In 1990, the partnership company of Kairus Shavak Dadachanji and Shapoorji Pallonji Mistry, known as Kaisha Manufacturers, began producing glass ampoules and vials for pharmaceuticals. In 2008, the company went into a 50-50 joint venture with one of the world’s leading manufacturers of pharmaceutical packaging glass, the German company Schott. Schott Kaisha expanded the business to syringes, sterile solutions, and cartridges.
High-quality, affordable solutions
Rishad Dadachanji, director, Schott Kaisha, speaks about its manufacturing capacity and new developments, “We offer high-quality, yet affordable solutions to the pharma companies in India. We produce over 3 billion pieces a year across our entire product range. We are the only company in India that manufactures packaging of all types. Moreover, our leadership and expertise in the industry have motivated us to launch ready-to-fill nested solutions like nested sterile vials and cartridges. We are proud that one of these solutions is an Indian invention, patented by us. These nested solutions will be supplied globally through Schott.”
Four manufacturing plants in India
Schott Kaisha currently owns two operational manufacturing plants. One is in Daman and the other in Jambusar in Gujarat. The manufacturing plant at Daman produces all four products – syringes, vials, ampoules, and cartridges, and the Jambusar plant currently makes ampoules and vials.
Being a pharmaceutical glass packaging pioneer, the company looks to strengthen the Indian pharmaceutical packaging industry by producing products that meet both consumer demands as well as global standards. Speaking about its upcoming ventures, Dadachanji says, “We will now launch our new site in Umarsadi, 15 minutes away from Daman. Under validation currently, this plant is scheduled to be operational in March. It will handle syringes, sterile solutions, and siliconized solutions as well.”
He further explains, “This is especially an exciting year for us, as we are in the process of major expansions with two new plants coming up in Baddi (in Himachal Pradesh) and in Umarsadi (in Gujarat). With these plants expected to be operational by next year, we would have a total of four Schott Kaisha plants catering to most of the leading pharma players across the country.”
The four production sites are complementary to each other, further enhancing the company’s vision to be the supplier of choice for all the leading pharma players in India. “All the sites are extremely advanced, equipped with the latest technologies, in-line cameras for a full inspection, and more. Schott Kaisha is investing over Rs 50 crores in a new site in Baddi to set up production capacity of 360 million ampoules and 70 million vials. The plant will be operational by April 2020, as installations are going on at our new sites.”
Market share in India
Schott Kaisha is a supplier to all the major pharmaceutical companies in India. He adds, “We have 60-70% of the market share in India for tubular containers made of Type 1 glass, and directly export almost 25% of our production.” He also acknowledges the fact and sees enormous potential as Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers are following a trend of ready to fill lines, easy integration, and smooth changeover.
Nested solutions for pharma companies
The company also offers customized solutions and validation to its customers. Dadachanji explains its nested cartridge solutions. According to him, Schott Kaisha is the first company to introduce these kinds of solutions in India. Apart from nested syringes, the company has a similar concept for vials. “We were the first company to have ready-to-fill nested syringes, vials, and cartridges in a standard tub, which enables a pharma company to have a minimal setup of their machines during change-overs.”
Quality standards & GMP
On the subject of quality standards and good manufacturing practices, Dadachanji says, “We have all the necessary accreditations and certifications. The company also has ISO 13485 certification, which is a strong proof of the Quality Management System, and compliance with the highest standards for organizations in the medical device industry.” However, he admits that in India, people learn about global trends and updates of the regulatory framework, much later. With Schott Kaisha’s German suppliers as well as several partners and stakeholders in Europe and the US, the company has been a pioneer in introducing new trends and best practices to the country much sooner.
“The global market for high-quality pharmaceutical packaging products is rapidly growing, and we wish to be at the forefront of such trends. Schott Kaisha is known for bringing innovative technologies and packaging solutions to India, and we believe this is the need of the hour for our clients who cater to both domestic and global markets,” Dadachanji concludes.
