PrintWeek celebrates anniversary with 204-page riveting read

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India’s most popular read for all things print and packaging 10 May 2021  Vol XIV, Issue 1  Total pages 204

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India’s most popular read for all things print and packaging 10 May 2021  Vol XIV, Issue 1  Total pages 204

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NEWS Editor Ramakrishnan Ramanathan ramu@haymarketsac.com Managing Editor Noel D’Cunha noel@haymarketsac.com Associate Editors Dibyajyoti Sarma (Delhi) dibyajyoti.sarma@haymarketsac.com Rahul Kumar (Delhi) rahul@haymarketsac.com Sriraam Selvam (Chennai) sriraam@haymarketsac.com Aultrin Vijay (Mumbai) aultrin.vijay@haymarketsac.com Abhishek Muralidharan (Mumbai) abhishek.muralidharan@ haymarketsac.com Editorial Assistant Charmiane Alexander charmiane.alexander@haymarketsac.com Design and Production Control Sujit Mandvikar B2B - Business Head Sudhanva Jategaonkar sudhanva.jategaonkar@haymarketsac.com Kalpesh Shah (Mumbai) +91 82083 88127 kalpesh.shah@haymarketsac.com Senior Manager Brand Partnerships Sanjeev Rathod (South) +080 2559 3775 | +98866 55583 sanjeev.rs@haymarketsac.com Gunjan Sharma (North) +91 99992 71401 gunjan.sharma@haymarketsac.com Advertising Sales Coordinator Sonal Jain +91 22 23787433 | +91 9820216392 sonal.jain@haymarketsac.com Circulation Ganesh Jadhav ganesh@haymarketsac.com Production Manager Prasad Gangurde

Publisher Hormazd Sorabjee C/OA M News Agency H.No.11-4-138, Central Bank, Back Side Bazaarghat, Lakdikapool, Hyderabad 500004 Printed and Published by Hormazd Sorabjee on behalf of Haymarket SAC Publishing (India) Private Ltd., Unit 401 & 502, 4th/5th Floor, Raheja Xion, Opp Nirmal Park, Dr. B. Ambedkar Marg, Byculla (E), Mumbai City, MH 400027, INDIA General enquiries (022) 2378 7500 CIN: U22120MH1998PTC116780 Printed at Kala Jyothi Process Pvt Ltd, 1-1-60/5 RTC Cross Roads, Hyderabad 500 020. Telanga Published at Unit 401 & 502, 4th/5th Floor, Raheja Xion, Opp Nirmal Park, Dr. B. Ambedkar Marg, Byculla (E) Mumbai City MH 400027 INDIA

India invests in 25 Heidelberg kits despite the Covid calamity

orders from Rahul PrintOPack and Replika Press.

In the label segment, the company completed three Gallus ECS 340 and two Labelmaster flexo presses installations during the pandemic.

The company also completed several Suprasetter CTP equipment with Prinect Production Manager workflow installations with its clients, such as Galaxy Offset, Delhi; National Printers, Ranchi; Rajhams, Chennai; Subham Printers, Chennai; Assam Jaitya Bidyalaya, Guwahati; Ratna Paper, Chennai; MS Graphics, Tirupur; and many more. “Inline with the packaging and pharma market demand, many customers have invested in our MK Easymatrix die-cutting solutions, including Nice Prints, Ramya Reprographics, and Noble Printing,” Patkar said.

Heidelberg also sold Polar cutters to companies like Webtech, Award Offset,

Orient Printpack, Print Point, Porsche and more.

“There were big challenges due to the shortage of containers and vessels, and spiralling freight costs, but we overcame all these hurdles and were successful in keeping our commitments,” Patkar said. “Overall, we have worked hard to get these installations done on time to help the printing fraternity stay ahead with their client requirements.”

Patkar said while it was a challenging year, the company had signed some of the deals in FY20, which were completed on time. “Apart from the completed deals, we saw a good market bounce-back for pharma inserts and outserts. We

were fortunate to be part of the essential service chain for outserts as pharma packaging fared well. We anticipate FY22 to be much better than FY21,” he said.

He explained that Heidelberg has always taken a holistic approach to offer complete solutions to our customer which should help them increase productivity, higher OEE , reduced downtimes and leverage higher benefits of right workflow with our Print Product Manager as key deliverables. “Today, it’s no longer buying and selling of presses and equipment; we are a partner and a total solution provider to all the customer needs right from consultations to equipment to financial support to consumables requirements.This approach has always worked for us and we take forward the same approach and agenda in the future as well,” he said.

He added that there has been a rapid change in the print and packaging market since the pandemic hit. The print and packaging world is changing in complexity as the demand for safe and economical packaging is growing. “Also, the packaged foods segment is gaining a lot of consumer traction. The consumption has increased, and it is expected to ascend the utilisation of innovative and sustainable packaging across the food industry,” he explained.

News................. 4-31 Features...................38 Editorial................... 33 Profiles....................45 Obituary...................34 Power 100............... 101

Virtual.Drupa...........154 Career (Women)....... 174 Serena Williams........184

Printing History........ 187 PrintZone................. 197 PostScript............. 200

By Dibyajyoti Sarma

Despite the prevailing market condition, with the industry bearing the brunt of the pandemic, Heidelberg India has achieved more than 25 installations in the last 14 months. This includes the company’s range of products, covering prepress, printing press including software and post press equipment. “It is a remarkable achievement, thanks to our sales and service team, whom we fondly call ‘Covid Daredevils’, who have supported us to achieve these numbers. Even now, our service team is on the field, installing a machine, attending customer calls or helping a printer via remote support,” Samir Patkar, president at Heidelberg India, said.

The press installations include from Speedmaster XL 75 Anicolor at Art -O-Print, Ahmedabad; Speedmaster CX 102 7+LUV presses at Miraj Multicolour, Udaipur, Noble Printing Press, Mumbai and Global Printing and Packaging in Bangalore; a Speedmaster XL 75 Anicolor at Rohan Cards, Pune; apart from CX 75 at Print Point, Bangalore; multiple SX 74 2P and SX 102 2P installtions across many customers in India; and multiple Speedmaster CS 92 installations in northern and western region including Rukson Packaging, and some repeat

Four of the 25 installations have been the Speedmaster CS 92

Patkar: 2022 will be better

INDEX

www.printweek.in

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 3

NEWS INSTALLATIONS ➊ Astron installs second Durst Tau 330 RSC press Astron has installed its second Durst Tau 330 RSC press. The company has been making a name for themselves in the self-adhesive labels market with clientele across industries, such as cosmetic, beverage, fast-moving consumer goods, oil and lubricant, pharmaceutical, automobiles and agriculture. “The decision to install the second Durst press was easy. Our first installation in 2016 was a huge success and it has been functioning seamlessly ever since,” said Niraj Darji, president of Astron Packaging. See Page 15

➍

➋ Mumbai’s Numex boosts platemaking capacity Mumbai-based pre-press trade shop Numex Blocks has opted for a complete Esko workflow and Crystal line of platemaking following the recent Virtual.

Drupa event in April. The new investments include a CDI Crystal 5080 plate imager and XPS Crystal 5080 exposing unit along with the extended gamut printing software Equinox and Print Control Wizard. According to Nitin Patil, owner of Numex Blocks, the new acquisition was part of the company’s ongoing commitment to deliver the best quality plates to its customers and would be a key part of its continued growth and development. See Page 17

➌

➊

➎ ➌ Archa braces for future growth with DGM buys Jaipur-based Archa Packaging has invested in a folder-gluer and die-cutter from DGM Automation India. Archa is a new venture from Diamond Printing Press, a commercial and books printing company, and has been serving customers from the packaging industry for the last five years.“ We are in the industry from 1946, and this is our diversification.

We established Archa Packaging to serve our packaging customers better,” said Sharad Mittal of Archa Packaging. See Page 21

➋

➍ UK Offset installs a Heidelberg press UK Offset Printers, based in Jalandhar, has purchased a preowned Heidelberg six-colour coater with autoplate – Heidelberg 102-6+L, Autoplate – from Neeldhara. Founded by Jatinder Singh, UK Offset Printers was established in 2012 in Jalandhar.

Singh had also established the Jalandhar-based UK Processors in 2002. With 20 years of print experience, the company has been providing packaging solutions for OEMs of sports goods, automobile and cycle parts, hand-tools, and hosiery manufacturers. See Page 21

10 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

10 May 2021

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KSK Printings invests in Indus Print ERP

➎ Payal Fashions second EFI Reggiani Vogue press Surat-based Payal Fashions has installed an EFI Reggiani Vogue. It is its second such machine. Payal Fashion has been in embroidery business. “It gives us immense pleasure to have installed the latest version of EFI Reggiani, an eight-colour printer with 16 printheads, using EFI-Aqua premium reactive inks, which we have consistently used even after evaluating other inks. We are excited to rock the market with our second digital machine,” Budhabhai Sonani of Payal Fashion said. See Page 23

QI Press Controls gains foothold in Myanmar QI Press Controls-Engineering Automation Electronics (QIPC-EAE) India has gained a firmer foothold in the book printing market in Myanmar by successfully delivering the mRC-3D system at Yadanarmoe Printing House, Mandalay in Myanmar. In close cooperation with The Printers House (TPH) and its exclusive agent in Myanmar, Gensecon Myanmar, QIPC-EAE equipped two Orient semi-commercial presses with mRC-3D for colour register and integrated cut-off control.

Rakesh Dave (in pic), managing director of QIPC-EAE India, said, “By meeting the requirements, especially those of book printers, this overseas project will open up a new market segment for us in Myanmar. We received and successfully completed the order in the pandemic period. This meant overcoming difficulties in procuring materials and getting the system ready in time, according to prevailing regulations. But by working closely with both the customers and TPH, we were able to deliver the system safely and to the fullest satisfaction of the customers.”

Yadanarmoe Printing House selected QIPC-EAE because of its proven technology, excellent service and strong position in the market. It is with good reason that QIPC-EAE is TPH’s preferred supplier for several years now. “Trust is an important basis for sustaining an intensive collaboration such as the one between QIPC-EAE and TPH,” said Rishab Kohli, director of TPH. "Furthermore, the constant quest for product improvements plays a vital role.” www.printweek.in

The KSK investment is part of the Malaysiaheadquartered company’s ongoing expansion plans.

