PRINTING TIMES September-October (2023) Printing Times Official Journal of AIFMP

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF MASTER PRINTERS SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023

VOLUME 46

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ISSUE NO. 5

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262 GC Meeting

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PRIDEX & CARDEX Page No. 18

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PRINT AND PACKAGING

ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF MASTER PRINTERS

PRINTING TIMES Founder Editor: Late V N Chhabra Office Bearers for the year 2022-23

1927-2017

PRESIDENT Raveendra Joshi IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT P. Chander VICE PRESIDENTS Nitin Narula (North) Bidyut Ranjan Nag (East) Anant V. Joshi (West) K. Kumarasamy (South) HON GEN SECRETARY Raghabendra N. Dutta Baruah

CONTENTS EDITORIAL

6

AIFMP NEWS

8-18

• ADOPTECH 2023-PUNE • 262ND GC MEETING @ INDORE • PRIDEX & CARDEX

HON JT SECRETARY Rahul Mahajan AFFILIATE NEWS

HON TREASURER K. Rajendran

Standing Committee for the year 2022-23 MSME WELFARE C. R. Janardhana, Mentor C. Ravinder Reddy, Chairman Sidharth Prakash, Co-Chairman Y. Vijayan, Co-Chairman DISPUTE REDRESSAL FORUM Dev Nair, Mentor Balbir Singh Jasrotia, Co-Chairman Mehul Shah, Chairman PRINTING TIMES Manoj Mehta, Mentor Armandeep Singh Babrah, Editorial Panel Dr. Ganesh M. Datye, Editorial Panel Rahul Goel, Editorial Panel Raghabendra N. Dutta Baruah, Editor Sanjay Ghatwai, Editorial Panel INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FORUM President AIFMP, Mentor Prof. Kamal Chopra, Chairman-WPCF Manoj B. Mehta, President-FAPGA R. Suresh, Secretary General-FAPGA Satish Malhotra, Member GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Vijay Kumar Chopra, Mentor Adarsh Pal Gupta, Co-Chairman Harjinder Singh, Co-Chairman Rajesh Sardana, Chairman Surjit Singh, Co-Chairman Vinod Kumar Rajpal, Co-Chairman Ravi Gupta, Co-Chairman SUB COMMITTEETENDER RATIONALISATION Surendra Dhote, Mentor A. Balasubramanian, Co-Chairman Ashwani Gupta, Chairman Puneet Talwar, Co-Chairman Shahjahan Kazi, Co-Chairman AIFMP BHAVAN Subhash Chander, Mentor Arun Agrawal, Member Manoj B. Mehta, Member Mukesh Kaushik, Member Raveendra Joshi, Member S. Dayaker Reddy, Member Satish Malhotra, Member Prof. Kamal Chopra, Member PAMEX 2023 Raveendra Joshi, Chairman Tushar Dhote, Co-Chairman PAMEX 2024 Chairman NAEP Vijay Kr. Chopra, Mentor Prof. Kamal Chopra, Mentor All OBs 2022-23, Members CONSTITUTION Govind Bhargava, Mentor G. Raveendra Babu, Co-Chairman K. C. Prakash, Chairman EXPORT PROMOTION Manoj B. Mehta, Mentor Avadhesh Awasthi, Co-Chairman DSVRK Raju, Co-Chairman Mehul Desai, Chairman Tarun Aneja, Co-Chairman

EDUCATION & TRAINING Surendra Dhote, Mentor Harjinder Singh, Chairman Nagesh Shendge, Co-Chairman O Venugopal, Co-Chairman Pentyala Basavaiah, Co-Chairman Pradip Giri, Co-Chairman Vinay R. Kalaskar, Co-Chairman CRISIL Sanjay Patel, Mentor T V Mukund, Co-Chairman A. Balasubramanian, Co- Chairman DATA COLLECTION S R Sharma, Mentor Jignesh Shah, Co-Chairman P. Udhaya Kumaran, Co-Chairman V. Sambasiva Rao, Co-Chairman IT – (WEBSITE/WEBINARS) B. R. Satya Kumar, Co-Chairman Nileaysh Ghodke, Co-Chairman Rahul Goel, Co-Chairman Saubhagyanidhi Seksaria, Co-Chairman Tushar Dhote, Chairman PAPER & BOARD Bhuvanesh Seth, Chairman Mukesh Kaushik, Co-Chairman Nitin Shah, Co-Chairman Rishi Kumar, Co-Chairman V. S. Raveendran, Co-Chairman FINANCE & TAXATION Ashwani Gupta, Co-Chairman K. Kanagaraj, Co-Chairman Manmohan Shenoy, Chairman Mudresh Purohit, Co-Chairman Suvrat Luthra, Co-Chairman SOFTWARE FOR PRINTING INDUSTRY D. Radha Krishna, Co-Chairman G N Visvakumar, Co-Chairman M N Pandey, Co-Chairman Shailendra Pople, Chairman Tejas Tanna, Co-Chairman MACHINERY, PLATES AND RAW MATERIAL FOR PRINTING INDUSTRY Ashwani Gulati, Chairman C D Kumaravel, Co-Chairman Lalit Goel, Co-Chairman PV Sathish, Co-Chairman Samadeet Baruah, Co-Chairman Sanjay Ghatwai, Co-Chairman SAFETY, HEALTH & PERSONNEL Dibyajyoti Kalita, Mentor Jolly Peter, Co-Chairman Lokesh Sehgal, Co-Chairman Sanjay Varma, Co-Chairman Umesh Nema, Co-Chairman Vilas Sangurdekar, Chairman HOSPITALITY R. Suresh, Mentor A. Senthil Kumar, Co-Chairman Kishor Gorkhe, Co-Chairman Subrata Kr. Khan, Co-Chairman Tirthraj J. Joshi, Co-Chairman

19-25

• DISTRICT & MEKHALA CONFERENCES ORGANISED BY KPA • GDMPA FELICITATES AIFMP NEW TEAM • MUMBAI MUDRAK SANGH (MMS) CELEBRATES TEACHER'S DAY • KERALA PRINTERS ASSOCIATION'S 38TH STATE CONFERENCE AND KERALA PRINT & PACK 2023 EXHIBITION • SIVAKASI PRINTEX 2023 IMPRINT INDORE

INDUSTRY NEWS

26-32

NOTIFICATIONS, RULES & REGULATIONS

33-35

PRINTING TIMES is official journal of the All India Federation of Master Printers, Published from: 605 Madhuban, 55 Nehru Place, New Delhi-110 019.

Phone: +91 11 41651742.

Email: ptimes101@gmail.com / fopaid11@gmail.com Publisher: Raghabendra N. Dutta Baruah, Hon Gen Secretary Hon Editor : Raghabendra N. Dutta Baruah Printed at: International Print-o-Pac Ltd, B-204, 205 Okhla Indl. Area, Phase - I, New Delhi-110 020.

Co-ordinator: Sonia 9811986436 Designing : AIFMP All rights reserved. Views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of AIFMP

Dear readers, India’s population has surpassed China, becoming the most populous country in the world, and at the same time, by 2040, India is likely to reach 900 million individuals in the 25-65 age group, whereas China will have around 730 million. In other words, India will go from having 180 million less working-age people than China today to about 170 million more—a net gain of a third of a billion in 20 years. This is a demographic boon that Indians must capitalise on in terms of proper training of this human resource to be more productive. This also means more individuals with access to disposable income to spend and more demand for all products, including printed material.

While globally tensions are growing with Hamas attacking Israel and the counterattacks now continuing and evolving into a local war, just as the Russia – Ukraine conflict remains simmering, US – China continue to be at loggerheads for global dominance, India is emerging as an alternative manufacturing and service provider to the world. Another opportunity for industry to grow and expand off.

A successful International Conference, ADOPTECH 2023 was held at Hotel Lemon Tree Premier, Pune with the support of the MSME Ministry, International Cooperation Section, hosted by the The Poona Press Owners Association Ltd. on 9th September 2023. Speakers were Mr Brian Kow, Business Development Manager – Prinect Solutions, Heidelberg Asia Pacific region. His presentation topic was Industry 4.0@Print, Mr Darren Pickford, Sales Director, Edale from United Kingdom was the 2nd speaker and he delivered enlightening presentation focusing on “Sustainability and environmental care in packaging by using a single pass production philosophy”, Mr Richard Gill, Product Manager – Sheetfed, Hubergroup from United Kingdom presented a close to heart and most relevant material science topic - Direct Food Contact (DFC) inks - Applications, Opportunities and Safety & Sustainability of the packaged food. Mr Mahidi from HP Indigo, Regional Business Manager enlightened the delegates on The Future Ready Digital Printing Solution and Mr Douglas Mooney, Head of Equipment - Heidelberg – Asia Pacific focused his presentation on secrets for boosting the productivity through digitalization.

Participation was seen from around 200 MSME units, making it a very fruitful programme, which AIFMP hopes to replicate and surpass in future.

Having come into the President’s post, I hope to start the work towards bringing AIFMP members more value from their association, a forum for free exchange of ideas and useful information, an organization to whom members can turn to for technical and other help and resources. I hope that AIFMP can fulfil its role to be the leader of the largest printers’ organisation in the world and give the Indian Printing community full chance to be a part of India’s growth and become the preeminent global player as a printing provider.

Raghabendra N. Dutta Baruah Editor - Printing Times

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AIFMP NEWS

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PRINT AND PACKAGING

Preamble: All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP), an apex body of printers in India, organized the full day International Conference “ADOPTECH2023”, on the theme of “The technology adoption is critical to the future of printing and packaging industry” on 9 Sept 2023. The International Conference “ADOPTECH2023” was supported by Government of India, International Co-Operation Section, Ministry of MSME (Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises), New Delhi and was organized by The Poona Press Owners Association’s team in Pune at Hotel Lemon Tree Premier, Pune. The International Conference received the overwhelming response and was attended by 200 plus delegates from all over India, out of which close to 50% delegates were from cities other than Pune. th

The reason for choosing the topic was very logical, based on reports from Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), India is expected to become the fifth largest consumer market in the world due to rise in e-commerce, changing lifestyles, urbanisation and increased personal health awareness requiring print and packaging. This will attract more investments in India through domestic investors & FDI’s and packaging segment leading to the growth of Indian print and packaging market. Thus making it mandatory to deploy newer technologies aligning with global trends of managing hygiene or no touch production, JIT deliveries, viable costs for short runs, supply chain issues, time to market, sustainability and eco-friendliness while supporting the transformations and disruptions in

print and packaging products. Toughest of challenge being Fast turnaround, last mile deliveries and lowest price while portraying high end and luxurious finished product.

As they say, every challenge brings in an opportunity; AIFMP team envisaged the challenges for the Indian print and packaging companies going forward and made the efforts to bring-in international expertise from different domains on one single mega platform.

