Schott increases production capacity with Rs 220 cr investment

Schott claims that the melting furnace will help the plant to reach an annual production capacity of 40,000 metric tonnes, and thus, enable it to support the pharma industry that is experiencing a surge in demand for pharma packaging products amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pawan Shukla, managing director, Schott Glass India, said, “India has stepped up as a responsible leader in the global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. We are committed to ensuring that there is an adequate supply of its high-quality pharma glass for the Indian pharma industry. Moreover, as Schott’s manufacturing hub in Asia, we have taken up the responsibility to cater to our clients in India as well as the neighbouring countries.”

The melting tank is a part of the company’s commitment to invest over Rs 413.28 crores in its Indian facility and double its capacity of producing Fiolax tubing material for domestic and export demands. According to the company, Fiolax is best suited for storing the potential Covid-19 vaccines as it avoids the migration between containers and the drug formulation that can limit its effectiveness.

Patrick Markschläger, executive vice president, Business Unit Tubing, Schott, said, “All players within the global pharma supply chain have a key role to play in the ongoing fight against Coronavirus. We are already catering to pharma packaging leaders for storing the medication for Covid-19, and delivering glass vials to three out of every four vaccine projects (undergoing various phases of testing). Our Indian facility is an integral part of our pledge to cater to any requirement of the pharma industry sustainably.”

Amid the pandemic induced lockdown, Schott’s employees and engineers continued working at the Jambusar facility to enable the construction of the new tank in the defined timeframe (one year). The expansion has resulted in an additional employment of over 120 skilled workers, taking the overall count at the plant to 420 employees.