Knowlton Development Corporation (kdc/one), a provider of custom formulation, packaging design, and manufacturing services, has partnered with Clarion Group, a contract manufacturer, to establish a new joint venture (JV) in India.

This collaboration, named kdc/one Clarion Beauty, will focus on providing advanced solutions for beauty packaging production and formulation development.

The venture will address the region’s packaging needs for colour cosmetics, skincare, and personal care, combining Clarion’s expertise in the local market with kdc/one’s global innovation and formulation capabilities.

kdc/one beauty and personal care global president Sandra Wisniewski said: “We are delighted to join forces with Clarion Group and combine our individual and collective strengths to enable brand owners to grow their global business in the fast-developing Indian marketplace.

“We look forward to bringing the bespoke packaging design, quality and development credentials of both kdc/one and HCT, and benefitting from Clarion’s significant track record in India, highly strategic personal care manufacturing footprint and deeply experienced local management team.”

As part of the JV, the partners will build a new manufacturing facility in the Indian state of Gujarat over the next year.

This facility will be dedicated to the production of injection-moulded and metallised beauty packaging to meet the growing demands of the domestic market.

Clarion Group chair K N Lakshmanan said: “Our two companies not only have complementary manufacturing, formulation and packaging strengths in the beauty and personal care products sector, but we also share a commitment to providing the highest level of innovation, quality, service, agility and regulatory compliance.

“We are excited by the huge potential of this joint venture and believe that together, we will be the partner of choice for brand owners, and I believe the dream for brand owners, whether they are already operating in the Indian market or looking to enter the region, we aim to help bring their vision to life.”

In October last year, kdc/one reached an agreement to acquire Laffon, an Italian company specialising in makeup packaging.