The efforts of the AIFMP team were successful as the expert speaker’s highlighted the key opportunities and key developments emerging in global markets, effect of globalization on print markets, emerging value add applications, showcasing design differentiations, progress being made on regulations, sustainability, IOT - connected factories and supply chain automation, AI - machine efficiency and workflow optimization, robotics in print manufacturing & automation and other emerging technologies.

Inauguration of the conference: The International Conference “ADOPTech2023” was inaugurated in presence of AIFMP officials led by President Shri Raveendra Joshi. Shri Kamal Mohan Chopra – Chairman - World Print & Communication Forum (WPCF) was invited as a special invitee for the inauguration of the event. All the dignitaries were escorted by Shri Tirthraj Joshi ji VP, PPOA and Shri Rahul Marulkar ji, HSG PPOA. The invited guests were felicitated by the team by Puneri Pagadi and memento.

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AIFMP NEWS

Welcome Speech was given by Shri Raveendra Joshi ji, President – AIFMP & PPOA, briefly outlining the importance of organizing such knowledge sharing industry events and setting the tone to engage with Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Shri Ravinder Reddy, Chairman for MSME Welfare standing committee, then shared the “Pack of Benefits”, briefly outlining the activities of ministry and MSME department and benefit of being part of MSME network to the print community present in the hall.

Shri C. R. Janardhana, Mentor for MSME Welfare standing committee, AIFMP shared his thoughts and motivated the august gathering outlining the activities and benefits of being under the umbrella of MSME ministry.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L D E L E G AT E S PRESENTATION: (in 5 slots) During the event 5 speakers made their presentations aligning with the theme of the International Conference “ADOPTech 2023” - “The technology adoption is critical to the future of printing and packaging industry”. All the speakers were felicitated by Puneri Pagadi and the small gift as a token of appreciation.

First Speaker was Mr Brian Kow, Business Development Manager – Prinect Solutions, Heidelberg Asia Pacific region. His presentation topic was Industry 4.0@Print.

Mr Brian’s presentation was well received and appreciated by the delegates which was highlighting the role of prepress process while minimising wasteful processes & actions and optimizing use of printing machines. This is achieved based on available data regarding printing machines, its analysis and using the analysis to improve functioning of machines, factories and overall systems to achieve ultimate aim of fast delivery, high

quality, and low price while increasing the Overall Equipment Effectiveness – OEE. Mr Darren Pickford, Sales Director, Edale from United Kingdom was the 2 speaker and he delivered enlightening presentation focusing on “Sustainability and environmental care in packaging by using a single pass production philosophy”.

Mr Darren through his presentation highlighted the advancement in technologies and processes allowing most forms of packaging to be produced on a single piece of equipment while impacting the working environment and the push towards sustainability. His presentation delved into how automation can reduce waste, give repeatability, offer reduced touched production and advancement towards the paper based packaging while fulfilling the global regulations.

The third slot of presentation was occupied by material science expert, Mr Richard Gill, Product Manager – Sheetfed, Hubergroup from United Kingdom. He has presented close to heart and most relevant material science topic - Direct Food Contact (DFC) inks Applications, Opportunities and Safety & Sustainability of the packaged food.

Mr Richard’s presentation was all focusing on FOOD packaging and shared his deep knowledge while allowing delegates to witness a groundbreaking approach to tackling one of the most pressing challenges of today’s time: Sustainability and Safety of food packaging. nd

The second last slot of the presentation was filled up by Mr Mahidi from HP Indigo serving as Regional Business Manager. Mr Mahidi enlightened the delegates with most popular and close to heart topic of lots of investors in print and packaging line in India, The Future Ready Digital Printing Solution.

09 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

AIFMP NEWS Mr Mahidi, specialist in folding carton and card business, with his keen eye while having a experience of 25 plus years with both offset and digital domain, has explored current status of printing industry, its future and technologies shaping this industry through his presentation. Through his presentation, the presenter also revealed the future ready digital printing solutions with the delegates here.

b. Their experience of leading the change from the front of adoption & deployment of different print and finishing technologies well in time cautioning on do’s and Don’ts.

The last, but the very important slot was filled by the very important international speaker, Mr Douglas Mooney, Head of Equipment Heidelberg – Asia Pacific.

d. Sustainability and brands requirements while setting the benchmarking of requirements from print community.

With 25 plus years career with Heidelberg, Douglas is a qualified Printer and worked for Heidelberg Asia Pacific as a Print instructor as well, knew exact pain points of the print community and addressed pain points and relevant solutions from Heidelberg with details. He focused his presentations while revealing lots of secrets for boosting the productivity through digitalization - digital eco system while focusing more on building Overall Equipment Effectiveness i.e OEE. Lastly, he had shown the some of the next gen presses configurations build by Heidelberg keeping in mind the versatility and effectiveness of the equipments.

To encourage the interactions between the speaker and the audience, prizes were announced for the best question raised from audience. The prizes were awarded at the end of the all five presentations.

PANEL DISCUSSION: During the International Conference – ADOPTech2023, panel discussions amongst young and eminent personalities from print fraternity across India was organized with multiple intentions. The panel discussed and highlighted about, a. The influence, priorities, development & comparison to international standards in the same field.

c. Panelist also voiced their free and frank opinion regarding support available and expectations from Ministry of MSME for supporting the growth of print and packaging industry in future.

The panel discussion was moderated by Col (Hon) Professor Dr Rajendrakumar Anayath, The Former Vice Chancellor – DCRUST University (A Haryana State Government University) and the members on the panel were Ashwini Deshpande - Co-Founder and Director – Elephant Design, India’s largest independent integrated design consultancy, representing the vigilant the print buyer community, Manu Choudhury - Director - CDC Printers, Kolkata – representing commercial printing category who have diversified into packaging segment, from eastern India, Anil Namugade, Founder and Director – Trigon Digipack, Mumbai – representing the digital printing user community from western region and Shri Gaurav Nema, Director – Pragati Graphics and Packaging Pvt Limited, Indore broadly representing the print service provider using all 3 print processes of Offset, Flexo and Gravure.

The two highlighted takeaways were, sustainability will not happen automatically, we have to take the first step in whatever way we can and that small step will trigger the start the sustainability cycle and second one is about quality.

Everybody talks about quality every time and everywhere but without being able to define quality. Quality does not mean a redder apple or a bluer sky. A quality standard has to be followed for making foothold in the market.

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AIFMP NEWS

The Poona Press Owners Association also felicitated the media partners PrintWeek, PressIdeas and Print Samachar for the outstanding efforts for promoting the event and for continuous patronage & being a well wisher of AIFMP and PPOA all along.

Shri Raghabendra Dutta Barua, HSG AIFMP in his closing remarks briefly narrated the each sessions progress and Shri Tirthraj Joshi, Vice President PPOA thanked everybody who has supported this event and making it a

successful. He did not forget to thank curious delegates for making the International Conference very interactive through questions from their side.

The conference was hosted by Shri Nitin Wani – the Independent Print Consultant from Pune and was timely concluded. The conference was ended with a request of dropping the feedback forms in the box kept outside the hall and getting an assurance from audience for attending the ADOPTech 2024, in the coming year.

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263 GOVERNING COUNCIL MEETING of All India Federation of Master Printers @Madurai

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262 GC Meeting @ Indore

The 262nd Governing Council Meeting of AIFMP held on Friday 29th & Saturday 30th September 2023 at Sheraton Grand Palace, Indore under the Chairmanship of Mr Raveendra Joshi, President AIFMP. The meeting was hosted by Indore Master Printers Association, Indore.

Mr Rajendra Jain, and Mr. Umesh Nema, President IMPA welcomed Shri Shankar Lalwani, BJP MP, the Chief Guest of the function. Mr Umesh Nema said, the printing and packaging industry is the most employment-generating industry, this industry provides maximum employment directly and indirectly, but even today it is said that our industry is only a service industry. He requested to Shri Shankar Lalwani to raise our request to the top authority to get status for the printing industry. Hon’ble MP said that a Memorandum should be made in this regard and that our request may be submitted to the higher authority.

Mr Shankar Lalwani thanked and welcomed everyone who came to Indore, the Cleanest and Smartest City of India to attend the GC and AGM of the All India Federation of Master Printers. He said, our country has advanced a lot in printing. Printing of brochures and posters during the G-20 and was of a very good quality. Our printing quality has been highly appreciated by international delegates also. Let us all start the e-waste drive in our country and home on October 2nd as requested by our Hon’ble Prime Minister.

He said that there is a belief that our country will lead the world and that the printing industry will also progress a lot.

Mr Umesh Nema, greeted and welcomed the President Mr Raveendra Joshi, HGS Mr Raghabendra Dutta, Office Bearers, Past Presidents, GC and GB Members who came from all over the country to attend the 262nd GC meeting in Indore, the holy city of Lok Mata Ahalya Devi, placed between Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar. Indore the hub for education with IITs, seven universities, and IIMs, contributing significantly to the growth of print education.

Given the thriving packaging industry, India has ascended to the fifth global power and is poised to surpass Japan, with the emergence of digital printing in the sector. Emphasizing environmental responsibility, the use of eco-friendly inks and chemicals is advocated. The rising trend of youth-led start-ups and increasing female participation across various fields, including screen printing and graphic designing, is acknowledged. Expressing gratitude, he commended the diligent efforts of the IMPA team and extended thanks to all members for their contributions.

Mr Raghabendra N. Dutta Baruah, HGS read the names of those who requested leave of absence from this meeting.

New members who were attending the GC meeting for the first time were also introduced to the House.

Mr Raveendra Joshi, President in his welcome speech, thanked all the GC and GB members present together the cleanest and smartest city Indore. He expressed his gratitude towards the hospitality and arrangements done for the meeting. He said, he got to experience Indore’s

12 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

AIFMP NEWS

hospitality during the PAMEX Roadshow held in Indore. He also views himself as a lucky President, as in his tenure it was possible to conduct 4 physical GC meetings since COVID in Jammu, Jaipur, Tripura and now in Indore. He appreciated the efforts of the respective associations Presidents and their association for their efforts, irrespective of the lack of resources, financial help and manpower. Then, he proceeded to narrate the summary of his accomplishments in his tenure. Last year was full of successful events and thanks once again to all GC members, Affiliate Associations and OBs who have been entrusted with many responsibilities. He concluded by once again thanking the efforts of the Indore team and the special efforts of Mr. Subhash Chander, PP in leading the members to hold the GC meeting in Jammu and Jaipur.

The Minutes of the 261st GC meeting held on 7 & 8 July 2023 at Agartala were confirmed by the House.

Annual Report 2022-23 presented by Mr Raghabendra N. Dutta Baruah, HGS was approved by the House. th

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Periodic accounts from 1 July to 20 September 2023 and Audited Balance Sheet for 2022-23 presented by Mr K Rajendran, Hon. Treasurer.

