An interview from Dr.Ravindra Goel Managing Director, Chemline India Ltd.,
From a modest and humble beginning in 1990, Chemline has emerged as one of the India’s No. 1 manufacturer and exporter of a wide range of Industrial Adhesives & Coatings.
Print3 : Could you tell us more about Chemline?
Ravindra Goel : Chemline India Limited, established in 1990, has grown to become one of India’s leading manufacturers and Global Brand of industrial adhesives and coatings. The company offers a comprehensive range of customised products for various cost effective industrial packaging requirements including Paper, Printing, Packaging & Converting, Flexible Packaging and Labelling for breweries, distilleries, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Additionally, Chemline produces specialized Hotmelt adhesives for diverse applications like Automotive filters, Hygiene, Carton sealing, Paper/ Courier bags, Mattress application and downstream products like self-adhesive label stocks, metallized papers, barrier coated papers and industrial tapes.
P3: What are your mission & vision?
RG : Chemline is committed to enhancing customer satisfaction by manufacturing and supplying a highly diversified range of innovative and superior quality chemical adhesives that meet the growing needs of both common and specialty applications.
The company’s objectives include delivering products and services on time, developing cost effective industrial packaging products, maintaining and upgrading manufacturing and laboratory facilities, maximizing the use of information and communication technology, training and developing human resources, and providing necessary infrastructure and a safe work environment.
Chemline complies with ISO 9001:2015 standards and all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, continually improving the effectiveness of its Quality Management System.
Chemline aims to offer world-class products at competitive terms and strives to exceed customer expectations
P3 : Can you share Chemline’s history and milestones, highlighting any major innovations or achievements?
RG : Starting from a modest beginning in 1990,with lot many innovations in Industrial Packaging Requirements Chemline has expanded its presence to over 45 countries, including those in Europe and America. The company operates a modern, environmentally friendly manufacturing facility in Sonepat, Haryana (60 Kms from Delhi), equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.
A significant emphasis is placed on innovation, with a fully equipped laboratory staffed by dedicated, highly qualified, and experienced scientists. This focus on research and development has been a major factor in the development of Chemline’s wide range of products.
Some of Firsts of Chemline’s Innovations include first to make the polymer based Labelling adhesives and Ice water resistant adhesive replacing Dextrin based adhesives. Water based lamination adhesives for high speed automatic machines was developed first time in India for
both graphic arts and flexible packaging industry by Chemline. Also, we have developed Eco-Friendly Barrier Coatings for Food Packaging and Cup Stocks replacing PE Extrusion Coatings.
P3 : What are the different products offered by Chemline, and which is the main product in terms of industry demand and application?
RG : Chemline India Limited offers a comprehensive range of industrial adhesives and coatings tailored for various applications across multiple industries. Our product portfolio includes:
- Lamination & Cold Glues: For paper-to-film lamination and paper-to-paper lamination applications.
- Adhesives for Perfect Book Binding: Hot melt adhesives under the brand name “QUIKLOCK,” available in granules and pillow forms.
- Animal Jelly Glues : For Hard Case/Rigid Box Application
- UV Varnish and Water based coatings
- Specialty Hot Melts: For diverse applications like Automotive, Hygiene, Carton sealing, Paper/ Courier bags, Mattress application
- Adhesives for Bottle Labelling Industry: Water-based adhesives formulated for labelling glass bottles in breweries, distilleries, and pharmaceutical industries.
- Polyurethane Adhesives: Comprises solvent-free and solvent-based adhesives under the brand name “CHEMIFLEX,” for film-to-film and paper/board-to film lamination.
- Industrial & Packaging Tapes: Various tapes designed for industrial and packaging needs.
- Self-Adhesive Label Stocks: Materials used for producing self-adhesive labels.
- Metallized Papers and Paper Boards: Specialized papers and boards with metallized coatings for enhanced aesthetics and functionality.
- Barrier Coatings for Food Packaging: Coatings that provide resistance to water, oil and grease ensuring food safety and packaging integrity.
P3 : How do Chemline’s lamination adhesives affect the printability and visual appeal of laminated materials?
RG : Chemline’s lamination adhesives are formulated to provide strong bonds between substrates without compromising the printability or visual appeal of the laminated materials. By ensuring a smooth and uniform adhesive layer, these adhesives maintain the clarity and vibrancy of printed designs, resulting in high-quality, visually appealing laminated products in high speed machines.
P3 : What are the printing challenges when using Chemline’s water-based dry lamination adhesives?
RG : While Chemline’s water-based dry lamination adhesives are designed for optimal performance, users may encounter general challenges such as ensuring proper adhesive application to avoid issues like incomplete bonding or wrinkling. It’s essential to control factors like adhesive viscosity, drying time, and application temperature to achieve the best results.
