Windlas plans second unit

Pharma firm exports to Africa, South-East Asia and former USSR

Coming out of the red, Windlas Biotech Ltd, one of the big pharma companies in Uttaranchal with a turnover of Rs 23 crore, is looking for buyers in foreign countries and contemplating a move to set up another unit at the Mohabewala Industrial area here.

"We have bought a piece of land in Mohabewala and are finalising a proposal to set up our second unit here," Ashok Windlas, managing director of Windlas Biotech, told Business Standard.

The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Windlas group of companies, initially suffered losses in the first three to four years, but came to the breakeven level because of the central excise package and tax holiday scheme declared in 2003. "We are being benefited by the tax holiday scheme," said Windlas.

Apart from producing various pharmaceutical products, the company also specialises in supplying ready-to-compress granules of all pharmaceutical raw materials, as well as herbal and aromatic extracts and formulations along with several essential oils.

The company has a vast generic range of products specifically to cater for the international tenders, and institutional and pharmacies chains network purchases.

The Mohabewala plant has the following dosage form facilities that include tablets (non Beta-lactum), capsules (non Beta-lactum), dry syrups, liquid orals, and injectables.

The company is looking for buyers in foreign countries. "We are currently exporting our formulations to African countries including Namibia and Tanzania; the Commonwealth of Independent States including Kazakhstan; and South-East Asian countries including Cambodia.

"Several others of our products are under registration in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Chile, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Mexico," Windlas said.

In the first four months of 2005-06, the company has already done a business of Rs 15 crore. Last year, the company has achieved a sales target of Rs 23 crore.

For overcoming the initial losses, the company has started new strategies which include entering into a contract manufacturing tie-up with pharma companies across the countries. Lupin, Intas Pharma, Mankind, Ochoa, and Winmedicare are some of the major companies for which Windlas Biotech is manufacturing.

The company currently buys its raw material from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.

"Earlier, we had our own team of sales representatives. But later, we dispensed with the practice and switched to contract manufacturing," Windlas said. "On average, the company produces each month 80 million tablets, 20 million capsules, 800,000 bottles of syrup and 2.5 million injunctions," Windlas said.

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Healthy dose

• Windlas has purchased land in Mohabewala Industrial area and is finalising plans of its second unit there
• Dosage form facilities include tablets (non Beta-lactum), capsules (non Beta-lactum), dry syrups, liquid orals, and injectables
• Firm has products under registration in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Chile, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago and Mexico
• It has contract manufacturing tie-up with pharma companies like Lupin, Intas Pharma, Mankind and Ochoa, and Winmedicare