Packult | 83A-Z of packaging developmentManish Mehta, MD of Reifenhauser, describes his new venture Packult as a closed-loop packaging company. Akanksha Meena reportsackult, established in 2021, provides complete packaging service to brands right from ideation, product research, Pdevelopment, design, supply chain management and execution in line with industry regulations and protocols. Manish Mehta, MD of Reifenhauser and Packult’s founder, Mehta says that as a technology provider, the company was functioning behind the curtains in the packaging industry and was not in direct contact with brand owners and end-users. The start-up allows him the opportunity to be at the forefront of packaging development. The new company benefts from Reifenhauser’s rich expertise in extrusion, lamination, printing, coating digital, fexo, gravure, slitting and pouching, pre-press and inspection technologies but functions as an entirely separate entity with a separate team. Reifenhauser is the backbone of Packult.Manish Mehta, founder of Packult and MD of ReifenhauserExpertisePackult developed its knowledge base with raw material suppliers such as Exxon Mobil, Dow, Reliance and Gail. Then it moved on to “We are merging Reifenhauser inks, adhesives and coating materials and worked on understanding the converting process. and Packult’s activities in terms Mehta says that with Reifenhauser’s technology expertise, he has been able to fnd ways to use technology to solve current issues in of knowledge sharing, experience, the industry. ‘For example, we sold high-end coating machines 4-5 expertise selling”years ago and they are still not commonly seen in the market. But we can achieve a lot by coating. You can make a polyester or BOPP flm with a special coating that has very high barrier properties because the cost of repair and technicians becomes very high, instead of creating multi-layer flms that pose tremendous Mehta explains. challenges in recycling. This is another challenge that Packult will address by offering ‘We can challenge with alternative materials. Hence, we decided technical support to these converters and helping them regain why not come out as a solution provider either to converters or original levels of productivity. brand owners. There are many small to mid-sized companies that ‘That’s how we combine the product mix – process control, might need our help and cannot afford independent packaging packaging design and innovation. I feel that we were behind departments. During the Covid years, I realized why not come the curtain earlier but with this, we will come to the front. We forward and supply the know-how that is missing.’ don’t want to do standard jobs, we are more interested in design Start-up brands usually have to reach out to multiple suppliers innovation,’ Mehta adds. for different types of packaging requirements. Packult offers the Packult will focus on establishing market presence in India and complete service in-house from design, pre-press, color and logo opening additional branches in the frst few years. Later on, it will design to fnal product. extend international branches in countries including the Middle East The company has an in-house graphic designer and creative and Africa to begin with. It will also collaborate with international visualizer. Brands need only to send a PDF fle to receive the companies in designing and circular economy initiative R Cycle for fnal job. support in sustainability. ‘Then comes process know-how. We can offer them complete Additionally, it will also cooperate with ad agencies. packaging no matter the product’s property, including packaging Currently, a team of 15 leads Packult in the same premises as machines. This provides a complete closed loop.’ Reifenhauser but is entirely independent. Mehta is heading the new Packult also provides consultancy services for brand owners entity at the moment but plans to hire someone else for the role by interested in investing in new and advanced technology. They the end of 2022. receive technical guidance along with training. The company already has a few projects on hand and has the ‘We are merging Reifenhauser and Packult’s activities in terms of capacity to take on more work. knowledge sharing, experience, expertise selling,’ Mehta says. ‘We are evolving and don’t have rigid policies. We know the goals Mehta describes it a passion-driven initiative. The stakeholders that we want to achieve. Cooperation and collaboration are a way in the company apart from Mehta include Reifenhauser Germany, of life. As long as our interests are taken care of, we are allowed to Nippon Paper Industries Japan and Comexi Spain. run the company, tech data and security are not touched and the Packult aims to offer technology support to enhance productivity decisions are taken together, we will work towards the same goal,’ and operations for converters for which it has a dedicated process Mehta concludes. control department. If not maintained correctly, technology can become redundant and lose its initial productivity or capabilities. When this happens, For more from Akanksha Meena on the Indian label machines might spend more energy, manpower and time. And market, go to www.labelsandlabeling.com/contributors/converters might hesitate to reach out to machine manufacturers akanksha-meenaJul - Sep 2022