In a recently concluded event, Hartmann India Ltd launched New Egg trays “HIL-Medium” & “HIL-Large”. Hartmann’s Indian team co-developed a new egg-trays for 30 eggs (Medium & Large size). Using an existing new product as a base for development, it is better suited for the specific needs in India.

Poultry TRENDS Magazine & News Portal interacted with Dr Mahendra Deshpande, General Manager, Hartmann India Ltd. Excerpts of the interaction is as under:

Q 1. What is “HARTMANN’ and where is it based at?

Hartmann is the world’s leading manufacturer of moulded-fibre egg packaging, a market-leading manufacturer of fruit packaging in South America and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of technology for the production of moulded-fibre packaging. Founded in 1917, Hartmann is headquartered in Gentofte, Denmark. Listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen & since 2012 part of TORNICO with experience from the egg industry.

Our strong market position is founded on our long-term partnerships with customers and unique technological know-how and expertise gained from experience in moulded fibre production since 1936. We closely collaborate with SANOVO TECHNOLOGY GROUP, which is also a part of the THORNICO conglomerate, as we have vastly overlapping markets and customers.

Q2. Why Hartmann entered in Indian Market & How it benefits the customers 

In 2020, Mohan Fibre Pvt Ltd, Chandigarh a 43 year old company with biggest production facility in India was acquired by Brodrene Hartmann A/S, a leading specialist in moulded fibre packaging with more than a century of experience and knowledge.

This acquisition established a solid platform for Hartmann in the attractive Indian market, which is characterized by a favorable demographic development and increasing egg and fruit production. The combination of population growth and rising urbanization in the coming years forms a solid foundation for continued development of the retail industry and increasing demand for quality egg packaging in India. In addition, the penetration of moulded-fibre packaging for protection of fruit is expected to increase as supply chains are professionalized.

Our unique market position and capabilities render Hartmann relatively resilient to economic fluctuations, allowing us to leverage a number of attractive market drivers, including increasing global demand for eggs and fruit, rising environmental awareness and a growing focus on health and nutrition.

Q3. How Entry of Hartmann will benefit to Indian Egg Producers

India is the #3 market in egg production, and growing YOY with CAGR 7%. on. According to Animal Husbandry Dept of Govt of India, in 2020 the per capita egg consumption in India was 79 units & which is growing by 10% every year. Despite of the strong growth, Indian consumption is still relatively low compared to other countries. According to National Institute of Nutrition recommendation In India per capita egg consumption need to reach 180 unit asap.

Packaging is an important component in delivering quality eggs to buyers. Hartmann’s environment friendly packaging solutions embraces both the art and science of preparing products for storage, transport and eventually sale. Packaging protects the eggs from:

• Micro-organisms, such as bacteria & Viruses
• Natural predators
• Loss of moisture
• Tainting
• Temperatures that cause deterioration
• Possible crushing/damage while being handled, stored or transported.

Q4. Hartman’s Focus on sustainability, innovation, and customer service

At Hartmann, we are committed to making sustainable egg packaging exclusively based on bio-degradable moulded fibre that can be recycled or disposed of with a minimal impact on our surroundings. Our definition of sustainability also reaches out to other areas including forest stewardship, the climate, our employees and supplies, and our investors.

Our mission is to find solutions to complex problems of our customers in most sustainable way thereby helping environment as well in doing our bit- Customer Focused, Helping community in area we are operating in. Our aim is to Safe, Secure Eggs in Sustainable packaging. Protection of environment is integral part of Hartmann business model. Hartmann is working closely with our customers to accommodate demand for sustainable products in the retail industry, Hartmann was the first manufacturer to offer both FSC®-certified and CO2-neutral retail packaging.

Q5 . What is importance of Packaging in Egg Industry

Packaging is important to the egg industry as corn as they facilitate mass marketing of a fragile food product. Understandably, eye appeal which projects the image of a product relates directly to costs for material and artwork. Ironically, many consumers purchasing the most expensive organic eggs favor molded fiber cartons based on their perceptions of sustainability and biodegradability.

Future advances will include higher levels of sustainability, design changes which can improve on-shelf quality and eye appeal. Both the industry and carton manufacturers must become more aggressive in their informational programs regarding sustainability. The egg industry will have to respond to the demands of the major chains, retail stores and consumers for environmentally friendly packaging.

Q6. What is USP of Hartmann Egg Trays?

• HIL trays are made by HC Pulper, on Fully automatic machine, Dried at 200-220 ° C.
• HIL trays come in polywrapped packing to avoid bacterial/viral contamination, to avoid physical damage of trays.
• HIL Trays Pocket Sizes of International standards – Suitable for all Egg Sizes
• HIL Trays with high Strength, Flexibility & Consistent quality.
• HIL trays are Water repellant & best suitable for Cold Storage of Eggs
• HIL provided Immediate supply & 24*7 services
• Minimal Egg Breakage, HIL Trays give cushion to Egg, protect & absorbs shock during transport through its ability of compress tray that absorb condensation when it forms due to rapid changes of temperature during storage

Q7. What raw material used in your Egg Trays

Hartmann’s FSC®-certified moulded fibre packaging is made from recycled paper/waste papers. The packaging itself can be recycled and reused and is also bio-degradable in industrial composting plants for easy disposal after use.

Recycled newspaper, magazine and cardboard are the key components in our fiber recipe. For us digitalization creates a new challenge: in the future there will not be as much recycled paper available as our production requires. We thought that this was a good opportunity to test other alternatives. The new material was to be stronger, humidity resisting and available in the future.

The new future-looking raw material recipe has now been developed and implemented.

Q8. Please elaborate on your new products “ HIL Medium” & HIL Large”

Since acquisition in last one year Hartmann India team was working with their global technical team to establish new 30 egg trays as per Indian Layer farmers & Egg traders need, suitable for long distance egg transportation, High strength & flexibility for rough handling @ various points, High water repellency or moisture resistant & best suitable pockets for all sizes of Eggs.

Hartmann’s Indian team co-developed a new egg-trays for 30 eggs (Medium & Large size). Using an existing new product as a base for development, they made it better suited for the specific needs in India. Within the project, our team also came up with a new raw material recipe. All this was created in close co-operation with a key customer in India and within the Hartmann global team.

Both trays are very suitable of Medium & Large sizes Eggs. As their pocket size is unique , it will properly accommodate the respective egg & avoid egg breakages during stacking, storage & transportation.