Italian aseptic processing equipment manufacturer Steriline is ramping up its investment in India, with plans to eventually manufacture ancillary equipment locally, to expand its high-speed line offerings, and set up a spare parts warehouse to support its growing installed base in South Asia.
Speaking during Pharmintech 2025 in Milan, Filippo Parini, head of sales – India at Steriline, said the company has already established a firm footprint in the region, with nearly 100 sterile processing lines installed across India and an expanding service and sales team based in Mumbai.
“India is not only one of our largest markets—it is also one of the most strategically important,” Parini said. “We started with our first isolator line in India back in 2006. Three years ago, we took over our long-time partner there and opened Steriline Asia in Andheri, Mumbai.”
The company’s Indian subsidiary has grown from 15 employees at launch to nearly 30, with a balanced mix of technicians and commercial staff. Recent additions include software engineers to provide remote diagnostics and support, thanks to Steriline’s fully connected machinery.
“Instead of flying a technician from Italy to Indonesia, we can now dispatch someone from India, or even resolve issues remotely. That saves critical time for our customers,” Parini noted.
High-speed ambitions and local warehousing
Steriline is targeting India’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers with a new range of high-speed filling lines, a segment the company is entering to compete with other European and Asian players.
“Companies such as Serum Institute and Sun Pharma need higher throughputs, and that’s where we are heading. We are strengthening service support—and our next priority is setting up a local warehouse for spares, which is essential to stay competitive,” Parini added.
Shipping delays via routes such as the Suez Canal have underscored the need for more localized solutions. “It takes two months or more to ship machines from Genoa to Mumbai. That’s simply not acceptable for our customers anymore,” he said.
Future manufacturing in India on the cards
While Steriline has no immediate plans for full-scale manufacturing in India, Parini confirmed that the idea is firmly on the table.
“If not for full machines, then at least for ancillary or auxiliary equipment—we are seriously considering it. Not because we want to reduce costs, but because we want to respond faster and be closer to the market,” he said.
Southeast Asia and beyond
Beyond India, the company sees rising potential in Southeast Asia, where many Indian pharma giants are expanding their footprints.
“The same customers we support in India are now setting up all over Asia and Africa. By building strong relationships with their Indian headquarters, we are able to follow them globally,” said Parini.
A trusted partner for injectable drug manufacturers
All of Steriline’s clients in India are from the pharmaceutical sector, spanning both family-owned companies and large entities. Customers include Dr Reddy’s (12 Steriline lines), Aurobindo (18 lines), among others.
“India is home to perhaps half of the world’s injectable drug production. There is deep technical know-how here, and it’s easier to find trained operators compared to other parts of the world,” said Parini.
