Bluecraft Agro is a paper grade starch manufacturer that produces over 15 types of modified starches and starch derivatives for the pulp and paper industry. In an exclusive interaction with Paper Mart, Mr. Siddharth Chowdhary, Executive Director, Bluecraft Agro Private Limited, shares how the company develops tailor-made starch solutions aligned to specific paper machine parameters, composition, and paper grades. Backed by over three decades of experience in strong scale, deep technical expertise, and an innovation-driven approach, Bluecraft Agro enables paper manufacturers to enhance product quality, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen long-term competitiveness.
Paper Mart: Please tell us about your participation here at Paperex 2025.
Siddharth Chowdhary: Paperex has always been an important platform for us to engage with the pulp and paper industry. Our participation at Paperex 2025 reflects our long-standing commitment to this segment. This year, we are focusing on purposeful interactions around performance enhancement, sustainability, and customized starch solutions that address evolving requirements. It is also an opportunity for us to share how our scale, technical expertise, and innovation-led approach can support paper manufacturers in improving quality, efficiency, and long-term competitiveness.
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PM: Can you tell us about your product portfolio catering to the pulp and paper industry and its USPs? Are there any new innovations in the pipeline?
SC: We offer one of the most comprehensive portfolios of over 15 types of modified starches for the pulp and paper industry and are the largest producer of paper grade starches in India. Our range includes cationic starches, surface sizing starches, oxidized starches, coating binders, and bonding starches, catering to both wet-end and dry-end applications.
Our key differentiation lies in customization. No two paper mills operate under identical conditions, and we therefore develop tailor-made starch solutions aligned to specific machine parameters, composition, and paper grades.
Backed by over three decades of experience and a strong in-house R&D capability, we continue to innovate, with several new and improved products under development that focus on higher efficiency, improved runnability, and reduced overall consumption.
PM: How does your starch solutions and coating help in fibre bonding and enhance machine operations and durability in the long-run?
SC: Starch plays a vital role in fibre bonding and overall sheet integrity. Our modified starch solutions are designed to strengthen inter-fibre bonding, resulting in improved strength properties such as stiffness, burst, and tensile strength.
From an operational perspective, our products help improve drainage, retention, and formation, which contributes to smoother and more stable machine operations. In surface sizing and coating applications, our starches enhance surface strength, printability, and reduce linting and dusting. Over time, these improvements lead to better machine efficiency, consistent output quality, and reduced operational stress on equipment.
PM: How do your products ensure high performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness across diverse applications?
SC: Our approach is to deliver performance while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability and cost efficiency. Starch is inherently bio-based and renewable, which aligns well with the industry’s sustainability objectives.
Through application-specific design and precise modification, we enable paper mills to achieve desired performance at optimised dosages. Improved fibre utilisation, lower chemical dependency, reduced rejections, and enhanced machine runnability collectively contribute to cost savings while also improving the environmental footprint of operations.
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PM: What challenges do you encounter while serving the pulp and paper industry and what are your plans/suggestions to overcome it?
SC: One of the primary challenges we are addressing is to help mills balance increasing cost pressures with rising expectations around quality and sustainability. Additionally, variability in raw materials and machine configurations requires highly adaptive solutions.
We address these challenges through close technical collaboration, continuous on-site support, and ongoing product development. By working closely with customers and offering customised solutions backed by strong technical service, we help mills remain resilient and competitive in a changing market environment.
PM: How do you foresee the future of the paper industry ?
SC: I see a positive and evolving future for the paper industry, particularly in packaging, specialty papers, and sustainable applications. As industries and consumers increasingly shift towards recyclable and biodegradable materials, paper will continue to play a critical role.
While some segments may undergo consolidation, companies that focus on innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainability will lead the next phase of growth. We are confident that advanced starch solutions will remain a key enabler in supporting this transition and driving long-term value creation.
We help mills balance increasing cost pressures with rising expectations around quality and sustainability through close technical collaboration, continuous on-site support, and ongoing product development. By offering customised solutions backed by strong technical service, we help mills remain resilient and competitive in a changing market environment.
