Switzerland-based Sotax Group, engaged in developing and manufacturing dissolution testing systems and physical tablet testing equipment, has announced plans to shift its Asia-Pacific headquarters from China to India.
“From July 3, 2013, India will be the headquarters for our Asia Pacific operations. I am going to China to close the office there. We have decided to make India our Asia Pacific hub because of the tremendous opportunity here, and we strongly believe that India will grow in the long run than China,” said Jean-Louis Raton, Head of Business Units Europe and Asia Pacific.
Acquisition
To further strengthen its base in India, Sotax has set up a research and development centre in Mumbai, and it is also setting up a product assembly line here to cater to the local market as well as the Asia Pacific region. To broadbase its products, Sotax has acquired Dr Schleuniger Pharmatron of Switzerland, the global leader in physical tablet testing, for $15 million, it said.
Sotex top officials said that the acquisition would provide a much better canvas for the company to grow its operations here.
“Dr Schleuniger Pharmatron is the number one choice of most Indian pharmaceutical companies for testing of tablets.
“The acquisition has given us an opportunity to further strengthen our market share in this segment. We are looking for more acquisitions, and pharma testing will be our core activity,” said Lakshmanan Ramaswamy, Managing Director, Sotax India.
Strategy
Sotax’s strategy is to develop indigenous systems from India which will suit the requirements of the Asia Pacific market.
It aims to manufacture low-cost products, which will be exported to other countries.
Besides, Sotax has plans to set up contract laboratories for testing pharma products across India to help small companies keep their cost under control.
Sotax’s dissolution systems cost between $15,000 and $400,000 while the physical testing equipment cost between $5,000 and $60,000.
