Packaging: a confluence of technologies
By R.Gopalakrishnan
The packaging industry scene in India represents diverse possibilities and promises, in terms of both material and technology, with some placed to play a greater role in future while not excluding a due place for others.
Food packaging has emerged as one of the fastest growing sectors. Increasing public and regulatory demands regarding safety and environment seem to place some packaging materials, like cardboard and glass, and technologies related to their use in packaging, in an advantage. However, a whole range of polymer based packaging will continue to be relevant, often in respect of the same safety and health-sensitive food products, because plastic packages are ideal for sale in small quantities that cater to a large segment of the population with limited purchasing power, besides travellers whose needs of convenience are best served by plastics.
Regulatory pressure from both within the country and abroad on manufacturers to reduce the quantum of packaging material, ensure biodegradability and reuse/recycle material is likely to place paper and cardboards, paperboards etc at an advantage, though at present food and semi-processed foods as also fruits and vegetables are to a large extent packaged in polymer-based material. Glass, which too does not pose the problem of environmental degradation, is expected to become increasingly popular particularly for packaging of beverages, spirits, processed foods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Where polymer materials seem to score is their lightness, dimensional flexibility, low cost and ease of printing of consumer information and brand promotional logos and texts.
Of course, all modes of packaging have to compete with each other to meet criteria of chemical inertness, resistance to corrosion, suitability for longer shelf life, ease of transportation, ease of printing, preservation of flavours, dimensional stability/flexibility (as required), impenetrability and pilfer-proofing to win market shares. Apart from older breakthrough technologies like blister packaging, new technologies like aseptic packaging are increasingly seeking endorsement from the market.
Packaging material manufacturers and fabricators have to familiarise themselves with detailed and complex regulations like Harmonised European Union Directives in respect of packaging, besides laws of individual EU member-States where harmonisation is yet to be introduced. Similarly, the US FDA’s (Food and Drug Administration)’s Food Contact Notifications relating to packaging standards, and similar regulations of other major markets like Japan and Australia and New Zealand become relevant when India is seeking to expand its markets abroad, for both food and non-food products.
Design of packages has itself evolved into a separate discipline, in view of the importance of combining functionality and brand promotion in packaging of products.
It is thanks to the confluence of many frontline technologies relating to material sciences, food processing, printing etc in packaging that trade fairs related to this industry have assumed ever greater importance. Interpack 2005, the next edition of the International Fair for Printing Machinery and Material and Confectionery, organised once in three years by Messe Dusseldorf AG, Germany, the world’s most important event in this sector, is scheduled at Dusseldorf from April 21 to 27 next year. Indpack, the Indian edition of the Dusseldorf fair, is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad from September 10 to 13 this year. Indpack will combine in itself Dairy Universe India 2004, Sweet and Snack Factory and International Foodtec India.
Printpack India, featuring printing and packaging machinery and technologies and organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) of the Commerce Ministry at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, will have its next edition from February 18 to 25, 2005.
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