Avery Dennison has recently expanded its operation in the pressure-sensitive
adhesive materials area. The company has added a third coating line, an
emulsion coater to their existing line, which will allow them to cater rather
fulfilling the current needs of the Indian market to the fullest. RITU GOYAL
HARISH recently visited the company’s plant in Pune to zero in on this update.
India is one of our most
exciting markets, and
we are committed to
deliver high quality, innovative
products and solutions to
our customers, said Georges
Gravanis, vice president and
general manager - materials
group, Asia Pacific, Avery
Dennison. On the addition
of the third coating line,
“This expansion represents
a milestone for the company.
It is a significant expansion
in not just capacity but also
the activity that allows us
to service a wider set of
customers,” mentioned Anil
Sharma, managing director-
South Asia and Sub Saharan
Africa, Avery Dennison.
Avery Dennison was established
in India in the year 1997 and
has so far invested US$ 100
million. The company boasts
of 1,300 employees in the
country. “India is a promising
market, one of the fastest
growing in our industry. We
have the capabilities, assets
and professionals to meet the
demands of the market. With
two centres, one in Gurgaon
and another in Pune, we also
have a knowledge centre in
Bengaluru,” asserted Georges.
Green move
Stressing on the company’s
eco-friendly policies and
initiatives, Georges elaborated,
“We are very sensitive about
sustainability, so all our plants
are certified and even the
source of paper is certified,
taken from producers who
make it in eco-friendly methods.
We follow very strict waste
management procedures and
have made great progress
over the years. Most of all,
we have decreased the waste
we generate. In the waste
management front, we are 92
percent landfill free in Asia
Pacific.”
“Since 2007 we started
to measure our energy
consumption globally and have
reduced close to 50 percent.
It’s a huge number because our
production is increasing and
sales are boosting. We have set
very specific and aggressive
targets for the next 10–20
years. We want to continue
energy reduction every year,”
said Georges.
Portfolio expansion
Speaking about the new coating
line, Anil said, “Graphic art
is a growing area and we are
a serious player in this space.
This is the first state-of-the-art
asset to deal with the graphic
industry and is strategically
important.” Avery Dennison
is in the process of bringing in
new products from their global
portfolio in the graphic space
to India. “We want to go to the
next level in the graphic art
space and moving beyond just
digital. New perforated window
films, sparkling films and others
for car wrap, glass and wall
graphics, interiors and décors
are some of the new ideas we
are bringing to the market,” he
added.
While some of their products
are already launched in the
Indian market, new décor range
would be fully available by
early Q2 in the Indian market,
according to Anil. On pricing,
he revealed that costs of the
Avery Dennison materials
may be a bit higher than any
conventional products available
in the market, but it will be
more about paying for lasting
solutions that can be resulted in
savings in the long run.
Nurturing the young
Highlighting the activities
undertaken by the company’s
Knowledge Centre in
Bengaluru, Anil mentioned
that the centre trains diploma
holders and known for
creating a stream of young
talents. “We’ve trained 18
students in four months and
now aiming to take it to 100
by the end of this year.” The
students are selected through
a campus interview. “The idea
is to upgrade their skills to
make them employable in the
industry,” he mentioned. Since
all buzz around the country is
about ‘Make in India’ ventures,
Anil felt prime minister
Narendra Modi’s message is
very appropriate for Avery
Dennison as the company has
been following the same for a
very long time.