Cosmo Films

Origin

Ashok Jaipuria, pioneer of BOPP manufacturing in India, is the son of late Sitaram Jaipuria, founder of Swadeshi Polytex. He founded Cosmo Films Limited in October 1976 and set up the first production plant at Aurangabad, Maharashtra in the year 1981.

Packaging films

Cosmo Films' packaging films are manufactured in the following broad categories - printing & pouching films, barrier films and overwrap films.

Label films

Label films are broadly divided into the categories - label face stock films, wrap around label films, in-mould label films (IML) and direct thermal printable films (DTP).

Lamination films

Lamination films are manufactured in the following categories - standard lamination films, special application films, and premium lamination films.

Special application films

Premium lamination films: These films have been designed keeping the needs of luxury packaging and high end graphic lamination industries in mind.

Operations

Cosmo Films has 5 production facilities-cum-distribution centres located across India, Korea, and USA.

Capacity

The company's annual production capacity is 140,000 MT for BOPP films; 40,000 MT for thermal lamination films; 10,000 MT for coated films and 15,000 MT for metalized films.

Expansion Drives

In January 2015, Cosmo Films officially announced the up-gradation and expansion of its US operations with a monetary investment of $750,000. On 1 Nov 2015, they made an announcement to invest Rs. 220 crores to expand their capacity at Gujarat and Maharashtra facilities. Under this, they have added a CPP line to their Maharashtra facility with an investment of Rs. 20 crores. A new BOPP line with 60,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) capacity will be added to their Vadodara facility in Gujarat amounting to an estimated investment of Rs. 200 crores by early 2017.

Ashok Jaipuria

Ashok Jaipuria, chairman & managing director, Cosmo Films, laid the foundation of the company in 1976. He has 40+ years of experience in the corporate world and is a member of the board of governors of IIT, Indore and an independent director on the board of Hindustan Sanitaryware. In the past, he has also been an executive committee member of FICCI.

Pankaj Poddar

Mr. Pankaj Poddar joined Cosmo Films as a CEO in the year 2011. He has a 20+ year experience in fields like finance, advisory and assurance. In the past, he has worked in the automotive and FMCG industries as well.

Acquisitions

Research & development

Cosmo Films spends 0.5% of its annual sales on R&D.Led by a team of well-qualified research scientists, this vertical is recognised and certified by the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, India and has multiple patents (6 in India, 3 in the US). Most of the high-end films have evolved from the R&D focus and Cosmo Films' effective customer partnerships.It is also credited with the development of the first thermal lamination film that could take extrusion coating without a primer.

The key focus areas of R&D team include:

The team has been honoured with several product development awards - Indiastar, IFCA Star and PFFCA Star.

Cosmo Foundation

Cosmo Foundation, set up in 2008, is the social welfare arm and CSR initiative of Cosmo Films. It works closely with the underprivileged communities around its manufacturing units, at Karjan block of Vadodara district and at Aurangabad city. The organisation aims to improve quality of life via education and sanitation. It has partnered up with 14 government schools and benefits almost 2500 students from 43 villages every year. These programs are focussed on imparting basic reading, writing, arithmetic skills, English communication skills, digital skills and life skills. They blend traditional methods of teaching with creative and innovative techniques and technology.

Programs

Computer Literacy Program

Cosmo Foundation imparts computer education to primary and secondary school students. The program trains students to operate Linux and Microsoft systems. It has trained local youth and engaged them as computer teachers. The program is reported to have reduced the rates of absenteeism among children and enhanced their interest in mainstream education. The best student performers are awarded laptops to motivate them to pursue higher education and enhance their IT skills.

Gyan Vihar Kendra

Gyan Vihar Kendras or educational centres have been established to help students learn the fundamentals of Gujarati and Mathematics. It helps them develop a good understanding of concepts and inculcate school readiness. Cosmo Foundation trains local women to become Balmitras or teachers for children who, in turn, impart activity based learning.

Basic English Learning Program

This program is aimed at eliminating inhibitions and developing communication skills in English among children and youth. The program also focuses on phonetics, sentence formation, basic personality development and etiquettes. During summer vacation, certificate courses for English fluency development are organised.

Swachh Vidyalay Campaign

Cosmo Foundation has tied up with 14 government primary and secondary schools in 7 villages of Vadodara to promote toilet repair, construction and cleanliness in schools under its Swachh Vidyalay (Clean School) Campaign. To this effect, swachhta or cleanliness committees are formed, badges are awarded to their members and cleanliness material (sanitation kit) is provided to the schools. The campaign encourages personal hygiene and behavioral change among students.

Cricket tournament

Cosmo Films sponsors Shahid Bhagat Singh Cricket tournament every year in order to promote team spirit among industrial workers and the youth.

Setup and maintenance of gardens

Cosmo Films has set up and maintains gardens in Aurangabad.

Awards