Headquartered in Malaysia, KSK Printings was founded in 1994 with a capital investment of Rs 3,00,000. The company was established by K Sivakumar in an 800-sqft shop, located in Penang Island.

According to Sivakumar, KSK’s vision is to provide customer service to its clients and continue to be “the market’s leader in packaging printing.” KSK is also aiming to set up an advanced printing press with new machinery and latest technology, comprising operations from pre-press to post-press to be processed in-house.

Sivakumar said, “An ERP is the best method to better manage the administration and operations throughout the workflow. It improves production planning by speeding up production and eliminates errors and reduces cost."

So, Sivakumar opted to install Indus Analytics’ Indus Print ERP solution. The company used to work based on its convenience. However, after the investment, the company realised its various areas that needed improvement. Now, the workflow of the press is managed by the Indus Print ERP. “Parmeshwar Patidar of Indus Analytics was first introduced to us by K Selvakumar, director of Lovely Offset Sivakasi,” says Sivakumar. “We have seen other ERP demos, but found Indus Print ERP to be way better than its competitors because of the wide array of features and continuous upgrades.”

Sivakumar added, “The Indus Print software has an AI-based cost estimation, which is very impressive, with various cost and operation calculations from pre-press estimations, postservice calculations, android-based applications, and many more.”

Furthermore, he described that the pandemic played an important role in the company opting to standardise its operations. “We realised we needed a good management system to better manage our workflow and management and Indus Print was our choice after watching many ERP demos from multiple tech companies,” he concluded.

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 11

NEWS Agfa hikes plate prices by 10%

Fespa brings FIT - live virtual event series

By Aultrin Vijay

By PrintWeek Team

Agfa has announced a big increase in plate prices worldwide in response to “soaring input costs”, with its European wing choosing to implement a surcharge instead of a price rise.

Earlier this month, PrintWeek UK revealed that the Belgium-headquartered group was considering strategic options for its offset solutions business, with CEO Pascal Juery describing current pricing levels in the printing industry as “not sustainable”.

In a statement issued on 23 March, Agfa said that it could not absorb the “magnitude” of rising prices, despite its own internal cost reductions.

“Soaring input costs, particularly relevant to aluminium, energy and packaging materials, in combination with sharply rising freight rates due to global logistic constraints make price increases unavoidable.”

As a result, the price of Agfa’s offset plates will increase between five and 10%, effective from 1 April.

“Despite internal cost reductions, the magnitude of rising prices is no longer sustainable. The price increase applied to our customers will be partly offset, as printers will benefit from higher aluminium prices when they recycle their used plates.”

Separately, Agfa has also announced an immediate price increase of more than 10% across its entire range of IdeaLine photo-tooling films, which are used in the production of printed circuit boards. www.printweek.in

Fespa has introduced Fespa Innovations and Trends (FIT), a new series of live virtual events aimed at helping printers plan effectively for their business recovery.

The new interactive live online events are each themed around a particular area of technology and applications, giving visitors a focused environment to engage with new products and explore trends.

The first event, Wide Format, will take place from 26-27 May 2021. The event will be focussing on wide format graphics and the evolving printed décor market. It will also showcase innovations from a range of leading technology, software and substrate suppliers.

The second event, Printed Clothing, will be conducted from 9-10 June 2021. It will focus on the textile printing and garment decoration sector, covering direct-to-garment (DTG), screen printing, software and materials.

Each FIT event will fea-

Felton: urges investment

ture a minimum of 16 exhibitors presenting their products and solutions.

Visitors will have open access to virtual demonstrations, exhibitor insight and Q&A sessions. Participants can see the full event programme in advance to plan their time and the online platform makes it easy to join live chats, network via video chat, and schedule timed meetings.

Fespa FIT events are free to attend for visitors, but numbers are capped to manage the quality of the interactive experience for printers and suppliers alike.

Fespa CEO Neil Felton explained, “To plan investments and make informed

decisions, printers need to be able to see new products, discover technological developments, and access expert advice on products, applications and avenues for diversification and development.”

He fur ther added, “Speaking to printers across our communities, it’s clear that – while their strong preference is to do all of this in a live event setting – there’s a pressing need to access information in a time-efficient way. By launching the FIT series of virtual events, we’re supporting our community in the most effective way available until we can meet in the real world again at a Fespa live exhibition.”

The events will take place on the digital event hosting platform that was used for the virtual Fespa Global Summit, which took place in January 2021, providing an accessible and easy-tonavigate environment.

Fespa will hold its first Global Print Expo since May 2019 from 12 to 15 October 2021 in Amsterdam.

OPA launches mobile app For better serving the people in print, the Offset Printers’ Association (OPA) has launched an app called OPA India. The app is available to download free of cost on iOS and Android devices.

“The idea behind releasing this app is to reach maximum number of printers.

Nowadays, due to the pandemic, the industry is not working properly and many units are observing work-from-home (WFH) situations. In such conditions it is essential to remain in touch and this app can serve this purpose to some extent,” Parveen Aggarwal, president, OPA said, explaining the purpose of app.

Earlier, launching the app, Kamal Chopra said, “The OPA India app is a great help to the printing sector. The information and required details are available at your fingertips on your phone/tab all the time. This is the time to remain in touch with each other and share our challenges and requirements. The OPA app can serve not only the business but also social responsibilities.”

10 May 2021

Poll of the month

Print de-grew in the past 12 months. What should Printland do over the next 12 months?

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Get industry status

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Government support

18% Unity among associations

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TOTAL VOTES: 613 Votes as received on www.printweek.in

LATEST POLL:

What was that one lockdown practise your company implemented?

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 13

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NEWS

Astron installs second Durst Tau 330 RSC press

By Rahul Kumar

Ahmedabad-based labels and packaging major, Astron Packaging has announced the installation of its second Durst Tau 330 RSC, a fully configured industrial UV inkjet digital press at its Dubai unit.

The company has been making a name for themselves in the self-adhesive labels market and includes clientele across industries such as cosmetics, beverages, fast-moving consumer goods, oil and lubricants, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and agriculture.

“The decision to install the second Durst press was easy. Our first installation of the press in 2016 was a huge success and it has been functioning seamlessly ever since,” said Niraj Darji, president of Astron packaging.

“We did scour the market for the currently available options in this segment but eventually decided to proceed with Durst Tau 330 RSC for its consistent quality, high productivity and economical production cost, which are all factors that enable us to offer highquality labels and packaging

Darji (l) with Selvaraj Venkatesh of Printronics

solutions to our customers in UAE,” he added.

The Durst Tau330 RSC press is a single-pass UV inkjet technology (drop on demand + variable drop size) equipment with Dimatix Samba G3L print head technology. It can accept a wide range of substrate for multiple applications such as labels, cartons, IML, PBL and ABL lamitube, flexible packing and aluminum foil from 20-500 microns and runs at a speed

of 52 to 80-m/mt.

Printronics, based in Chennai, the official partner of Durst for its label and packaging segment, handled the deal end-to-end from sales to the successful installation.

“The after-sales support from Printronics also played a key role. The company was excellent for the first press and we expected the same support for the new installation as well,” concluded Darji.

PRODUCT UPDATE - I Heidelberg has opened access to the cloud-based Zaikio procurement platform and has also launched its Maintenance Manager service in the UK. According to the company, the Zaikio development was a “further milestone” on Heidelberg’s route to becoming a platform provider.

Zaikio is a cloud-based system that connects multiple software solutions and systems together. Alongside Heidelberg’s own Prinect Business Manager, the participating MIS vendors are Keyline, Printplus, Printvis, Datamedia, Ultraxx, and EPMS. XSYS has launched Nyloflex FTM digital flexo plate, with inherent flat top dots specifically aimed at flexographic printing with water-based inks on different grades of paper substrates. The Nyloflex FTM digital is a medium hard plate with a smooth surface, bringing a good ink transfer and ink laydown out of the box and capable of reproducing sophisticated surface screenings in case this is required. With no need for additional equipment or auxiliaries, the plate can be exposed in existing systems with standard tube lights or LED UV-A light exposure, before solvent processing.

321Soft Studio, a leading software company with 13 years of experience, has launched an easyto-use yet powerful multi-page TIFF editing software, 321Soft TIFF Studio, for users to view, edit and convert TIF (TIFF), PDF, and FAX files, including scanned documents. With it, users now can work with not only TIFF and PDF files, but also FAX, DCX, EPS, PS, AI, GIF, JBIG and DICOM files. 321Soft TIFF Studio is quite handy when working with large volumes of TIFF and PDF documents, especially if they are not always organised properly, enabling you to edit them, in order to better suit your needs.

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NEWS

Mumbai’s Numex boosts platemaking capacity with a new Esko imaging line

By Abhishek Muralidharan

Mumbai-based pre-press trade shop Numex Blocks has opted for a complete Esko workflow and Crystal line of platemaking following the recent Virtual.

Drupa event in April 2021.

The new investments include a CDI Crystal 5080 plate imager and XPS Crystal 5080 exposing unit along with the extended gamut printing software Equinox and Print Control Wizard.

With this new line, the flexo and letterpress plate production specialist is set to bolster its services for customers in the flexible packaging, labels, letterpress and corrugated markets in India.

According to Nitin Patil, owner of Numex Blocks, the new acquisition was part of the company’s ongoing commitment to deliver the best quality plates to its customers and would be a key part of its continued growth and development.

“The ability to produce the highest quality plates that deliver consistent print quality improves our agility to meet the everchanging needs of our cus-

(L-r) Esko’s Murad Kalal with Nitin Patil of Numex Blocks

tomers,” said Patil. “This is particularly valuable to us in terms of meeting the demands of not only the urgent short runs with shorter lead times, but also for longer runs where consistency is key.”

Patil added “Following our success with Esko integrated hardware and software in the last two decades, we are delighted to install the entire Crystal line into our platemaking facility.”

“Almost 20 years ago, Numex became the first

NUMEX BLOCKS FACT FILE Establish in 1985 Location 13,000-sqft of workshop space and offices in Mumbai Speciality Pre-press flexo solutions Equipment Flexo platemaking lines from Esko and Kodak, plus Esko software Employees 40

trade shop in India to offer digital flexo platemaking,” said Murad Kalal, Esko Flexo and Software regional

sales manager. “This trend continued with the company investing in the Esko CDI Advance Cantilever 1450 with HD Flexo to guarantee its customers the highest quality print results.

