The packaging industry in India is witnessing an inflection point – driven by consumer-centric innovation, sustainability imperatives, and the rise of adaptive manufacturing. As India evolves into one of the fastest-growing packaging markets in the world, automation technology providers like B&R Industrial Automation, a member of the ABB Group, are helping machine builders and manufacturers shift from mass production to mass customization – with flexibility, intelligence, and precision at scale. In an interview with The Packman, Jhankar Dutta, regional managing director – Southern and Eastern Asia, B&R Industrial Automation, shares his insights on how automation is redefining the future of packaging.

Mahan Hazarika: How would you describe B&R’s overall strategy for the Indian packaging market?

Jhankar Dutta: India’s packaging landscape is uniquely dynamic – a blend of traditional processes and cutting-edge technology adop-tion. B&R’s strategy focuses on enabling Indian OEMs to design smarter, modular, and globally competitive packaging machines. Our goal is to empower machine builders to innovate faster, scale efficiently, and align with international benchmarks in productivity and sustainability.

At the heart of this strategy lies B&R’s ecosystem approach – combining hardware, software, and digital engineering tools to create a seamless automation framework. This includes integrated machine control, robotics, motion, safety, and advanced analytics – all within a single architecture. The result: shorter machine development cycles, higher overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and adaptability to rapidly changing market needs.

Mahan Hazarika: Considering India’s machine-building landscape, what unique challenges and opportunities do you see for B&R?

Jhankar Dutta: India’s machine-building sector is vibrant yet fragmented. While the appetite for innovation is strong, the gap often lies in technology integration and standardization. Many OEMs are evolving from semi-automatic to fully automated sys-tems and are seeking platforms that offer both performance and scalability.

India’s challenge isn’t about ambition; it’s about acceleration. OEMs are ready to leapfrog, but they need partners who can help them do it efficiently and sustainably. That’s where B&R steps in – by making advanced au-tomation accessible and adaptable.

B&R’s open automation architecture allows Indian OEMs to leverage the same technologies used by global leaders, ensuring that machines built here can compete anywhere in the world.

Mahan Hazarika: Can you share how your innovation-driven approach, such as the ACOPOStrak machines, is being adopted in India?

Jhankar Dutta: A key differentiator in B&R’s portfolio is its ACOPOStrak system – a revolutionary transport solution that redefines production flexibility. With independently controlled shuttles on a magnetic track, packaging lines can switch products on the fly, eliminate downtime, and handle variable batch sizes with unmatched efficiency.

In India, this technology is gaining traction among high-value segments such as food, beverage, and pharmaceutical packaging, where agility and precision are critical. ACOPOStrak embodies the future of manufacturing – adaptive, intelligent, and modular. It allows our customers to rethink what’s possible in packaging, turning challenges like SKU proliferation or short product lifecycles into opportunities for differentiation.

Mahan Hazarika: India’s packaging sector shows a very high rate of technology adoption. What factors are driving this rapid uptake?

Jhankar Dutta: India’s packaging sector has been quick to embrace automation – and for good reason. Rising consumer expectations for convenience, hygiene, and personalization are pushing manufacturers to invest in flexible packaging lines. At the same time, export-driven growth and sustainability mandates are raising the bar for compliance and traceability.

Digitalization, too, has played a pivotal role. The combination of IoT connectivity, data analytics, and edge computing has made it possible for manufacturers to optimize performance, predict maintenance needs, and minimize waste – creating a new standard for operational excellence.

Mahan Hazarika: Since global trends now reach India almost simultaneously, how is B&R helping local OEMs align with international developments?

Jhankar Dutta: As global trends now reach India almost in real-time, the ability to stay in sync with international standards is essential. B&R supports Indian OEMs by providing a globally harmonized automation platform, enabling them to design machines that are not just ‘Made in India,’ but also ‘Made for the World.’ Through its Automation Academy, partnerships, and strong local engineering presence, B&R ensures that machine builders gain access to the same innovation ecosystem that powers global leaders.

Mahan Hazarika: How do you envision the role of adaptive manufacturing and 6D technology in shaping the future of packaging?

Jhankar Dutta: The next phase of industrial evolution will be defined by adaptive manufacturing – where production lines adjust in real time to market demand, material availability, and sustainability goals. B&R’s 6D technology framework (Digitalization, Decentralization, Data, Design, Drive, and Delivery) is helping industries achieve this vision.

Adaptive systems bring resilience to the manufacturing ecosystem – allowing companies to navigate labor shortages, changing consumer behavior, and raw material fluctuations while maintaining profitability and sustainability.

Mahan Hazarika: How does adaptive manufacturing help industries address challenges such as market uncertainties, sustainability pressures, and labor shortages?

Jhankar Dutta: Over the next decade, Dutta envisions India emerging as a global hub for packaging machine innovation, supported by strong local engineering talent and increasing collaboration between OEMs, automation experts, and end-users. India’s growth story is not just about scale – it’s about smart scale. By combining adaptive automation with digital intelligence, we can make Indian machines the benchmark for the world.

Mahan Hazarika: Where do you see the biggest growth opportunities for B&R in India in the next 5–10 years?

Jhankar Dutta: As packaging continues to evolve from a functional necessity to a strategic differentiator, B&R’s role goes beyond tech-nology – it’s about shaping the future of how products are made, packed, and delivered. At B&R, we believe the future of packaging isn’t about faster machines – it’s about smarter manufacturing. When intelligence, adaptability, and sustainability converge, the possibilities are limitless.