Delhi-based Chemline, a 35-year-old company manufacturing adhesives and coatings, showcased its offerings at the Printpack exhibition in Greater Noida, by launching its barrier-coated products for cup stocks and food packaging. Ravindra Goel, a PhD in polymer science and technology from IIT Delhi is the company’s founder and managing director. Initially a government employee, Goel wanted to start a company and began by manufacturing glues from a small kitchen. “The formulations were very innovative, and we succeeded fast. Our first customer was Nestle India. Later on, we managed to get United Breweries and United Spirits on board,” Goel told Packaging South Asia.
Starting with labeling adhesives, Chemline today has 10 different verticals with a complete range of chemical products for the paper, printing, packaging, and converting industries, including water-based adhesives, lamination adhesives, hot-melt bookbinding adhesives, animal jelly glues, UV varnishes, aqueous varnishes, and flexible packaging adhesives. Its specialty hot-melt division provides inputs for a wide range of applications, including automotive, mattresses, and air filters, Goel said.
Supplying adhesives to more than 2,000 clients across the country, Chemline has been exporting its range of adhesives to over 40 countries, including the US, Germany, Russia, and several European, African, Middle Eastern, and CIS countries.
Sustainable barrier-coated products and label stocks
At Printpack, the company launched its range of barrier-coated products for cup stocks and food packaging. “Till now, PE coatings were used for paper cups, making them non-compostable and hence not eco-friendly and sustainable. PE coatings have been banned in several states in India, mainly in the South. To address this, we launched cup stocks with water-based coatings on the inside, which composts along with the paper,” Goel said.
Chemline has started manufacturing pressure-sensitive label stocks used for printing labels. The company manufactures chromo (coated) papers and print labels at its printing facility. “We have a very good adhesive for manufacturing label stocks, which works in both hot and cold weather,” Goel explained. The company supplies label stock to ITC and Patanjali, he said.
Chemline’s head office is located in Prashant Vihar in Delhi with a production facility spread over 19 acres, with separate plants catering to various segments. The company employs 15 people at its R&D facility to develop new, innovative products according to industry requirements. Goel noted, “Chemline is a research and development (R&D) company, and we have many innovations to our credit.
“The adhesives manufacturing segment is growing rapidly, with many new manufacturers coming up recently. However, the raw material is still being imported. I think big companies should manufacture raw materials for adhesives in India, which primarily include polymers, chemicals, and resins. This will help reduce the imports from Korea, Japan, the US, and China and help us become more competitive.”
Chemline’s quality and presentation differentiate it from its competitors, Goel explains, adding its products are odor-free and on par with international standards. “We have regularly participated in the Printpack exhibition for the last 20 years. The exhibition has a very good footfall and we have received some interesting inquiries.”
