SK Minerals & Additives is exploring joint venture (JV) partnerships and strategic collaborations with companies in Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Korea to strengthen its capabilities in halogen-free flame retardants under the polymer additives segment. Through these partnerships, the company aims to enhance technical expertise, improve product standardisation, and tap into export opportunities across global markets.
Strategy Focused on Technology and Market Access
The Ludhiana-based company, which claims to be the first manufacturer of halogen-free flame retardants in India, is currently in discussions with multinational manufacturing companies operating in this segment. According to Mohit Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director of SK Minerals, the company is actively pursuing partnerships that can provide technical know-how as well as global market outreach.
“Through this collaboration we are looking for market outreach. Some of these companies have been working for more than 50 years in this segment and have marketing offices throughout the world. We believe the partnership will give us easier and quicker access to some of these markets,” Jindal said. He further added that the company also aims to gain technical support from international partners in order to meet stringent European regulatory standards for flame retardants, which are more advanced and technically demanding.
Rising Global Demand for Halogen-Free Flame Retardants
Demand for halogen-free flame retardants is increasing rapidly across the Middle East, Europe and the United States, driven by stricter safety regulations and environmental considerations. Unlike traditional halogen-based additives, halogen-free flame retardants reduce smoke generation and heat release during fires while avoiding hazardous halogen gas emissions.
Initial Focus on Wire, Cable and Electronics Sectors
In the initial phase, SK Minerals plans to deploy its flame retardant products primarily in the wire and cable industry as well as electronic equipment manufacturing. However, as the company scales up its production capacity, it intends to expand into additional industries where fire safety regulations require advanced flame-retardant materials. Flame retardants are increasingly essential for regulatory compliance, as manufacturers must meet strict global fire safety standards along with India’s domestic safety regulations. Currently, SK Minerals is working on certifications required for the Indian market, while the European market requires more stringent certification standards. Once the company achieves the required product standardisation, it may also explore the possibility of setting up an additional manufacturing facility either in India or overseas to serve export markets more efficiently.
Major Manufacturing Expansion Plans
To support its global ambitions, SK Minerals is also significantly expanding its manufacturing capacity. The company plans to increase its production capacity nearly fivefold—from the current 3,600 metric tonnes per annum to approximately 19,000 metric tonnes annually within the next 12–18 months. A significant portion of the expansion will focus on flame retardant production and plastic compounding products, which are witnessing growing demand across multiple industrial sectors. In addition, the company has acquired ten acres of land to establish a new manufacturing facility with a production capacity of 10,000 metric tons. As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, the unit is expected to become operational by March 2027. “Our installed capacity is currently under expansion and is expected to increase up to 5,400 tons per annum. It is projected to reach around 19,000 tons per annum by March 2027,” Jindal said.
