Max Speciality Films plans strategic expansion

Max Speciality Films was started in 1989 as Maxon Ltd. It subsequently became a  subsidiary of Max India Group, a Rs 12,000 crore (2bn USD) conglomerate. The company manufactures specialty films for flexible packaging in a factory spread across 32 acres in Ropar industrial area near Chandigarh. The plant houses four lines each of BOPP and metallizers and three thermal coating lines. The company commissioned its first BOPP line in January 1990; others followed in 1996, 2007 and 2010 to take the total production capacity to 54,000 tons per annum.

BOPP films and flexible packaging were new to the Indian industry when the company started production, but Max Speciality Films quickly established a reputation for quality, secured marque customers and was making profit within three to four years. Max India Group announced demerger plans on January 27, 2015, to focus more clearly on vertical markets (see boxout). Max Ventures and Industries will be the holding company for Max Speciality Films and any other new ventures. The creation of an industrial vertical reaffirms the group’s commitment to the BOPP market and its belief in the Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ campaign.

Max Speciality Films manufactures films catering to food, non-food and industrial market segments. Jaideep Wadhwa, CEO, says: ’Since our current capacity is fully utilized, we are currently evaluating the Indian and other key manufacturing bases globally to assess the viability and appropriate timing for capacity expansion.’

The company has invested heavily in a research and development lab for its specialty products and will also seek strategic partnerships to enter new markets and consolidate its existing position. The company’s Product Application and Business Development (PABD) department, comprising a team of 20 people, has created a technology roadmap for new developments.