Nichrome India continues to reinforce its position as a pioneer in the packaging machinery sector, driven by a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and customer-centric solutions. In an exclusive conversation, Parag Patwardhan, senior vice president – sales and marketing, shared insights on the company’s recent milestones, evolving industry demands, and how Nichrome is shaping the future of packaging across food, pharmaceutical, and FMCG sectors.
Mahan Hazarika: What are some of the key milestones and innovations that Nichrome India has achieved recently?
Parag Patwardhan: As an industry leader in packaging solutions, expectations from Nichrome are always high and we take pride in this positive pressure. Our mission is to create value for enterprises of every scale, with innovation at the core of our values. A major milestone for us has been commercialization of the Multi-Head Weigher under Make in India a remarkable achievement for our ‘Filling Systems Division’.
Mahan Hazarika: How is Nichrome India integrating sustainability into its packaging solutions?
Parag Patwardhan: We live in an era defined by speed, where no one has time to wait. Yet, in automation, some essentials cannot be compromised. At Nichrome, our focus is on delivering “more for less” – more productivity with reduced power consumption, optimized packaging material, and lower ownership costs. In doing so, we actively contribute to reducing carbon footprints while ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and value for our customers in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Mahan Hazarika: Are you seeing increased demand for machines that can handle eco-friendly or recyclable packaging materials?
Parag Patwardhan: Yes, it is in demand, but it cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires a collaborative approach and strong partnership between the raw polymer supplier, the developer, the customer’s packaging development team, and the packaging solution provider. Together, this ecosystem ensures successful implementation, innovation, and efficiency in delivering packaging that meets evolving market needs.
Mahan Hazarika: In the food and beverage segment, what shifts in consumer preferences are influencing your packaging machinery designs?
Parag Patwardhan: Convenience and single-serve packs are witnessing strong demand, catering to all consumer segments. Smaller pack quantities create the need for high production volumes and diverse pack formats. Marketers increasingly seek packaging partners who can adapt to rapidly evolving market trends. At Nichrome, we specialize in understanding these dynamic needs and translating them swiftly into innovative machine designs, ensuring flexibility, speed, and efficiency to keep brands ahead in a competitive marketplace.
Mahan Hazarika: In the pharmaceutical sector, how are regulatory requirements shaping your technological developments?
Parag Patwardhan: The pharma segment is highly sophisticated, with customers being extremely particular about equipment specifications. Here, it’s not just about what you do, but how you do it and record it. At Nichrome, we deeply understand pharma protocols and seamlessly integrate them into our designs. Our versatile range of machines is engineered to perfectly meet the stringent demands of the pharmaceutical industry.
Mahan Hazarika: How do demands differ for your machines in export markets compared to domestic ones, especially in pharma, food and dairy packaging?
Parag Patwardhan: In the last five years, post-COVID, Nichrome India has witnessed significant growth in exports, especially across MEA, SAARC, and Europe. With rising investments in the FMCG sector, we are proud to partner with brands by offering innovative, reliable, and sustainable end-to-end packaging solutions. Our technology-driven approach ensures efficiency, quality, and trust, enabling us to strengthen our global footprint while serving diverse markets with excellence.
Mahan Hazarika: Which segment do you believe holds the greatest untapped potential for Nichrome in the next five years?
Parag Patwardhan: FMCG is having enormous potential and its going to grow. We have done some good investment with regards to development of solutions in our Packaging System & Filling Systems division. Market is looking for reliable packaging partners, and we are happy to provide comprehensive solutions under one umbrella.
Mahan Hazarika: If you had to sum up Nichrome’s role in transforming India’s packaging landscape, especially across the segments you cater to, what would it be?
Parag Patwardhan: Nichrome has transformed India’s packaging landscape by leading with innovation, technology, and trust. For over 76 years, Nichrome has delivered cutting-edge packaging solutions across food, non-food, dairy, pharma, and Agro-chemicals. With a focus on efficiency, sustainability, and reliability, Nichrome not only safeguards product quality but also empowers industries to scale, making it a true catalyst in packaging excellence.