Natural Capsules (NCL) is a trusted name among capsule manufacturers in India, established in 1993 in Bangalore and expanded in 2003 to Pondicherry. The company operates well-equipped, modern manufacturing facilities for producing hard gelatin capsule shells, hard cellulose (HPMC) capsule shells, and pharmaceutical dosage forms in capsule format. As a WHO-GMP and ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of hard gelatin and HPMC capsules shells, it complies with all national and international standards. The company follows best practices in cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) and cGLP (current Good Laboratory Practice). Since inception, Natural Capsules has provided complete capsule manufacturing solutions, constantly improving through innovation, technology, and product excellence.

The main objective of the company is to manufacture and market Hard Gelatin Capsule shells and Hard Cellulose Capsule Shells (both printed and unprinted). These capsules are sold in domestic and also exported to several countries. The logical integration of NCL hard shell manufacturing to formulation was initiated in the year 1998. The company is also engaged in formulating the pharmaceutical dosage forms in Capsule dosage form, both Pharma and Neutraceutical Products. The Pharmaceutical and Dietary supplement industries count on Natural Capsules to supply hard two-piece Gelatin and Cellulose capsules. 

Business Verticals

• Capsules Vertical: NCL’s capsules business is anchored in a culture of process innovation, operational excellence, and consistent capital investment. The company’s facilities operate with dedicated manufacturing lines that adhere to globally recognised quality standards, including WHO-GMP, ISO 9001:2015, HACCP, and Halal certifications.

• APIs Vertical: In line with its strategic diversification and value-accretive initiatives, NCL entered the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) segment with the aim of reducing India’s dependence on imports and becoming a key player in niche therapeutic areas. This facility leverages fermentation-based synthesis from Key Starting Materials (KSMs) and is among the few in India to focus on the production of steroidal APIs.

Business area of the company 

NCL is a respected manufacturer in the pharmaceutical industry, with a strong presence in both capsule and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production.

Products 

• Hard Gelatin Capsule Shells
• Hard Cellulose Capsule Shells
• BSE / TSE Free Gelatin Capsule Shells
• Shiny Gelatin Capsule Shells
• SLS Free Gelatin Capsule Shells
• Halal Certified Gelatin Capsule Shells
• Fast Release Gelatin Capsule Shells
• Printed Gelatin / Cellulose Capsule Shells
• Vegetarian Capsule Shells
• Enteric Capsule Shells

Milestones

Early Success and Expansion

• Natural Capsules Limited was incorporated in 1993 as a Public Limited Company in Bangalore.
• Operations commenced in 1995 with three capsule manufacturing lines and an annual capacity of 1.03 billion capsules. 
• In 2001, the company became the first in India to manufacture vegetarian capsules, marking a significant achievement. 
• The early 2000s saw rapid expansion, including the acquisition of a Pondicherry unit in 2003.

2005-2007

• Acquired five lines from IPCL Godhra and installed them in Pondicherry.

2009-2012

• Acquired nine lines from Qualicaps Canada and installed them in Pondicherry.

2011-2014

• Upgraded multiple lines, increasing individual capacities from 1 million capsules per day to 1.5 million capsules per day.
• By 2014, annual installed capacity had reached 7.1 billion capsules per day

From 2019 onwards

• Natural Capsules experienced renewed growth across both domestic and international markets, resulting in improved margins. 
• The company maintained its emphasis on technological advancement, systematically enhancing its manufacturing capabilities to support increasing demand and operational efficiency.
• During this period, a capsule manufacturing line was upgraded to achieve a production rate of 2.5 million capsules per day, up from 1.0 million capsules per day. 
• The installation of the new generation machine in Bangalore further advanced production, delivering a capacity of 4.8 to 5.0 million capsules per day.
• As of the end of FY25, the company’s installed capacity stands at 19.50 billion capsules per annum.
• In a significant step, the Company has expanded into active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing through its subsidiary, Natural Biogenex.