Swiss Packaging Firm SIG Commissions First Aseptic Carton Plant in Gujarat, Plans Phase-2 Expansion.

Switzerland-based packaging company SIG has officially inaugurated Phase-1 of its first aseptic carton plant in India, located in Bhayala near Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Built with an investment of €90 million, the facility has a production capacity of 4 billion carton packs per year and employs around 300 people.

The company has also announced plans for Phase-2 expansion, committing an additional €50 million to establish in-house board construction for packaging materials. The second phase is expected to be operational by 2027.

“This is our first aseptic carton plant in India and the 10th globally. With Phase-2, we will further strengthen our capabilities to meet the growing demand in India’s dairy and non-carbonated soft drink sectors,” said Abdelghany Eladib, President & General Manager, India, Middle East, and Africa at SIG.

The facility will cater to leading Indian beverage and dairy brands, including Amul, Milky Mist, Heritage, Parle Agro, ITC, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi. India, the world’s largest milk market, offers significant opportunities for aseptic packaging, with less than 10% of its milk consumption currently packaged.

Eladib emphasized the role of aseptic cartons in providing a safe and sustainable packaging solution, extending the shelf life of dairy and beverage products without requiring preservatives or refrigeration.

The company has long-term expansion plans, with Phase-3 and Phase-4 expected to further increase production capacity to 10 billion cartons annually. Since entering the Indian market in 2018, SIG has achieved double-digit revenue growth and aims to generate 14% of its global revenue from the India, Middle East, and Africa region.

Looking ahead, SIG is also exploring export opportunities from its Ahmedabad facility. “We do not build factories only for local markets. Once we meet domestic demand, we will look at tapping export potential,” Eladib added.

Vandana Tandan, Head of Market India and Bangladesh at SIG, highlighted the rapid growth of India's dairy and beverage processing industries. “This presents an incredible opportunity for us to serve customers with innovative and sustainable aseptic packaging,” she said.

The official opening ceremony was attended by Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda and a Swiss economic delegation.

HBL