Then, in 2013, Numex became the first company in South Asia to install the Esko CDI 5080 with HD Flexo and Pixel+.

“Over the years, Numex Blocks has continuously upgraded its workflow software. And today, it works with a full range of latest software from Esko, including Automation Engine, DeskPack, Imaging Engine and more than 20 seats for PackEdge,” he said. “In addition, this new deal will maintain their position at the leading edge of technology with the acquisition of the full Crystal line.”

According to Kalal, with the innovative Crystal

Mudra Digital Graphics, a division of Numex Blocks, has become one of India’s first packaging solution providers to give its designers full creative freedom with the Esko Studio software. Using the Esko Studio, designers at Mudra Digital now provide customers with digitally rendered, superimposed and stacked images with customised backgrounds. It can also include specialised effects such as pre-distortion in the artwork, and even 360-degree pack shot animation.

technology from Esko, the platemaking process — in terms of imaging and exposure — is now much easier with significantly fewer steps. “The integration of our workflow solutions and hardware technology means that the Numex team is now completely in control of the quality and performance of their plates and subsequent print consistency,” he added.

Numex has also installed the award-winning Esko XPS Crystal exposure unit.

Combining UV main and back exposure, the XPS Crystal uses LEDs that does not require warm-up time and emits even light that enables consistent plate quality and subsequently on press.

“The team is also using the latest imaging technology, Esko Automation Engine and the award-winning Print Control Wizard with its Crystal Screening technology to automate the workflow,” explained Kalal. “They have a full Esko Crystal ecosystem in operation, which helps them consistently produce high-quality plates.”

With the best compliments of A-83, Industrial Estate, Rajajinagar, Bangalore-560044, India | 9A, KIADB Industrial Area 1st Phase, Kumbalagodu, Mysore Road, Bangalore-560 074 T : +9180-23208056, 23382915 www.globalprintingandpackaging.com

www.printweek.in

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 17

NEWS

JMD’s Kongsberg buy ups cutting efficiency

By Rahul Kumar

Okhla Industrial Area, New Delhi-based JMD Digital Art Xchange (JMDDAX) has invested in a digital cutting table from Kongsberg.

Supplied by Arrow Digital, the machine was installed in January 2021.

Anupam Gupta, managing director, JMD Digital Art Xchange, said, “With the Kongsberg digital cutting table, we have been able to eliminate manual intervention and increase our speed, quality and perfection in finishing POP and POS materials.

Gupta, a first-generation entrepreneur with a finance background, has more than three decades of experience in the industry.

“With this installation, we can cut and finish different substrates such as corrugated and bubble guard boards, and crease and bend substrates which are not possible manually. The machine can handle substrates such as corrugated sheets, folding carton, solid board, foam, coating blankets, wood and plastic materials, apart from PVC, HIPS, fabric, and leather among other materials,” he added.

Gupta: Eliminated manual intervention in cutting process

Meanwhile, the company is planning to offer digital braille signage printing, apart from the hugely popular three-layer printing (colour + white + colour). For this, the company has installed EFI Vutek GS 3250 with LED UV curing. It is a 3.2-m wide printer and the installation took place in 2018. The machine was also supplied by Arrow Digital.

“It has nine colour gamut, eight colour with white. We can print thin transparent films and other non-absorbent substrates like mica and laminates, because of cold LED UV lamps,” Gupta said.

“We also opted for structural packaging design software ArtiosCAD from Esko.

Our first table was fully

equipped within a month from installation and hopefully we will be getting another table soon,” he added.

JMDDAX is also planning to serve packaging clients, but the plan was put on hold due to Covid-19 situation.

“We will diversify into labelling and packaging gradually. First, we will produce labels with digital inkjet technology,” he said.

On the impact of the pandemic, Gupta said, since MNCs and corporates are not functioning in full scale, business is slow to be back on track. “Raw material prices have gone up. Freight cost and cost of petroleum products had also had an impact, in the increased cost of production,” he said.

Konica Minolta wins Keypoint Intelligence Awards Konica Minolta has been conferred with a series of awards by Keypoint Intelligence. Keypoint Intelligence is built upon two brands — Buyers Lab and Info Trends.

Both brands have deep histories and strong presence in the document imaging industry.

The brand, Konica Minolta, has won the BLI 2021 A3 Line of the Year Award. It has been also recognised as the most colour consistent A3 brand (2021-2023) for its A3 devices, including the new bizhub i-series. Last but not the least, it has also bagged the BLI Winter 2021 A3 Pick and Outstanding Achievement Award for Bizhub i-series printers that are highly reliable and easy to use from a walk-up, workstation, and from a service perspective. www.printweek.in

PRODUCT UPDATE - II Siegwerk has launched a new real-time tracking feature on its SAPbased online customer portal.

Siegwerk India customers ordering on the Siegwerk portal can now get an eCommerce user experience and need not be worried about order delivery status. The real-time tracking feature is an addition to the complete contactless order management facility on the Siegwerk customer portal.

Customers will experience an interface with live 24x7 monitoring from the time of placing the order through the delivery. Siegwerk’s real-time tracking feature makes the ordering process quick for customers.

Previously, customers had to spend time and manpower in painful delivery tracking methods that often resulted in reduced efficiencies and unreliable results. Delays and uncertainties in transportation made the process cumbersome.

Xeikon has announced an eco-friendly, costeffective digital answer to today’s wallpaper production challenges. As a key part of Xeikon’s Wall Deco Suite and with Xeikon’s bespoke and environmentally friendly dry toner technology with extended colour gamut, the new Xeikon CX50 is introduced. The Xeikon Wall Deco Suite is an all-in-one streamlined solution including inline finishing – all developed to cost effectively produce creative wall decorations including custom illustrations and photo-murals in short runs.

Meeting today’s consumer demand for individualised home interiors, the Xeikon CX50 digital press offers unlimited creative freedom across a wide range of substrates where every printed product can be unique.

H+H has introduced a new folding dimension in the multi-plate sector in the shape of the M9. The implementation with up to 24 automated buckle plates and automated fold rollers allows the set-up time to be reduced from several hours to a few minutes; by up to 95% depending on the folding sequence and application type. This ensures that the machine pays for itself within the shortest possible time. Further time saving features, such as the patented slitter shaft cassette, which is also very successfully integrated into MBO folding machines, also increase productivity to the highest possible level.

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 19

OFFERS SOLUTION TO MANUFACTURE N95 FACE MASKS

USPs OF THE MACHINE • It produces 4 & 5 PLY face masks at the speed of 50-60 face masks per minute • Fully automatic machine is equipped with six servo motors • Equipped with ultrasonic sealing on masks and ear loops • The machine gives stable performance with simple operation and

Ample.indd 1

high cost performance • Ample Graphics Pvt Ltd provides unparalleled after sales support with support from Guangdong LiShun Yuan Intelligent Automation Co. Ltd. China • Sufficient stock in Lishunyuan, China, machine can be airlifted for urgent delivery Yuan Intelligent Automation Co. Ltd. China

02/05/21 21:36

NEWS

Jaipur-based packager Archa braces for future growth with DGM buys

By Rahul Kumar

Jaipur-based Archa Packaging recently invested in a folder-gluer and die-cutter from DGM Automation India. The folder-gluer has already been installed while the die-cutter will arrive by the end of this month.

Archa is a new venture from Diamond Printing Press, a well-known commercial and books printing company, which has been serving customers from the packaging industry for the last couple of years.

“We are in the industry from 1946, and this is our diversification. We established Archa Packaging last year to serve our packaging customers better,” said Sharad Mittal of Archa Packaging.

The DGM SmartFold 1100SL automatic foldergluer is equipped with envelope/pocket device,

ARCHA PACKAGING FACT FILE Established in 2020 Location 2,50,000-sqft plant in Jaipur Speciality Packaging board and plastic Equipment Komori sixcolour+coater press, DGM SmartFold 1100SL foldergluer, lamination kit, Maxima die-cutter and Vijaya folder-gluer Sharad Mittal of Archa Packaging

four- and six-corner boxes, semi-automatic box collection table, three -gun plasma treatment and other advanced features like automatic side registration, all middle conveyors, longer folding section and all available option to run three-ply corrugated cartons. “I evaluated all other available options in the market and found DGM value for money and technically appropriate for the

latest requirement,” he said.

The DGM Technocut 1050 automatic die-cutter is equipped with all latest features, including inline pile preparation, non-stop feeder, non-stop delivery apron, high pile machine with PLC controlled cutting force with safety to protect over cutting pressure, safety clutch and fivecam belt drive system for better acceleration and de-

acceleration of the machine from 0-7,500 and 7,500-0 speed.

In the new venture, Archa plans to manufacture mono cartons, corrugated boxes, labels and plastic bottles. “Our mono cartons and plastic bottles units are functioning well.

We are working on setting up the corrugation and label units. The entire operation will go functional by October,” he added.

The packaging unit consists of eight acres of land and 2,50,000-sqft of it is constructed. For existing mono cartons, the company has a six-colour online coating printing press, dry lamination machine, Maxima die-cutter and folder-gluer from Vijaya.

“We are converting around 300 tonnes of board per month,” Mittal said.

“We are producing around 30,000 plastic bottles for the pharma industry per day and will be producing more than one lakh by October daily.”

Mittal runs the company with his father Sunil. “We have seen a 300% growth in one year of establishment. Our target is pharma and FMCG customers and we want to provide a onestop solution to them.

That’s why we are operating in multiple segments,” he added.

Punjab’s UK Offset installs a Heidelberg six-colour coater

By Aultrin Vijay

UK Offset Printers, based in Jalandhar, has purchased a pre-owned Heidelberg sixcolour coater with autoplate — Heidelberg 102-6+L, Autoplate — from Neeldhara. The print firm told PrintWeek that it is proud of this purchase decision.

Founded by Jatinder Singh, UK Offset Printers was established in 2012 in Jalandhar. Singh had also established the Jalandharbased UK Processors in 2002. With these 20 years of print experience, the company has been providing packaging solutions for www.printweek.in

UK OFFSET FACT FILE Established in 2012 Location 10,800-sqft plant in Jalandhar Speciality Book printing and publishing Equipment Heidelberg 102-6+L; Adast Dominant 725C; two brand new BasysPrint CTCP; spot/ texture UV, lamination, die-cutting machines Pandit of Neeldhara (r) with Singh (second from right)

OEMs of sports goods, automobile and cycle parts, hand-tools, and hosiery manufacturers.

