Mumbai-based flexible packaging player Vista Packaging has set an ambitious growth plan for the next couple of years. The company manufactures flexible laminates, multi-layer films, paper boards and different types of pouches, and has become a leading player in the manufacture of CPP films, barrier films, flexible packaging laminates and much more. In terms of current infrastructure, it has an 8-color rotogravure printing machine, a solvent-free laminator from Nordmecannia of Italy, a zipper-making machine, zipper pouch making machine from Waterline of Switzerland, paper board lamination and punching machine, and a high speed slitting and rewinding machine. Vista also has a 5-layer
cast extrusion film line.
By 2020, the company plans to more than double its converting and pouch-making capacity. The converting capacity currently stands at 200 tons per month and Vista plans to take it to 500 tons per month. The company currently makes about 108 million pouches every year and has a target to reach 250 million pouches every year by 2020. A couple of years ago, Vista invested in its printing infrastructure, which doubled its printing capacity.
“Our goal is to be a company with which customers want to do business. We have built a huge level of trust with our customers and we want to keep up that trust,” said Abdulqadir Rangwala, who looks after international marketing at Vista Packaging.
Focus on the US market
With almost 90% of its products being consumed by foreign brand owners, Vista has an expertise in dealing with overseas markets. It has a strong base in Europe with some big brand owners as its customers. The focus is now on expanding in the lucrative but extremely competitive US and North American markets. The company exhibited at the recently concluded Pack Expo, North America’s biggest packaging and processing show.
“It was our second time at Pack Expo. The first time we were there was more to figure out what the market was all about. This time our presence was more substantial as we took some significant decisions,” Rangwala shared. Vista has now appointed John Ferrington as business development manager for North America. Ferrington was appointed just prior to Pack Expo. Rangwala believes Vista can provide cost advantage to the US customers as well as value addition.
India did not feature in Vista’s scheme of things because the Indian market was not mature enough to accept the kind of solutions the company was offering. However, in the last few years the Indian market has begun to mature and according to Rangwala, Vista will offer its newly developed solutions to the domestic market as well along with developed markets.
Innovations
According to Rangwala, Vista is always looking to innovate when it comes to providing packaging solutions. It is currently working on developing solutions to help increase the shelf life of food products. “Lidding films are an important packaging solution that we offer. We are continuously interacting with food companies to develop solutions that will help in enhancing the shelf life of the products,” said Rangwala.
