The company said the new 33,000 square metre site in the Verna area of Goa should be fully operational by the end of 2012. It will become Bosch’s packaging hub in the sub-continent. The firm said it will be integrating all of its packaging production at the plant.
Indian potential
Ashok Gourish, business head at Bosch Packaging India, told FoodProductionDaily.com the investment would realise a major increase in its production capacity.
“Our current output is around 150 machines a year but we are catering for an increase in demand of around 45 to 50 per cent,” he said. “We are also expecting to see the number of employees jump by around 40 per cent to more than 150.”
He said that sustained and strong growth from the food industry, particularly in confectionery, was fuelling climbing demand for the company’s machinery.
"In India the demand for packaging machines is expected to grow by 10 per cent per year," he added. "The development of food parks in India, increased hygiene standards in the food and beverage industry, adoption of Western-style medicines in the pharmaceutical sector and attracting global players of the confectionery industry to India – all these are factors which have acted as key catalysts for this growth."
Flow wrappers
The company was seeing greatest demand for horizontal flow wrapping systems, said Gourish.
“There is very strong demand for this type of packaging from India’s fast-growing retail sectors –particularly in supermarkets and hypermarkets,” he said. “This is because consumers want to be able pick up and see what they are buying prior to purchase. Flow wrapped products allow customers to do this but they also maintain product freshness and hygiene.”
Friedbert Klefenz, company president, underlined the growing importance of expanding its Indian base
"We have a strong market position in the emerging markets, and to cater to the rising demands we are looking into expanding our existing portfolio,” he said. “This approach has not only brought us closer to our customers but has also helped us strengthen their confidence in us. Today, India is the hub for SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries as well as the Middle East and Africa."