Swiss masterbatch producer Granula (Merenschwand / Switzerland; www.granula.eu) and Indian plastics producer Som Shiva (Impex) (Ahmedabad, Gujarat; www.simpexin.com) have established a joint venture in India. Granula Masterbatches India will build a manufacturing facility near Ahmedabad to produce and sell masterbatches to the local market. The company will target sectors including the food packaging, medical, cosmetic and automotive industries in India. Granula said that production is projected to start in the second quarter of 2017.

Jürg Weibel, owner and director of Granula, said: “Right now, there is a huge, unmet demand for basic consumer goods in India. But this is changing fast with a vastly increasing middle class. As masterbatch producers, we see enormous opportunities in the steps India is taking to open up the domestic market and moving to higher quality products. We want to be part of that change.”