Signode in India is a leading industrial packaging solutions provider with manufacturing facilities at several locations. The company's comprehensive packaging solutions include products and services. Hyderabad based Signode, a business unit of ITW, is a multinational manufacturer of packaging products with a firm commitment to R&D and an enviable reputation of working with customers to save millions in material and labour. Mr N L N Raju, Chief Operating Officer, Signode India, responded to a questionnaire sent by Industrial Products Finder for the Special Section on Andhra Pradesh. Excerpts

What are the products you offer?

Signode India offers complete protective packaging solutions to prevent damage to products during handling, storage and transportation with consumables, tools, equipment, after sales services, on site packaging services and end-to-end solutions for tracking and tracing of products till they reach customer. Protective packaging space includes material handling, taping, strapping, wrapping, palletisation, product identification, check weighing, and product storage and retrieval. Solutions are offered across customer segments like metals, textiles - including natural and manmade fibre - automotive, engineering, food and beverages, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, construction materials, paper and graphic arts, logistics and warehousing, etc.

What is the company's history?

Signode India has been offering packaging solutions for the past 30 years in India. We started with steel strapping solutions and later introduced non-metal straps, paper and plastic based corner protectors, taping solutions and wrapping solutions - most of them for the first time in India. We expanded manufacturing facilities from Hyderabad to Silvasa, Rudrapur, Bangalore and are now setting up a new facility in Dahej. Thanks to global presence of Signode, we have introduced many products and solutions with the learning from various countries. Other important milestones in this journey are:

• Started on site packaging services in late 1980s and today offer complete range of packaging services at more than 90 customer locations
• Started building integrated packaging lines in late 1990s and today offer segment specific complete packaging lines to industry, and
• Started supply chain solutions integration with packaging and ware housing process in various segments; and installed automatic storage and retrieval systems at the end of the line introducing state-of-the-art technology.

Why should the customer opt for Signode products?

There are several benefits to customers, but if I have to just name two of the most important, these are: 1. Internationally benchmarked products and solutions offer cost effective packaging, manpower, space optimisation and reduce product damages across supply chain; and 2. Our consultancy and field engineering services study current packaging practices, supply chain practices and suggest improvements and solutions.

How strong/effective is the after sales service?

We have branches across the country covering all the industrial areas. We reach out to customers directly and through our 25 distributors spread across the country. Manufacturing locations at Hyderabad, Silvasa, Rudrapur and Bangalore help deliver products faster.

What are the company's achievements?

From a single product line, today we have become a one-stop-shop for all secondary packaging needs. Signode India is the single largest secondary packaging equipment, consumables and services company in the country. We have won many awards from institutions like IIP and other packaging fraternity for the innovative solutions introduced in the country and become trusted partners for many leading companies in each segment. The company has been instrumental in continuous improvement and changing secondary packaging practices in the country.

Any breakthrough product launch that made a difference?

There are quite a few, but the three notable ones are:

• Introduced integrated packaging solutions
• Introduced recyclable, re-usable packaging systems in many segments, and
• Introduced supply chain solutions that are integrated with secondary packaging solutions.

How is present business environment?

We are seeing a decline in growth with many end customer markets; however exports have been improving. Domestic market demands are also expected to improve during 2014.

What are the future plans?

We have invested in expanding capacity of our machine building in 2013 and are currently in the process of expanding our production capacity for packaging consumables at Dahej. We are working with the industry as a lead integrator for delivering end of the line packaging solutions for the industry.