SME in Spotlight – Pulcra Chemicals India Pvt Ltd
Pulcra Chemicals India Private Limited is a prominent subsidiary of Pulcra Chemicals, a global leader in the development and manufacturing of innovative specialty chemicals for the fiber, textile, and leather industries. Established in 1982, the Indian branch has significantly contributed to the company’s global footprint, leveraging over 140 years of expertise to serve both domestic and international markets.
Products and Services
Pulcra Chemicals India offers a diverse portfolio of products tailored to enhance the quality and performance of fibers, textiles, and leather. Their product range includes:
• Fiber Lubricants: Specialized lubricants designed to improve the processing and performance of synthetic and natural fibers.
• Textile Auxiliaries: A comprehensive suite of chemicals that aid in various stages of textile production, including pre-treatment, dyeing, printing, and finishing.
• Leather Chemicals: Innovative solutions for leather processing, enhancing attributes such as softness, durability, and aesthetic appeal.
These products are engineered to meet stringent quality standards, ensuring compliance with environmental and safety regulations.
Historical Overview
Since its inception in 1982, Pulcra Chemicals India has evolved in tandem with the dynamic Indian chemical industry. The company has adeptly navigated market fluctuations, including the global slowdown in 2023, where it demonstrated resilience by achieving growth in the Indian market despite global challenges.
A significant milestone in Pulcra’s global expansion was the acquisition of Devan in 2021, marking its first acquisition and enhancing its capabilities in sustainable textile solutions.
Management Vision
Pulcra Chemicals is committed to being the leading international benchmark for sustainable chemistry. This vision is supported by a mission to:
• Become a trusted and reliable source for chemical products.
• Set new benchmarks in speed, quality, flexibility, and reliability.
• Deliver cost competency, empowering customers to achieve more with less.
• Prioritize values and ethics above profits.
• Continuously improve people, processes, and products for a better tomorrow.
These principles are encapsulated in their core values, which emphasize human dignity, empowerment, transparency, honesty, integrity, business ethics, and responsible care for society.
Leadership
As of January 2025, the Managing Director of Pulcra Chemicals India is Mr. Umasankar Mahapatra. Under his leadership, the company has focused on increasing market share by reaching out to new territories, introducing new products from its global range, emphasizing the importance of meeting global standards while catering to the local demands.
Mr. Mahapatra advocates for a diversified product portfolio, including value-added and performance-driven products, to achieve sustainable growth. According to Mr. Mahapatra, “At Pulcra Chemicals India, our commitment to innovation drives us to create solutions that not only meet industry demands but also contribute to a greener and more resilient future. In today’s dynamic marketplace, success lies in anticipating customer needs, delivering consistent value and setting benchmarks for quality and sustainability.”
The major industry segments which Pulcra Chemicals India caters to – Textiles and Leathers – are both dominated by SME players in India. The company has very strong and long-term relationships with various SME units spread across the country. The same goes for the supplier network of key raw materials and packaging materials. Combined, the SME representation of both suppliers and customers is over 60% in their ecosystem.
Pulcra Chemicals India is purely into servicing the domestic market, although their customers cater to both the domestic and export markets with their end products. The company supports both kinds of customers by supplying products which are compliant as per international standards. These internationally compliant service standards help their SME clients to be export ready.
Pulcra Chemicals India actively pursues brand building activities through participation in prominent industry trade fairs and conferences. Its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) activities revolve around education and health. The company is supporting government schools near to their Boisar plant in Maharashtra – over 600 underprivileged students were beneficiaries of their educational support in form of scholarships and study materials in the 2024 academic year. Pulcra India also actively encourages students to pursue textile chemical processing through merit scholarships, project funding (it partners with leading engineering institutes at the national level, currently the project has around 70 beneficiaries).
At the industry level, Pulcra Chemicals India is also one of the life members of Indian Specialty Chemicals Manufacturers Association (ISCMA), which is a national level industry association with majority of its members being from the SME sector. ISCMA continuously works towards the capacity building of its members and also partners with other trade bodies for policy advocacy to support growth of this sector.
Pulcra Chemicals India Private Limited stands as a testament to the successful integration of global expertise with local market dynamics. Through a commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability, coupled with visionary leadership, the company continues to play a pivotal role in advancing the Indian chemical industry’s position on the global stage.
