Cosmo First Ltd Invests in Advanced KARO®IV Laboratory
Stretching Machine to enhance India’s Specialty Film Capabilities
·
Domestic development of niche films to reduce
dependency on imports
·
Will aid collaboration with academic
institutions and support talent development in polymer science
New Delhi, July 3, 2025:
Cosmo First Ltd, a leading manufacturer of specialty films, announced the
procurement of Brückner Maschinenbau’s state-of-the-art KARO®IV laboratory
stretching machine, positioning India amongst global leaders in film technology
development. This strategic investment aligns with the country’s Atmanirbhar
Bharat initiative of reducing dependency on imports and advancing India’s
manufacturing capabilities. This initiative also strengthens Cosmo First’s
position among an elite group of global film manufacturers with advanced
R&D capabilities.
The KARO®IV technology will
significantly enhance India’s capabilities in specialty film development by
minimising development time and costs for films designed for specialised
applications. It will enable domestic development of niche film applications which
are currently being imported and support in-house development of proprietary
film technologies, enhancing self-reliance in high-performance flexible
packaging. The technology will allow Cosmo First to conduct extensive research
and development, accelerating R&D timelines through cost-effective
laboratory-scale testing before moving to production trials.
“The KARO®IV will transform
how we approach film development in India,” said Mr Kulbhushan Malik, Business
Head, Cosmo Films, the flagship company of the Cosmo First group. “By
enabling precise testing of films in both sequential and simultaneous
stretching modes, we can now develop new film recipes and evaluate properties
at a fraction of the cost and time previously required. This technology
represents a significant leap forward in our ability to innovate. It
opens doors for collaboration with academic institutions, supporting talent
development in polymer science and reinforcing India’s position as a serious
player in the global R&D landscape.”
The KARO®IV features high
stretching ratios from 1.01 x 1.01 up to 10 x 10, heating capability up to
400°C with up to 3 independent heating modules, an advanced EPC control panel
with programmable test sequences, and state-of-the-art measurement equipment
for stretching forces, displacement, and temperatures. The machine is equipped
to handle a wide range of film types, including BOPP, BOPET, and BOPA, with
consistent and accurate control over test film processes. The technology
positions India to compete at the highest levels of specialty film innovation.
Key competitive advantages include faster prototype-to-market cycles compared
to traditional development methods, enhanced ability to develop eco-friendly,
mono-material films aligned with circular economy goals, and the capability to
partner with global brands for co-development of advanced film solutions.
The Indian packaging industry,
historically, has lacked advanced lab-scale film stretching systems that could
accurately simulate commercial production conditions, as most Indian
manufacturers rely on full-scale production lines for R&D, making innovation
costly and less agile. Additionally, the packaging industry is facing a
regulatory and consumer pressure to shift from non-recyclable multi-material
plastics to recyclable mono-material films. The installation will address
significant gaps in India’s packaging innovation infrastructure.
Cosmo First recently commissioned
a new BOPP line taking its BOPP production capacity up by approx. 40% to 2,77,000 MT per annum. The
investment in KARO®IV reinforces Cosmo First’s commitment to sustainable
manufacturing by enabling rapid development of recyclable films, addressing
India’s growing environmental concerns. It allows for testing of new barrier
coatings, laminates, and formulations that meet recyclability targets and
supports the creation of domestic expertise in advanced polymer science through
potential academic collaborations.
About Cosmo First Limited:
Founded by Mr Ashok Jaipuria in
1981 as Cosmo Films, today Cosmo First is a multinational conglomerate with 5
major business verticals. The flagship company, Cosmo Films, is a global leader
in specialty films for packaging, lamination, labelling, and industrial and
synthetic paper, serving over 5000 customers across 100+ countries. The other
verticals include Cosmo Speciality Chemicals (Masterbatches, Adhesives &
Coatings), Cosmo Plastech (Rigids - IML Containers and Specialty Sheets of
PP/PET and HIPS), Cosmo Sunshield (architectural and automotive window films) and
Cosmo PPF (Automotive Paint Protection Films), along with a digital-first
omni-channel pet care business, Zigly. Cosmo First is into D2C, B2B2C and B2B
businesses and has operations in India, Japan, Korea, Europe and Americas.
Visit www.cosmofirst.com for more
details.
