Archive: August 26, 2022

INEOS supplies Covestro with mass-balanced raw materials for polycarbonate plastics

Supporting customers in achieving their sustainability goals

Covestro will now be supplied with the two mass-balanced raw materials phenol and acetone from INEOS’ INVIRIDIS™ product range. Covestro uses these CO₂-reduced products to manufacture its high-performance polycarbonate plastic. It is used in headlights and other automotive parts, but also in housings for electronic devices, light guides and lenses, medical devices, and many other high-value applications.

“By switching to mass-balanced renewable raw materials, we aim to significantly reduce our indirect emissions in the supply chain and offer products with a reduced carbon footprint,” says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer of Covestro. “In doing so, we’re helping our customers to meet their climate goals and advance the transition to a circular economy.”

New label for circular intelligent solutions

Lily Wang, global head of the Engineering Plastics segment, emphasizes the further benefits for customers: “We offer them a drop-in solution that they can quickly and easily integrate into existing production processes without requiring any technical changes. The products show the same good quality as their fossil-based counterparts.” As part of the CQ family of circular intelligent solutions, Covestro offers them under the names Makrolon^® RE, Bayblend^® RE, Makroblend^® RE, and Apec^® RE. With its new CQ concept, Covestro highlights the alternative raw material basis in products and thus gives a clear indication to customers who are looking for such products.

INVIRIDIS™ brand phenol and acetone are produced from bio-attributed cumene at INEOS’ Gladbeck and Antwerp sites – without competing with the food supply. Both sites are certified according to the internationally recognized ISCC PLUS as well as the RSB standard. The raw materials have a lower carbon footprint than petroleum-based products.

Certification by ISCC PLUS and RSB underlines INEOS’ strong commitment to working with the bioeconomy and reflects the strong sustainability of INVIRIDIS™.

Gordon Adams, Business Director of INEOS Phenol, said, “As part of our sustainability strategy, we have developed these more sustainable phenol and acetone products, which we have named INVIRIDIS™. This new product range provides our customers with drop-in product options that meet their stringent quality and performance requirements. At the same time, we’re moving the industry toward a more climate-friendly economy for phenol and acetone without compromising its unique product attributes.”

Chilean Kiwi strengthens its presence in India, ventures into Tier 2 cities

India, 26^th August 2022: Chilean Kiwis strengthens its presence in the Indian market by venturing into Tier 2 cities showing an exponential import growth of 25% in a year. The increasing demand for Chilean Kiwis in India is helping create more awareness among consumers since it is a powerhouse of Vitamin C and antioxidants. The consumption of Vitamin C has considerably increased during and post-pandemic due to which there has been a favorable response towards the increase in demand for this fruit. According to Ministry of Commerce, Government of India data, the Import of Kiwifruit in India has grown from 49,483 MT to 64,779 MT between 2020-21 to 2021-22. Chilean Kiwi fruit exports grew by 50.08% during this period.

Sharing his thoughts on the new venture, Mr. Sumit Saran, Director, SS Associates, Indian marketing office of the Chilean Kiwifruit Committee said, “India remains an underserved market for kiwis. Consumers are just getting to know the tremendous health benefits of this fruit and the potential is humongous. Through strategic trade, retail partnerships, and promotions, we are taking Chilean Kiwifruit to cities across India, including Tier II and III cities. Chile has a preferential trade agreement with India making Chilean Kiwifruits much more affordable to consumers across India.”

Kiwifruit is one of the most nutrient-dense fruits available, owing to a great combination of vitamin C, dietary fiber, actinidin, potassium, and folate.  Just one serving of kiwifruit provides a whopping 117% of the daily value of vitamin C and 21% of dietary fiber. Kiwifruit is also a good source of potassium and vitamin E. The Vitamin C content in kiwifruit is more than twice that in orange.

Research shows that eating vitamin C-rich fruit such as kiwi may confer a significant protective effect against respiratory symptoms associated with asthma such as wheezing. Additionally, a couple of kiwifruits each day may significantly lower your risk for blood clots and reduce the number of fats (triglycerides) in your blood, therefore helping to protect cardiovascular health. Loaded with the fiber it can reduce high cholesterol levels, which may reduce the risk of heart disease as well as keeping the blood sugar levels of diabetic patients under control. It is also a good source of the mineral potassium.

Ms. Marcella Zuñiga, Trade Commissioner of ProChile in India, stated that “The Indian market holds great importance for Chilean kiwifruit due to the rising demand in the country. Through this campaign, our aim will be to promote our kiwifruit and also raise awareness about Chile as a unique supplier of an array of food products.”

