Alphagary invests in Shakun Polymers to Expand Cable Compounds
On June 3, 2021, Alphagary announced plans to acquire a majority stake in Shakun Polymers Private Limited, pending customary closing conditions. Because Alphagary invests in Shakun Polymers, the company will strengthen its position in cable compounds, while Shakun will reinforce its role as a family-owned market leader across the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa.
Strategic Investment as Alphagary Invests in Shakun Polymers
Alphagary describes this deal as a major strategic investment that expands both its product range and regional reach. In addition, Shakun will continue to deliver next-generation materials that meet high safety and performance standards in fast-growing Asian and African markets.
Shakun runs four manufacturing facilities in India with a combined installed capacity of more than 40,000 metric tons per year. Moreover, cable manufacturers use Shakun’s compounds for power cables, building wires, telecom and fiber optic cables, instrumentation cables and photovoltaic cables.
Complementary Product Portfolios
Shakun focuses on halogen-free, flame-retardant compounds and PVC-based compounds for data and power cables. This portfolio aligns directly with Alphagary’s specialty compounds that support a more connected world, and it gives customers more choice. Furthermore, Shakun’s semi-conductive and cross-linkable compounds will broaden Alphagary’s offering and create a strong platform for future growth.
Key members of Shakun’s management team will remain with the business and will continue to drive value for customers and stakeholders. In fact, Shakun Joint Managing Director Rakesh Bansal expressed enthusiasm about the investment and highlighted the opportunity to offer a wider range of materials and more efficient supply chains. He also emphasized that a sharper focus on service will benefit customers.
Broader Innovation Horizons for Alphagary
Gautam Nivarthy, President of Alphagary, noted that Alphagary already serves customers from facilities in the U.S., Europe and Mexico. With Shakun’s strong market position in Asia and Africa and its entrepreneurial culture, Alphagary expects to expand its innovation scope and respond faster to regional needs.
Alphagary currently operates eight facilities in the U.S., U.K., Mexico and Colombia and supports customers through a global sales and distribution network. Additionally, Alphagary forms part of Orbia, which operates in more than 50 countries and serves customers in over 110 nations through five business groups, including Polymer Solutions.
Orbia’s Long-Term View on Asia and Africa
Orbia CEO Sameer Bharadwaj acknowledged current pandemic challenges in India but expressed confidence in the resilience and long-term growth of the Asia-Pacific and African markets. Consequently, he sees this investment as a way to build a stronger local presence, expand future-focused development and deepen Orbia’s customer base.
He welcomed Shakun into the Orbia family and underscored that Shakun’s expertise will immediately strengthen Orbia’s ability to deliver products and services that improve lives worldwide. Together, Orbia, Alphagary and Shakun will support safer, higher-performance cable networks in rapidly developing regions.
