A merger of the packaging businesses of Manipal Technologies (MTL) and Utility Printpack has created an India-based packaging group with Africa and the Middle East firmly in its sights.
Manipal Utility Packaging Solutions (MUPL) will have manufacturing operations in India at Manipal, Ahmedabad and Chennai but will also produce from Manipal’s plants in Kenya and Nigeria.
In an official press release, MTL and Utility Printpack promised an “unbeatable customer value proposition” through the combination of “India’s largest print solutions player” (Manipal) with “India’s leading and most innovative packaging solutions player” (Utility Printpack).
Gautham Pai, MTL‘s managing director, said the new firm would target markets outside India.
“Packaging solutions is identified as one of our high growth businesses for the future, and we aspire to build a global packaging business spanning emerging markets in Asia, Africa and Middle East,” he said.
“The partnership with Utility Printpack provides us the capabilities to accelerate the growth and achieve our long term vision in this business.”
Manoj Mehta, chairman of Utility Printpack, also spotlighted overseas opportunities.
“The partnership with Manipal further reinforces our vision and commitment towards focused growth in the packaging business in India and globally,” he said.
“The new entity will unite our strengths and provide a resounding resource to our combined customers in India and over 40 countries worldwide with added manufacturing capacities, capabilities, geographic spread and an unparalleled range of innovative packaging solutions and technologies.”
Ahmedabad-based Utility Printpack specialises in luxury packaging.