Geographically blessed, Kiwis grown in Chile are truly a healthy fruit from an agricultural paradise. Chile is strategically flanked by an incomparable combination of natural geographic barriers such as the Atacama Desert, Pacific Ocean Andes Mountains and Patagonia which gives it the rich and fertile soil that gives excellent yields – a wealth of fresh bountiful fruits. Today Chile is one of the world’s leading producers of kiwifruit and the fruit is available from March till November.

ASOEX Marketing Director for Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Charif Christian Carvajal continues: “India is a hugely promising market for Chilean kiwifruit and, definitely, Chile will be increasing its presence in India with green kiwifruit. India has many market segments with particular requirements and Chile, thanks to the structure of our fruit industry, is well positioned to cater to the varying needs when it comes to volume, packaging, arrivals etc. Furthermore, Indian consumers traditionally associate kiwifruit with the monsoon season, and that is precisely when Chilean kiwifruit arrives on the market. The fruit is said to strengthen the immune system against Dengue Fever, which is common at this time.”

“So far this season, the importers, distributors, and retailers in India are all very happy with the quality of the kiwifruit arriving from Chile,” Mr. Carvajal adds.

Chilean kiwifruits are available with all major traditional fruit vendors, organized retail chains, and e-commerce operators across India.

GajShield Infotech celebrates its 20th Anniversary with new Enthusiasm and Clarity on its Next Level of Growth

GajShield Infotech, one of the world’s most renowned network security solutions and data security providers for business enterprises, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. A magnificent ceremony was organised to celebrate its numerous success stories in the last 20 years. GajShield organised various employee engagement activities to commemorate its anniversary celebrations. It would go a long way in delivering GajShield‘s commitment to the security technology market’s growth and digital transformation.

GajShield has evolved into a global partner of choice, transforming vision into value. The future of GajShield is exceptionally positive, and they want to constantly diversify their products and make a sustainable contribution to the entire network security ecosystem.

Over the years, GajShield Infotech has won numerous accolades and awards, including the esteemed ICSAlabs Award, Future Security Awards 2020, and the Virtual CISO50 Award for Best Cloud Security Vendor. For the past 17 years, GajShield has been able to successfully get certified by ICSAlabs and has been meeting all of ICSA Labs’ corporate and baseline firewall requirements. GajShield Infotech is committed to combatting cyber threats by adding more value to its innovative firewall solutions.

Over the last 20 years, GajShield’s vision has become a reality. GajShield Infotech has grown from a small niche network firm to a Global technology enabler. GajShield‘s products deliver detailed threat intelligence and security know-how and have been instrumental in protecting businesses, vital government infrastructure, and consumers.

The goals of GajShield include promoting its channel partners to deliver intelligence-led security services that facilitate end-users and businesses to understand, track and prevent cyber threats.

Mr. Sonit Jain, CEO – GajShield Infotech, said, “It is an incredible milestone for us at GajShield Infotech. We are very grateful to our clients, partners and fantastic team who have made 20 years of rewarding work possible. GajShield Infotech has achieved this success through our team member’s hard work, passion, and dedication. We are dedicated to developing, adhering to and improving our rigorous network procedures and attention to detail. We at GajShield Infotech are proud of our customer service culture throughout the whole organisation. We have committed 20 years to product innovation, engineering and business design enhancements, and efficiencies to deliver high-quality outcomes and services to our customers. Throughout 2022, we will look back at where we started, what we have achieved, and our plans for the future.

GajShield Infotech’s continual momentum to enhance its products and services reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to solving industry challenges through innovation and client commitment. They have deployed over 30,000+ firewalls spread across geographic regions in India, Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and South East Asian countries.

Max Life Pension Fund Management Limited receives Certificate for Commencement of Business as Pension Fund from PFRDA

Bangalore, August 26, 2022: Max Life Insurance Company Ltd. (“Max Life”/ “Company”), has announced the receipt of the Commencement of Business (COB) Certificate for its wholly owned subsidiary, Max Life Pension Fund Management Limited (“Pension Fund”) on August 23, 2022. This subsidiary will manage the pension assets with investment choices under the National Pension Scheme.

The Pension Fund will manage pension assets for private sector subscribers and government sector subscribers excluding the “default scheme”, aiming to scale AUM to ~ Rs 1L Cr over the next 10 years. With this development, the Company and Pension Fund will now cater to all product categories including pension products, annuities, and pension fund management to help customers plan their retirement. Pension Fund is also in process of applying for a point of presence (POP) registration to Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to offer services that will help subscribers open new NPS accounts.

