After the 1991 reforms, India gained tremendous investments from the foreign companies as there was a massive scope for development in manufacturing and service sector. Along with that, the strategic geographical location and huge population gave a further impetus to the progress of India. Taking advantage of this scenario, the exports also gathered a much faster pace and hence the need for careful handling of products to be exported came into picture. That’s when the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) started gaining much recognition than before.
History
Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) was founded in 1966 as an autonomous body. The main objective of IIP is to promote the export market by way of innovative package design and also to upgrade the packaging standards at national and international level. IIP endeavors to improve the standard of packaging needed for the sponsorship of exports and create infrastructural amenities for overall packaging development in India. This is achieved through the Institute’s assorted activities which are today, in line with those of leading packaging institutes worldwide. IIP aims to make India a focal point for modern developments in art, science, technology and engineering, with respect to the field of packaging.
Location
The IIP’s head office is located at the financial capital of the country i.e. Mumbai. The complete address is as follows:
E-2, MIDC Area, Post Box No.9432, Andheri East, Mumbai- 400096
Telephone: (91)22-8219803, (91)22-8216751.
Fax: (91)22-8375302.
Web Site: http:// www.iip-in.com
It also has expanded its branches at Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad. Recently, the Karnataka Government has offered a land of 4 acres for the setting up a new center at Bangalore.
Functions
IIP is a profound institution as it helps students to study in an industry environment by intensive research and development, conducting workshops, education and training, consultancy projects, certification, testing and development. This helps to enhance the shelf life and evaluate the characteristics of the packing materials.
Imagine the export of paani puri’s puri. It would have been unfeasible to export them if we hadn’t found the suitable material to make our country’s specialty universally accessible. Likewise, native fruits, vegetables, cash crops, beverages, spices, leather, garments, pharmaceutical products, equipments, metals and ores, automobiles, refined petroleum and many more items are supplied within the country and globally as well. This is possible only if they are packaged in such containers which safeguard them throughout the long journey without compromising on the quality. The pros of packaging are physical protection, security, convenience, barrier protection, marketing, information transmission, environmental sustainability. A great deal of in depth analysis goes into making such packages. That’s when the significance of IIP comes into force.
IIP has done research projects on packaging of many edible, perishable items like grapes, banana chips, Indian sweets like dudhi halwa, boondi, rabdi, sea food, etc. It also has many laboratories like material testing, chemical lab, transport lab, etc. Consultancy services like cost effective, reusable packaging are also taken care of. It further offers a series of National workshops on food packaging in association with Ministry of Food Processing Industry, across the country in order to increase the awareness of packaging for fresh and processed food products. To enhance the involvement of students, IIP provides excellent facility of publishing various monographs, textbooks, seminar papers, etc. The official journal “Packaging India” is published six times a year and is mailed to the students free of cost. This creates a sense of enthusiasm amongst the students to go beyond the curriculum.
COURSES OFFERED
IIP offers a great deal of courses. Short duration and long duration courses, live sessions, virtual distant courses and seminars for students and professionals as per individual preferences are on board.
- Post Graduate Diploma in Packaging (PGDP)-
This two year course is suitable for fresh graduates in science / engineering who desire to make a career in packaging. It comprises of classroom sessions by the Institute’s own trainers and guest faculty to teach various packaging processes and technologies.
- Distance Education programme-
This is an 18 months programme. It is designed for working executives who are graduates in different disciplines, but who need packaging knowledge by virtue of their job requirements. This graduate diploma in packaging technology is accredited by the Asian Packaging Federation.
- Certificate Course in Packaging-
This is an Intensive Training Course. This programme in packaging technology is a three months full time certificate course. The participants registering for this course are graduates or diploma holders in various educational fields. It is a nationally and internationally recognized qualification which provides learners with a broad knowledge of the principles, materials, processes, systems and other elements of packaging production and use.
- Executive Development Programmes (EDP)-
These are short term programmes (1-day to 1-week duration) conducted in various industrial cities throughout the country. These programmes are designed for working executives and professionals needing to update their knowledge.
Job Opportunities
Every individual likes a balanced financial position with decent job and secure future. Students who join this institute have an added advantage of 100% job guarantee before the completion of the course. IIP provides excellent job opportunities in leading corporate firms like FMCS, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, etc. via campus placement programme. The package ranges around 3-8 lakhs p.a. Not only do the Indian companies recruit candidates over here, but overseas organizations also have been showing interest in the recent years. A Unique Resource Centre to facilitate an excellent platform for placement is therefore established.
A package is as good as what’s inside. It is the first thing that a customer observes when he enters a shop, so it needs to be appealing catering the needs of the product and customers. These days environment is being degraded with no bounds. As a result, it is the need of an hour to adopt sustainable methodologies like use of paper covering instead of using plastic. These days’ consumers are becoming quite aware about sustainability and they also appreciate those companies who take initiative in conserving the environment. Also, while designing the product care should be taken by putting oneself in the shoes of the consumers and not the brand owners. Further, it would be impressive if such packaging could be reusable by the customer. By this way, the utilization of such material will increase and the customer will always notice it which will add to the intangible value. Some ideas adopted by the soft drink brands account for use of glass bottles which after the drink getting consumed are again routed to the manufacturing units and reused. Such ideas are quite relevant where the environment is in grave pain. And if we, as consumers also show concern about the mother earth than such package analyst will also show enthusiasm by delivering like packaging of products.
By Hiral Nandu, Mumbai