Mr Satish Malhotra, Member AIFMP Bhawan committee, presented a PowerPoint presentation of the plan of project submitted to HSIIDC. Mr. Tushar Dhote, Chairman gave report of PAMEX which will be held from 6 to 9 February 2024 at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.

Mr. Janardhanan, Chairman National- 16 NAEP expressed, members must take initiative to promote NAEP the flagship event of the AIFMP. Mr. Manoj Mehta read out his report and highlighted major points. He also appreciated the efforts of his teammates.

House discussed about calling global tenders from PAMEX 2028. Members suggested that a good accounting firm could be hired to evaluate PAMEX. Mr Govind Bhargava, PP presented the AIFMP Constitution proposals received from members. The

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AIFMP NEWS suggestions received on the proposals from the members will be circulated again after taking into consideration the views of the members and after final draft will be prepared.

Mr Ajay Gupta, GC Member, ROPA gave a presentation on software which is normally used for counting of vote, it is with 100% accuracy and transparency. So, AIFMP can use it for the future elections.

The Vice Presidents presented the periodic reports of their respective zones, and Chairmen also submitted their committee’s periodic reports.

Mr C Ravinder Reddy, Chairman MSME said, All India Federation of Master Printers organized the International Conference “ADOPTECH2023”, on the theme of “The technology adoption is critical to the future of printing and packaging industry” on 9th Sept 2023. The International Conference was supported by Government of India, International Co-Operation Section, Ministry of MSME (Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises), New Delhi and was Hosted by The Poona Press Owners Association’s team in Pune at Hotel Lemon Tree Premier, Pune. Five international speakers delivered their presentations in line with the theme of the international conference. House congratulated the team PPOA for their excellent performance.

Mr Mehul Desai, Chairman, Export Promotion said that Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal had called a meeting on September 5, 2023, with the service sector flag bearers of the Indian economy. He prepared a representation and submitted it to the Hon’ble Minister and attended that meeting as the Chairman of Export Promotion and he shared our concerns with Hon’ble Minister Shri Piyush Goyal.

Second request was, as an industry we do not have a representative ministry. Hon’ble Minister suggested to

meet his secretary separately and hear our problems. We will have a follow-up meeting in November. As an exporter we raised the problems faced while exporting. In India as manufacturing services, we require to use HSN code under section 9899, and while exporters use HSN code chapter 4849. Hon’ble Minister answered if you are billing domestically do it on services and if you are exporting do it on products. And GST is also a problem as it is in different slabs. The Hon’ble Minister assured me to wait for some time and they will take care of this.

Mr Harjinder Singh, Chairman, Education & Training, elaborated on his report. His suggestions for updating the print education we will interact with the printing institutes so that we can identify the problems and then accordingly prepare a road map on how to move further.

Mr. Tushar Dhote, Chairman, PAMEX 2024, explained the progress of PAMEX so far.

Application for affiliate membership of The Jammu Printers Cooperative Association and Trichy District Orunginaintha Achaga Sangam, Trichy were approved by the House and adopted them as affiliate member of AIFMP. The 263rd meeting of the Governing Council will be held on 5th and 6th January 2024 at Madurai and the meeting will be hosted by the Sivakasi Master Printers Association.

Mr Raju Seshadrinathan, MPLA proposed the vote of thanks. He thanked President and team AIFMP for giving him the chance to vote of thanks to the members. He thanked Mr Umesh Nema and Mr Rajendra Jain, IMPA for their excellent arrangements, and the House gave a standing ovation to team IMPA for their dedication. He thanked Past-Presidents, GC/GB members and others who were present there. He thanked the sponsors for making this event such a grand success. He also thanked the hotel management and staff for their excellent service.

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AIFMP NEWS

Annual Election 2023-24 of AIFMP on Saturday 30th September 2023, the Election of Office Bearers for the year 2023-2024 held as per the criteria of the Articles of Association of AIFMP. The election process was done by Mr Raveendra Joshi, President AIFMP & Chairman-Scrutiny, Mr Satish Malhotra and Mr Anant Vishwanath Joshi Members, Scrutiny Committee.

The Chairman read out the names of those candidates who have elected unopposed: President - Mr. Raghabendra N. Dutta Baruah Vice-President (South) - Mr. G Raveendra Babu Vice-President (East) - Mr. S Surjit Singh Vice-President (West) - Mr. Prakash Canser Hon. Treasurer - Mr. K Rajendran Election will be held for the post of Vice-President (North), Hon. General Secretary and Hon. Joint Secretary.

Afterwards the Chairman Mr. Raveendra Joshi announced the final result. The new team was welcomed by the members with big applause and full enthusiasm.

The undermentioned candidates were declared as elected as Office Bearers of AIFMP for the year 2023-2024.

President

Raghabendra N. Dutta Baruah

Vice President (N)

Sudesh Kumar Gupta

Vice President (E)

S. Surjit Singh

Vice President (W)

Prakash Canser

Vice President (S)

G. Raveendra Babu

Hon. General Secretary

Umesh Nema

Hon. Joint Secretary

Ashwani Gulati

Hon. Treasurer

K. Rajendran

The new Office Bearers were felicitated by outgoing office bearers of AIFMP. The entire house cheered the new office bearers. Mr Raghabendra N. Dutta Baruah the newly elected President thanked all the members for their wholehearted support for the highest post of the apex body. He thanked all the GC members and expressed his satisfaction to have a dynamic team. Mr. Umesh Nema, newly elected HGS also thanked the members for reposing faith in him and electing him as General Secretary of AIFMP.

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Know the AIFMP Team

•PRESIDENT•

Mr Raghabendra Narayan Dutta Baruah is a fourth generation printer and currently is Director of Seven Stars Publications Pvt. Ltd., Guwahati, where he started his printing journey as production in-charge in 2002.

A graduate of the University of Delhi, he holds a Post Graduate Degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from HP University and a Diploma in Journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and is the owner and publisher of Assamese weekly, Asom Bhumi.

Currently he holds charge as Treasurer of the All Assam Press Owners’ Association, where he has previously served as Joint Secretary, Organisational Secretary and Executive Member. He is also associated with Srimanta Sankar Kristi Bikash Samiti, Guwahati, an organisation set up in 1954 for the preservation and propagation of the culture as propagated by the renowned Vaishnavite saint and reformer Srimanta Sankardeva, where he is Secretary and Executive Member. He served the Federation as Vice President (East) in the year 2018-19, Joint Secretary in 2019-20 and Hon. General Secretary in 2022-23; has represented in committees such as Chairman IT (Website/Webinars) from 2020 to 2022 and also served as Sub-Editor of AIFMP’s official journal, Printing Times from 2021 and Editor from 2022.

A v o r a c i o u s r e a d e r, h e intermittently writes to newspapers when some issue catches his attention.

AIFMP NEWS Mr Umesh Nema, a distinguished individual in the field of printing and packaging, boasts an impressive 40year career in the industry. Armed with a degree in commerce, he has served as the president of •HON. GEN. SECRETARY• prominent organizations, leaving an indelible mark on the sector.““As a commerce graduate, Mr. Nema's expertise has been pivotal in his role as a director at Pragati Graphics and Packaging, a leading company in central India renowned for its comprehensive packaging solutions. Under his guidance, the company has flourished, becoming a one-stop destination for manufacturing mono-cartons, self-adhesive labels, laminates, and more.““Mr. Nema hails from a family of accomplished professionals. His father, Mr. JP Nema, was honored with the prestigious Entrepreneurs Award by the Vice President of India, a testament to the family's legacy of excellence. His brother, Mr. Rajesh Nema, currently holds the esteemed position of National President of the Label Manufacturers Association of India.““In addition to his successful career, Mr. Nema is deeply involved in the community. He serves as the President of The Indore Master Printers Association and acts as a trustee at Nema Vidhya Niketan School, showcasing his commitment to education and community development. Furthermore, he has been a dedicated member of the All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP) for the past decade, contributing significantly as a General Council member and previously as the Chairman of the Finance and Taxation Committee. His active involvement and leadership have earned him the position of Vice President (West) within the Federation.““Notably, Mr. Nema's family continues to excel in various fields. His daughter, based in the UK, is an accomplished engineer, while his son, Nakul, is a high-achieving Chartered Accountant who actively contributes to their family organization.““Mr. Umesh Nema's unwavering dedication, wealth of experience, and influential contributions have made him a respected figure in the printing and packaging industry, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Mr Sudesh Kumar Gupta born on Dec 2, 1964 in Jammu, J&K. He is a commerce graduate SPMR College of Commerece, Jammu.

He started his own printing press in the year 1991 under the name of style of M/s Ambey Printing •VICE PRESIDENT (NORTH)• Press as a letter press. Later he changed in into Offset & Digital Printing Press in year

2004 & 2019 respectively. He is very much involved in social activities from their college. He participated in election of Pamchayat & presented the Gangyal Panchayat in J&K state in 2002-04. At present he is the President of J&K Offset Printers Associaiton, Jammu. He is also State General Secretary of Laghu Udyog Bharti J&K unit. He is a Governing Council Member of All India Federation of Master Printers.

Mr Senjam Surjit Singh was born on 4th October, 1967 at Imphal . He studied Bachelor of Arts in Manipur College. After the completion of graduation he joined his father’s printing business. His father, S. •VICE PRESIDENT (EAST)• Tombinou Singh was an editor of “Simanta Partika”, the Vice President of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee and Chairman of Manipur Industrial Development Corporation. His father set up a letter press in 1990 and upgraded to computerized offset printing press in 1999. ““Senjam Surjit Singh started his own printing press in the year 2003 under the name of M/S Sur Printer and one of the founders and General Secretary of AMPU (All Manipur Press Union). Since then, he has been working as a social activist and leading some organizations. He became the General Secretary of All Manipur Press Association (AMPA) in 2015 and Vice President in 2017. He served the Federation as Vice President (East) in the year 2021-22 Further he has been working as a President of All Manipur Press Association (AMPA) till now.

Mr Prakash Canser assumed the role of President of Mumbai Mudrak Sangh (MMS) in September 2020, following nearly a decade of dedicated service as the Honorary Secretary of MMS. An influential figure, Mr. Canser’s •VICE PRESIDENT (WEST)• leadership is marked by his unwavering commitment to principles such as passion, integrity, teamwork, and an inherent sense of enjoyment, which underpin his every endeavor.

In addition to his role within MMS, Mr. Canser holds the position of Managing Director at National Printing Press (NPP), situated in the bustling district of Jogeshwari, Mumbai. With over three decades of history, NPP specializes in producing garment tags and labels for clients across the nation. Expanding its footprint, NPP operates a factory in Tirupur, South India, an epicenter of garment manufacturing.

