Packaged Atta: A Fast-growing, Ever-evolving Market In India

By Author: Nichrome India
Total Articles: 57
Comment this article

Wheat has been a staple food with the high level of consumption largely unaffected by changes in its price. India is the 3rd largest producer of wheat, after Europe and China, and wheat remains a staple food, especially in North India.

Traditionally, across India, consumers by loose wheat and get it ground in local stone mills known as ‘chakkis’. But today, especially in urban areas, these flour mills are facing tough competition from branded atta manufacturers. With growing health awareness and disposable incomes, packaged atta is growing in popularity.

Convenience, hygiene and easy availability through retail outlets are some of the plus points that are attracting more and more consumers every day.

As per an industry survey, the packaged atta market is growing at 25% per annum, opening up a world of potential for manufacturers and retailers. The growing number of atta brands, and the introduction of new variants such as multigrain atta, low carb atta, sugar control atta and fortified atta bears testimony to this market's evolution. There is also growing availability of other flours ...
... which were usually ground at home, and are regional and season-specific in nature. Today, retail shelves are packed with a wide range of such flours including maize atta, pearl millet atta, amaranth atta, moong dal atta, urad dal atta, buckwheat atta, water-chestnut atta, multigrain dosa atta, multigrain bhatura atta, oats atta, rice atta, etc.

For packaging grains and atta, manufacturers trust Nichrome’s expertise. Nichrome has 4 decades of experience in flexible packaging machinery, and indepth application-specific expertise to custom-design integrated packaging solutions for customers. Pillsbury and Patanjali are two well-known brands who use Nichrome automated packaging machines for their atta packaging.

Nichrome Atta Packaging machines

Nichrome's VFFS packaging machine, Sprint 250 Plus Servo Auger is a popular choice for many atta manufacturers. For pouch quantities up to 2 Kgs, Nichrome’s Sprint 250 Plus series offers speed, accuracy and efficiency for flexible packaging of a wide variety of grains, flours, and other powders such as milk powder, spice powder, coffee powder, nutraceutical powder, etc.

Sprint 250 Plus is an automated machine with CE marked PLC and touch screen HMI. Its servo motor driven sealing system can effectively seal with pressure levels maintained. It is programmed to pull the exact length of film required for packaging, and offers a perforation system to deliver a chain of small pouches.

Another flour packaging machine is the Excel 400 Plus Servo Auger. The Excel Plus series comes with a plus advantage of automation equipped with CE marked PLC Controller and touch screen HMI. Key features include print mark scanners, static charge eliminator, servo motor driven bag length control system, and adjustable stroke of cross sealing jaws for optimum performance. It is designed as per stringent quality standards, and can be easily integrated to upstream or downstream machines/systems.

A range of fillers makes the Excel Plus series a truly versatile packaging solution for atta, powders, granules, grains, snacks, etc. It also offers a variety of pouch formats including 4 line seal, pentaseal, CSPP, gusset pouch and pentaseal with D-cut.

The Excel Plus packs quantities up to 10 Kgs at a bagger speed of 80 pouches per minute.

Conclusion

Nichrome’s expertise in packaging extends beyond primary packaging machines for practically any application. Secondary packaging systems and complete integrated packaging solutions are also a part of the company’s portfolio. Bulk packaging machines, stacking & wrapping, HDPE bad filling systems, horizontal cartoning machine - these are just some of the packaging solutions on offer. Nichrome believes in partnering with customers to understand their needs and challenges before customising the optimal solution.

To know how Nichrome can transform performance and cost-efficiency in flour packaging, contact the company today.

Nichrome has developed a versatile range of machines that can meet the packaging specificities of a varied range of products. Nichrome emphasizes on giving complete support to our customers, from consultation and development of the machine as per client requirements, to production of the packaging machine and providing extensive after sales service. Nichrome is dedicated to providing the highest production rates, maximum accuracy and consistent pouch quality as per each individual client’s requirements. Nichrome has a vast global presence across 45 countries with 6000 successful installations. The company also has a large market presence in the packaging machines India sector with 8 offices. The company is a pioneer of the Vertical Form Fill Seal Machine and the aseptic pouch packing systems for the dairy and beverage industry and is poised to become a premium global brand offering end-to-end integrated packaging solutions .