Amcor invests in Sira healthcare packaging plant, adding new line for ophthalmic containers

INDIA – Amcor has invested in a new manufacturing line at its Sira, Karnataka facility, strengthening its healthcare packaging capabilities for the Indian and South Asian markets, with the expansion creating over thirty new jobs.

The new production line will significantly increase production capacity and shorten lead times, enhancing production flexibility and supply reliability for customers ranging from global pharmaceutical companies to emerging local firms. 

The investment introduces advanced manufacturing technologies equipped with fully automated online vision systems to enhance quality and consistency for ophthalmic containers, injectable vials, and other high-performance healthcare packaging solutions. 

The Sira facility operates on 100 percent renewable energy and is certified with the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS standard.

Strategic Importance of Healthcare Packaging

Healthcare packaging, containers for eye drops, injectable vials, nasal sprays, and inhalation devices, has stricter quality requirements than food or consumer packaging. 

Container closure integrity must be guaranteed to maintain sterility; dimensional tolerances are tighter to ensure fit with filling lines; and material compatibility must be validated for each drug formulation. 

The Sira facility’s new line is equipped with fully automated online vision systems, which use cameras and machine vision algorithms to inspect every container for defects such as cracks, flash, or dimensional variation. 

This automated inspection replaces manual visual inspection, improving consistency and reducing the risk of human error.

Regional Demand Drivers

India’s pharmaceutical market has been growing as the country expands its generic drug manufacturing capacity and as multinational companies diversify their supply chains. 

Amcor operates three other dedicated healthcare packaging plants in India, including one in Bangalore offering precision manufacturing technologies for ophthalmic and nasal delivery systems, inhalation devices, and components for injectable medicines. 

The Sira expansion adds capacity for container types that have seen demand increase as India becomes a larger player in vaccine and biosimilar manufacturing. 

For an Indian pharmaceutical company exporting to regulated markets, sourcing packaging from an ISCC PLUS-certified facility provides traceability for sustainability claims.

Sustainability Integration

The Sira facility operates on 100 percent renewable energy and is ISCC PLUS certified, a standard that verifies the chain of custody for bio-based and circular materials. 

For a pharmaceutical customer with corporate net-zero commitments, sourcing from a 100 percent renewable-powered facility reduces Scope 3 emissions. 

The investment also introduces more energy-efficient systems in the new line, further reducing the facility’s carbon footprint. 

Jean-Marc Galvez, chief operating officer of Amcor’s Global Rigids Packaging Solutions division, stated that the addition to the Sira plant reflects Amcor’s strong progress in building world-class healthcare capabilities in India, adding that the investment strengthens the strategically located manufacturing network, combining global expertise with local production capabilities to deliver faster response times, reliable supply, and consistently high-quality pharmaceutical packaging for customers across the region.

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