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Mr. Chakor Shah, Director Rachna
Plasticizers in an interview with the polymerupdate team talks
about the plasticizer business in India, how he entered the business
and his plans for the future. |
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In
Conversation |
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Polymerupdate :
Tell us
something about yourself. How did you enter this business ?
Mr. Chakor
Shah
:
I am a Chemical Engineer by
qualification having completed my engineering from UDCT. I have also
completed a diploma in marketing management. I joined the business
around 1987. |
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Polymerupdate : Can you elaborate on the
plasticizer business run by your company ?
Mr. Chakor Shah :
The plasticizer
business run under the brand name Rachna Plasticizers was
established by my father Shri. Navinchandra Shah. We manufacture
around 18,000 tons of plasticizers per month. Different plasticizers
manufactured by our company include Di Octyl Phthalate (DOM), Di
Butyl Phthalate (DBP), Di Butyl Malleate (DBM), Di Octyl Malleate
(DOM), Di Octyl Adipate (DOA), Di Iso Butyl Phthalate (DIBP), Di Iso
Nonyl Phthalate (DINP). |
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Polymerupdate : Which are the industries
catered to by plasticizers ?
Mr. Chakor
Shah
: The main market for plasticizers is PVC leathercloth , cables,
footwear, films and adhesives. |
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Polymerupdate :
What is the
percentage of plasticizers exported by your company and what is your
export market ?
Mr. Chakor
Shah
:
10
percent of specialty plasticizers manufactured by us are exported to
neighbouring countries in the Gulf and the Far East. |
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Polymerupdate :
How much growth do you foresee
in the plasticizer business in India ?
Mr. Chakor
Shah
:
We foresee a
growth of 8 to 10 per cent per year in the plasticizer business in
India. |
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Polymerupdate : When did you start the plastics
drums business ?
Mr. Chakor
Shah
: We were already in the
plasticizers business since the 80s. We started manufacturing drums
in Silvassa from 1992. At that time we used to manufacture 7,000 to
8,000 drums per month. The consumption of HDPE in the manufacture of
drums at that time was around 40 tons. There was a good demand in
the market and quality and service given by us ensured that the
customers were satisfied with our products. We are manufacturing all
types of drums from 1 litres to 235 litres of all types of narrow
mouth and wide mouth. All our products conform to ISI standards and
our companies are ISO 9001 certified. |
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Polymerupdate : What industries are catyered to
by the plastics drums business ?
Mr. Chakor
Shah
: The main market for drums is chemicals, food and
pharmaceutical industries. |
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Polymerupdate :
What are your
future plans ?
Mr. Chakor
Shah
: We
are planning to expand our manufacturing capacity in the near future
and we are also planning a foray into the packaging field. |
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Polymerupdate :
What are the
challenges faced by the new entrants in the polymer business today ?
Mr. Chakor
Shah
: Capital required for starting business today is very
large. The margins have also been squeezed. |