Singh said Jalandhar has primarily been a hub for

publishing, but is now shifting towards packaging owing to negative growth in the publishing sector. “The rates asked are the lowest in this part of North India for print-

ing and publishing,” Singh added.

The print house is set up in a 10,800-sqft constructed area with over 50 staff working in two shifts. It is equipped with the latest

Heidelberg 102-6+L, Autoplate kit, Adast Dominant 725C, spot/texture UV machine, lamination machine, die-cutting kit, guillotine, and two complete lines of brand new BasysPrint CTCP. About the installation, Arjun Pandit of Neeldhara said, “Neeldhara has always been instrumental in providing its customers the best machine at the most reasonable price. This time, this (Heidelberg) six-colour with coater imported from the USA had a seamless and trouble-free installation at Jalandhar, adding one more happy customer to the list.”

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 21

Innovation

Every step of the way with the new FB-Line - from design through manufacturing and assembly Experience it in our brand new manufacturing site in Mahindra World City in Chennai, India

visit nilpeter.com

Nilpeter India Pvt. Ltd. • India • Phone: +91 989 141 4340 • e-mail: manish@nilpeter.com NILPETER A/S • Denmark • Phone: +45 5850 1166 • e-mail: nilpeter@nilpeter.com • www.nilpeter.com

2018040_NILPETER_NEW_FA_GB_210x297_LandL.indd 1

05/10/18 15:08

NEWS

Surat’s Payal Fashions gets its second EFI Reggiani Vogue textile printing press

By Rahul Kumar

Surat-based Payal Fashions has recently installed a EFI Reggiani Vogue. It is its second such machine. Both the machines were supplied by Arrow Digital.

According to Arrow Digital, an installation like this during the pandemic “gives us all a ray of hope”, especially for the textile industry, which has been the worst hit. Installing the second machine at any of the sites shows the confidence the company has built with the customer.

Payal Fashions has been in embroidery business.

“We have our business spread all over India and are well-known for our quality and standards. We purchased our first EFI Reggiani Vogue in 2019

The EFI Reggiani Vogue at Payal Fashions

after evaluating several suppliers and manufacturers, and after talking to Arrow, we knew we would be safe to plunge into digital with their support. We are satisfied with the product and the services Arrow has provided during these years. It gives us immense pleasure to have installed the latest version of EFI Reggiani, an eight-colour printer with 16

printheads, using EFI-Aqua premium reactive inks, which we have consistently used even after evaluating other inks. We are excited to rock the market with our second digital machine,” Budhabhai Sonani of Payal Fashion said.

The EFI Reggiani is an integrated solutions provider for the textile world, with high quality and

unmatched printing for fashion and home furnishing textiles. The EFI Reggiani Vogue is an industrial textile printer designed for superior-quality directto-textile printing in fashion applications. The 1.8-m wide device prints at resolutions up to 2,400-dpi with 16 printing heads and 4- to 72-picoliter drop sizes.

The printer boasts an innovative recirculation system that saves ink and reduces maintenance during machine operation and between stoppages. The recirculation system also reduces the need for specific air conditioning and humidity controls, saving energy and reducing overall usage costs. An innovative new enclosed printhead design on the Vogue simplifies the

carriage layout and ensures easier print head removal. A new composite carriage with a steel head plate eliminates the need to align individual heads. The printer also automatically detects substrate widths, centres images and sets margins for jobs.

Sonani added, “It is a green solution, which is much needed in the textile industry. To grow rapidly and scale up in digital textile printing, you need all the hand-holding and roundthe-clock support, with constant updates and training of operators for ink saving techniques and help with designs and much more. We continue to grow rapidly in this field and look forward to working with Arrow in the future, as we look to expand our portfolio of products.”

total of USD 5.86 billion worldwide. This is said to advance rapidly at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.90% to reach a forecast value of USD 8.57 billion in 2026.

This is believed to provide a major spur to R&D activity even as ink

suppliers adjust their product portfolios to a print landscape radically reshaped by the Covid-19 pandemic. Smithers’ forecasting includes multiple scenarios for this impact across six world regions and 20 leading world markets.

TRENDS AND REPORTS Trends Market Research has reported that the global converting paper market is accounted for USD 355.01-billion in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 459.17-billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 2.9% from 2017 to 2026.

Growing eCommerce

www.printweek.in

paper market. However, increasing digital media may hamper the market growth on supply chains. packaging sector, rising adoption for industrial packaging are the major factors boosting the demand for converting

Smithers new study — The Future of Bio-based Inks and Coatings to 2026 — projects that in 2021, this market will be worth a

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 23

NEWS

Heiber+Schröder sells 100th machine in India

COMPANY SPEAK We are getting ready, as good times are coming: Nitin Ahuja

By Rahul Kumar

Heiber+Schröder, based out of Erkrath, Germany, which has been manufacturing and servicing window patching, tube forming (liner) and carton erecting machines since 1986, has recently sold its 100th machine in India.

“India is one of our top three markets, and thus, it is a huge achievement for us to be able to consolidate our market share in the region,” said Gustavo Cuata, managing director, Heiber+ Schröder. “Currently, more than 90% of all liner cartons in India is being produced with our equipment.”

Among its product lines, Cuata said the Speedliner is the most productive liner carton machine in the market, with an output close to 30,000 pieces of liner carton per hour, ease of use and a number of technical improvements specifically

Two Speedliners have been installed at Parksons Packaging

developed for the Indian market.

“This model was born with the Indian market in mind and it keeps evolving according to our customer’s needs.

Service-wise, we work handin-hand with our local agent Bobst India, for the best-inclass customer care and of course efficient sales support,” he added.

Recently, the company sold two Speedliner lines to Parksons Packaging.

“Today, the company pro-

duces approximately 100 machines annually for the packaging industry and has more than 1,500 machines running in over 70 countries worldwide,” Cuata said.

Bobst India has been representing Heiber + Schröder for the Indian market since the late 1990s, a nd is f ully equipped to service and support the entire range of Heiber + Schröder machines.

TPC opens second plant in Navi Mumbai TPC Packaging, a subsidiary of Global Cold Chain Solutions, Australia, has opened its second factory in Mumbai to support Covid-19 vaccine deliveries.

A new cold chain packaging site was officially opened by representatives of a renowned pharmaceutical/vaccine manufacturer. TPC Packaging has two factories in India in Ahmedabad and Navi Mumbai. The company plans to build more in the coming year to support the growth of the Indian pharmaceutical and biological manufacturers.

The opening is part of the company’s aggressive global expansion. It also opened its fifth manufacturing site in southern Germany near Basel in early March.

The company has been at the forefront of cold chain packaging design for more than 17 years in Australia and specialises in custom designs and temperatures to minimise supply chain and logistics costs.

The company, in a press note, stated, “Our unique designs allow for both fully assembled pallets and shippers and flat packing to reduce logistics costs.” The company produces all phase change materials at each site giving it a huge advantage in the market. www.printweek.in

AND Systems considers itself lucky to be suppliers to packaging printers since the beginning, as it survived the Covid-19 pandemic, “though the sales were hit, which was expected,” says Nitin Ahuja of AND Systems. Despite this, the company recently invested in a barring factory to upgrade and get ready, as the company believes that good times are coming. This, despite the company operating with a handful of staff since the pandemic.

“We have a complete blanket and barring set-up, and with the new machines coming, we would do all type of barring, including glue, tape and pinch steel bars,” says Ahuja.

With the distribution and outreach programmes in disarray since the pandemic, Ahuja says the company is distributing its products by courier, except for clients in the neighbouring areas. “We are not online yet,” he adds.

So, how is the company coping? “It was tough in the first few weeks, but we made it a practice to send a message to all the clients the days we were working and the date the delivery would be given,” Ahuja says.

“Clients understood and gave orders in advance. So, it ran smoothly.”

In the meantime, the company has added a couple of new products while it has stopped dealing in a lot of other products, as the company’s concentration is on blanket and products around it,” he says. “We also have steel rules for die-making from Bohler, Austria.

These have done well due to their quality.”

As the industry struggles to survive the pandemic, one of the major worries about the industry now is recycling. “I think the only consumables recyclable in our industry are plates and paper,” says Ahuja.

“Though biodegradable and recyclable chemicals are available, few thinks of it due to permanent cost cutting. Only if we as consumers change our thoughts on buying eco-friendly, can we reverse and think about recycling,” he says.

And what’s next for AND? “We will continue with our core products,” says Ahuja. “Partnering is becoming important. One cannot do all by themselves, so we are looking for fair and trusted partners.”

And the personal impact of the pandemic? “Initially, it was a problem but after a few weeks, we set working days, and it went well,” he concludes.

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 25

Consistent  Cost Effective  Consumer Friendly

Protecting Whats Inside

Serving the Indian Sub-Continent since 2006 Since Inception nearly 34 years ago Coatings & Adhesives Corporation, USA was founded on the principle of formulating & producing ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY COATINGS & ADHESIVES and is the Market Leader of Waterbased Coatings in North America.

Meki Polymers Pvt Ltd in Technical collaboration with Coatings & Adhesives Corp, USA proudly brings Water Based Coating technology to the Indian Sub-Continent with its manufacturing unit located in Maharashtra, India.

Products : (World Class Products at Cost Effective Prices)  Water Based Coatings UV Coatings Anilox Roller Cleaners  Custom Developed Coatings for Specific Customer Requirement.

Introducing our new product range for 2021:  CRB CYLINDER MAGIC ANILOX CLEANING PASTE (Try it to believe it)  Water Based SOFT FEEL Coatings (Try it to feel it)  Barrier Coatings (To Protect what’s inside) Our Water Based Product features are : Non-Toxic | Low in Volatile Organic Content (VOC’s) – Most are 0 % to 1 % Completely Free of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) | FDA Compliant

Meki – C&A ‘s Coatings complies with the following Regulatory items : Meet CONEG, TPCH, Consumer Product safety Improvement act of 2008, 16CFR 1303, EN71 part 3 European Toy Standard, Chinese Regulations and ROHS legislation for Heavy Metals and Phthalates. QSOP 0006-3610 Plasticizers, RMS 2904 Migration of Hexavalent Chromium, 2901 Surface Coating Materials for Toy Packaging.

