Nichrome India Ltd. was founded in 1948. It offers a wide range of packaging machines for a variety of applications including solid, liquid, semi-solid and powder products. The company is an invisible link between manufacturers and consumers thereby forming a close association with millions of households, everyday. Better packaging leads to better business in household markets. It has been engaged in various manufacturing activities in diverse industrial sectors.

The company after successfully making a mark in the domestic packaging machines sector for liquids and solids, has now set its sights on the overseas market. It introduced the first indigenous vertical form-fill seal machine in 1977 to pack milk in pouches. Later on, other machines to pack free flowing products, viscous products and liquids were developed.

Its core competency lies in packaging machines, both automatic and semi-automatic, including four-line seal machines, high speed multi-track, stick pack, cartoning, and even horizontal packing machines. The company supplies machines to both Indian and multinational companies like Procter & Gamble, Cadburys, Glaxo, Hindustan Lever, Dabur India, Tata Tea, Bayer, Godrej Pillsbury, Haldiram, NDDB and Nestle India.

In 1997, the company sold majority equity to Tetra Pak, with a view to gain from Tetra Pak's worldwide marketing clout. With the plans not working out, the partnership was dissolved and Nichrome bought back its shares from Tetra Pak.

The company is in the process of setting up a spare parts center at Dubai, to ensure better logistics while servicing the international market. It has set up dedicated agent-distributor networks in the SAARC countries - Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka - the Middle East countries like UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the African continent.

The company has major operations in Ukraine with over 100 installations. Nichrome exports machines to over 30 countries, primarily in the developing world. "The next big step will be Latin America," says SV Joshi, MD of the company."The conditions there are similar to that of India - a large population, similar milk and food consumption patterns, and the need for cost effective technology". He expects the Latin American market to contribute substantially to the company's revenues in a year's time.

According to Mr. Joshi, the focussed thrust into the international market will account for a quarter of its revenues coming from export earnings this year. Out of a total expected turnover of Rs 24 crore for fiscal 2000-2001, the company expects to earn Rs 6 crore from its overseas activity.