UFlex's ASEPTO division has commissioned two Boardmaster web flexo printing presses from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen at a new facility in Ain Sokhna, Egypt, part of a USD 126m investment in aseptic liquid packaging production. The new lines add 12 billion aseptic packages a year of capacity, taking UFlex's combined India and Egypt capacity to 24 billion packages annually.
Why this mattersDoubling of UFlex's aseptic carton capacity signals Indian converters expanding globally to compete with incumbent liquid-packaging suppliers in export markets.
- UFlex ASEPTO's new Egypt facility represents a total investment of USD 126m
- The plant is located in Ain Sokhna, Egypt
- Two Heidelberg Boardmaster web flexo printing presses have been commissioned at the site
- The new capacity adds 12 billion aseptic packages a year
- Combined India and Egypt capacity rises to 24 billion aseptic packages a year
- Boardmaster presses run at up to 600 metres a minute with availability of up to 90%
Indian polymer films group UFlex has submitted a joint bid with US-based Spectra Systems for a Reserve Bank of India programme to supply polymer banknote substrate, according to unnamed sources cited by Press Trust of India. The tender, floated by RBI subsidiary BRBNMPL on 17 July 2026, seeks 68,000 reams of coated BOPP film, 34,000 reams for each of the INR 10 and INR 20 denominations. The government has approved field trials of one billion notes in each denomination.
Why this mattersA win would open security-grade polymer substrate as a new high-value outlet for BOPP film makers and give UFlex a foothold in central-bank currency manufacturing.
- UFlex and Spectra Systems have jointly bid for RBI's polymer banknote substrate tender, according to unnamed sources cited by Press Trust of India on 4 October 2026
- Tender was floated by BRBNMPL, a wholly owned RBI subsidiary, on 17 July 2026, with an expression-of-interest deadline of 18 August 2026
- Tender specifies 68,000 reams of coated BOPP, split 34,000 reams each for the INR 10 and INR 20 denominations
- RBI's proposal, approved by the government, covers one billion pieces each of INR 10 and INR 20 polymer notes for field trials
- About 60 countries use polymer banknotes; Australia introduced them first in 1988
- UFlex did not answer a request for comment on its participation
- Material requirement for the tender has been described as approximately 68,000 tonnes of BOPP, split evenly between the INR 10 and INR 20 denominations
Indian packaging group UFlex has signed a Joint Participation Agreement with the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund to build a packaging production facility in the Alat Free Economic Zone, valued at USD 117.7m. The project will run through newly formed Flex Films AZB AFEZCO on a 4.7-hectare plot, with planned annual capacity of 60,000 tonnes. The agreement was signed at the Second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum with the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund and the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company.
Why this mattersThe investment extends UFlex's international films footprint into the Caucasus and gives the group an export base serving regional markets.
- Project value stated at USD 117.7 million
- Site is a 4.7-hectare plot in the Alat Free Economic Zone, Azerbaijan
- Planned annual production capacity of 60,000 tonnes
- Project vehicle Flex Films AZB AFEZCO has been established for execution
- Agreement signed with Azerbaijan Business Development Fund and Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company at the Second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum
- UFlex's international assets are managed through Flex Middle East FZE
UFlex's Flexfresh liner bag has received accreditation from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's National Research Centre on Pomegranate (ICAR-NRCP) after trials showed pomegranates stayed acceptable for 90 days of refrigerated storage, against 30 days for untreated fruit and 45 days for wax-treated fruit. Separately, Flexfresh took first prize for breakthrough process innovation at the All India Management Association's 7th Innovation Practitioners Summit. Both recognitions cite the film's potential to let fresh-produce exporters switch from air freight to sea freight.
Why this mattersIndependent validation and an industry award reinforce UFlex's case for wider adoption of Flexfresh among fresh-produce exporters moving to sea freight.
- ICAR-NRCP, based in Solapur, Maharashtra, accredited UFlex's Flexfresh liner bag for pomegranate storage
- Pomegranates in the liner bag were acceptable up to 90 days, with 4.30-4.36 percent weight loss, against 30 days (7.00 percent loss) for untreated fruit and 45 days (7.10 percent loss) for wax-treated fruit
- Flexfresh won first prize for breakthrough process innovation at AIMA's 7th Innovation Practitioners Summit
- Flexfresh is a patented Active Modified Atmospheric Packaging (AMAP) film that maintains bag humidity at around 95 percent while keeping produce dry
- Flexfresh is described as biodegradable by composting and complies with EC 1935/2004, EC 1907/2006 and DIN EN 13432
- Both the accreditation and the award cite the film's potential to shift fresh-produce exports from air freight to sea freight
UFlex has been granted Indian Patent No. 603158 for a high-speed twin aseptic liquid packaging machine, with a 20-year protection term running from September 2023. The vertical form-fill-seal design sits under UFlex's Asepto liquid packaging business, adding proprietary filling equipment alongside its film and materials operations.
Why this mattersOwning the machine as well as the film lets UFlex bundle equipment and materials for aseptic customers, a model normally held by multinational fillers.
- Patent No. 603158 covers a high-speed twin aseptic liquid packaging machine.
- The patent's 20-year protection term runs from 1 September 2023.
- The design uses a vertical form-fill-seal configuration aimed at a reduced footprint.
- The machine sits under UFlex's Asepto liquid packaging business.
- UFlex received an earlier Indian patent in July 2026 for a reclosable pack design with tamper detection.