For Technical Enquires : Contact : Mr. Rishie Khera | Mobile : +91-9820418924 | Email: rishi@meki.in Meki Polymers Pvt Ltd 17, Union Park, Chembur, Mumbai – 400071, Maharashtra, India Tel: +91-22-25206900 / 01 Email: Info@meki.in Website: www.meki.in

Coatings & Adhesives Corporation PO Box 1080, 1901 Popular St, NE Leland, North Carolina, USA Tel: 1-910-3713184 Email: info@cacoatings.com Website: www.cacoatings.com

NEWS Incunabula @incunabula The Book from the Ground, Following his classic work Book from the Sky, the Chinese artist Xu Bing created a new graphic novel - one composed entirely of symbols and icons that are universally understood.

SP Hi-Tech’s Bobst buy gives capacity a boost

By Noel D’Cunha

Penrith Museum of Printing @OfPenrith This is a beautiful painting from a printing house in Haarlem, Netherlands (1884) by Charles Frederic Ulrich.

drupa @drupa Just like @jamesommerville, @CocaCola has a rich history. Embracing that history as well as the iconic bottle #design and color, he started a campaign to celebrate them, using #print to bring it from the #digital, fast lived world of today to the physical realm.

Procter & Gamble @ProcterGamble P&G India is responding to the increased demand for #COVID19 vaccines in their country, contributing towards the vaccination of 100 Indians for every P&G employee in India Adobe @Adobe We’re deeply saddened to share that our beloved co-founder, Dr. Chuck Geschke, has passed away. Chuck was a hero and guiding light for so many of us in the technology industry. He leaves an indelible mark on our company and the world

Follow us on @PrintWeekIndia and @WhatPackaging www.printweek.in

Hy d e r a b a d - b a s e d S P Hi-Tech Printers has invested in its first Bobst machine, the Ambition 106 A2 folder-gluer to boost its capacity. The Rs 30-crore turnover company, which is engaged with both commercial and packaging, produces cartons, labels, books magazine, catalogues and product promotion materials. SP Hi-Tech Printers’ commercial and packaging business is split in the ratio of 50:50.

The company has two plants, one in Nacharam and another in Gandhi Nagar in Hyderabad totalling to 40,000-sqft. The Gandhi Nagar plant also houses its corporate office as well a facility for packaging. The plants are quipped with two six-colour + coater, four four-colour and one two-colour offset presses, a Nilpeter FB 350 press; a Screen CTP platesetter and a raft of Indiamade die-punching and creasing, and a local foldergluer. It also has post-press machines for book-bind works.

Sudhakar Sunkara, director at SP Hi-Tech Printers, said, “We are strengthening our factory at Gandhi Nagar, and in this process we were evaluating several alternatives for the foldergluer. We concluded that the Bobst Ambition 106 A2 folder-gluer offered the best overall solution to fulfil our wider business strategy considering our future plans.”

The 22-year-old company SP Hi-Tech produces close to 1.5-lakh packaging items including mono and MetPET cartons and print-

The Bobst kit; (inset) Sunkara (r) with Purna Chandra Rao

ing up to six-colour. The Bobst Ambition 106 A2 folder-gluer installed at the company is capable to do straight line open blank width of 76 to 1,100 mm, lock bottom open blank width of 146 to 1,100mm and a speed of up to 300 m/ min. The variable speed independent drive enables easy adjustments on the machines in real time during running and enables handing of typical boxes.

Sunkara said that the Bobst folder-gluer machine is an addition to his company’s existing local folder gluer. “Before installing Bobst Ambition 106 A2 we had constraint with the abilities of the existing folder-gluer, which does not allow us to produce quality and volume of cartons with different shapes and sizes. For example, with the Bobst kit we will be able to produce various shapes of straight line cartons, lock-bottom, disproportionate cartons, double wall boxes, three-ply corrugated boxes of both A and B type, taper crease boxes, which otherwise we could not do with our existing machines,” said Sunkara.

Sunkara added, “That’s not all. The commercial

business at present is not in the good shape, however, the packaging segment has been consistently growing during this pandemic and trend will continue in coming years. While we have the capacity to print the required quantity, we also wanted to augment our facility to finish the cartons quickly, rather than creating a bottleneck in the process.”

He added, “Our research suggests Bobst folder gluer is the best in quality, reliability and productivity on which you can bank upon for commitment to your end customers. This new machinery has given us the leverage to do folding and gluing a wide range of cartons with quality and efficiently than before.”

Sunkara is assisted by his brother, Purna Chandra Rao, in managing the print business. The company employs 140 people.

According to Sunkara, the packaging market is growing and the demand for good packaged products is growing day-by-day. “The new Bobst kit gives us the confidence that we will meet the challenges of the future, and be able to offer more innovative solutions to our customers.”

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 27

NEWS MAHENDRA SHAH’S GURU GYAAN The Mumbai-based consumable specialist Nulith Graphics has been flourishing in the print business for over four decades, thanks to Mahendra Shah and his family, who manage the family-owned company.

Shah believes that the industry is moving at a great speed nowadays. For instance, one- and two-colour jobs to multi-colour printing and post-coating and special effects; from one- and two-colour machines to fourcolour and six- or more-colour units to finish the job online; from combination of art and science to digital technology; from zinc to aluminium plates to PS to digital CTP; from albumin and gum deep-etch to water process and wipe-on to PS and CTP; from a machine speed of 2,000 to 15,000+ in sheetfed and 50,000+ in web; and from letterpress to offset and flexo.

Shah says, “During the first decade, the demand was more than the supply, but we were not mature enough to grab all the opportunities. It was a learning process; the growth was slow with lots of obstacles. However, in the 1970s and ’80s, there was a lot of resistance to accept technological changes. Nowadays, customers are more open to the latest technology.”

In his four-decade long career path, Shah has witnessed several ups and downs. Starting with one of his best moments in his career, Shah says, “The best moment was when we decided to focus on marketing and include high-end products in our basket along with what we manufactured. Additionally, changing the image of Nulith from being known as a plate-chemical company to being recognised as a complete solution provider with multiple ranges of consumables under one roof was another major achievement.” However, citing the worst moment, Shah says, “It was when we tried to include equipment in our basket of consumables.”

Shah says that his routine, which consists of regular practice of Vipassana meditation with a 10-day retreat every year since 1990, changed the way he did business, for good. “This helps me to shake off stress or confusion in a very short time and enables me to make right and bold decisions at the proper time.” One such bold decision was taken in 1995 to participate in Drupa, which not only increased Nulith’s turnover manifold, but also led to change the image of Nulith as a trusted partner.

Shah believes that Nulith’s goal to be the trusted partner of the Indian printing industry was more or less achieved. “My younger brother and his both sons are keen to strengthen this goal. With a Masters degree in our family-managed business, Kaushil, my nephew, joined Nulith. He is keen to enhance the unity of our family and lead team Nulith in the direction that we all decide together.”

However, Shah wishes that Nulith Graphics should have focussed more on platemaking and pressroom chemical business in the first decade of his career. When asked what he’d be doing today if it wasn’t for the print business, Shah says, “I can’t think of anything else other than printing and Vipassana meditation.” www.printweek.in

SBM Print in concentric diversification mode

By Rahul Kumar

Established in 1950 as a paper trading company called Sharda Trading Co, which later emerged to SBM Industries and a subsidiary SBM Print Media, the company has recently gone for concentric diversification by launching a specialised warehousing and logistic facility within the same area near to where its printing operations are located. This facility will be focused to provide storage and logistic services to publishers or book distributors.

The unit is also equipped to refurbish books or unsold stocks.

The company has also dared to do massive expansion during the ongoing pandemic situation while moving to a newly-developed space of 3,00,000-sqft in Rai Industrial Area in Haryana.

The company is originally known for its gigantic infrastructure involved in print services such book printing, diaries and calendar manufacturing and other related activities.

Sanjay Gupta, founding member of SBM group, said, “We have expanded the area and machinery to meet increasing demand for print production in both domestic and export markets.”

The dynamic and spirited CEO, Saurabh Gupta, added, “We are ready to offer storage/warehouse services integrated with world class warehousing management system (WMS), especially developed to sort all existing obstacles of distribution businesses or services, mainly in the book industry.”

The 3,00,000-sqft SBM Print Media plant in Haryana

We have freshly infused around Rs 30 crore in our recent expansion programme Sanjay Gupta

The company has established two new units in Rai Industrial Area, on DelhiC h a n d i g a r h h i g hway adjoining Delhi border near the biggest transport hub, Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. The total area of both the plants is approximately 4-lakh sqft and the individual area of the plants is 1.5 and 2.5-lakh sqft for warehouse and print division respectively.

Gupta said the expansion will give the company the opportunity to produce more and serve its customers better and fast. “We have freshly infused around Rs 30-crore in our recent expansion programme,” he added.

SBM Industries, the parent company of SBM Print Media, owns stationary brands like Global, Smart, Easymate and others, widely distributed in India through its channel partners located in all the major 10 May 2021

cities. These names are wellknown for their wide range in writing instruments and promotional products such as diaries, notebooks, calendars, registers, student exercise books and others.

The company has a battery of Heidelberg preowned printing presses in the current 2,50,000-sqft constructed area. The binding unit is equipped with three automatic Kolbus case-making machines with round corner integration; automatic Kolbus casing inline BF 40; more than ten sewing machines; two Aster polygraph automatic sewing machines; two automatic Muller Martini six stations flow lines; seven four-fold Stahl folding machines; fully automatic Polar cutting machines, and others.

The capacity is almost 40 tonnes of paper conversion on daily basis. The company can currently produce and finish almost 60,000 books daily through offset printing and soft cover binding.

Their hard case facility can also handle production of 50,000 units within turnaround time of 24 hours.

A team of more than 300 people work in round-theclock operation.

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 29

NEWS

Divya Bhaskar Surat’s anniversary edition

By PrintWeek

Dainik Bhaskar Group has been at the forefront of innovation in the print industry during a challenging fiscal year 2020-21 with several mega and special issues aimed at bolstering the spirit of the readers and helping local businesses addressing the market. In continuation with this tradition, Divya Bhaskar has innovated and presented the Jumbo Panorama to celebrate the 17th anniversary of the Surat edition. In a first for the print industry, a 76-inch panoramic edition was printed and circulated.

