Page 34 - Plastics News January 2023

INTERVIEW

Uma Plastics Ltd.
What according to you is the current scenario of the
plastic industry in India?
The future of Indian Plastic Industry is very bright. Compare
to china and America our per capita consumption is 15 kg
per annum only as our market is mainly domestic oriented
and we are not export dependent like china.
The urbanisation, the government plan for smart cities,
the Jal mission, gas pipes, are the factors, which are driving
the consumption of Plastics.
I believe that over the next 4-5 decades, the consumption
of Plastics will increase gradually.
What are the recent trends in the segment that you
are in? K. K. Seksaria
We are in injection molding segment and particularly in Managaingj Director
furniture. As per the preferences of our consumers, we Uma Plastics Ltd.
are making our furniture more strong, innovative and
unique. Previously only Monoblock Plastic Chair used to be there but now we are integrating plastics with wood, so this
are the recent trends in our segment.
What have been some of your recent innovation and commercial success?
In 2010, we installed/provide more than 80000 chairs in Eden Garden Stadium and even after 13 years those chairs
are intact. The Gujarat Cricket Association tested the chairs by running a loaded truck over them, but they were
unbreakable.
We came up with the concept of ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ for producing chair in the world biggest stadium ‘Motera’. Mr Amit
shah, Minister of Home affairs, India with all committee members approved this concept and now we have installed
1,15,000 seats without compromising with the quality of sitting comfort.
Like this, we are offerings more solutions and putting in more efforts for supplying the products and constantly improving
for the betterment of the society.
What are the new application area your company has tap recently?
These are not a new area but material handling, solid waste management have become big area where our company
is trying to come up with a new solutions. Its big demand for Swachh Bharat and being in Plastic Industry we are also
supposed to do the EPR, so aligning with that and without compromising the quality we are also trying to use the
recycled material where the EPR can be fulfilled.
Are you content with current situations of policies and regulations in the country for the plastics industry?
Or would you like to see a change?
I cannot say we are dissatisfied with the current policies but there is room for some more improvements. As we say we
are mainly domestic market but India being the largest populated country, all countries are mostly dependent on Indian
market to sell or dump their goods, so government policies should focus on increasing the domestic processing/ export
and we should not only be Atmanirbhar for our country but for the world.
The custom duty on the raw materials and finished goods should be minimum which will encourage the plastic processing
industry to produce more.
Plastic is the best material if we manage it properly and if we keep it in circularity, some irresponsible behaviour like
not maintaining the chain of circularity, littering and all is giving the negative name to the plastic and because of which
government had come with the ban on single use plastic.
If government and urban development bodies created proper facility like house-to-house waste collection and if proper
chain is created then it will be win – win situation to everyone, for primary producer, secondary producer, consumers
and country as well.
As you know, AIPMA is the oldest apex body and has been working for plastic industry for so long. Would
you like to say something about AIPMA?
AIPMA being the oldest and largest Plastics Industry Association provides excellent service to the industry. During a
crisis like the plastic ban, AIPMA takes the initiative to gather all associations together and represent their problems to
the respected ministry, ensuring that appropriate solutions to be found.
After PlastIndia Exhibition, Plastivision Exhibition is the biggest exhibition where the newer solution, newer technology,
newest material are being presented to plastic Industry.
AIPMA and the Plastivision are providing great service not only for plastic Industry but to the nation as well.
34 PLASTICS NEWS January 2023
34 PLASTICS NEWS
January 2023