Davos,
Switzerland / Shirwal, India, February 5, 2026
ACG Packaging Materials today announced that its Shirwal facility
has been named a global Lighthouse and welcomed into the World Economic Forum’s
(WEF) Lighthouse Network (GLN). This marks ACG’s second Lighthouse recognition,
following its first in 2023 for the Pithampur capsules manufacturing facility. The
distinction underscores ACG's leadership in leveraging smart manufacturing to
make medicines safer, sustainable, and more affordable globally.
Commenting
on the recognition, Karan Singh, Managing Director, ACG said: “ACG has always
believed that true leadership in the packaging sector comes from building
smarter – not competing harder. Our Shirwal facility is now our second site to
be recognised by the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network, making
ACG the world’s first pharmaceutical packaging company to receive this honour.”
He
further added: “This achievement reflects the structures and frameworks we are
putting in place across the Group. All ACG business entities are converging to
optimise packaging so that medicines are safer, more sustainable, and more
affordable. Repetition is the test of proof – in line with our ‘Make it Better’
commitment, we are replicating this Lighthouse excellence across our facilities
and pioneering Sustainability Lighthouses for responsible, resilient
manufacturing from India.”
At
Shirwal, the transformation programme spans end-to-end manufacturing operations
and is enabled by generative AI, machine learning, deep learning, the
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and digital twin technologies. Operating
in a highly competitive and increasingly commoditised pharmaceutical packaging
market, the facility undertook a comprehensive digital transformation journey
to boost productivity, agility and quality-while
also reducing energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions, and
supporting a safer, more empowered workplace.
The
programme has strengthened day-to-day decision-making by bringing greater
visibility to operations and enabling faster, more consistent responses to
variation across key manufacturing processes. These initiatives
have delivered measurable improvements, including: ·
40% reduction in
lead times ·
71% reduction in
defects ·
31% reduction in
energy consumption ·
34% improvement
in on-time delivery in full
For
customers, this translates into shorter lead times, fewer defects and more
dependable delivery performance at scale.
S
R Shivshankar, CEO, ACG Packaging Materials, said: “This recognition reflects
the commitment of our teams at Shirwal and their ability to integrate advanced
digital technologies into everyday manufacturing operations. It strengthens our
focus on delivering consistent quality, productivity and sustainability for
customers worldwide.” Balajikasiram
Sundararajan, Chief Digital Officer, ACG Group, said: “Through our Build the
Future programme, ACG is driving technology-led transformation across the
manufacturing value chain, enabling smart manufacturing, connected products and
services, and new business models. This prestigious Global Lighthouse
recognition inspires us to continue scaling innovation across our businesses.”
Kiva Allgood, Head,
Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains, World Economic Forum,
said: “Competitiveness
today is no longer defined by efficiency alone, but by the ability to sense,
adapt and respond at speed. The Global Lighthouse Network showcases how
intelligence-led operations are placing resilience and sustainability at the
core of industrial performance.”
About
the Global Lighthouse Network The
Global Lighthouse Network is a World Economic Forum initiative recognising
best-in-class operational sites and value chains that have achieved exceptional
performance in productivity, supply chain resilience, customer centricity,
sustainability and talent. The initiative was co-founded with McKinsey &
Company and is counselled by an advisory board of industry leaders working
together to shape the future of global manufacturing.
About
ACG For
more than six decades, ACG has been at the forefront of developing innovative
production solutions tailored for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies.
As the world’s most integrated provider of oral dosage products and services,
our offerings span capsules, barrier packaging materials, manufacturing
machinery, visual inspection and traceability solutions built to international
standards. ACG fosters long-term collaborative partnerships with customers in
138 countries across six continents. Together, we share a common purpose: to solve
the world’s greatest health challenges and make it better for everybody we
serve.
Media
contact ACG
Media Relations — madhurima.chakraborty@acg-world.com