The issue was made even more special with a one-ofa-kind specialty masthead, which was studded with 3,000 real diamonds worth Rs 30-crore. The edition was a visual delight with the panoramic picturesque images along with a cuttingedge content and will undoubtedly be a collector’s dream.

The special Surat edition was themed around the five pillars of happiness for Surat — family, love, money, respect and power. Not only does this mark another significant milestone for the group, but also pays an ode

Sathish Kumar, packaging development executive at ITC-PPB Chennai, tells Charmiane Alexander that he believes 3D printing has the potential to create a new world What’s your best memory about reading in a library?

I am someone who reads two books simultaneously, a book in one hand and a dictionary on the other.

How can digital printing help in boosting creativity and consumer connection through packaging?

The customisation and variables that digital printing offers enable a range of creative possibilities which is still a bottleneck in conventional printing.

DB Surat’s 17th anniversary edition

to the indomitable spirit and contribution of Suratis who have proved their mettle time and again.

Harrish M Bhatia, president sales and marketing, Dainik Bhaskar Group, said, “Dainik Bhaskar Group is known for its cutting-edge content and has given newspaper industry many first innovations. Last year we did a series of milestone editions and this year we took it a notch higher by publishing the front page on fabric for our Bhilwara edition anniversary as a befitting tribute to the textile city of India. Keeping up with our continuous strive to do innovations, we decided to do the special edition of Jumbo Panorama at Surat,

something which has never been attempted before in n e w s p a p e r i n d u s t r y.

Advertisers across categories welcomed the idea and whole-heartedly supported the initiative while readers found it a collectible edition.”

Sanjeev Chauhan, business head, Gujarat, added, “Surat, known as the City of Diamonds, is the commercial cosmopolitan city of Gujarat. Resonating with the city, a diamond studded masthead was published, remarking our association with Surat and Suratis.

Divya Bhaskar has always been on the forefront of innovation and striving to give something new to its reader and associates.”

Dainik Bhaskar publishes 110-page Solapur anniversary edition Dainik Divya Marathi celebrated its ninth anniversary in the city of Solapur, Maharashtra with a 110-page special anniversary edition. The issue contains multiple innovations like an eight-page panorama and French window with rich content specifically designed to for promoting the vaccination drive, which under the current scenario, needs lots of attention.

Nishit Jain, COO of Maharashtra, Dainik Bhaskar Group, said, “Dainik Bhaskar Group always believes in doing something extraordinary and interesting for its readers, clients and agencies, and in keeping with this tradition, we created this Mega Edition on the ninth anniversary of our Solapur edition. Amid concerns over the market situation, lockdowns, this is a great step towards building confidence in the business community as well as the public. This commendable feat demonstrates that print media is still the most trusted medium for readers and advertisers.” www.printweek.in

THE MILLENNIAL MANTRA

Social media has become the newest way of promoting packaging innovations or learning about the newest trends in packaging. Why? Latest statistics show that about 47% of the world’s population is active on social media. This shows the scope of learning and promotional opportunities the platform provides. More the users, more is the reach.

Which is better— a novel or a movie?

A movie with no songs.

Most innovative packaging that you have come across?

McDonald’s Eatqual. What I love about the packaging is that it addresses the challenges of differently-abled customers who are unable to consume their burger with both hands.

What technology would you actually be excited for a company to implement?

It would be great if Jarvis from the Marvel movies can be made available for companies. Elon Musk, can we?

Most interesting thing you’ve read recently?

Australian researchers use human hair to create flexible displays for smartphones and smartwatches. I think I should grow my hair long hereafter.

Would you rather be like Einstein who is good with numbers, or Shakespeare who is good with words?

Why? Einstein, more than numbers, his curiosity amazes me.

Which is your favourite book?

Don’t Startup: What No One Tells You about Starting Your Own Business by Karthik Kumar.

One thing that is on your bucket list?

Visit the seven continents (Antarctica is optional) apart from my lifelong dream of stargazing under the Northern Lights.

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GUEST EDITORIAL COMMENT MANISH SHARMA

Five-point prescription for handling adversity

I

was invited by the Bombay Master Printers Association (BMPA) to share suggestions on how to use this tough time to streamline offerings. As the print industry figures out how to keep its brands afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic, these were my advice to the print companies looking to retool themselves during this time and prepare for a future.

1. Do what you can control and do it quickly: First, stop all payouts till

you have time to reset the finances.

Also, calculate operating profit (EBITDA) with simulated revenue drop of 100% and 50%. With the unprecedented impact of Covid-19, the industry is looking for new solutions and answers.

2. Look at costs: A relook at all fixed costs to zero, including rent and peo-

ple costs, is necessary. Also, communicate with everyone. At Printo, we deployed Zoom and WhatsApp video calls with our team to discuss sales and profit numbers and tap weekly strategy. One must speak to the internal team very clearly about all the bad news. Internal communications is a cornerstone of a successful purpose-led strategy and should be at the forefront of leaders’ minds for 2021.

3. Conserve your cash cows: Everyone has something in their product

line that doesn’t take too much investment to keep up to date and squeeze valuable cash to keep the business going. At Printo, I spoke to the vendors

and clients. Cash is everything and from a market standpoint; it is about survival. We informed our vendors very early and paid the small guys with real input costs. We not only delayed the large companies, who have the capacity to absorb, but also informed them proactively and agreed on a payment schedule.

4. Act with speed: In a pandemic, there are so many variables for a mar-

keter to contend with – your customer may not be able to open, or may even go out of business. Printo acted quickly in March 2020. We implemented several steps. Expansion Capex was stopped, hiring was frozen, increments were cancelled, marketing/discretionary expenses were stopped, and focused on receivables and conserving cash. All of this was done in 10 days by the Printo team during March 2020.

5. Be in touch with your customers: Stand first in the queue. Discuss

your cash flow and business directly with the customers. You need to tap your customer database to boost your odds of success in clearing dues.

Commercial print businesses will need to rethink and reinvent. The commercial print firms will need to ask “therefore, what?” Consider your industry and segment, and the trends affecting your market. Print firm CEOs need to work backwards and ask what customers want.

Conclusion: Print needs to create a unique and valuable business model.

Reinvent to stay relevant, if you want to save this industry. Get a reality check done by looking at the real numbers rather than a guesstimate. We all have strengths, so use them to act fast and move to where the money is going.

Manish Sharma, is the CEO and co-founder of Printo, which has 36 printing stores across six cities. He shared his views during the BMPA Impact webinar on 15 May 2021

Not everything on this planet is Photoshopped www.printweek.in

10 May 2021

Photo credit: Kinnari Ramanathan

7.33 pm. Kharvel village. 18 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 33

OBITUARY

It has been a deadly secondwave... Print in

IN MEMOR SUBHADRA SEN GUPTA Children’s writer

Subhadra Sen Gupta, author of more than 50 books for children and young adults, and winner of the 2014 Bal Sahita Puraskar, passed away from Covid-19 on 3 May 2021. She would have turned 69 in June.

In a Facebook post, her cousin Shuddhabrata Sengupta, artist and curator, Raqs Media Collective, wrote, “My cousin, Subhadra Sen Gupta, ‘Bul-di’ to all who knew her, beloved writer of historical fiction and history for children and young readers — who many waves of kids across India adored for how she made history come alive for them with her books — passed away last night due to Covid-19. She fought the disease bravely. Gone with her is her remarkable sense of how the past remains alive, as story, as history, as memory…”

From biographies of Indian kings such as Ashoka and Akbar to well-researched accounts of the freedom struggle in A Flag, A Song and A Pinch of Salt: Freedom Fighters of India (2007), Saffron, White and Green: The Amazing Story of India’s Independence (2008) to A Children’s History of India (2015), and, most recently, The Constitution of India for Children (2020), Sen Gupta’s books sparkled not just with a historian’s meticulous research but also with a storyteller’s unerring flair for atmosphere.

At the end of each of her

34 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

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books, Sen Gupta insisted on publishing her email id for readers who might want to get back to her with questions and opinions. “It’s important to let them ask questions, to hear them out… I meet children at schools, where I talk less and listen more.

In the last five years, I have sensed a confusion about history, and, also, human values…,” she had said in an interview.

JATINDER BIR SINGH Ek Print

Jatinder Bir Singh, the founder of Delhi-based Ek Print, a company specialising in designing, printing and corporate gifting solutions passed away from Covid-19 on 3 May 2021.

A well-known name in the commercial printing segment, since its establishment, Ek Print created a niche by using the latest technologies and methods for designing and printing quality products with precision, including business cards, letterheads, personalised blister coin cards among others.

Born on 18 February 1972, Jantinder Bir Singh, who was in the business of printing since 1998, established Ek Print in 2006.

Initiating the operations with a pool of designers and outsourcing the print work, Ek Print made humble but nifty investments to keep the business going. Then he invested in a plastic card printing machine and in-house binding

capabilities.

However, the company really found its niche when it started offering web-to-print services in 2012. Singh’s strategy was to use online presence to market its products offline. He was of the opinion that web-to-print should be looked upon as a marketing tool to support offline print business.

products across the globe Natarajan developed several products for the Indian market and won several Indian and international awards for his developments. He was a member of the governing body, Northern Regional Council, Indian Institute of Packaging and played an active role in the flexible packaging industry in India.

SIVA SHANKARAN NATARAJAN Ex-UFlex

SURESH KUMAR TechNova, Chennai

Siva Shankaran Natarajan, the former head of business development, packaging business, UFlex, passed away recently due to Covid-19. He was with UFlex for over eight years and had held several key positions in the flexible packaging industry for 23 years.

He left UFlex over a year ago.

A source at UFlex said, “Siva Shankaran Natarajan was a seasoned flexible packaging developer and marketeer, who helped in developing new products for bettering human life and providing better value to the brand owners. He had developed several new products in flexible packaging in India and had won several awards and recognitions.”

During his stint at UFlex, Natarajan and his team had developed Flexfresh, a shelf-life extension solution for fresh produce, and validated with successful results across diverse

Suresh Kumar, TechNova’s manager of territory sales, who operated out of Chennai, lost his battle to Covid-19.

