Omani Packaging Company plant, which started commercial production in 1994, is a manufacturer of high quality paper corrugated packaging products.

The company has an annual production capacity of 8,000 tonnes per shift.

Omani Packaging, located in the Rusayl Industrial Estate, has become a local market leader and leading supplier in the Gulf region within a short span, because of the excellent quality products and value added services it provides, says general manager Surya K Arora.

"Corrugated cartons enjoy the advantages of being cost-effective, strong and eco-friendly. This makes it the preferred choice for the majority of products," he says.

Omani Packaging manufactures custom-designed packaging comprising corrugated cartons - three ply, five ply, brown top, white top, regular slotted, die cut, self lock cartons, trays, assembled partitions and single face corrugated rolls for cushioning and protection.

It also produces single wall B or C flutes; double wall B and C flute for conversion to all types of printing grade paper boxes.

The company sells its products through direct marketing to major local clients in food and beverages, agriculture, paints, lubricants, plastic, garment, services and cargo, detergent, vegetable oils, dairy, footwear, ceramic, fisheries, poultry farms and government sectors.

Omani Packaging has established a reputation for international quality standards and is exporting products to other Gulf countries, Asia, the Subcontinent and Africa. The company has opened up new markets and is expecting to increase exports this year.

"Our sales team works very closely with our customers and provides comprehensive services from packaging design to delivery," he says.

Raw materials are procured from the US and European mills.

As a part of its long-term strategy, the company has invested in state-of-the-art Japanese technology.

The corrugator and converting plant is supplied by ISOWA Corporation, Japan.

"Excellent printing converts the cartons into advertising vehicles. The high speed machines meet the just-in-time delivery requirements of local customers," says Arora.

"Omani Packaging adheres to stringent quality control policy and ensures that job requirements are fully understood and performed as per defined procedures all the time," he says.

Competition in the packaging industry is very tough in this region due to a large number of local and foreign manufactuers, specially from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The international paper prices have also been continuously increasing due to mergers and rationalisation by major international paper mills with production cuts and reduced availability of paper, he adds.