P3 : Why is ink adhesion crucial for printing on Chemline’s self-adhesive label stocks?
RG : Ink adhesion is vital when printing on Chemline’s self-adhesive label stocks to ensure that the printed information remains legible and resistant to smudging or fading over time. Proper ink adhesion contributes to the durability and professional appearance of labels, which is essential for product identification and branding.
P3 : How does UV ink interact with Chemline’s transfer and direct metallized papers?
RG : Printing with UV inks on Chemline’s metallized papers requires consideration of ink adhesion properties. While these papers are designed for high-quality
printing, it’s important to ensure that the UV inks used are compatible with the metallized surface to achieve optimal print results.
P3 : How do Chemline’s barrier coatings for food packaging impact printability and ink absorption?
RG : Chemline’s barrier coatings for food packaging are designed to resist water, oil, and grease, which can affect ink absorption during printing. To maintain printability, it’s crucial to select inks and printing techniques that are compatible with these barrier coatings, ensuring that the final print remains clear and durable.
P3 : How do Chemline’s adhesives for packaging affect color consistency and ink drying?
RG : Chemline’s adhesives for the packaging industry are formulated to ensure strong bonding without compromising the visual quality of printed materials. By maintaining the integrity of the print, these adhesives help achieve vibrant and consistent colors. Additionally, their formulations are designed to be compatible with various printing processes, ensuring that ink drying times remain optimal and do not lead to smudging or set-off issues.
P3 : How do printing techniques vary for flexible and rigid packaging using Chemline’s adhesives?
RG : Chemline offers a range of adhesives tailored for both flexible and rigid packaging applications:
Flexible Packaging: Utilizes adhesives such as PU lamination adhesives, water-based adhesives, heat seal coatings, UV coatings, and waxes. These adhesives are designed to accommodate the flexibility and adaptability required in flexible packaging materials, ensuring strong bonds without compromising the material’s pliability.
Rigid Packaging: Employs adhesives like Hot melts for perfect book binding, UV coatings, Jelly glues, Blister coatings, Water & PU based lamination adhesives for Paper/Board-to-Film lamination , carton sealing and side/flap pasting, providing necessary strength and durability to maintain the structural integrity of rigid packages.
The choice of printing techniques depends on the substrate and adhesive used. For instance, in flexible packaging, flexographic and gravure printing are common due to their ability to handle various substrates and provide high-quality prints. In rigid packaging, offset printing is often preferred for its precision and quality output.
P3 : What are the printing challenges when working with Chemline’s food-safe barrier-coated materials?
RG : Chemline’s barrier coatings for food packaging are designed to provide excellent resistance to water, oil, and grease, ensuring the safety and integrity of food products. While these coatings are formulated to be eco-friendly and pollution-free, certain printing challenges may arise, such as ensuring proper ink adhesion and achieving the desired print quality on the coated surface. It is essential to select inks and printing processes compatible with these barrier coatings to maintain the visual appeal and functionality of the packaging.
P3 : May we know about your environmental management policies?
RG : Chemline is certified ISO 14001:2015 for its Environmental Management System, demonstrating its commitment to environmental responsibility. The company emphasizes maintaining and upgrading its manufacturing and laboratory facilities to ensure environmental compliance and sustainability. Additionally, Chemline is dedicated to providing a safe work environment for its personnel.
P3 : In what ways are technological advancements transforming the Indian Printing Industry?
RG : Technological advancements are significantly reshaping the Indian printing industry in several key areas:
Digital Printing: The adoption of digital printing technologies has introduced greater flexibility and precision, catering to the growing demand for personalized and short-run printing. This shift allows for more efficient production and reduced waste.
Automation and AI: The integration of automation and artificial intelligence has streamlined workflows, reduced wastage, and improved resource efficiency, fostering a more sustainable production ecosystem.
Sustainable Practices: There is an increasing emphasis on eco-friendly solutions, such as biodegradable and recyclable materials, driven by rising consumer awareness and environmental concerns. This trend is encouraging printers to adopt sustainable practices and materials.
3D Printing: The emergence of 3D printing technology is opening new avenues in various sectors, offering faster, cost-effective, and tailor-made solutions, thus contributing to the industry’s growth and diversification.
P3 : How do you view the growth of the Indian Printing Industry in recent years and its future prospects?
RG : The Indian printing industry has been experiencing robust growth in recent years, driven by factors such as increasing literacy rates, rising consumer demand, and advancements in technology. According to industry reports, the sector is expected to continue its upward trajectory, with projections indicating significant growth in various segments.
The industry’s future prospects remain positive, with continued investments in advanced technologies, a growing emphasis on sustainable practices, and supportive government initiatives contributing to its expansion and evolution.
Chemline aims to reinforce its market leader status by emphasizing research, customer satisfaction, standards in adhesives, coatings, and specialty paper