Known for his technical prowess and his ability to effectively communicate with the operators and owners alike, 49-year-old Suresh was popular for the many seminars that he conducted in Tamil. He was responsible for 200 customers and five channel partners for TechNova.

Tributes were pouring in for Suresh from his TechNova colleagues where he spent 27 years of his 30-year-long career with Shreerang Sudhir Joshi, chief operating officer, channel sales, leading the way.

“Suresh was a TechNova man on the shop floor of most of the print companies in Chennai with a strong connection with operators as well as owners. He will be remembered by the print fraternity in Chennai for the value that he added by resolving the

www.printweek.in

nt industry pays tribute to the lost souls...

MEMORIAM issues with his technical ability clubbed with his helpful attitude,” said Joshi.

The Chennai print fraternity were shocked and tributes were also pouring in for Suresh on MPLA’s social media group.

The PrintWeek team remembers Suresh Kumar with fondness. His print lectures in Tamil for young technologists were priceless. We remember one tip he had for print firm CEOs which he shared with us, “Use what you have today.

However, think about tomorrow’s investments in a different way than you may have in the past. If you plan to acquire a new digital printer, make sure that printer/DFE investment complements or advances your automation journey. The biggest problem with our industry is, it tends to think about tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s mindset, he had said.”

SUBIR PAUL Manroland Goss Web Systems

Subir Paul, general manager, Manroland Goss Web Systems died on 28 April 2021. His wife had passed away two days before him. Both of them were Covid infected. They are survived by their daughter, Punyotoya.

Subir Paul was an alumnus of the Regional Institute of Printing Technology, Kolkata. After a seven-year stint at TechNova Imaging Systems, he joined Kodak

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India. In his 12-year journey with Kodak, he made Kodak’s CTP plates and systems a force to reckon with on the Indian subcontinent. His knowledge and experience about the newspaper industry made him a sought-after talent at The Printers House and Flint Group, prior to joining Manroland Goss.

Suhas Kulkarni, managing director technology at DKHS, said, “Subir Paul was a dear friend and an old colleague. He was with us as regional manager for North and East while in Kodak, where he had a long stint. He knew every printer and packaging converter in Kolkata, Delhi and even Punjab. He was an extremely jovial person. His ability to lead a team from the front is what I noticed as a peer.

One of the most customerfocussed business managers I have seen in the last 20 years, he would listen to the voice of the customer, loud and clear.”

Paul’s contribution to the industry was his ability to tap young persons and nurture them.

Other than his professional role, he has nurtured the alumni associations of print institutes.

S Swarnangka, who is an RIPT alumni, added, “Subir Paul didn’t create followers. Like a true leader, he created more leaders.

This doesn’t occur by happenstance. Subir Paul believed that creating leaders requires diligence and at least one decade.”

Arnab Maiti, general manager, South Asia, Esko, said, “I would not be what I am today (professionally) had it not been for the mentoring and coaching

by Subir early on. I was campusselected by him and then got the opportunity to work under his

leadership for six years in Kodak, the formative years of my career.

He was two personas in one soul, a demanding sales manager professionally and a caring big brother to youngsters and rookies like me. While we mourn his sad demise, Indian print fraternity lost a gem of a human being.”

AJITH JOSE Print Express Ajith Jose, proprietor of Print Express in Vennala, Ernakulam and a managing committee member at the Kerala Master Printers’ Association (KMPA) passed away at 12.30 pm on 27 April after a few days of illness.

He is survived by his wife Betsy and son Alan.

Jose has been an active and long standing member of KMPA. Few years ago, he had undergone surgery for a kidney ailment. He also battled Covid-19 recently.

However, the long term effects of the infection took a toll on his health before his passing away.

Mourning his death, D Manmohan Shenoy, president, KMPA said that Jose “had rendered selfless service to KMPA in various capacities including chairman of recreation committee, chairman of membership development committee, and member editorial board”.

People close to Jose said that he was outspoken and voiced his comments very openly. He was helpful in nature and always present for anybody with issues round the clock even ignoring his personal illness.

Expressing his grief, Rajesh G, managing partner at Rajsree Industrial Printer and vice president (central) and chairman for machinery committee at KMPA said, “It was real shocking news to hear our dear friend, Ajith Jose, is no more and has left us for heavenly abode. Still cannot believe it and accept the reality.

May the departed soul rest in eternal peace.”

SUNIL KADAM Manager of Poona Press Owners Association (PPOA) Sunil Kadam, 48, was associated with PPOA since the last 30 years as a manager. He died of Covid on 22 April 2021. He is survived by his wife and son.

Ravi Joshi, president, PPOA, said, “Sunil was totally engrossed with the print industry and printing associations across India. He served PPOA for 30 whole years and was very efficient in taking up each and every responsibility with a smiling face. He was the ambassador of our association and a true print Wikipedia.”

Joshi added, “He was the core strength and a diligent member of all the projects we handled.

Sunil Kadam was a part and parcel of each and every event of PPOA. Very enthusiastic personality, always ready to work. For our centenary programme, he poured his heart and soul into the project, and dedicated his entire time. PPOA will miss him a lot. It is an irreplaceable loss for the association.”

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FLEXO IN THE FAST LANE: CASE STUDY POWERED BY DUPONT

Abdos’ flexo adoption a customer-centric approach Abdos, established in 1967 in East India, is a diversified group of businesses, including lamitubes, life sciences, contract manufacturing, distribution and FMCG. Its lamitube business, which received a time-tested flexo process boost in 2019, is set to fortify Abdos’ growth which is built around customer satisfaction.

Noel D’Cunha talks to Bijay Agarwal and Siddhant Agarwal of Abdos

A

bdos’ journey began as a trading company in West Bengal’s Kolkata in 1967 by three brothers led by RG Agarwal. It started as a distributor of Tata Chemicals, and it is one of the key associations that still continue. “We believe the Tata Group is a key relationship for us, and that continues to be very important and close to the heart,” says Siddhant Agarwal, assistant vice president, Abdos.

Besides Siddhant, Bijay is also a part of the present Abdos Group management, comprising the second and third generation of Agarwal family, led by Kamal Agarwal. The Group has seven manufacturing plants in India, and one each in Nigeria and the UAE. Three of the seven plants in India are dedicated to packaging along with the two international sites.

In 2004, the Group began its multilayer laminated tube division in Guwahati, Assam, with a vision to produce cosmetic, oral care, pharmaceutical tubes for the Indian and overseas market. It then expanded and set up two more

plants, one in Roorkee in Uttarakhand and another in Tinsukia, Assam.

Move to printing

Between 2004 and 2008, Abdos manufactured only tubes and outsourced its print requirements.

“We were both diversified and integrated with most of our operations being in one place, except for printing, which remained ‘work-inprogress’ for us till we brought the operation inhouse,” says Siddhant, who manages the marketing side of Abdos Group.

In 2008, Abdos decided to bring printing inhouse. The Group installed two Taiyo letterpress printing machines and in the next two years set up a conventional plate processing unit. “By moving printing and platemaking in-house, we became more efficient, we reduced costs, we could provide better service for our customers,” explains Siddhant. “As soon as we brought both printing and platemaking in-house, we were ahead of production all the time,” says Bijay,

Bijay Agarwal

Siddhant Agarwal Abdos’ plant in Guwahati, Assam, which houses the flexo pre-press and printing equipment 36 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

10 May 2021

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Director of Abdos Lamitubes, who manages the technical and production side.

Abdos’ tubing plants are close to its customers. “When you are moving empty tubes, you’re transporting air, hence the logistic cost for handling the product becomes challenging. You cannot think of catering to someone in Ahmedabad from Guwahati. You have to be close to the customer as much as possible,” says Siddhant.

In 2018, the Group ordered a nine-colour Nilpeter FA430 flexo press, and at the Labelexpo India 2018, it also signed a deal for Esko CDI Spark 2530 and DuPont Cyrel Fast 2000 TD thermal processor, to become the first tube manufacturing group in East India to install digital thermal flexo platemaking and venture into flexo printing for lamitubes.

The changing Indian market

Siddhant explains that the tube printing business usually sees long runs. For Abdos, who caters to oral care, cosmetics and pharma industries mainly, more than 60% of their jobs are long run. The rest would be medium- or short-run. “There is a growing visible move of millennials choosing a more aesthetically packaged product off the shelf over an established brand. For certain products there is a value in tubes which are more decorative, though they are short runs, they’re more profitable and this is a growing market space.”

He cites the examples of a pharma company and men’s grooming brand, which have brought in tighter packaging with aesthetic appeal and are able to capture a bigger share of the market. This has been one of the reasons why Abdos invested in flexo which added foiling and screen-printing capabilities to their offering.

The all-encompassing flexo

Abdos caters to top brands like Unilever, Godrej, Himalaya, Emami, Dabur and Mankind, among others in India.

According to Siddhant, printing is just a part of the end-product it manufactures. “For us, the key customers are brand owners who have a very clear way of handling a product and the design, because they have international standards that they need to adhere to, and they have their own design teams. Through our R&D and pre-press teams’ expertise, we connect the two, to find solutions.”

So, when Abdos introduced printing into its manufacturing process, the letterpress installed gave fairly limited print options. The Group’s vision from the day it opened its door to flexo was to make its products even better and faster – which flexo helped them achieve.

“We considered the growing needs of our customers and looked around for a technology which would ensure high print quality,” said Bijay. www.printweek.in

“The changing Indian market scenario and the consumer choices were driving our customers’ requirements for both the appearance and composition. Plus, there’s the quality checking process and potential print deviations,” Bijay adds. “That’s when we decided to go with the best, and after doing a thorough analysis of the market, we zeroed in on Nilpeter, Martin Automatic, Esko and DuPont.”

The DuPont edge

While the flexo press has given it print flexibility in terms of speed, runs and quality and the AVT locates defects, it’s the pre-press and the DuPont Cyrel Fast plates which have enabled Abdos to eliminate defects, produce faster and maintain a high print quality very consistently.

Abdos uses Cyrel Fast EFX thermal plates with built-in flat top dot which is compatible with the inks it uses. “The conventional plates exposed from films, used to get damaged faster, attract dust which resulted in stoppages of machines. Not only has the minimum dot we hold on the digital thermal plate gone to 1% as compared to 3% on conventional; even the mileage we get with the thermal plates is substantially higher,” says Bijay. “Our customers are delighted with the halftones we produce as well as the clarity of the line-work, which are all visible,” he adds.

