AMD Metplast eyes HP, Uttarakhand for packaging

Delhi-based AMD Metplast Ltd, a leading packaging solution provider for the beverage industry, will soon cater to the packaging requirement of pharmaceutical industry in Himachal Pradesh (HP) and Uttarakhand.

Company's managing director Ashok Gupta said, ?Pharma is a growing sector and we would start catering to the pharma industry in HP and Uttarakhand by the end of 2007."

The company's management officials are in talks with some of the pharma companies based in these two state for possible business opportunities. With large-sized pharma companies setting up their facilities here, the company expects a better volume of business from these states.

"Lots of major pharma companies have moved in their operation here and we intend to tap them," Gupta said.

AMD Metplast will add three to four moulding machineries for the purpose at an investment of Rs 5 crore at its present facilities in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

The company's product profile includes crown caps, plastic closures and PET preforms for carbonated soft drinks (CSD), mineral water, beer and other alcoholic beverages, fruit juices, and sauces.

Of the total beverages market in India, the company claims to hold 35 percent market share.

Currently, the company has four production facilities, three in UP and one in Rajasthan. The annual production of crown caps is 2,661.12 million, while of CSD closures is 288 million and PET preforms is 4,620 metric tonnes.

Metplast will be further adding 3,000 tonnes to its capacity of PET preforms, apart from raising Rs 22.58 crore for setting up its new PET preforms line at the existing plant in Neemrana, Rajasthan. The company has also received IPO Grade 3 from the credit rating agency CARE.