Bi Ltd ties up with German firm to set up manufacturing unit at Pune

Our Corporate Bureau

Mumbai, Aug 24: PHARMACEUTICAL packaging major Bi Limited plans to set up a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) manufacturing unit at Pune with an investment of $5 million in technical collaboration with Ticona GmbH, Germany. The company will raise half the funds from the debt market, while the rest will come in via internal accruals. The new unit will be accommodated within the existing plant in Pune which manufactures PVdC coated PVC films.

Bi Limited managing director Mohan Bhandari said, “Bi Limited has always been at the forefront of innovation. Our company being the leader in pharmaceutical packaging in India, is expanding fast into the international markets. To ensure profitable growth, the company will fortify its market leadership through aggressive marketing and superior service efforts.”

The new COC manufacturing unit, with a capacity of around 5,000 tonne per annum, will be commissioned by March 2002. The company has already launched COC branded Bilcare Topas, the latest technology in polymers, for blister packing pharmaceutical tablets and capsules. Initially, the company will outsource the product from overseas.

Mr Bhandari said, “The Asian pharma industry will witness tremendous growth with the introduction of this revolutionary polymer, namely Bilcare Topas. We have already begun conducting stability tests for our pharma customers, which is a major development for us. Bilcare will continue to bring the latest technology in pharmaceutical packaging to the global marketplace. Bilcare is currently the market leader with a marketshare of over 58 per cent in the domestic market. Growing on the same lines, we anticipate to grow by over 12 per cent on year on year basis.”