Under Mr. Canser’s visionary leadership, the World Print Hub (WPH), the world’s preeminent global community for Printing & Packaging, was inaugurated by MMS during

16 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

AIFMP NEWS his tenure as President on January 26, 2021. WPH presently serves an impressive membership exceeding 15,000 individuals and organizations.

Beyond its role as an Advisory Print Doctor Board offering guidance on diverse topics including business development, industrial associations, labor and statutory matters, company law, financial services, taxation, and emerging technologies, the digital platform of WPH provides an array of services. These services encompass a comprehensive library, knowledge sharing, networking opportunities, blogging, marketing resources, group formation, and the means to connect with the vibrant printing community.

Mr. Canser’s vision extends to bolstering smaller printers who often find themselves disadvantaged when confronted with complex issues due to a lack of awareness. His dedication to empowering these professionals exemplifies his commitment to the industry’s growth and development.

Mr G. Raveendra Babu is now General Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Rastra Offset Printers Association and also Active G.C Member of AIFMP. And also served as co-chairman of Software Committee, PAMEX •VICE PRESIDENT (SOUTH)• Committee, Paper & Board Committee, Constitution Committee, & also as Chairman of Paper & Board Committee.

He is also the General Secretary of Visakhapatnam District Printers Associations Called the Chamber of Master Printers Association.

He is the Founder Member of GIPT Alumini Association, Secunderabad.

He did Diploma in Printing Technology from Government institute of Printing Technology, Secunderabad, from 1983 to 1987.

After Which He is Employed in Different Positions in Different Oraganisations, like AMPRO Packaging, UVIFORT METALLIZERS, A&R Packaging etc.

He was employed in Abroad from 1992 to 1996.

He Owned a Flexible Packaging Industry in Hyderabad.

Now he is the Managing Partner of VISAKHA PRINT HOUSE, A Commercial Press with Multi Colour Mitsubishi, Single Colour Diya, Die Cutting, Lamination, Binding & Other Conversion Machines & Equipments.

Mr K. Rajendran is now the President of The Madras Printers & Lithographers Association (MPLA).

At present he is actively involved as Governing Council member in all the activities of the All India Federation of Masters Printers (AIFMP) more than twenty

•HON. TREASURER•

years. He has also served AIFMP as Hon General Secretary for the years 2018-19 and 2019-20 and as Treasurer of the federation from 2022-23 and continuing in 2023-24.

He has completed his Diploma in Pharmaceuticals ( D.Pharm) from Osmania University. He was keenly motivated in selecting the field of printing and he has completed his Diploma in Printing Technology (D.P.T) from the Institute of Printing Technology (IPT), Taramani, Chennai.

In 1991, he was awarded the best service engineer from Printers House, New Delhi. He has employed as Production Manager, Newman Press. In 1995, he started his own company Vignesh Offset in Pallikaranai, Chennai in 2004. His company is one of the biggest web offset printers in Chennai and printing of 28 GSM tissue paper and also largest suppliers of religious books throughout India.

Apart from his normal routine, he is actively involved in social activities in helping the general public. He was awarded with Doveton Corrie social award in 2000.

Every year he has sponsored funds for the treatment of children affected by Lysosomal Storage Disorder through Rotract Club of CEG Anna University.

He was part of the cricket team in his college days. He has played along with ex-cricketer Azharuddin in South Zone tournament. He was also active player in Carrom and was awarded with State award for his proficiency in 1991.

Mr Ashwani Gulati is the newly elected Jt. Secretary of the All India Federation of Master Printing (AIFMP). Currently he is actively involved as Governing Council member in all activities of AIFMP. Mr. Gulati has been serving as •HON. JOINT SECRETARY• Secretary, Greater Delhi Master Printer’s Association (GDMPA) for the past few years. Previously he has held other portfolios.

Mr. Ashwani Gulati, graduate in Commerce from Delhi University, is in the business of printing for four decades.

Started initially by outsourcing to large printing houses, Mr Gulati exclusively executed, for ten years, the entire printing portfolios of major corporations like Ballarpur Industries Ltd, American Express India, serviced various organisations and industry associations such as CII and many others.

He ventured into his own Print and Production house, Advantage Offset, in the year 2002. With four Komori printing presses, all processes are under one roofsoftware to equipment, estimation to delivery. From domestic commercial printing to exporting exclusive products to the UK. A truly self-made man, Mr Gulati has attained incredible success in his journey of self-learning, developing skills and serving the profession.

Mr. Ashwani Gulati, a humble and sociable person, has a passion for sports and music in lighter moments.

17 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

AIFMP NEWS

Indices are responding to inflation corrections The recent numbers are published for AIFMP-CRISIL indices—PRIDEX and CARDEX. The numbers are optimistic for the industry; the indices are correcting themselves with well-controlled national inflation.

With the latest Q1 FY2024 (April-June 2023) results, PRIDEX has dropped 1.33% (2.2 points), and CARDEX recorded a decline of 1.84% (2.9 points) quarter on quarter. Between Q1 FY2023 (April 2022 to June 2022) and Q1 FY2024, both indices have recorded southward correction at -6.63% (11.6 points) for PRIDEX and -2.70% (4.3 points) for CARDEX. It must be noted that both the indices have corrected themselves year-on-year between the Q2 FY2023 (July-September 2022) and Q1 FY2024—PRIDEX by 9.13% (16.4 points) and CARDEX by 3.85% (6.2 points). The decline reflects inflation correction at the macroeconomic level and price corrections in principal cost inputs.

There is concern over the global macroeconomic events, especially in the developed markets, including the US and Europe. With increasing interest rates, the exports from India to these regions may slow down and be costly. The demand and input prices are expected to correct themselves in the current and subsequent quarters owing to India’s upcoming festive and election season. We should closely monitor the demand trends and input costs that contribute to the twin indices.

We are entering the phase of Union Elections; therefore, the inflation will be effectively controlled until the elections

are over the following year. Considering the latest numbers and drawing insights from the past, printers and packaging converters should use input cost corrections to enhance their profitability; however, financially well-placed businesses may pass on the correction in input costs to their clients and customers. As these indices are maturing, they more accurately reflect the input costs for the two verticals of our industry—commercial printing and carton packaging.

Where can you find the indices?

To know more about PRIDEX and CARDEX follow the link: https://tinyurl.com/yayqnp2k OR scan the QR code on the cover and bookmark it on your smartphone’s Internetbrowser for quick access. The detailed methodology used at computing PRIDEX and CARDEX is readily available at https://tinyurl.com/yaqrr65m.

Please note that FY2013-2014 is the base year for the twin indices with the index value at 100.

More power to all print company owners through AIFMP-CRISIL indices!

For your reference the Image of Index is reproduced below along with QR code:

Trend in PRIDEX

Trend in CARDEX

18 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

AFFILIATE NEWS

District & Mekhala Conferences organised by KPA

The district, mekhala (regional) Annual conferences of the KPA have successfully concluded across all 14 districts of Kerala.

These gatherings saw active participation from our esteemed members, providing a platform for fostering stronger bonds and the exchange of valuable knowledge.

These conferences facilitated camaraderie and the exchange of insights among members.

The election of office bearers was conducted with a high degree of discipline and structure, ensuring a fair and transparent process.

Engaging and informative seminars were also organised as part of our conferences, providing attendees with the latest insights and trends in the printing and packaging world.

Family get-togethers, honouring our senior members, presentation of Educational awards etc were few other highlights of the conferences.

Special awards were presented to the children of KPA members who excelled in their respective fields, encouraging continued growth and achievement.

Newly Elected Office Bearers for the year 2023-24

In the recently concluded Coimbatore District Badminton Championship held at Coliseum Academy between 5-8 October 2023, in the Veterans Cateogry A. Senthil Kumar, Pollachi and J. Kannan, Trichy have won RUNNER UP in the above 50+ doubles category.

PRESIDENT Rahul D. Marulkar VICE PRESIDENT Sanjay A. Sawant

19 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

SECERATRY Kishore P. Gore

AFFILIATE NEWS

GDMPA Felicitates AIFMP New Team The Customary of Felicitation Ceremony began with the Felicitation of Chief Guest Shri Aroosh Chopra, Director, Punjab Kesari Group. Shri Subhash Chander, Past President – AIFMP & C h i e f Pa t r o n – G D M PA introduced Shri Aroosh Chopra to the audience.

Subhash ji briefed the audience about the legacy of family of Shri Aroosh Chopra ji and great contributions of his grandfather Shri Vijay Kumar Chopra ji towards printing fraternity. Dr. Arun Agarwal, President – GDMPA garlanded and presented a memento to Shri Aroosh Chopra. During his address to the audience Shri Aroosh Chopra laid emphasis on adaptation of new technologies.

He told the printers that adaptation of new does not mean discarding of old. Quoting some examples from cricket and Bollywood he explained how people should adapt to the change to stay in the game. Shri R. N. Dutta Baruah, President - AIFMP also welcomed Shri Aroosh Chopra.

Printing fraternity was delighted by the views of two young and dynamic print leaders.

In the next stage of the function the complete team of AIFMP, Shri R. N. Dutta Baruah President , Shri Umesh Nema – Honorable General Secretary, Shri K. Rajinderan – Treasurer, Shri Ashwani Gulati – Joint Secretary, Shri Raveendera Joshi – Imm. Past President, Shri P. Chander - Past President, Shri Sudesh Gupta – Vice President (North), Shri S. Surjit Singh – Vice President (East), Shri Prakash Canser – Vice President (West) and Shri G. Ravindra Babu – Vice President (South) were garlanded and felicitated by team GDMPA. Dr. Arun Aggarwal, Shri Subhash Chander, Shri Dalip Tuli, Shri Vinod Sethi, Shri Kamal Chawla, Shri Ashwani Gulati, Shri Vivek Kukreja, Shri R.K. Chopra, Shri Rajjesh Sehgal and Shri Nitin Narula got the honour of Felicitating the new team. Each member of the new team was presented with a specially designed memento carrying the picture of proposed AIFMP Bhawan so as to keep them driven towards the cherished dream of printing fraternity. All the team members briey addressed the audience present. On behalf of the Team Shri R.N. Dutta Baruah – President, promised that his team will work towards the betterment of the CMYK community and will leave no stone unturned in their efforts.

Special gratitude was towards Past Presidents of AIFMP Shri Raveendera Joshi, Shri P. Chander , Shri Satish Malhotra, Shri Veerendra Malik and Shri Dibyajyoti Kalita for their love and support, which they continuously shower on GDMPA. They were thanked for sparing their valuable time and gracing the occasion. Special Mementos were presented to them as a mark of respect from GDMPA. Shri Vinod Sharma, President – The Rajasthan Offset Printers Association (ROPA) and Shri Bheem Raj Sharma – Vice President ROPA were felicitated by garlands and memento’s.

