Schott ups its capacity with a new glass tank

The expansion is a part of the company’s growth strategy of its pharma tubing and packaging business segments.

Dr Patrick Markschlaeger, executive vice-president, business unit tubing, Schott, said, “The pharmaceutical market is booming worldwide with a very high demand for premium pharmaceutical packaging and tubing. The tank adds to the investment on tank facility last year. Schott specialises in Fiolax borosilicate glass tubing which features a high hydrolytic resistance, making it suitable for primary packaging of medicines. 

Sundeep Prabhu, vice-president sales and marketing at Schott Glass India, said, “Since its development in 1911, Fiolax has been established as the gold-standard material for pharmaceutical containers and its behaviour with drugs is well researched and proven. In India, it is primarily used to manufacture glass vials and ampoules.”

The production of pharmaceutical Fiolax tubing from the tank is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2020. 

“In order to supply the rapidly growing domestic and Asian market, we are investing once again a multimillion-euro figure in our Jambusar site to increase our manufacturing capacity in India,” added Markschlaeger. 

The investment is in line with the company’s aim to manufacture zero-defect tubing. The tank will feature a unique big data approach perfeXion, a process, which has been rolled-out globally by Schott since 2017.

“Georg Sparschuh, managing director at Schott Glass India, said, “The perfeXion ensures 100% quality control of each tube on the line by using cameras, laser and IR inspection systems. In Jambusar we are combining Indian and European technologies and local skills. With the additional tank, we are also adding new workplaces.” 

Besides the tank facility, the investment includes an extension of the batch house, warehouses and a new chimney.