Cosmo Films – manufacturers, suppliers and producers of BOPP films – showcased new launches and innovations at the PlastIndia exhibition held in New Delhi from 1 – 5 February 2023. It has also started a shrink film line and has begun making polyester films.
“We have come out with one of the best shrink films in the market. Shrink films is a big market in India but was largely import-dependent. We have come out with shrink films that brands can use to do 360° advertising on their bottles,” said Pankaj Poddar, group CEO, Cosmo Films.
Apart from shrink films and polyester films, the company exhibited its other launches – window films, rigid packaging and adhesives and masterbatches. Window films are used for architectural purposes and car windows. The company has also launched rigid packaging containers made of both thermoform and injection molding. These thin wall containers are both with iml and without iml and can be used for dairy, beverages, ready-to-eat products, snacks and in the pharma sector.
Speaking on the PlastIndia exhibition, Poddar said, “I must compliment the PlastIndia team that has tried doing a very good job in terms of organizing it because Pragati Maidan was not ready. They spent sleepless nights to make this event happen. A lot of visitors came from all over the country. This time, I feel international visitors were fewer because of fewer flights, expensive air travel, the Covid-19 pandemic, etc. In India, the market is very buoyant and a lot of visitors came because of that. Cosmo Films is very well known in India and globally and so everybody from the industry wanted to meet us. Overall, we got a good response.”
Cosmo Films is largely into specialty and value-added products. “Customers come with their problems so that Cosmo can find a solution,” Poddar said.
The company has a strong research team with more than 35 employees in research and nearly 90 in sales. It has 10 different business verticals. In packaging, Cosmo Films is trying to help brands with recyclable and sustainable products. “Window films is a technical subject. We are coming out with very high-end films, designer films, security films, heat-resistant films – a very big range that we are about to launch,” Poddar said.
“Even in rigid packaging, in so-called mom-and-pop products, we have come out with an innovative and different technology where the product doesn’t shrink. The uniform thickness of the product allows better printability, and a nicer look. Overall, whenever we bring something to the market, we do research and understand the customer needs.”
The films segment in India is growing very well, he said. At the same time, a lot of capacity-building is happening. Cosmo’s focus is to be in niche areas rather than in commodity segments. “For us, the Indian market is important but so is the global market,” he added.
Focus on sustainability
The biggest trend, according to Poddar, is recycling and sustainability. “Customers are always looking at reducing packaging cost but at the same time want to make the packaging look better. They are looking at more for less. Packaging is no different,” he observed.
“Sustainability is something where India is already doing well, barring the littering part, which at times impacts industry assets. I think, overall, we have been front-runners in the world in recycling. But there is a need to do more. Today, it’s close to 60% and in a country like India, we need to do 100%. It’s a journey and things are progressing in the right direction.”
Cosmo is known for its quality and service, he said. “We are known for bringing new products to the table and giving them flawless quality. A lot of innovations were displayed there and a lot of them are in the pipeline. I would like to request my fellow colleagues from other industries to spend on innovation. India has a lot of talent and it’s time for us to innovate, bring new things to the table, and grab a bigger market share. The world is looking at us, and we should not disappoint them,” he signed off.
