Ahmedabad-based Devashray Papers (India) LLP., whose commercial production started in September 2023, currently manufactures writing & printing paper and their main target is to manufacture all the specialty grades in the future. They are fully aligned with the ‘Make in India’ initiative and focus on the Indian market. In a recent interaction with Paper Mart magazine, Mr. Dhruv Desai, Managing Director, Devashray Papers (India) LLP, shared about the recently bought machine, its capabilities, and its market footprint. He also talked about the global paper market and the company’s future plans.
Paper Mart: Please tell us about Devashray Papers (India) LLP.
Dhruv Desai: Incorporated in 2018, Devashray Papers (India) LLP uses imported virgin pulp (softwood and hardwood) as the raw material and has a current capacity of 330 TPD. Recently, we have started manufacturing writing & printing paper ranging between 40-140 GSM with an anchor GSM of 70 GSM. As we move forward and grow, we will start manufacturing specialty grades as well. We are very much aligned with the ‘Make in India’ initiative and we are focusing more on the Indian market.
PM: Tell us more about your recent investment that you have made.
DD: We have recently invested in a second-hand machine from Voith Germany and the commercial production started in September 2023. We also have installed zero liquid discharge ETP in our plants which we believe is the first of its kind in India. We have heavily focused on automation. We have planned our machine in a way where our maximum targets of producing all the specialty grades including OGR paper, release-base paper, thermal base paper, and decor paper can be achieved. Having an experienced engineering unit and a strong technical team, we believe we will be able to start the specialty grades soon.
Watch: Starkraft to Offer Capacity of 350,000 tons from May 2024
PM: Please shed light on your market footprint, raw material, and product portfolio.
DD: Our main focus is on the Indian market. We are not planning to export in the near future, but once we reach our full production capacity and are stabilized, then we will start exporting.
We only use imported virgin pulp (hardwood and softwood) in our plant. The material is imported from all across the globe including Indonesia, Japan, South America, Canada, and the US. Different types of raw materials are imported from various countries depending on the grades to be produced.
Initially, we started with the production of writing & printing paper of 140 GSM. As we grew, we are now producing the paper of 54 GSM. After we stabilize our machine and reach a certain production limit, we will start focusing on the specialty grades.
Also Read: Kuantum Papers Joins Hands with Bellmer Germany for PM4 Upgradation
PM: What are your thoughts on the global paper industry and your future plans?
DD: We believe that the Middle East and the European market is the way forward. The Middle East market has gone on the upper trajectory in recent years and has good opportunities for specialty grades. The African market has many opportunities for writing & printing papers. Once we reach our full capacity, we are planning to export 30 percent to 40 percent in these regions.
We are not planning any expansions as of now, but, once we reach our certain limit of production, then there is a lot of space in the market for all the grades. We are not targeting a particular grade. We have planned our machine in such a way that we can fulfil a lot of segments of the paper market.