Prashant Tripathy, MD & CEO, Max Life said, “Max Life Pension Fund Management Limited strengthens our presence in the retirement segment. We are committed towards financially protecting Indians in their golden years. We will leverage our competitive fund management capabilities and the distribution strength of Max Life, including our corporate business teams, individual advisors, and our direct sales teams, to spread awareness about NPS and drive value for our customers. “

Establishing the pension fund management subsidiary is a critical lever of Max Life’s growth strategy of becoming a dominant player in the retirement space. Pension Fund aims to maximize risk-adjusted returns for its subscribers on a consistent and long-term basis while adhering to PFRDA guidelines. The Company’s investment choices will draw from the expertise of the highly accomplished leadership and will focus on profitable investment strategy and fund management capabilities to create attractive investment returns for its subscribers while adhering to the regulatory limits as prescribed by the PFRDA.

IG Palogix, a joint venture between IG International and Palogix International to provide the rental of plastic harvesting and storage agriculture bins in the Indian fruit, vegetable and nut market

India, 26th August 2022: IG International, one of India’s leading fresh fruit importers, has announced its joint venture initiative with Palogix International, a world leader in providing the rental of returnable agri-bins. The new venture, IG Palogix, will cater to the growing demand for agricultural bins in the Indian market, especially in the food and beverage sector. It will be spearheaded by Mr. Ajay Jhalani, a plastics expert and the newly appointed business advisor for Palogix International.

Founded in 2004, Palogix International offers the rental of plastic bins for the agricultural production sector globally. Palogix primarily services fruit, vegetable, and nut processors, transporters, and retailers. Palogix focuses on providing plastic bulk containers and bins for harvesting and transporting fresh produce from the fields to the packaging or processing facilities where they may be put into cold storage or processed through the facility.

Since the fresh produce industry in India currently utilizes a one-way packaging solution , IG Palogix will be providing rental of reusable plastic agricultural bins, improving quality, efficiency, and reducing processing and transportation costs, whilst enhancing eco-friendly sustainability practices through the implementation of this proven circular economy practice.

Acclaimed as the leading fresh fruit importer in India, IG International is entrenched with a renowned reputation for more than 50 years in this market segment. The company’s organized and strategic sourcing system, augmented by a seamless supply chain with a well-connected overseas procurement network, enables them to import best-of-breed fruits from 22 different countries. After identifying the increase in one-way packaging in the F&B sector, the company started leasing agricultural bins.

Speaking about the joint venture, Mr. Tarun Arora, Director of Finance and Operations of IG International, said, “This venture will assist the Food & Beverage sector in meeting packaging demand while also reducing traditional packaging practices. Using agricultural bins will help cut down on the carbon footprint. With IG Palogix, we also look forward to reducing the overall cost of production and transportation in the F&B industry.” 

Mr. Robert Liebesman, CEO of Palogix International, said, “We are very excited to partner with Ajay, Tarun, and their team from IG International as we see our partnership and expansion into the large and growing Indian market as a critical part of our strategy where we can continue to bring the huge benefits of plastic bin rentals to fruit, vegetable, and nut markets around the world.” 

Mr. Ajay Jhalani, Business Advisor for Palogix International, said, “The mantra behind IG-Palogix India Pvt. Ltd. is to work on sustainability, 3Rs, and circular economy. Majorly, our new venture will add value to the supply chain wherever one-way packaging is used. We will alter the one-way packaging model with our agri-bins, which will then be rotated between growers, cold storage facilities, retailers, and us. We also believe that introducing agri-bins in the Indian market will promote sustainability, which is the need of the hour.”

Hitachi Cooling & Heating India inaugurates new Brand Shop in Dehradun

Dehradun, August 2022: With the altered weather conditions, the need for air conditioning both for heating and cooling have dramatically increased. Staying in sync with this increasing demand, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India, the manufacturer of premium air-conditioner brand ‘Hitachi Cooling and Heating’, inaugurated its new ‘Brand Shop’ in Dehradun. The new Brand Shop was opened in partnership with Garhwal Aircon Pvt Ltd.

