en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 27th, SK Minerals & Additives is exploring joint venture partnerships and strategic collaborations with companies in Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea to enhance its capabilities in halogen-free flame retardants within the polymer additives sector. The company aims to strengthen technical expertise, improve product standards, and explore global export opportunities through these partnerships.
The Ludhiana-based company, which claims to be India's first manufacturer of halogen-free flame retardants, is currently in discussions with multinational manufacturing firms. Mohit Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director of SK Minerals, stated that the company is actively seeking partners who can provide technological know-how and global market reach.
"Through such collaborations, we seek market coverage. Some of these companies have been working in this field for over 50 years and have marketing offices across the world. We believe this partnership will make it easier and faster for us to enter some of these markets," said Jindal. He added that the company also hopes to gain technical support from international partners to meet stricter European regulatory standards for flame retardants.
Demand for halogen-free flame retardants is growing rapidly in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, driven by tightening safety regulations and environmental concerns. Compared to traditional halogen-based additives, halogen-free flame retardants reduce smoke and heat release during fires and avoid harmful halogen gas emissions.
In the initial phase, SK Minerals plans to primarily use its flame retardant products in the wire and cable industry and electronic equipment manufacturing. As production capacity expands, the company intends to extend into other industries requiring advanced flame-retardant materials to meet fire safety regulations. Currently, the company is working on certifications required for the Indian market, while the European market demands more stringent standards. Once product standardization is achieved, the company may explore establishing additional manufacturing facilities in India or overseas to serve export markets.
To support its global expansion, SK Minerals is significantly increasing its manufacturing capacity. The company plans to increase production from 3,600 metric tons per year to approximately 19,000 metric tons per year within the next 12 to 18 months, a nearly fivefold increase. The expansion focuses on flame retardant production and plastic compounding. The company has acquired ten acres of land to build a new manufacturing facility with a capacity of 10,000 metric tons, expected to be operational by March 2027. Jindal said, "Our current installed capacity is being expanded and is expected to increase to 5,400 tons per year. We anticipate reaching about 19,000 tons per year by March 2027."
