Welset Plast Extrusions Pvt. Ltd.
Your Partner in the World of Plastics

In Conversation

Arvindbhai : We bought a partnership company named Welset Extrusionists in 1968. We started with the reprocessing of Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB) which was used in the manufacture of fountain pens and spectacles. We used to buy scrap from pen manufacturers at that time like Mhatre, Wilson Pens and Pilot and after making gradation would sell it to hand moulding manufacturers for making fountain pens. We were the leading manufacturers of CAB in India for nearly two decades as Prime CAB then manufactured in USA by the Kodak company was imported in the country at an import duty of 300 percent.

Arvindbhai : Somewhere around 1972, we felt that reprocessing of CAB had no future. We then ventured into PVC cable compounding and were highly successful. PVC resin was bought from NOCIL, the only manufacturer of PVC resin in India in those days. For two years consecutively, we got the jobwork for toll compounding in PVC from NOCIL.  In 1978 manufacture of PVC colour compounding was started for use in the wire and cable industry.

Arvindbhai :  There was a period when we did not venture into anything major and everything was running smooth from 1986 to 1996. Somewhere around 1996, we thought of expansion. We converted our company into a Private Limited company in 1998 with the name Welset Plast Extrusions P Ltd. During the same time, we bought a unit in Silvassa for the manufacture of PE colour masterbatches. When we started the Silvassa unit in 1998, consumption of PE was around 10 tons per month which has risen by 20-30 times now. We also pioneered into the production of pearlised colour used widely in blow moulding containers for packaging of oil.

Arvindbhai :  In 2001, we felt the need to diversify our product portfolio. With that intention in mind, we bifurcated our plant in Silvassa and started a separate unit of 10,000 square metres for the production of PVC non-toxic compounds which are used for medical applications. We were the first company in India to manufacture this product. Also, with the addition of the plant, company grew from a small scale to a medium scale company. Today, we export PVC to major countries of the world like USA, China as also Europe and PE is exported to emerging markets of the world in the Middle East and Africa. The PE colour masterbatch plant was also expanded. Total raw materials consumed in our plant including PE and PVC come to around 1500 tons per month. We have a competent technical team backed by a good office staff.

Arvindbhai : Now I do not engage my self in the day to day affairs of the company. The whole company is managed by my son Paresh who has very competently and efficiently taken over the reins from me. Even when I was active in my work, I would always find time to fight for the causes of the plastics industry. In my capacity as an experienced representative of the plastics industry I have served in various forums of the industry to voice my concern for the same. I started with being the President of the Bombay Fountain Pen Manufacturers &Traders Association. I was also the President of the Society of Plastics Engineers Inc(USA) Indian section as well as a National Council Member of the Confederation of Indian Industry during 2001-2002. I have also served as the President of the All India Plastics Manufacturers Association. Currently, I am the serving President of the PlastIndia Foundation. During the stints with various organizations, my only aim was to highlight the various issues facing the polymer industry at various international and national levels. I have attended various conferences in India and abroad related to the industry. The highlight of my travels was leading a delegation of 140 people to China in 2001. This visit followed by many such official visits to the country opened the vast Chinese market for India in the plastics trade.  I have also written various articles highlighting the different markets around the world as well as how trade in the plastics industry can be improved and my articles have been published in various industry magazines.

Arvindbhai : I feel that there is a shortage of technically skilled manpower facing the industry today. Today’s generation is easily lured into other industries where the pay scales are comparatively higher. Our industry is such that one has to struggle a lot as I did if one has to achieve success. There is also the constraint of money and power. New entrepreneurs are also not coming in the industry as the margins are lower and they prefer moving to the service industry.

Arvindbhai :  The days of quota regime are over. With the markets opening up, competition will be fierce and only those who are ready for the competition will survive. One has to focus on the export market in order to grow in the business and expand their trade. Countries like China, Japan and Germany built their economies on export trade. To survive in the plastics industry which is a very important part of the Indian economy, it is imperative that the young entrepreneurs constantly upgrade their level of production and technology.  Also with Multi National Companies coming into India in a big way with their increased money and muscle power, the small traders ought to form clusters today to protect their interests and see to it that their trade base is not eroded. All in all, the future of the industry looks bright.       

Mr. Arvind Mehta seen with Mr. Dhirubhai Ambani along with other dignitaries of the Plastic Industry

Mr. Arvind Mehta with RIL Chairman & MD Mr. Mukesh Ambani along with other delegates at the Plastindia 2006 Exhibition

Mr. Arvind Mehta elected as President of Plast India Foundation for the Year 2006-2009
(From Right : Mr. Amar Seth - Vice President PIF, Mr. Hasmukh Patel - Treasurer PIF, Dr. Varma - Ex. Director CIPET)