Ahmedabad-based S&K Technologies recently installed a W&H Varex II blown film line with stretching unit MDO. Deval Soparkar, director at S&K Technologies, said, “In our market study, we saw that monolayer cast film lines have been dominating the Indian market for many years while global trend is more towards the multilayered blown film line. India is also importing such films in huge quantities. We realized that there is a strong need for quality blown films. With this need identification in mind and with a mission to make the best technology available for the Indian market, we began our journey to search for the best blown film line suppliers in the world.

“Not surprisingly though, with initial research only, we came to realize that W&H is the best and the most trusted name in the blown line industry. With further discussion with the W&H team, we zeroed in on the Varex II with MDO line as it matched all the parameters that the market demands. The machine got fully commissioned in April 2021.”

Stable even with low gsm films

Soparkar added, “The new blown film machine is very stable even with low gsm films (12 gsm) at high speeds and delivers high product quality with consistency while meeting or exceeding all the desired quality parameters. The machine has a production capacity of 400 tons a month while the SML line (for cast films) can go up to 100 tonnes a month – taking the total capacity of our plant up to 6,000 tonnes a year in phase 1 of our project. As far as expansion of extrusion capability is concerned, we plan to add one more backsheet line and non-woven line as well.”

Integrated hygiene solutions under a single roof

Soparkar shared that S&K is the first company in India to offer integrated hygiene solutions under a single roof – PE perforated topsheet film, PE backsheet film, wrapping and outer pack films. It is also the first company in India to install brand new European lines for hygiene film production – multilayered blown line from W&H for manufacturing backsheets and wrapping films, and cast line from SML for manufacturing perforated PE Films.

“India ranks among the lowest in the world as far as consumption of hygiene products – sanitary pads, baby and adult diapers – is concerned. However, with the rise in disposable income and literacy rate, this sector is expected to have a strong growth momentum for many years to come. With this thought in mind and with our experience spanning over three decades in manufacturing, we decided to venture into hygiene films segment with a mission to provide quality films at an affordable price.” According to Soparkar, S&K Technologies is the first hygiene film company in India established by female entrepreneurs. Being wives, daughters, and mothers themselves, they understood the need for incontinence products much better.”

Indian hygiene market

Soparkar said that the Indian hygiene market is quite exciting, and it offers good growth potential, considering the current pandemic situation. However, it lacks awareness and insights to get Indian consumers accustomed to safe personal hygiene practices, as is the case with some developed and emerging economies of the world. “Government has taken right steps in this direction through its Swacchha Bharat Abhiyaan and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. We also appreciate the work done by many NGOs and brand owners to create awareness, especially in the rural areas of our country,” she said.

Strategic priorities

Soparkar said, “Our strategic priority is to get a world-class infrastructure ready to meet the needs of domestic as well as global leaders in the health and hygiene industry. Our strategy is also to establish and inculcate well-designed processes and systems leveraging the strong technical experience of our team.”