2025-09-08

Indian pharma machinery is finally getting recognition globally, with manufacturers establishing a strong presence in Southeast Asia, Africa, South America, and the Gulf countries. However, frequently changing regulatory requirements remain one of the biggest challenges for machine manufacturers, according to Milin Davar, Business Development Manager, Ace Technologies Group.

Speaking to Pharma Industrial India at the PHARMA MachTech Expo 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Davar shed light on the USPs of their auger filling machines and shared insights on emerging trends in the industry.

Q. What innovation is Ace Technologies displaying this year at PHARMA MachTech Expo 2025?

We are not showcasing an entirely new product this time, but we have significantly enhanced our existing solutions in terms of speed. Our powder filling machines can now achieve outputs of up to 200 bottles per minute.

Our machines are based on auger filling technology and can be used for multiple applications — from nutraceutical powders, dry syrups, oral solids, and dermal powders to any other healthcare products requiring precise powder filling.

With more than 25 years of experience and two manufacturing facilities in Vadodara and Vasai, we have successfully catered to a wide range of companies in the food and pharma industries.

Q. Apart from speed, what differentiates your products from competitors?

Speed is certainly a differentiator, but our bigger USP is accuracy. Auger fillers are designed for high-precision filling, and this is where our machines truly stand out.

Over time, customer requirements and market designs keep evolving, so we continuously adapt our machinery designs. While the core technology of auger filling remains constant, we are always innovating to meet new demands with improved accuracy and efficiency.

Q. What trends are you observing in pharma packaging machinery, and what do you expect in the next five years?  

Pharma packaging is becoming increasingly versatile, particularly in terms of container types.

The nutraceuticals market is expanding rapidly, and many pharmaceutical companies are diversifying into this segment. To support this, we are developing machines that can handle a wide variety of packaging formats, such as jars and canisters.

Every brand wants to differentiate itself with unique container designs, and that creates a challenge for machinery manufacturers like us, as our systems must adapt to handle different forms of containers.

Q. What are the biggest challenges ACE faces as a pharma machinery manufacturer in India?

The biggest challenge comes from frequently changing regulatory requirements. Machines are a capital investment designed to last 10–15 years. But regulatory requirements — whether from the US FDA, EU regulators, or MHRA — keep changing. This forces us to make frequent updates to our machinery to keep up with the latest trends.  

Customers demand machines that meet the latest compliance norms. As a machine manufacturer, we need to identify upcoming requirements and regulatory expectations, and then align our machinery to meet those needs.

Q. How are Indian machines competing globally?

One encouraging development is that Indian manufacturers are now getting greater opportunities to design and build machines domestically. Traditionally, India was not seen as an innovator in this sector — Europe was considered the hub of machinery innovation.

But today, Indian machinery is gradually gaining recognition, particularly in Southeast Asian, African, and South American countries. The Gulf region is also a huge market for Indian machinery. This growth in exports has been further supported by the government.

That said, European manufacturers still lead in innovation. Customers are willing to pay up to ten times more for European machinery, but are not prepared to pay the same premium for Indian machinery. This does not mean Indian machines are not good enough. However, the market is still dominated by European suppliers.  

The key advantage for India is cost competitiveness. The cost of manufacturing in India is significantly lower compared to Europe, which allows us to deliver machinery at far more competitive prices.