Express Pharma

Bengal Chemicals on the path of revival

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The company has two factories in Kolkata (Maniktala and Panihati) and one each in Mumbai and Kanpur

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EA Subramanian

The century-old Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (BCPL) is on the path of revival after EA Subramanian, has taken over as the Managing Director in February last year.

Subramanian is a Chemical Engineer and brings with him years of experience in running such organisations. He had earlier worked M/s HLL Lifecare, a CPSU under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and with DS Group in the private sector.

BCPL, a Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Department of Pharmaceuticals, founded by the great scientist Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy, is a 114-year-old company having a strong presence in pharma and home products. The company has two factories in Kolkata (Maniktala and Panihati) and one each in Mumbai and Kanpur.

In generic pharma division, BCPL produces tablets/ capsules of both Betalactum and Cephalosporin range. BCPL is the only pharma CPSU having a strong manufacturing base in ointments like Chlotrimazole, Povidine Iodine etc.

With the extension of Pharmaceuticals Purchase Policy (PPP), of Government of India, for Pharma PSEs for a period of five years from November 2013, the company has enough market prospects for its pharma products. In addition to the generic pharma, the company is also having popular brands like Eutheria (Pain balm), Aqua Ptychotis (Digestive stimulant), Kalmegh (liver tonic) etc. which are having a good market presence.

In home products segment, the company manufactures popular products like Pheneol, White Tiger (floor cleaner), naphthalene balls, bleaching powder, Kiln Toilet etc. The company manufactures alum for water purification in its chemical division. Other major products include ‘Cantharidine hair oil’, a 75-year-old hair oil brand and is well known for its properties to arrest hair fall.

Speaking to Express Pharma, Subramanian stated that the company is growing at a rapid pace after years of stagnation. From a meagre production turnover of Rs 19.70 crores in FY 2013-14, the company already achieved a production of Rs 38.62 crores in the seven months of FY 2014-15 with a growth of 236 per cent. The company is planning to achieve a turnover of Rs 60 crore by the end of the current financial year.

The company was a pioneer in Anti Snake Venom Serum (ASVS) manufacturing in India and is planning to restart the project for manufacturing the same as per current WHO-GMP norms. BCPL have 11 depots and 11 C&F agencies to reach the length and breadth of the country. The company is in the process of strengthening its distribution network all over India.

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