Shri Nitin Narula was felicitated for being the convener of the function.

In the end everyone joined hands for special felicitation of Shri Subhash Chander, Past President – AIFMP & Chief Patron – GDMPA. Subhash ji has been a guiding light for both the AIFMP and GDMPA. The new team of AIFMP, Past Presidents of AIFMP, Guests at event along with Members of GDMPA thanked Subhash ji for being the source of inspiration for printers all over India.

20 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

AFFILIATE NEWS

GDMPA continued its tradition of hosting the rst Felicitation Ceremony for the ofce bearers of AIFMP for the year 2023-24. A grand function was organized on Wednesday 4th October 2023 at Azalea Banquet, Naraina Industrial Area, New Delhi – 110028. Along with its agship felicitation ceremony, a technical, knowledge and motivational seminar “Navigating Print 3.0” was also organized in concurrence. Shri Aroosh Chopra, Director, Punjab Kesari Group graced the event as Chief Guest and new team of AIFMP, members of GDMPA, Industry stakeholders were in attendance. Program commenced with the welcome address by Dr. Arun Aggarwal, President – GDMPA. Shri Satish Malhotra, Past President – AIFMP conducted the event as Master of Ceremonies.

Navigating Print 3.0 Third edition of “Navigating 3.0” a technical, knowledge and motivational seminar presented the members of GDMPA an opportunity to listen and interact with experts from the printing industry. Dr. Anjan Baral, Professor and Researcher, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology was the rst speaker. His topic “Printing standards for prot maximization” was like a treasure trove for printers. Printers present at the venue were enlightened to learn about such ne technicalities to boost their business. He was followed by Shri Sushil Kumar Aneja, a renowned Offset Machinery Expert. With his experience of more than 5 decades, he guided machine owners on “ Increasing prots and productivity through proper maintenance of plant and machinery”. Third speaker for the evening, Mr. Inder Kumar Arora, Owner

Chanakya Mudrak & social worker advised printers to take care of their personal health along with the health of business. He told printers not to ignore personal wellbeing while in pressure to meet client’s deadlines.

His session was succeeded by Ms. Maansi Gupta, a business coach.

Her topic “Printing in the evolving age: staying at the forefront of leadership” guided printers on how to be LEADERS instead of just DEALERS. She emphasized printers to accept the CHANGES which are happening all around and showed them the ways on how to steer their businesses to be relevant in today’s environment.

SASG UV Solutions Pvt. Ltd. a leading manufacturer of LED UV System, UV Interdeck System, Anilox coater attachment, Roller Coater Machine,Screen Printing Machine etc., showcased their latest offerings to the printers.

Kodak presented their SONORA range of process free plates and other updates.

Navigating print 3.0 concluded with Mr. Tushar Dhote, Chairman – PAMEX, giving a brief introduction on innovations happening at PAMEX 2024, Premier printing and allied industry exhibition of India organized by AIFMP and inviting printers to attend the exhibition in large numbers.

GDMPA Star Performer Award T h e A n n u a l G D M PA s t a r performer awards were presented to Shri Rajjesh Sehgal and Shri Vivek Kukreja for their outstanding contribution towards the growth of the association.

21 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

AFFILIATE NEWS

Mumbai Mudrak Sangh (MMS) Celebrates Teacher’s Day Dhote, and Senior Managing Committee Member Mrs. Medha Virkar visited the Government Institute of Printing Technology (GIPT), Mumbai, September 5, 2023, to express their heartfelt gratitude and felicitate all the teachers, the celebrated heroes of education. The day is celebrated as Teacher’s Day in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a renowned scholar and recipient of Bharat Ratna, the first Vice President and the second President of India.

GIPT Principal Deshpande and teachers with Committee Members of MMS Team MMS comprising of Honorary Secretary Mr. Mehul Shah, Managing Committee Member Mr. Rahul Kulkarni, Immediate Past President Mr. Tushar

As per the custom followed by MMS over the years, the Principal of GIPT, Madam Manisha Deshpande, was presented with a Tulsi plant by Mrs. Virkar and a letter of appreciation and gratitude. The felicitation was followed by sweets distribution in the presence of other Managing Committee Members of MMS and the faculty members of GIPT.

INTERNATIONAL PRO PAPER SHOW DUBAI (UAE): Gaukriti Jaipur was awarded "Eco-Friendly Excellence Award -2023" organized by Super Sourcing and Proper Dubai in Dubai and Sponsored by FIEO at InterContinental Festival Arena, Festival City, Dubai UAE. Bheem Raj Sharma and Suresh Jangid of Jaipur received this award in Dubai by the grace of Mother Cow. Jai mother cow - Jai Gopal

22 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

AFFILIATE NEWS

Kerala Printers Association’s 38th State Conference and Kerala Print & Pack 2023 Exhibition Unveil Cutting-Edge Trends in Printing and Packaging

In a spectacular showcase of innovation and industry prowess, the Kerala Printers Association (KPA) recently concluded its 38th Annual State Conference and the vibrant Kerala Print & Pack 2023 Exhibition at CIAL Convention Centre, Kochi. The event unfolded over three days, from September 30th to October 2nd, offering a unique platform for industry leaders, professionals and enthusiasts to converge and explore the latest trends in printing and packaging.

The grand inauguration featured distinguished personalities with Sri Benny Behanan MP inaugurating the Annual Conference and Sri Anvar Sadath MLA leading the inauguration of the Kerala Print & Pack 2023 Exhibition.

Public Meeting convened on the second day was inaugurated by Adv K Rajan, Hon Minister for Revenue. Sri Roji M John MLA was the chief guest. KPA State President Sri Y Vijayan presided over the function. Sri R Suresh (Former President, AIFMP), Sri P A Najeeb (District Industries Centre General Manager), Sri G Venugopal (Gen. Secretary, KMPA), Sri P A Augustine (Advisor, KPA), Sri P M Hassainar (General Secretary, KPA), Sri P Ashok Kumar (Treasurer, KPA), Sri Sibi Kodiamkunnel (Chief Editor, Printers’ Voice), AIFMP GC Member Sri Mujeeb Ahmed, Adv Sanu P Chellappan, Sri B P Mishra, (CEO, Vardhaan Events Pvt Ltd), Sri Rajeev Uppath (General Convenor, Organising Committee), Sri Binu Paul (KPA Ernakulam Dist. President), Sri P K Surendran (KPA State Secretary), Sri K Vinayraj (KPA Vice President) etc. spoke.

The 38th AGM was inaugurated by KPA Patron Sri Parathode Antony. Annual Report and Accounts were presented and adopted after discussions.

Another highlight of the conference was a seminar spanning the first two days, featuring distinguished speakers from industry.

Sri K Gopinathan, Senior Consultant (Marketing), Kerala Paper Products Ltd (KPPL), Smt Neelima Raj, Paper Machine Process in Charge, KPPL, Sri Haridas Nareekal, Media Designer, Madhu Thankassery, Social Media Trainer & Sri B Rajeev, Manager, Regional Sales (Technova Imaging Systems) presented various topics.

Sri K N A Khader, a renowned orator, delivered the keynote address.

Various entertainment progrmmes staged by members and family received grand applause.

The Kerala Print & Pack 2023 Exhibition, now in its eighth edition, drew a diverse and enthusiastic audience from all corners of Kerala, fostering an environment for participants to explore cutting-edge technologies, establish networks with industry experts, and delve into the latest trends in printing and packaging.

Earlier, Proclamation Rally and Road Shows were held at many centers throughout the state to get wide publicity among the general public about the KPA 38th Annual State Conference as well as Kerala Print & Pack 2023 Exhibition.

Office Bearers for 2023-25 were elected unanimously

State President Sri. Y. Vijayan

State Gen. Secretary Sri. P. M. Hassainar

23 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

State Treasurer Sri. P. Ashok Kumar

AFFILIATE NEWS

SIVAKASI PRINTEX 2023 SIVAKASI PRINTEX 2023 was held on October 6,7 & 8 at SMPA premises. This was 75th year celebrations. The grand Gala opening was inaugurated by our Virudhunagar District Collector Mr.Jeyaseelan I.A.S. With the tireless effort of our office bearers, we succeeded in gaining sponsorship and exhibitors from various companies. To spell a few JK Papers, Sripathi Paper & Board, TechNova Solutions, April Papers, Heidelberg, Suba Solution etc.

Most of the companies displayed live demonstrations of their machines. The venue was fully air-conditioned and fire safety. There were 93 exhibitors accommodated in 131

stalls. Registered & non-registered visitors were 9000 in number.

On 6th October '23 eminent speakers from JK Paper & Boards, April Papers, and Technova conducted management and technical seminars by highlighting Passion for your profession.

At the closing ceremony honored all the exhibitors with mementos. We thank all the sponsors, exhibitors, and visitors who have helped us in making the exhibition a grand success.

Honouring award certificate from Manipur cheirap Loishang left Gauri Haobam anchor impact tv Surjit Senjam President AMPA L Bhumeshowe singh Iboyaima printers and last Mushuk Elangbam reporter Impact TV.

24 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

AFFILIATE NEWS

IMPRINT Indore

The Indore Master Printer’s Association (IMPA) conference on workflow automation and print standards and futuristic print technologies like flexible electronics was hosted on 30 September. The half-day knowledge session was very useful to help contemporary print businesses. The IMPA conference was focused to help businesses stay competitive, improve efficiency, enhance quality, explore new market opportunities, and stay ahead of technological advancements.

In today’s contemporary print businesses, workflow automation and print standards play a crucial role in ensuring efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction.

As the printing industry continuously evolves, it is essential for print businesses to stay updated with the latest advancements and technologies to stay competitive in the market. This is the reason the Indore Master Printer’s Association is hosting a conference on 30 September at the Sheraton Grand Palace in Indore.

As per the schedule, the conference had presentations by Dr Ashutosh Tripathi of IIT Kanpur talking about printed electronics - The next revolution in the printing industry and Dr. Anjan Kumar Baral, of GJUS&T Hisar, talking about achieving quality along with productivity through the use of print standards. Both topics help print businesses learn about emerging trends, applications, and market opportunities. This knowledge can help them diversify their offerings and tap into new revenue streams.

After the two presentations, Tushar Dhote, chairman, PAMEX 2024 and Past president MMS, moderated a session about workflow automation and its benefits along with experts like Sanjay Patel of Param Packaging; Ayush Jain of Vijayshri Packaging; Vivek Barjatya of Orient PackN-Print; and Parmeshwar Patidar of Indus Analytics Industry.

Sanjay Patel shared that “workflow automation and print standards can provide several benefits. These include improved efficiency, enhanced quality and consistency, cost and time savings.” Tushar Dhote added, “Implementing workflow automation can reduce costs associated with manual labour, rework, and wastage of resources. By automating repetitive tasks, print businesses can save time and focus on more value-added activities.”

