Pidilite, a pioneer in pigment dispersion for paper tinting, has an excellent R&D and leading-edge setup for pigment and specialty chemical manufacturing. They offer specialized coating binders and dispersing agents with consistent quality that makes them the preferred choice to cater to the emerging printing needs of customers. They also generate clear backwater and help save effluent treatment costs. In a recent interaction with Paper Mart, Dr. Kumar. S. Iyer, Senior Vice President-Sales and Marketing, Pidilite Industries Limited, provided valuable insight on the company’s overview, USPs, product portfolio, recent developments, future plans, market footprint, and key clientele. He also discussed the paper industry scenario and the trends shaping the industry.
Paper Mart: Please provide an overview of Pidilite’s paper chemical business, including its history, mission, and core values.
Kumar. S. Iyer: Pidilite’s vision is to become an integral part of the paper manufacturing process. Our aim is to achieve this by designing innovative products to meet the ever-changing customer needs. We maintain our leadership position in paper coloration by remaining competitive and committed to environmental and sustainable practices. Today, we manufacture high quality products for paper coloration and paper coating. Pidilite is also involved in the production of adhesives for paper converting applications, including reel and ream packing, sustainable packaging solutions, and more.
PM: What according to you are the USPs of your company, setting it apart from other competitors in the market?
KSI: Pidilite’s R&D facilities for binders and dispersions, enables us to help in product development and customized solutions. Our range of paper chemical solutions provide the required quality consistency and cost-effectiveness to its customers. Pidilite’s local manufacturing setup and strong distribution network makes us a reliable supplier. Our binders and other paper chemical solutions provide good runnability even at high coating speeds.
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PM: Kindly tell us about your product portfolio, market footprint, and key clientele catering to the paper industry.
KSI: We manufacture pigment dye dispersions, binders, and dispersants for the paper industry. We are market leaders in the paper coloration segment and our key clients include all major writing, printing paper manufacturers and duplex board manufacturers. We have a global presence with customers spread across countries like South Africa, UAE, Turkey, Nepal etc.
PM: What according to you are the key trends shaping the paper industry? How is Pidilite adapting to these trends?
KSI: Sustainability is one of the strongest driving factors for all innovations within the paper industry. We see raw materials and fillers for paper manufacturing being replaced with more abundant and alternative resources. Pidilite is a part of the sustainability movement by providing products that are compatible with all types of alternative resources.
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PM: Could you please tell us about upcoming or recent developments?
KSI: We have recently added new products to our paper coloration and coating portfolio. One example is our pigment dispersion dyes which have superior dispersion properties with the right balance of light fastness and other performance properties. Apart from this, we have also added a new range of polymers based on lower glass transition temperature (Tg) and nano particle size products for board coating (better flexibility). Another development is the new range of dispersants and rheology modifiers for the paper coating segment.
PM: What are your vision and plans for the future?
KSI: With the growing attention to elimination of single use plastic, we are actively pursuing solutions for barrier coated paper products. We will also strengthen our position in paper coloration products and offer a comprehensive range in board application in addition to strengthening our international presence.