With the growing air conditioning market in the region, brand is betting big on residential and light commercial segment, Hitachi Cooling & Heating India has laid down aggressive expansion and growth plans for next 2-3 years. Promising growth is expected in both residential & commercial segments. A lot many offices, showrooms & hotels coming up along with increased Government spending in the state of Uttarakhand that is enhancing business prospects in B2B sales. Aiming at
sustained growth and increased market share, the brand is working on significant network expansion and widening distribution network in the region over the next 2-3 years. Investment of more than INR 6.00 Crore would be done to nurture the business in the region. The company plans to open more exclusive outlets and multi-brand outlets in the region to establish a better retail footprint.

The new age informed customer is more sure of what they desire from their air conditioner. Tapping into this aspiration to get the best possible air conditioning solution for their space, Brand Shop offers an excellent product experience to make informed purchase decisions. This new shop will be capable of catering to residential and light commercial cooling solution requirements for premium villas or apartments, small office spaces, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, shopping complex, etc. The company offers a wide range of innovative products catering to the needs of end customers, architects, consultants and builders, who are looking  for path-breaking air conditioning solutions for all kinds of residential and commercial spaces.

Mr. Gurmeet Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited, said, “Cooling and heating solutions have become an intrinsic part of our daily needs. Altered weather conditions, changing lifestyles and the aspirational need for futuristic technology makes Hitachi a preferred brand with new informed customers. The air conditioner market is booming in the region with demand coming from residential, commercial as well as small commercial segments. Creating a huge opportunity for the brand to grow. Foreseeing the good prospects, we are geared up to increase our presence to cater to the consumers in the region. With new Brand Shop we are offering one of  the best offline product experiences in the country. We are happy that in this journey Garhwal Aircon Pvt. Ltd. is ourpartner. We expect brilliant success from this association.”

Speaking about the launch Mr. Vishal Negi, National Sales Head, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited, said, “Due to the changing dynamics of lifestyles and the increasing need for cooling and heating for a comfortable indoor environment, Garhwal region has become a developing market. Due to low penetration so far the region has immense potential for business growth. As the demand increases, business will flourish. Combining the strengths of Hitachi Cooling and Heating with Garhwal Aircon Pvt. Ltd. will result in mutual growth. We are delighted that our journey would be supported by such a dependable partner and we are optimistic about the great results we will generate together.”

Talking about the launch, Mr. Bhawan Singh Bhandari, Director, Garhwal Aircon Pvt. Ltd., said, “Hitachi Cooling & Heating India is the perfect brand for the new age informed consumer. Their superior products match the aspirational needs of the consumers, and the innovative features add more to the appeal. The brand commands high acceptance among customers and so it is our great pleasure to associate with Hitachi for this new brand shop. Together our strengthens would complement each other and translate into great success.”

The ‘Air Expert’, Hitachi Cooling & Heating India is setting new benchmarks in the residential and commercial air conditioning segment by introducing its innovative cooling solutions. North market is rapidly opening new avenues for growth for Hitachi, and it aims to further strengthen its position by offering innovative, futuristic smart solutions, riding on a considerable shift from regular split ACs to more innovative and aspirational premium cooling solutions.

For residential users, Hitachi Cooling & Heating India offers premium looking, technologically advanced Room air conditioners that are loaded with features and innovative technology such as Ambience Light, FrostWash Technology, air Cloud Home for Wi-Fi enabled ACs etc. The company also offers Shizuka Inverter window AC, which offers a silent operation of 44 dB and is paired with Hitachi’s own expandable inverter technology to enhance consumer’s comfort.

The company also offers cooling solutions with VRF-based technology, which is gaining immense popularity in India owing to the flexibility of usage and energy-efficient cooling merits. With increased adoption of VRF system in the construction sector in the commercial & residential segments, an upcoming market like Dehradun offers great growth prospects. The company offers SET FREE Sigma, Side Smart and SET FREE mini, three innovative products offering a diverse range of application areas, power-packed with the added advantage of choice of indoor units and controllers.

Adding to its list of other innovations in air conditioning, the company has introduced Silent Iconic™ 4-Way Cassette Indoor Unit, air Cloud Pro (an innovative IoT VRF management mobile app), Flexi Split Light Commercial Air Conditioners etc. With its bouquet of diverse air conditioning solutions, the company has “one for everyone”.

With a presence spanning more than 10,000 retail touch-points and leading e-commerce platforms, the company is all set to tap into the lesser penetrated Indian AC market, not just in Metro and Tier 1 cities, but also in Tier 2 and 3 cities as well. Bridging the gap of accessibility further, the company offers easy finance schemes & warranty offers for a seamless pre- sale experience and diligent after-sales services for a hassle free post-sale experience.