing usages of plastic.
Consider household furniture where plastic is replacing wood or steel at the lower end of the market. The packaging industry, too, is increasingly using plastic. Supreme Industries, for example, launched a new type of film last year for packaging meat and marine products.
Emmby Polyarns has developed flexi-tanks that are cheaper and lighter compared to the conventional tanks. The consumer experience could also undergo a dramatic change in the entire process. The in-mould labels (IML) technique pioneered by Moldtek Plastics, a leading manufacturer of plastic pails used for packaging paints and lubricants, could bring in an element of aesthetics and decoration to pail packaging, hitherto not available in India.
“Consumer tastes have changed with rising per capita income. They are demanding better quality, aesthetically superior packaging for whatever they consume,” observed Arvind Mehta, former chairman of All India Plastic Manufacturers Association. “The new age plastic products have the benefits of a long life, high performance and cost advantage. Besides, the polymer products have the inherent advantages of no rusting, no corrosion, no paint peeling off. These features shall make the application of polymers more wide in the years to come,” claimed Anil Jain, managing director of Mumbai-based Time Technoplast. Currently, Time Technoplast is investing Rs 55 crore in setting up a plant, which will manufacture one-million LPG cylinders made up of polymers. The company has already launched plastic fuel tanks for the automobile industry and a new range of containers and crates for material handling, which can be folded, returned and economically reused.
“Everyday, newer and newer plastic products are coming up replacing usage of glass, wood or metals. Today, every car has nearly 125 kg of plastic products fitted in against just around 20 kg a few years ago,” said Deepak Lawale, general secretary of the Organisation of Plastic Processing Industry. “We will continue to see more and more plastic products coming up in healthcare, infrastructure and railways sectors,” predicted Arvind Mehta.
These new plastic products are also transforming a number of other industries where they are used. Using plastic pipes for plumbing and sewerage has become increasingly common in the construction industry, which was totally dominated by galvanised iron or cement till a few years back. The conventional brick-and-mortar used in construction is being challenged by plastics as seen in the success of prefabricated structures pioneered by Sintex Industries in India.
India’s plastic consumption has traditionally been low. As against world average of 25 kg and 125 kg in the US, an average Indian consumes just around 6-kg per annum of plastic products. This could go up to 12 kg in the next couple of years, mainly due to these increasing usages of plastic.
Consider household furniture where plastic is replacing wood or steel at the lower end of the market. The packaging industry, too, is increasingly using plastic. Supreme Industries, for example, launched a new type of film last year for packaging meat and marine products.
Emmby Polyarns has developed flexi-tanks that are cheaper and lighter compared to the conventional tanks. The consumer experience could also undergo a dramatic change in the entire process. The in-mould labels (IML) technique pioneered by Moldtek Plastics, a leading manufacturer of plastic pails used for packaging paints and lubricants, could bring in an element of aesthetics and decoration to pail packaging, hitherto not available in India.
“Consumer tastes have changed with rising per capita income. They are demanding better quality, aesthetically superior packaging for whatever they consume,” observed Arvind Mehta, former chairman of All India Plastic Manufacturers Association. “The new age plastic products have the benefits of a long life, high performance and cost advantage. Besides, the polymer products have the inherent advantages of no rusting, no corrosion, no paint peeling off. These features shall make the application of polymers more wide in the years to come,” claimed Anil Jain, managing director of Mumbai-based Time Technoplast. Currently, Time Technoplast is investing Rs 55 crore in setting up a plant, which will manufacture one-million LPG cylinders made up of polymers. The company has already launched plastic fuel tanks for the automobile industry and a new range of containers and crates for material handling, which can be folded, returned and economically reused.
“Everyday, newer and newer plastic products are coming up replacing usage of glass, wood or metals. Today, every car has nearly 125 kg of plastic products fitted in against just around 20 kg a few years ago,” said Deepak Lawale, general secretary of the Organisation of Plastic Processing Industry. “We will continue to see more and more plastic products coming up in healthcare, infrastructure and railways sectors,” predicted Arvind Mehta.
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