10 August 2021

Cosmo Films launches new products and plans to expand

Cosmo Films has launched new film products for the label and flexible packaging industry. CEO Pankaj Poddar talks about the upcoming products and the company’s investment and expansion plans.

Cosmo Films has a introduced a new range of films including BOPP face stocks, water-based and UV flexo-compatible film, direct thermal film and synthetic paper. The company also plans to launch adhesives, shrink films and recyclable laminates for labels and flexible packaging applications.

The manufacturer has launched several films including cavitated BOPP film face stock with better barrier properties to oils used in hot melt adhesives, a high gloss metalized film and aesthetically modified film with a paper-like look and feel. The ‘paper like’ film gives better thermal transfer printing with durable resin ribbons, according to Poddar.

Cosmo has also unveiled a better and faster printable film with both water and UV flexo inks. The film also works with thermal transfer ribbons. The new products also include high strength shelf labels and a synthetic paper that replaces wood pulp-based paper in labels and commercial print applications.

‘We are aggressively working on improving our synthetic paper portfolio and are also coming up with shrink films and DTP (direct thermal printable) films in the near future,’ Poddar says. The company plans to introduce adhesives for the label industry.

He adds that Cosmo Films has always been a focused polypropylene player and its products include BOPP and CPP films.

‘The two types of films could be used individually for single-layer/duplex structures or in combination to form mono-material laminates without compromising on the aesthetics and performance of the pack. BOPP along with CPP could also go in construction of bulky or bigger packs. BOPP Films and CPP films also offer the benefit of better yield and in turn less consumption of plastics and overall lesser laminate cost.’

Cosmo Films is working closely with several FMCG brands to understand their needs and help them develop easy to recycle packaging laminates for their products.

The (label) segment will continue to grow at 5 to 8 percent globally given that new options continue to emerge for the consumers

The company has commissioned a BOPET line due to be installed in 2022. ‘This would be a significant expansion for our films business. We have recently commercialized direct thermal films too,’ Poddar emphasizes.

Cosmo is already exporting to more than 100 countries across the world and has been looking to expand its operations. For its label business, the company is aiming to increase its presence in North America and East Asian countries including China.

‘Cosmo has become a household name when it comes to self-adhesive label films in India, Europe and South America. We are known for our range of films, quality consistency and superior printability on our films.’

Poddar is sure the label and flexible packaging industry will grow by at least 12-15 percent,

‘The growth was higher in self-adhesive labels, shrink and injection-molded labels in the last 18 months. The demand for self-adhesive labels went up due to an increase in demand for sanitizers and liquid soap. The demand for wrap around, though, somewhat went down due to lockdowns and less consumption of beverages in the restaurants and hotels.

‘Labels is a niche segment and requires deep investments into research and development. Many players have tried to enter the label film segment but only a handful could survive due to the complexities involved around the label industry. The segment will continue to grow at 5 to 8 percent globally given that new options continue to emerge for the consumers.’

The demand for Cosmo’s synthetic paper has been consistently growing albeit at a slow pace during Covid-19 for several commercial print applications including tags, restaurant menu cards, coasters, labels, identification and credentials applications and certificates and mark sheets.

‘While the second wave has hit us all hard, we, being a part of essential services, need to function. We have taken all precautions at our plants and have taken special insurances for our employees who are working amidst the second Covid wave. We have also organized several vaccination drives in Aurangabad, Karjan and at our head offices in New Delhi to keep our employees safe during the pandemic and for the future as well,’ Poddar says.

Its subsidiary, Cosmo Speciality Chemicals, has recently launched 18 new textile auxiliaries for the dyeing, finishing and pre-treatment processes for the B2B textile industry. The chemicals arm has also launched a laundry sanitizer, Fabritizer, for the B2C market, which is claimed to kill 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria from the surface of the fabric, giving it protection for seven days.