Flourish Paper and Axchem India form JV to boost AKD production to 15,000 TPA

Flourish Paper & Chemicals Ltd., a leading manufacturer of specialty chemicals, and Axchem India, a subsidiary of the global Axchem Group, have officially entered into a strategic joint venture. This partnership aims to quintuple the production capacity of Alkyl Ketene Dimer (AKD) at Flourish’s Dera Bassi facility in Punjab, increasing output from 3,000 to 15,000 metric tonnes per annum (TPA).

With an investment of approximately Rs. 50 million the joint venture will focus on upgrading production machinery, enhancing process controls, and modernizing laboratory facilities. These advancements are designed to ensure superior product consistency and operational efficiency, catering to the rapidly evolving needs of India’s paper and packaging industry.

AKD is a critical sizing agent used to provide water resistance and improve printability in high-quality writing, printing, and packaging papers. As the domestic market sees a surge in demand for sustainable and high-performance packaging solutions, this capacity boost ensures a reliable, localized supply chain for major manufacturers.

Management Commentary "The expansion of our AKD capacity will enable us to better address the growing demand from paper and packaging manufacturers while maintaining the highest standards of technical support," said Atul Mehra, CEO of Flourish Paper & Chemicals Ltd. "Strengthening our distribution infrastructure alongside this production boost will significantly improve our service levels across India's key manufacturing hubs."

Rajesh Chhabra, Managing Director of Axchem India, added: "By merging Axchem’s global technical expertise in paper chemicals with Flourish’s robust manufacturing footprint, we are positioned to deliver world-class AKD solutions to a much wider customer base. This venture aligns perfectly with the steady growth we are witnessing in the Indian sector."

The upgrade project is expected to set new benchmarks for chemical manufacturing in the region, focusing on sustainability and high-performance output to support the industry's long-term growth.