ParmeshwarPatidar shared his views how NIS solutions add to Profitability, Productivity, and time management.

The Printer entrepreneur needs to delegate shop floor duties to HOD’s and himself should focus on Business development.

The IMPA seminar educated 100 attendees on costeffective automation solutions and best practices for implementation.

25 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

INDUSTRY NEWS

Labelexpo Europe 2023 showcases vibrant industry The first edition of Labelexpo Europe since 2019 has closed on a high note, with a total of 637 exhibitors taking part in the show, which took place between 11-14 September at Brussels Expo in Belgium.

Spread across nine halls and covering 36,588 sqm of floor place, this year’s show featured over 250 product launches focused particularly on flexible packaging, digitization and automation.

The unprecedented heatwave in Brussels did not deter 35,889 visitors from 138 countries attending the four-day show. Countries such as Germany, France and Italy were especially well represented, with large visitor delegations.

Equipment manufacturers announced multiple sales across the four days and an exhibitor rebook rate of 96% was reported for Labelexpo Europe 2025.

Demonstrating how Labelexpo Europe is evolving into a package printing show, digital printing of paper-based flexible packaging materials was evident on the show floor, with paper-based packaging printed by Xeikon on the new TX-500 Titon toner press and SCREEN on the Truepress Pac520P – seen for the first time at a Labelexpo.

HP launched the 200k mid-web digital press, successor to the hugely successful HP Indigo 20000. The company also ran a ‘digital pouch factory’ ecosystem demonstrating pouch manufacture and finishing of other unsupported films including shrink sleeve labels.

Flexo made a major comeback at this show, with Nilpeter, Lombardi and BOBST demonstrating printing of flexible packaging and unsupported label film materials on 26in/670mm mid-web UV flexo press lines on the show floor. OMET made the show debut of its KFlex modular flexo platform and Mark Andy launched the Pro Series flexo press, upgradable to a hybrid machine.

Jade Grace, Managing Director, Labelexpo Global Series said: “We’ve just delivered Labelexpo Europe 2023 after a four-year break and what a show it has been! The feedback we have received from visitors and exhibitors alike has consistently shown the high quality of leads, enquiries and contacts made at the show, with an incredible number of sales secured on the exhibition floor. We have also secured a rebook rate of 96% for Labelexpo Europe 2025, which bodes well for our first show in Barcelona."

Continued Grace: “I would like to thank all our exhibitors for your partnership and commitment in supporting the diverse and exciting industry of labels and package printing, together with us. Thank you to all who visited from 138

countries, and to our association and media partners.”

“It has been the hardest show yet for us to deliver, but the most rewarding. We are looking forward to the next chapter in 2025 where we will be bringing Labelexpo Europe to its new home at the Fira in Barcelona, with many plans to stimulate growth and collaboration in the industry.”

Echoing this sentiment, Jules Lejeune, Managing Director, FINAT said: “FINAT was once again proud to be the lead association partner of Labelexpo Europe this year. In spite of the heat at the beginning of the show, there was a vibrant mood and general state of pleasure especially among the overseas visitors to reconnect with the global label community after such a long absence."

“For us, Labelexpo is always an excellent opportunity to meet with members, potential members and other interested parties and to engage in conversations about our current and future programmes, and to recruit members and enlist volunteers for our working groups and taskforces. This year, we featured our efforts to facilitate value chain collaboration on sustainability such as CELABEurope, UV FoodSafe and Product Carbon Footprint, and to act as spokesperson of the label industry towards European legislators and stakeholders.”

Continued, Lejeune: “We will miss the Atomium and the World Expo 1958 building as the background images for many selfies taken during the show, but we are convinced that the Fira and its Olympic Montjuich will be a worthy replacement in 2025.”

Noam Zilbershtain, VP & General Manager of HP Indigo & Scitex said: “It’s through trade shows like Labelexpo, industry leaders have the opportunity to connect, network and discuss the trends driving our industry, such as digital innovation and sustainability. I love being in the thick of it all connecting with our customers and partners."

“This year, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase the leading LEPx-based HP Indigo V12 and HP Indigo 200K digital presses for the first time in Europe. This was also a key moment for us to showcase the HP Indigo First mindset and how it can deliver flexibility at speed for converters.”

Continued, Zilbershtain: “It was also a pleasure speaking with peers within the print industry, discussing how we are committed to making bold moves that push innovation boundaries and deliver value for customers. The label Industry is now poised to become the first fully digital industry, and it is through digital print solutions we will transform businesses globally.”

26 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

INDUSTRY NEWS

PAMEX 2024 Mumbai – A Prelude to the Mega Show!

Exhibitors participating in both the exhibitions will use PAMEX as a prelude to their participation in Drupa!

The world’s largest exhibition for printing equipment will have a stall at PAMEX, using the platform as curtain raiser for Drupa 2024. Some of the Indian exhibitors have shared their plans with us for both the exhibitions. Others promise to do so in due course.

“The Printers House Orient Printing and Packaging will be displaying a number of machines manufactured completely in-house in India at both Drupa (Germany) and PAMEX, highlighting its commitment to innovation, manufacturing, and providing reliable solutions for the printing and packaging community globally since 1946,” shared Risabh Kohli, Director, TPH. The company will display Orient X-Press Fold, high speed folder gluer for the packaging industry. This machinery boasts speeds of over 500 meters per minute making it one of the most advanced pieces of machinery of this kind available anywhere in the world.

Orient X-Press Flex, the innovative flexographic printing machine ideal for the paper and film printing and packaging converters, will be another offering from the company.

Orient Jet L&P Series, the disruptive inkjet printing machines for the label segment will also add to the list. “It is

fully made in house providing market leading ROI’s in terms of capex and opex. Our digital machines are also available in a single and 4 color with the Orient Jet C series,” said Kohli.

Pratham Technologies Private Limited will display ‘Superfold’ outsert machine with standard accessories in both the exhibitions.

Sai Enterprises will offer HPM fully automatic programmable paper cutting machine.

Skytec Corporation will showcase digital high-speed laminators from SKY- KOREA and digital auto Creaser & programmable slit cut machines from DUMOR. The same machines will be on display at drupa.

RISO will offer new dimensions to Color POD printing at both the events.

Several other companies like Line O Matic, Prakash Web Offset, Pratham Technologies, SASG UV Solutions, Suba Solutions, Suddha Converting Machinery, Alpana Visual Packaging Aids, Astra Chemtech, Ajit Industries and BKG Corrugated Rolls will be seen at both the exhibitions.

PAMEX will also have a booth at Drupa 2024, where the team will get a chance to explore new developments in the print industry which will help shape PAMEX 2026 Mumbai.

In the meantime, the promotional activities for PAMEX 2024 is at an optimal stage, reflecting results in the rising number of online visitor registrations.

PAMEX 2024, organised by All India Federation of Master Printers, in association with Print-Packaging.com Private Limited, is scheduled to be held from 6-9 February, 2024 at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.

Minosha India Introduces New Range of Laser Printers for Hybrid Workplaces Minosha India Limited, a partner of Ricoh products in I n d i a , introduced a new lineup of laser printers, marking a significant milestone in office printing technology.

The Ricoh M C251FW is a 4-in-1 multi-function printer with a large colour touchscreen panel, Single Pass Document Feeder (SPDF), and robust security features capable of producing professional colour prints while simplifying operations with the ability to add an optional second paper tray for enhanced capacity.

Minosha India also demonstrated Ricoh’s innovative digital solutions ‘Ricoh Spaces’, a cloud-hosted workplace enhancement platform designed to optimize business with areas such as Visual floor plans, Room & Space Booking, Analytics, Desk Booking, Internet of Things, Service Requests, Digital Signage, Workplace Automation, Visit Management and more.

Commenting on the launch, Atul Thakker, Managing Director - Minosha India Ltd. said, “Quality, trust, and reach are the bedrock upon which Minosha India’s enduring legacy stands.

As the intricate tapestry of market dynamics continues to evolve, we remain resolute in upholding these core values, knowing that they are the compass that steers us forward.”

At Ricoh, we have embraced this necessity wholeheartedly.

27 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

INDUSTRY NEWS

Konica Minolta Celebrates 150 Years of Digital Printing Innovation with PrintXpress Roadshow Honouring 150 years of innovations in digital printing, Konica Minolta’s PrintXpress buses had a triumphant journey touching the base location once again post “PrintXpress – Innovations in Print” on road journey. The unique roadshow, which commenced on March 21st, 2023 and after 5 months commending a triumphant journey, showcasing Konica Minolta’s commitment to Meeting the Unmet, potential clientele across the hinterland of India.

The campaign covered 150+ cities across India, only Tier 2, 3 and 4 cities, with a remarkable in-person attendance of over 3,000 customers, covering a notable 48,000+ kilometres.

The journey at PrintXpress unfolded from Greater Noida, with 4 buses outfitted with digital presses, to demonstrate 2 live engines for the visitors to experience the benefit and explore new business opportunities with AccurioPrint C4065 and High Chroma Engine AccurioPress C73hc. Also, there was a finished print application zone to provide an experience of MGI samples.

The campaign buses embarked on separate routes across the country, to display the products’ functionality in avenues of Digital Printing and Print-on-Demand, to both prospective and current clients, across towns such as Gorakhpur, Samastipur-Tezpur, Ranipet-Gingee, Karwar and Kavali among others.

The campaign’s philosophy was grounded in the democratisation of efficient, cost-effective printing solutions. Rural businesses oftenface barriers to access modern printing practices due to limited resources, logistical challenges, and a lack of awareness. The PrintXpress campaign sought to remove these barriers by providing live demonstrations and tangible experiences of

the benefits digital printing could offer. While digital printing and Print-on-Demand was already witnessing an economic upswing in more urban settings, the campaign aimed to bridge the gap by introducing these transformative technologies to the heart of rural India.

During the PrintXpress campaign, over 3,000+ customers, spread across 48,000+ kilometres of the country, experienced the vast potential and applications of digital printing and Print-on-Demand, realising the economical feasibility with Konica Minolta’s Production Printers. Konica Minolta’s commitment to reaching out to customers with heavy-duty engines underscores our dedication to accelerating growth and supporting its customers’ journey.

Commenting on the campaign, Katsuhisa Asari, Managing Director, Konica Minolta Business Solutions India (P) Ltd., “Quicker turnaround time, cost-effectiveness, web-toprint solutions, variable data printing and the ability to create on-demand prints are just some of the ways that small to medium print businesses can create a differentiated, elevated business opportunities, that enhance business outcomes for clients and employees, while accommodating growth. Konica Minolta is committed to delivering solutions, across geographies and business scales. The aim of this one-of-a-kind activity was to make the dreams of small print businesses come to fruition and bolster their position as upcoming entrepreneurs. Sustainable workflows in the printing, imaging, and document management domains, are constantly made accessible by Konica Minolta’s cuttingedge innovations, especially in undiscovered yet potent business locations.

