Beer guzzlers, are you tired of carrying cases of heavy glass bottles to parties?

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What about picking up your favourite beer in two litre PET bottles from the retail shelves? In a few months’ time you will be able to do that as some of the top beer makers in India are planning to launch the product in PET bottles.

Plastic packaging solutions provider, Manjushree Technopack, which is in talks with leading beer makers, is set to introduce multi-layer specialised packaging technology at its new Rs 100 crore facility in Bangalore.

“Though PET bottling of beer exists in Europe and countries like the US and Russia, it has not yet come to India. Glass bottles are costlier and sparse and collection of used bottles too is getting costlier. Moreover, the maximum quantity packed in glass bottles is 650 ml as bigger bottles easily break on falling down and splinters fly causing harm. We are working with a few top beer brands who wish to introduce PET bottles,” said Vimal Kedia, managing director of Manjushree Technopack, while withholding the names of the companies for contractual reasons.

Manjushree Technopack, however, works with beer makers like United Breweries, Khodays and Amruth.

The company will soon set up a new facility in the recently acquired 25 acres in Bidadi Industrial Area near Bangalore. It will spend Rs 50 crore on infrastructure, while another Rs 50 crore will be invested on machinery. The new facility will introduce multi-layer preform packaging for carbonated drinks like Pepsi and Coco Cola as well as fruit-based beverages that will extend the shelf life of the product by two more months.

“Unlike usual PET bottles, multi-layer perform as well as PET bottle packaging for beverages and beer will prevent access of oxygen in­to the content thus retaining the carbon and flavour and increasing shelf life. Beverage companies can thus increase their production during winter and keep the drinks ready for the March –June season,” he said.

The new facility will also start starch-based biodegra­dable plastic packaging.

The Rs 150 crore company plans to raise funds for expansion through internal accruals, debt and follow-on public offer. Around Rs 40 crore will come from internal accruals and the rest from either debt or follow-on offer. The new facility is expected to start production in six to eight months. Manjushree Technopack currently has two facilities in Bangalore.