Toyo Ink India expands gravure ink capacity with a new toluene-free factory
Toyo Ink India has opened a brand new gravure ink factory at its Gujarat site along the western coast of India. A part of the Tokyo-based global specialty chemicals conglomerate Toyo Ink Group, the new expansion will boost the company’s production capacity by more than 5,000 metric tonnes per annum.
14 Jan 2022 | 3480 Views | By Noel D'Cunha
The new plant will allow Toyo Ink India to further strengthen its regional and global supply infrastructure as well as expand its footprints in India’s rapidly growing flexible packaging market.
The first Toyo Ink India gravure factory was established in 2021 in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. KS Murthy, deputy managing director of Toyo Ink India, said, “As our operations grew over the years, we knew it was time to further boost our capacity to help meet high levels of gravure demand and reduce supply lead times to our customers in India and around the globe. Now, with a combined capacity of 20,000 tons per annum, we will work to expand our share and product offerings in the strategic flexible packaging market where we are focusing our efforts to grow.”
In an industry that is increasingly becoming sensitive to regulatory compliances and safety, Murthy added that the “site is toluene-free and uses dedicated controls” to meet regulatory norms. “While Toyo Ink India has been delivering toluene-free products in India for quite a long time, the new factory reinforces the company’s ability to provide a seamless supply of safe and compliant products of the highest quality to our customers, while minimising health risks its employees and the environment at large. Among the advanced toluene-free systems that are slated for production at the new site are solvent- and water-based lamination inks, functional inks and varnishes, and other premium packaging solutions designed with the needs of brand owners and converters in mind.”
In recent years, more brands and converters are taking steps toward safer packaging materials as they are coming under increasing pressure from consumers and authorities concerning food safety. “In response to rising global demand for safer printing inks, in particular for food and beverage, pharma, personal care and other sensitive applications, Toyo Ink India decided to adopt toluene-free operations, thus upholding its strong commitment to product safety and environmental protection,” Murthy concluded.