28 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

INDUSTRY NEWS

PrintExpo 2023 wraps up with excitement and stellar exhibition figures Jointly organized by Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India & Showcase Trade Fairs and Business Media, PrintExpo 2023 reflected positive growth signs. The three-day event connected the buyers and sellers resulting in business interactions and activities. The event was a comprehensive display of technologies, equipment, products and services meeting current trends and demands of the companies.

Concluding the show on a successful note, Raj Manek, executive director and board member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings, said, “To our utmost satisfaction, the event showcased numerous ingenious innovative products and solutions for the print and publishing industry. I am glad to see this momentum of the exhibitors and visitors with the exchange of ideas, networking and business opportunities scale during the show. Overall, the show has reflected a positive growth journey boosting the confidence of all those associated with the event.”

Revealing his post show review, Ashok Neelkant, managing director, Showcase Trade Fairs and Business Media, said, “I am delighted, PrintExpo 2023 was an overwhelming success and I want to thank every exhibitor, trade visitor and my entire team for this stupendous success. Together, we managed to surpass all expectations and set new standards in our industry.

The results we achieved are a testament to the collaborative spirit and determination that define our partnership with the print industry in India, especially the printers of South India. The success of PrintExpo 2023 is also a testament to the synergy of our partnership with Messe Frankfurt in organizing the PrintExpo 2023. Our potential is limitless, and the best is yet to come. Thank you all once again, and let’s keep shining brightly as a team comprising of exhibitors, attendees and us. Here’s to a bright future.”

The exhibitors were satisfied by the business activity and the inquiries. Expressing gratitude towards the show, TP Jain, managing director, Monotech System, said, “PrintExpo is a premium show and has a good reputation in the print industry. With each year, the show is really becoming better and better in terms of its ability to attract relevant and interested customers. We had a good footfall of visitors at our booth on all the days and we were able to close some exciting deals. I’m really happy with the show.”

First-time exhibitor, G Madhu, general manager, Sharp Business Systems, said, “We participated in Print Expo for the first time and to my surprise we had a wonderful experience. We received great responses from

customers and we were able to sell our new innovations to some of the best industry partners. With numerous leads in hand, we look forward to having a successful business in the future. I must say that Print Expo is an ideal and a must-visit platform for print industry experts.”

Visitors shared their honest reviews of attending the 13th edition of PrintExpo. Sharing thoughts and feelings about the show, visitor Anoop Balaraman, executive director, Sumukha Technologies & Software, said, “We have been attending this event for several years now, and it has become a tradition for us. Many of the vendors with whom we collaborate are also present, giving us valuable insights into the latest equipment they have introduced to the market. There’s an exciting atmosphere here and we enthusiastically encourage others to join in. Traveling all the way from Bengaluru, we anticipate a strong turnout and urge everyone to come and witness the offerings first-hand. Without a doubt, we plan to be a part of this event for the coming years as well.”

In response to the dynamic showcase of the products, visitor Thankachan Vithayathilaa, managing director, Saraya Contractors, shared, “My purpose to visit is to procure the necessary equipment and machinery for our upcoming phase of development. I am delighted to find that a significant number of the required suppliers are present at this event.”

Praising the show floor visitor M Amir, owner, Sapna Industries, said, “My purpose for being here is to explore various technologies currently prevalent in the market. It brings me immense satisfaction to witness the substantial and enthusiastic participation of diverse companies in this event. I am hopeful that the knowledge and connections gained here will contribute positively to our company’s growth in printing technology and capabilities.”

29 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

INDUSTRY NEWS

SCREENTEX INDIA 2023 - 7-9 October 2023 Concludes Successfully with 11500+ Visitors

SCREENTEX INDIA 2023 showcased wide variety of Print Solutions from Leading Players.

New Innovations related to Screen, Textile, UV & Sublimation, Digital, and Printed Electronics.

Smt. Darshana Vikram Jardosh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Textiles; and Railways was the Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony of 2nd edition of SCREENTEX India 2023 at Hall No.3 of Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai on 7th October 2023. Rucha Nanavati - Chief Information Officer at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd will be the Guest of Honour.

Speaking at the event Hon’ble minister was happy to note that a focused show for the Screen Printing Industry is being organised as she pointed out that Indian Textile Industry is striving towards value added products in which screen printing is an important aspect.

Rucha Nanavati said she was able to relate to the kind of application of Screen Printing looking at the exhibits at the show. She was happy to note that an exclusive and focused tradeshow is being organised for the sector.

Screen Printers Association of India (SPAI) organised the 2nd edition of SCREENTEX India 2023 between 7 and 9 October 2023 at Bombay Exhibition Centre Mumbai.

SCREENTEX INDIA 2023, is the only focused tradeshow of India on Screen, Digital & Textile Printing showcasing Printing Solutions to the sector. Nearly 100+ exhibitors participated at this show which concluded successfully attracting the 11,500+ business visitors from across the country besides different parts of Maharashtra and also Overseas Visitors from Middle East, Africa,

Europe, Srilanka , Bangladesh etc…

SCREENTEX INDIA 2023, showcased the latest innovations in on Screen, Digital & Textile Printing Machineries Screen and Textile Printing Materials, Printed Electronics, UV and Sublimation Printing. Conceived with an objective to create a platform for the stakeholders of the sector, SCREENTEX India 2023 is a technology platform that bridges the gap between innovation and application by bringing international suppliers and domestic buyers related to Screen, Textile and Digital, Sublimation & UV Printing & Printed Electronics.

SCREENTEX INDIA 2023 had on display solutions for those who are looking for value addition as well as adding to their portfolio be it like Packaging printers, label printers,. If one is looking to do value addition on print there is a solution of UV printing, Foiling, Printed Electronic and Packaging.

Exhibitors expressed happiness that attendance from business visitors was good and focused which helped in their business discussion. Fujifilm Sericol India, Beautiflex Ink, Creofoil, Art Line, Colors, And Global Sales Corporation, HP Indigo, Epson, Kunal Enterprises, SunLan Chemicals and many more exhibitors felt happy that their latest innovations reached a good number of stakeholders who were seeking solutions and newer solutions enabling them to scale their business as well offer value added services to their customers.

SPAI representing the Screen Printers of India (who form an important cog in the wheel of Textile Industry in India) across the country. This event is an initiative to provide networking platforms for their members besides providing them an opportunity to learn from the new technology, solutions, machinery and accessories on display at the show.

“SCREENTEX India 2023 achieved its objective of organising a focused tradeshow showcasing latest innovations in the Screen, Digital and Sublimation with idea on solutions in the area of UV Printing, Printed Electronics & Packaging based on the feedback received from both visitors and exhibitors. Plans are in the anvil for taking this event to different parts of the country.’’ according to the Screen Printing Association of India, the organisers.

30 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

INDUSTRY NEWS

India Corr Expo 2023: Siegwerk’s sustainable ink and coating solutions for corrugated industry During the 10th India Corr Expo 2023 held at India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, Siegwerk highlighted several of its ink and coating products for the corrugated industry. The company highlighted its UniNature ink which is a unique addition to the Indian market. Alongside UniNature, Sigwerk offers UniCor ink, tailored for the corrugation industry, catering especially to the Indian market for multicolor requirements. For high-quality, graphicsintensive projects, it provides UniPAPER Ink, which competes effectively with offset printing. Additionally, the company also offers coatings for oil and water resistance, as well as ink kitchen proposals for large-scale customers, aiming to reduce costs.

“Our commitment to customer satisfaction leads us to continually optimize our products in response to changing requirements and upgraded machinery. However, we retain our brand names as they represent a connection with our customers. UniNature ink, for instance, emphasizes sustainability, aligning with Siegwerk’s mission.

It incorporates bio-renewable content, reducing petroleum content while enhancing paper’s palpability, contributing to environmental well-being,” said Shruti Bhattacharya, manager, application technology, Siegwerk.

“UniCor stands as an economical ink series, while UniPAPER represents our longstanding high-quality, highgraphic printing service. UniNature sets us apart by showcasing our environmental responsibility and the importance of delivering eco-conscious products,” added Raja Ranga Bupathi Kamani, national sales head – P&B, Siegwerk.

Siegwerk is also working on barrier coatings that support paperization, particularly for substrates with multiple paper structures, such as paper plates. For instance, it introduced an OPV water-based direct food contact coating for paper plates, a shift from the traditional plastic lamination. This aligns with the trend towards sustainable, paper-based alternatives and adheres to food contact regulations in India.

Speaking about the market, Kamani said, “The paper industry is experiencing double-digit growth in India, with a focus on paperization and carbon neutrality. As a company, we are committed to water-based inks, which are more sustainable than conventional options. Moreover, we are actively incorporating bio-renewable content into our formulations to further promote carbon-neutral and sustainable ink solutions.”

31 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

INDUSTRY NEWS Sivakasi based Gupta Printers Elevates Production to New Heights with HEIDELBERG Suprasetter A106 CtP Established in 1950, the packaging expert, Gupta Printers has invested in a brand-new HEIDELBERG Suprasetter A106 CtP. This acquisition marks the latest addition to investment by the company. The Suprasetter platesetter A106 CtP was installed in recently to cater their inhouse plate production.

“When we made the decision to bring our prepress production in-house, the choice was clear – Heidelberg was our top preference,” remarked Rajasekar, Partner at Gupta Printers.

Gupta Printers, an established illustrious manufacturer and supplier of custom and printed boxes are known for its indepth knowledge of raw materials. Gupta Printers offers a complete packaging solution and is an ideal partner for companies that seek to outsource the packing and box design requirements. Gupta Printers manufactures printed cartons, packaging boxes, brochures, printed labels, sweet boxes, shirts, packaging, saree packaging, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and gift boxes.

Rajasekar said, “Currently, we are in the expansion mode, have shifted to our 15,000 sq/ft production facility and are looking forward to additional development.” The Sivakasibased print specialist also owns a HEIDELBERG CD 102 Speedmaster 6 + L press and two die-cutter and cutting

equipment in the shopfloor; the company caters to packaging jobs across various segment.

The Suprasetter offers a minimum plate format of 370 mm height × 323 mm width and internal punch up to 4 pairs of punches. The Prinect PrePress Manager, Prinect Meta Dimension, and Prinect Shooter is integrated workflow in the Heidelberg Suprasetter A106.

The Suprasetter offers a minimum plate format of 370 mm height × 323 mm width, and internal punch up to 4 pairs of punches. The Prinect Prepress Manager, Prinect Meta Dimension, and Prinect Shooter is an integrated workflow in the Heidelberg Suprasetter A106.

