KG Flexx has launched an ultra-high-barrier EVOH film under its new UBAR brand as the company expands its specialty flexible packaging portfolio and prepares to add a second BOPP film production line.
Dharmendra Mishra, director, KG Flexx, gave some details about this new product to Packaging South Asia at the 13th Elite Plus Flexible Packaging Summit in Mumbai. He said the new EVOH-based film is designed to provide significantly higher barrier properties than the metallized films currently supplied by the company.
“This is the next level of barrier film. The barrier properties are much better than the metallized films which we are supplying,” Mishra said.
The UBAR range is being developed as part of KG Flexx’s strategy to increase its focus on specialty products. Mishra said barrier performance represents an important area of opportunity within specialty flexible packaging films.
“Our company’s philosophy is very clear: we want to have our play in specialty products,” he said, adding the EVOH product would initially be introduced at relatively modest production volumes.
The company expects the new product to help expand its customer base while strengthening relationships with existing customers. Mishra said the company’s participation in the Mumbai event was focused on meeting existing customers and prospects and presenting its latest products to the market.
KG Flexx is preparing to expand its BOPP capacity with a new 10.4m-wide, high-speed production line capable of operating at up to 700 meters per minute. The line is expected to be commissioned by May-June 2027, towards the end of the first quarter of financial year 2027-28.
The new line will be the company’s second BOPP line. Its existing line is 8.7m wide and has a five-layer configuration, while the new machine will have three layers.
Mishra expects competition in the BOPP market to intensify as several new lines are commissioned in India. He said at least three other players were expected to add capacity before KG Flexx’s new line becomes operational.
“We believe competition will intensify because more lines are coming, and we will also contribute to that because our own line will come,” Mishra said.
Despite the expected increase in capacity, he said the investment reflected opportunities in both domestic and export markets.
KG Flexx has built an export presence across a number of international markets and currently exports around 20% of its production. Mishra said the company had entered markets including Europe and South America, alongside more established export destinations such as Africa, Bangladesh and Nepal.
The company completed the ISO and BRC certifications required for exports before expanding into overseas markets. Mishra said KG Flexx had secured substantial volumes in Europe and South America during its first year of exports.
“Not many players have achieved that kind of export success in the very first year,” he said.
The company expects exports to remain around 20-25% of production as it expands capacity, although it plans to maintain its focus on overseas markets. Mishra said raising the export share substantially beyond this level would require a more extensive and robust international distribution and supply network.
