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As demand for secure and sustainable packaging continues to grow, UFlex Ltd, a flexible packaging and solutions company, is making strides in addressing counterfeiting challenges in pharmaceutical and cosmetics packaging.
Venkatesh Rajagopalan, senior vice president – Tubes, Flexible Packaging Business, UFlex, stated that the company is commercializing its anti-counterfeiting holographic film as an integral part of the multi-layer laminate structure of tubes. This isn’t just printing a cold foil or label, it’s embedding a brand-specific custom holographic film directly into the tube’s structure, which makes duplication nearly impossible.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global anti-counterfeiting packaging market is projected to reach USD 189.9 billion by 2026, up from USD 104.5 billion in 2018, with a CAGR of 7.8%. UFlex’s technology aligns strongly with this trend, particularly considering the growing threats from counterfeiting across the pharmaceutical and personal care sectors.
India today stands as the largest market for laminated aluminium tubes globally. Out of a total Indian laminated tube market of 11.5 billion units annually, approximately 2.5 to 3 billion tubes are used in the pharmaceutical sector.
“Interestingly, India and many global markets are still using aluminium tubes due to barrier needs of the products, with little to no anti-counterfeiting features. Even before they catch up with laminated tubes, we’re already leading with holographic, secure, and sustainable packaging solutions,” noted Rajagopalan.
The unorganized market, however, continues to pose a major challenge. Rajagopalan estimates that only about 25% of laminated tube manufacturers in India are organized players. The remaining 60+ companies are smaller operators leveraging low-cost imported machinery. Similar trend is also the pain of the aluminium tube industry in India.
“These unorganized players often offer cheap alternatives that mimic established brands using cold foil stamping or similar techniques. But such packaging is easy to replicate and doesn’t offer true brand protection,” he warned.
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