The modular design of the Suprasetter A106 supplies maximum flexibility for the medium- size format range.

Their Intelligent Diode System (IDS) virtually eliminates production losses. An integrated cooling system prevents adverse impacts from external temperatures. Gupta Printers believes the investment will help them to fulfil the growing demand. “The Heidelberg Suprasetter has enhanced our productivity to a larger scale,” concluded Rajasekar.

HEIDELBERG well on track after solid second quarter and confirms forecast Despite the difficult global economic situation, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is well on track after six months of the financial year 2023/2024. This is the result of a slight improvement in sales in the key EMEA region thanks to growth in the packaging segment. After adjustment for exchange rate movements, the technology company achieved sales of 1.092 billion in the first half-year (April 1 – September 30, 2023), which matched the previous year ( 1.120 billion). Incoming orders after six months totaled 1.184 billion after adjustment for exchange rate movements, which was also equivalent to the previous year’s level ( 1.229 billion). The adjusted operating result (EBITDA) was an improvement on the same period of the previous year, with the half-year figure amounting to 101 million (adjusted result for previous year: 92 million). The corresponding adjusted EBITDA margin increased to 9.2 percent (previous year: 8.2 percent).

Successful market launch of new technologies in growth sector of packaging printing - Packaging and label printing is experiencing structural growth due to burgeoning worldwide demand for packaged goods. That being the case, the market launch of new technologies from HEIDELBERG for this growth segment was a big success. For example, the Gallus One digital label press impressed at the major industry trade show LabelExpo and attracted a great deal of interest from customers. The Boardmaster press for high productivity in packaging printing also generated further sales. In parallel with this, incoming orders for the Packaging Solutions segment saw a significant increase of around 16 percent in the first half-year. “Given the stable growth of packaging printing, we are continuously further expanding our portfolio in this sector,” says HEIDELBERG CEO Dr. Ludwin Monz.

Besides effects associated with the product and country mix, price adjustments to compensate for higher personnel, material, and energy costs have also had a positive impact. The net result after taxes for the half-year remained clearly positive at 33 million. Compared with the previous year ( 44 million), higher tax expenditure, increased pension-related interest costs, and the lack of positive special items had a bearing on the result.

Improved operating cash flow compared with same period of previous year - The cash generated from operating activities (operating cash flow) improved substantially, in particular due to rigorous management of inventories and receivables (working capital). Despite this positive development, the free cash flow of –28 million after six months was down on the previous year’s level ( –13 million), which had included special items amounting to around 52 million. “The current free cash flow situation underlines the necessity to use further impetus from our value creation program to generate resources for growth in segments such as the lucrative digital printing sector,” says CFO Tania von der Goltz. The program’s analysis phase is ongoing. HEIDELBERG is still planning to achieve a positive free cash flow at the end of the financial year.

FY 2023/2024 half-year figures confirm forecast - The forecast for financial year 2023/2024 remains as published on June 14, 2023. Assuming the global economy does not see weaker growth than predicted by the economic research institutions, the company is still expecting sales in financial year 2023/2024 to match the previous year’s figure ( 2.435 billion). The adjusted EBITDA margin is also anticipated to remain at the previous year’s level (7.2 percent).

32 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

NOTIFICATIONS, RULES & REGULATIONS

India Aims To Increase Manufacturing Share in GDP To 25%: Union Minister Hardeep Puri New Delhi, Sept 30 (KNN) Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said that India is keen to increase its s h a r e o f manufacturing in the gross domestic product (GDP) from 17 per cent to 25 per cent, reported Business Standard.

He was addressing the 118th Annual Convention of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).

“Global supply chains are realigning. India is emerging as an alternative supply source given its raw materials, low labour costs, growing manufacturing know-how, and entrepreneurial ability,” he added.

Speaking about India's manufacturing aspirations, he said that the manufacturing sector currently comprises 17 per cent of the nation's GDP and over 27.3 million workers, reported Business Standard.

He said that the Prime Minister's clarion call for 'Make in India, Make for the World' at the World Economic Forum this year was a signal that India is ready and keen to increase the share of manufacturing to 25 per cent by 2025.

The minister said that Economic reforms and policies such as GST, IBC, asset monetization, labour law reforms, PLI, National Infrastructure Pipeline, and Gati Shakti mission for multimodal connectivity, have fixed many structural deficits.

Referring to the strong industrial base of India, the Union Minister highlighted that India is the second-largest producer of steel; the second-largest producer of cement; and the second-largest producer of coal.

Talking about the infrastructure, the country has the second-largest construction of the built environment; the fourth-largest railway network; and the second-largest road network.

Noting the automobile industry the Minister said that India is the largest producer of two-wheelers and the fourthlargest producer of four-wheelers. (KNN Bureau)

India Inks MoU With UAE For Investment & Collaboration In Industry And Advanced Tech New Delhi, Oct 6 (KNN) India and the UAE on Thursday inked an MoU on increasing cooperation in the field of industries and advanced technologies.

The MoU was signed between Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of UAE Sultan Al Jaber. It was signed on the side-lines of the 11th meeting of the UAE-India High Level Joint Task Force on Investments (‘the Joint Task Force’).

It aims at strengthening and developing industries in both nations through investments, technology transfer and deployment of key technologies in industries, by benefitting from joint funds and mutual efforts.

Under this agreement, the two countries will cooperate in the development and advancement of industries and technologies in sectors of strategic interest for the growth and diversification of their economies.

This can be achieved through industrial and academic collaborations; collaborative research and development projects; sharing of science and technology policies, best

practices; standardisation, metrology, conformity assessment, accreditation, and 'halal' certification.

The areas and fields of industrial and advanced technology cooperation include strengthening the supply chain resilience of industries, renewable and energy efficiency, health and life sciences, space systems, artificial intelligence, and Industry 4.0 enabling technologies. (KNN Bureau)

33 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

NOTIFICATIONS, RULES & REGULATIONS

FM Asks SIDBI To Increase Direct Lending to MSMEs By 20% New Delhi, Oct 5 (KNN) India’s trade delegation paid an official visit to Brazil from 1 October to 4, 2023, for the 6th meeting of the IndiaBrazil Trade Monitoring Mechanism (TMM).

The delegation was led by Secretary of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Sunil Barthwal, as per official statement.

He was accompanied by a delegation of 20 business leaders representing the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The visit was happening in the backdrop of the sharp growth in the bilateral trade which had doubled over the last two years reaching USD16 Billion.

It was aimed at strengthening this rapidly growing commercial engagement between the two countries.

A breakfast meeting was held on second day, with Brazilian companies that have invested in India, highlighting the Indian government's commitment to support foreign investors. This meeting also included discussions on new trade and investment opportunities.

During his interactions with the Brazilian officials, the Commerce Secretary commended Brazil for their support during India’s G20 Presidency and conveyed India's commitment to support Brazil when it assumes its G20 Presidency.

Barthwal interacted with representatives from leading MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) companies in Brazil and engaged with the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (FIESP), a crucial industry chamber in the region.

The Indian delegation engaged in discussions, business meetings and explored new trade opportunities with key Brazilian organizations, including Confederation of Industries of Brazil, the Commercial Association of Sao Paulo, Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo (FIESP) and industries in Rio de Janeiro demonstrating their strong commitment to boost bilateral trade and investment prospects.

The Commerce Secretary on Wednesday co-chaired the 6th meeting of the India-Brazil Trade Monitoring Mechanism (TMM) with Secretary of Foreign Trade for the Federative Republic of Brazil, Tatiana Lacerda Prazeres in Brasília.

On first day, the delegation participated in various trade facilitation activities aimed at nurturing the growing trade relationship between India and Brazil. A productive meeting with the Commercial Association of São Paulo provided a platform to discuss potential trade collaborations.

The day concluded with an interactive session with Indian companies operating in Brazil, fostering closer ties within the business community and identifying new opportunities for promoting trade.

Both sides extensively discussed matters related to bilateral trade and outlined a roadmap for its further enhancement.

The Secretary also held comprehensive discussions with the Vice Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, Brazil, Marcio Elias Rosa to advance the economic and commercial partnership between the two nations.

The visit concluded with an interaction with leading industries & members of the Confederation of National Industries of Brazil over the opportunities provided by India’s dynamic economic growth including on transfer of technology, investments etc. He also invited Brazilian industries to be part of the growing supply chain to India.

(KNN Bureau)

34 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023

NOTIFICATIONS, RULES & REGULATIONS

FIEO Urges Centre To Extend ECLGS Till 31 March 2024 The exporters’ body has submitted a request to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighting the issue.

It has sought for the extension of Emergency Credit Linked Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) till March 31, 2024 and restoration of interest subsidy benefit of 5 per cent to manufacturer MSMEs. It said some of the MSME sectors are affected due to a dip in exports on account of a global demand slowdown.

FIEO has urged extending the ECLGS “till March 31, 2024” as it will help micro, small and medium enterprises sail through this difficult time and bounce back when the situation improves.

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has reached out to the central government to provide affordable and easy availability of credit to MSMEs amid global headwinds due to lack of liquidity, reported FE.

“With interest rates firming up, MSMEs are getting credit at not less than 8-11 per cent. The subvention for the interest equalisation scheme was reduced as interest rates were coming down. However with complete change in situation, there is an urgent need to restore interest equalisation benefit of 5 per cent,” it added. (KNN Bureau)

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar Opens Skill Development Training Project In Tripura Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for skill development and entrepreneurship, electronics and information technology, on Thursday launched Heartland Tripura, a project to impart skill development training to the youth, and said it would attract investments and create jobs.

The project is undertaken in partnership with Deloitte India and Agartala’s National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology.

“PM Modi’s vision is that the youths should pursue opportunities through skills from different investments coming in India, several jobs created in India. Tripura lagged behind the mainstream due to lack of physical and digital connectivity, but Modi-ji brought about a transformation in physical connectivity in the last 7-8 years,” he told reporters in Agartala.

The minister also said the central government initiated the step to convert the Northeast into a destination of investments and a hub of jobs. He said the government wanted to make Tripura a centre of technological innovation and hoped that big companies like Microsoft and IBM would create opportunities in the state in future.

Chandrasekhar said that Modi had adopted a three-step strategy—bridging the gaps of physical, digital and talent connectivity.

“This kind of model is what Modi-ji is encouraging—industry, the Government of India and the state government start working together to create a partnership model with one company, and other companies will follow as well,” he said.

Union minister of state Pratima Bhowmik said the government’s aim is to make Tripura an IT hub.

“Amit Shah-ji (Union home minister) during his visit to Tripura in 2017 told me and Biplab da (former CM Biplab Kumar Deb) that the BJP would form its government in the state… When we visited people, they told us to provide opportunities for the youth to work in IT or other big industries,” she said. (KNN Bureau)

35 | PRINTING TIMES | September-October 2023