Primarily known for PVC-based products Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) and PVC Foam Board, Apollo Polyvinyl (P) Ltd has relatively been a new player in when it comes to manufacturers of PVC Flex. Having state-of-the-art equipment that includes 4.25-meter fully automatic calendaring flex banner manufacturing unit imported from Germany, Taiwan and China, its facility in Chennai is spread across 1,00,000 sqm.
The company has 40 years of combined experience in plastic manufacturing industry, and boasts of its team of skilled professionals who have unique blend of knowledge and experience, necessary to meet customer’s expectations. With a strong foothold in the Indian market through its branch offices in 14 different cities, Apollo looks towards global markets across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East to make feel its presence on the world map.
We, at Sign & POP World, came in contact with Varun Kapoor, the company’s Managing Director, to discuss which all products the company has in its kitty and how it is strategising its future growth plan. Here are the edited excerpts to follow.
Which all products does Apollo offer?
We are manufacturing various kinds of Flex Banners, Foam Boards for the signage industry. Besides, we do have Celuka Boards and PVC Doors for signage as well as furniture Industry. We are is engaged in manufacturing, exporting and supplying an extensive range of Front-lit Flex Banner, Block-out Flex Banner, Back-lit Flex Banner of various GSM with widths up to 3.8 meter along with PVC foam board and WPC boards ranging from 4-20 mm in thickness.
Which specific products from Apollo Banner are going in to signage industry?
With regards to the signage Industry, we market through dealers and traders catering to printing unit division and corporate job markets.
Our core products for the signage industry fall into three main divisions: (1) Front Lit (cold and hot lamination) – large format banners of GSM varying from 220 to 440 GSM, (2) Back Lit (cold and hot lamination) – large format banners of GSM varying from 460 to 620 GSM, and (3) Black Back Front Lit – large format banners for highway advertisement of GSM varying from 280 to 340 GSM.
What all Constitute Apollo Polyvinyl Infrastructure – factory Spread, machineries, raw material sourcing, etc?
With German and Taiwan-based machinery & technology, we at Apollo manufacture premium quality for all our products in our factory located in Gummidipundi, near Chennai. To cater to the needs of the country’s signage market, the total annual production capacities are different for different products. For flex, it is 25,000 Metric Tonnes; while for Celuka and Foam Boards, it is 5000 tons.
What is your USPs? Why should one opt for Apollo over its Competitors?
Everyone at Apollo tries not to focus on competition and rather to just do things our way. Our team aims to ensure complete customer satisfaction by not only providing timely service and delivery with consistency in quality, but we also bear in mind to listen to any kind of constructive suggestion, we get from our network of dealers and distributors and this has helped us only improve our services and products over time which in turn has helped us gain further customer loyalty. In the corporate sector, our media has been making the rounds with our hot gloss products being compared to imported and global reputed brands and this has really helped us get our products approved and preferred in the corporate sector.
What is your distribution model? How many dealers/distributors does the company have as of now? Any expansion plan in near future?
We have various networks of dealers and distributors across all over India. Being a relatively new entrant, we are gaining more footfalls in different markets and regions domestically as well as in certain Global Markets. In terms of expansion, we are slated to add more products as well as more variations of our existing products to our portfolio.
How do you see the state of flex in the Indian signage Industry? Where is the potential coming from?
The Indian signage Industry has revolved around flex for the longest time and I see no reason why this will not continue in the future. The greater potential is definitely in the corporate sector followed by rapidly gaining attention, the upcoming rural regions.
How has Flex been competing with fabric as media? How do you see the market potential for Flex in time to come?
While fabric has definitely shown a few benefits over flex in some usages, flex has been found to be more durable and cost-effective by far. Moreover, the case of handling and usage is found to be easier, and better print visibility in flex remains its biggest advantage over fabric. There seems to be enormous potential in the higher quality market for Flex going forward.
Other than fabric, how has Indian Flex been Competing with imported stuff?
Of course, with good quality, consistency and availability; local manufactured flex will be successful against imported products. Having warehouses in 13 different cities in India, we stock and monitor pre-determined quantities of our products to ensure just-in-time delivery to our customers.
What steps are you taking in this regard? How do you promise quality?
We make sure all our raw materials are sourced keeping the highest quality in mind, and as such, make sure the most stringent of measures are used in our QC department to ensure the same in our products. QC test in printing in each stage of production has made a profound difference and ensure complete quality and help us provide better end-products.
The raw materials are sourced from internationally reputed suppliers ensuring us that the products supplied in the market are of impeccable quality. Apollo ensures excellence in design, production and performance of each of its products.