UFlex has developed a speciality polymeric film designed to replace bi-axially oriented polyamide (BOPA/nylon) film used in flexible packaging, after a development period of nine to ten months. The film is laminated with polyethylene into a two-ply structure aimed at oil, pharmaceutical, distilled goods and fatty or oily food packaging. UFlex says it is the only Indian manufacturer to have produced such a BOPA substitute.
Why this mattersA domestically made BOPA substitute could cut Indian converters' reliance on imported nylon film and its costly de-humidified storage requirements.
- UFlex says development of the new speciality polymeric substrate took 9-10 months
- The film is laminated with polyethylene to form a two-ply structure for oil packaging
- UFlex says it is the only company in India to have manufactured a BOPA replacement film
- Target applications include pharmaceutical products, distilled goods, fatty and oily food, and agricultural products
- BOPA film is hygroscopic and often imported into India, requiring costly de-humidified storage
UFlex has commissioned its first overseas woven polypropylene (WPP) bags manufacturing plant, at Altamira, Mexico, at an investment of approximately USD 52m on a 10-acre site. It is the Indian packaging group's first manufacturing plant in the Americas, targeting rising pet food packaging demand across North and South America.
Why this mattersThe plant gives UFlex a manufacturing base to serve rising Americas demand for woven polypropylene bags without exporting from Asia, sharpening competition for regional flexible packaging converters.
- UFlex invested approximately USD 52m in the Altamira, Mexico plant
- The facility covers 10 acres and is UFlex's first overseas WPP bags plant
- It is UFlex's first manufacturing plant in the Americas region
- Jeevaraj Gopal Pillai is President - Flexible Packaging and New Product Development at UFlex
The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on 16 September 2026 stayed a show cause notice issued to UFlex under Section 74(1) of the state GST Act, which demanded USD 0.40m (INR 3.88 crore) in tax, USD 0.43m (INR 4.08 crore) in interest and a matching penalty for the 2020-21 financial year. UFlex argued the notice lacked the foundational allegations of fraud or wilful misstatement required to invoke that section rather than the ordinary Section 73 procedure. The case is listed for further hearing on 30 November 2026, with the stay in place until then.
Why this mattersAn interim stay, not a decision on the merits; the case tests whether the fraud provision can be used once the ordinary assessment window has closed.
- The High Court granted a stay on 16 September 2026 on a notice issued under Section 74(1) of the J&K GST Act.
- The notice demanded USD 0.40m (INR 3.88 crore) in tax, USD 0.43m (INR 4.08 crore) in interest and an equivalent penalty.
- The dispute follows a GST audit of UFlex's Bari Brahmana plant for the 2020-21 financial year.
- UFlex argued the notice disclosed no foundational facts of fraud, wilful misstatement or suppression.
- The notice was issued six days before the 31 August 2026 outer limit under Section 74(2).
- The case is listed for further hearing on 30 November 2026, with the stay continuing until then.
UFlex has inaugurated a $126 million greenfield Asepto aseptic carton facility at Ain Sokhna, Egypt, with eventual annual capacity of 12 billion packs, taking the Indian group's combined global aseptic capacity to about 24 billion packs a year alongside its Sanand plant in India. The Egyptian plant is expected to start at around 30% utilisation and progressively ramp toward full capacity by around 2030, targeting Europe, Africa, the Gulf, the Americas and the CIS via Suez Canal shipping routes.
Why this mattersA second, closer-to-market aseptic base gives UFlex a route to compete more directly with Tetra Pak, SIG and Elopak in Europe, Africa and the Gulf.
- Investment: $126 million greenfield Asepto plant at Ain Sokhna, Egypt, on a 30-acre site
- Eventual annual capacity: 12 billion aseptic carton packs, matching UFlex's Sanand plant in India
- Combined global aseptic capacity reaches approximately 24 billion packs per year
- Initial utilisation expected at roughly 30%, rising to about 70% in year two and design capacity by 2030
- The plant has entered customer trials, with commercial production planned for late 2026
- Egypt trade access includes COMESA, GAFTA and the African Continental Free Trade Area
- The Ain Sokhna plant is equipped with two Heidelberg Boardmaster printing lines, an SML extrusion line and two IMS slitters.
- Utilisation is now phased at about 30% in year one and 60-70% in year two, with full capacity targeted around 2029-30.
- UFlex reported group revenue of about $1.63 billion for the year ended 31 March, with more than 16,000 employees globally.
- More than $100 million of the $126 million investment has already been spent.
- UFlex frames the Egypt plant as a shift from an India-led export model to multi-location global manufacturing
- The plant uses a Heidelberg Board Master XL 1650 printing line and an SML Triplex extrusion laminator.
- Paper for the plant is supplied by Stora Enso.
- Asepto's existing Sanand, India plant serves over 250 customers in more than 50 countries.
- Utilisation is now guided at 30% in year one, rising to 100% by year three.
- The Ain Sokhna plant uses automated manufacturing machinery
- The Ain Sokhna plant sits in the Orascom Industrial Park within the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
- Installed equipment includes a Heidelberg Boardmaster XL 1650 press, an SML Triplex lamination line and Madern Automation reel handling rated at 160 reels an hour.
- Commercial trials are underway ahead of commissioning, still targeted before the end of 2026.
- The Ain Sokhna plant will use next-generation automated manufacturing machinery
- UFlex's Q1 FY27 consolidated net profit rose 629.6% year-on-year to INR 423.3 crore
- Q1 FY27 revenue rose 37.6% year-on-year to INR 5,366 crore