Besides, moving to DuPont Cyrel Fast solvent-

free thermal workflow has had a positive impact on the environment from Abdos’ point of view.

When the Group brought in the conventional platemaking system it had to build a proper infrastructure to treat the effluent to produce plates.

Siddhant says, “Now with the thermal processing system, we’ve reduced the impact on the environment drastically without investing in additional infrastructure.”

Bijay adds, “Our association with DuPont has been extremely satisfying. Any rare issues get immediately addressed. Supply has been always prompt and the thermal workflow performance has enhanced our entire flexo experience.”

“We want to be associated with a company that keeps on bringing new innovations so that we keep on upgrading with our partners. That was another reason why we chose DuPont.” says Siddhant.

Abdos and sustainability

Abdos has set objectives for its manufacturing processes to ensure safety and meet sustainability norms. They are ISO 9001:2008, BRC and Sedex certified. Abdos has established clear SOPs to manage printed waste.

“We have tied up with a local business that can convert this waste into reusable products such as building blocks and tiles among others,” concludes Siddhant Agarwal.n

ABDOS FACT FILE Established in 1967 Group businesses Lamitubes, life sciences, contract manufacturing, distribution and FMCG Lamitube business established in 2004 Tube manufacturing plant locations Guwahati, Roorkee and Tinsukia in India, and one each in Nigeria and UAE Total area 2-lakh sqft – all the three packaging plants put together Specialilty Cosmetic, oral care, skin care, pharmaceutical tubes Equipment Nilpeter FA 430 flexo press, Esko CDI Spark 2530 and DuPont Cyrel Fast 2000 TD thermal processor Production capacity 1.4-billion tubes Employees 800 employees

DuPont’s Take “As a widely diversified group, Abdos has multiple industry touchpoints. They are very well informed about the macro environment influencing business and make decisions to meet future needs. A testimonial to this is their investment in flexo printing and the DuPont Cyrel FAST technology has been an immediate success in meeting their company vision of customer satisfaction while sustainably growing the business.”

DuPont Cyrel Fast 2000 TD plate processor 10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 37

INDORE PRINT SECTOR ATHARVA PACKAGING

Print in Indore fears the pandemic aftermath In Indore most of the press owners and employees have contracted Covid-19.

The second wave has made things worse, says Swadesh Sharma of Atharva Packaging in Indore. The vaccine drive maybe a light at the end of the tunnel, but 2021 could be worse than 2020, Sharma tells Noel D’Cunha Noel D’Cunha (NMD): How have the past 12 months been in Indore?

Swadesh Sharma (SS): Not different from the rest of India. Post the lockdown last year, except for the packaging units, all commercial and publishing units were shut for two to three months. Even after re-opening, most firms have been operating at one-third capacity as compared to before.

NMD: You shared a press statement with PrintWeek in which you say, “We, the printers, are facing an uncertain market behaviour regarding the pricing of raw materials. This started in October 2020.

Today, not only the price but even the availability of paper and board is a huge challenge”. What was the response?

SS: The turmoil continues, if it hasn’t gone bad already. Recently the cost of UV varnishes got increased by 55-60 %. After a statement in PrintWeek, we hosted a press conference and released a presentation from the association regarding the price hikes to inform and spread awareness to our customers. This 38 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

10 May 2021

Atharva’s plant in Indore houses offset and flexo printing processes, and converting machines

helped us to get approval for the price hike of our products.

NMD: What is the situation now – due to the second wave of Covid-19?

SS: In Indore, most of the press owners and employees have contracted Covid-19.

This has made things worse. The resurgence of print looks tough. Regarding the business scenario, 2021 is going to be more challenging due to the uncertain market behaviour and lockdown in various cities. The fear factor always works negatively in business as it affects the demand.

NMD: Under the circumstances, will firms

in Indore invest more in technology – like workflow and finishing kit – and do away with dependence on people’s availability on their printing shop-floor?

SS: The new generation joining the

business is emphasising technology upgradation at all stages. However, at present, everyone is worried about the existence and survival of their businesses.

NMD: What was the financial impact of the pandemic on the Pithampur (SEZ) industrial city?

SS: Financial impact of the pandemic in Pithampur is negative in some sectors but better in other sectors like pharma and FMCG. NMD: Moving away from Indore, what are the trends you are picking up from fellow printers in other centres of Madhya Pradesh?

SS: Worse than the impact on Indore, as most of these centres have either publishing printers or commercial printers. www.printweek.in

NMD: Grim.

SS: Yes. NMD: A bigger question, then. Are we

moving too slowly - as compared to the other industries? Is the B2B nature of the print business a challenge?

SS: Not just B2B but it is the sheer nature of the printing and packaging business that poses a challenge. Although the print industry is among the top five sectors in terms of employment generation and cumulative turnover, it can’t grow beyond a certain limit. It has a straight-line growth.

NMD: Is this straight-line growth the reason why we don’t find many print companies listed on BSE/NSE? SS: Yes. I get to see very few companies of our industry listed. Further, our industry doesn’t have any exit option because it can’t create a brand. It can only print for the brands and that’s the bitter truth.

NMD: Which print segments will see a boom in Indore? Where do you see growth?

SS: Mainly flexible packaging will see growth here; then corrugation and finally printing and packaging. Indore is the second largest manufacturer in confectionery in India. In Pithampur (SEZ) packaging manufacturers catering to pharmaceutical companies had begun their production during the lockdown.

NMD: A word about your factory for our readers?

SS: We manufacture mono cartons and three-ply printed boxes. We had started in November 2003 in a rented shed with an investment of Rs 35-lakh, of which Rs 25-lakh were from a bank under the credit guarantee fund scheme.

NMD: Later you shifted to Sanwer Road

Industrial Area…

SS: Yes, in December 2006 and into our own premises. And then in 2008, we invested in a new four-colour Ryobi 754, a CTP machine, and new post-press machinery for perfect binding and folding which eventually led to a Bobst Ambition pasting machine in 2010-11.

NMD: That is when you suffered a setback…

SS: 2011 to 2014 were tough years for us.

We had a setback of Rs 1.14-cr due to the rupee depreciation against the Japanese Yen (JPY). It was only with the help and www.printweek.in

support of our suppliers, bank, customers, and the hard work and confidence of our team that we came back strongly and made another investment in a Heidelberg CD102 and Bobst automatic die-cutting machine in 2017.

NMD: A great comeback. And now, Atharva Packaging is producing labels as well…

SS: In January 2021 we diversified our portfolio and installed an eight-colour flexography machine Ultraflex 450 and entered into the label industry. Plus, my son Shravan joined this unit in 2020 after completing his CA. NMD: You started off with one machine

and five persons? Do you remember your early days?

SS: Yes always, those were the challenging days, and I have learnt a lot, and I feel proud that all of the first five team members are still with me. In the beginning, we hardly had any work. One to two hours daily and that too job work of some mediators. Slowly and gradually we got orders and within six months we were able to operate 10-12 hours a day.

NMD: What was the Indore market like in

those days? Any memories?

SS: There were few of us in the market, having old machinery; mainly from Solna.

It was preferred due to its lesser cost but after 2006 many units opened up with better machines and more investments.

NMD: Describe the team structure in the factory located at Sanwer Road Industrial Area?

SS: We are a team of hundred, of which 15 form a core team, who are departmental head and executives, while the rest are skilled operators and helpers.

NMD: Can you suggest a few initiatives taken by you in the past 25 years to serve your customer better …

SS: We have a dedicated marketing manager for each customer for their timely support. Also, we have adopted and implemented good manufacturing practices (GMP) in our processes to give the desired quality jobs to our customers.

We have also been quick to adopt new technology and ensure the required quality for the packaging needs of our customer’s export market.

NMD: What is wish list for Atharva in 2030? For example, operational efficiencies, fewer SKUs and less waste…

10

QUESTIONS WITH SWADESH SHARMA How do you unwind? Enjoy nature. Mostly, at my farm.

One activity you love? To accept challenges.

Favourite films? I simply loved Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year.

Once the pandemic is over, where will you vacation to?

Valley of Flowers National Park near Hemkund Sahib gurudwara in Uttarakhand.

Favourite snack? Indori poha.

Favourite book? How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.

A city in MP (other than Indore) which is a must-see?

I would say Kanha National Park. It is one of the tiger reserves of India.

One thing about Indore no one knows? People are very supportive.

One print factory in Indore other than Atharva that you love? Vijayshri Packaging.

Who is on your speed dial?

My better half, Mamta.

SS: Atharva in 2030 would be with the

latest technology in machines, procedures and customer-related management (CRM), with a brand new state-of-the-art infrastructure to cater to various MNCs in the pharma as well as the FMCG sector.

Atharva shall be known as the “one-point source” of all kinds of packaging needs.

NMD: One print job you love.

SS: It was the job we got when I was

travelling from Mumbai to Ahmedabad by train and I got a call from a print buyer at 11pm who wanted the job to be delivered to Bhopal the next day before 9 am. My team members, all of them including the CTP operator, who were back home after the day’s work, returned to the factory, completed the job overnight and delivered the job at 8.45 am.

NMD: Wonderful.

SS: Yes. It’s because of we built with such

jobs that we are reaping the benefits, today.n 10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 39

INDORE PRINT SECTOR VIJAYSHRI PACKAGING

Vijayshri creates an architect In a quick conversation with Noel D’Cunha, Pritesh Jain of Vijayshri Packaging reveals how infrastructural investments done in 2016 laid a foundation to tackle the challenging months of 2020 NOEL D’CUNHA (NMD): Last month, the Indore Master Printers Association (IMPA) printed a booklet, Fact N Figures which highlighted the impact of raw materials price hike. What is the latest on the price front?

PRITESH JAIN (PJ): The price hike has

been ruthless and easily the most aggressive I have seen in my 30-year career. Shortage of pulp and waste paper created this situation worldwide. The prices are currently inflated around 30-50% in different variants as compared to November 2020. However, the prices for UV varnishes, adhesives and other chemicals are still rising sharply.

Pritesh Jain of Vijayshri Packaging

NMD: You have been quite vocal about the rising prices. How successful has IMPA been with its customer representation? How have print buyers responded?

PJ: I firmly believe that one should be

completely transparent with their customers about the prices of raw and finished goods. This makes the relationship stronger. The IMPA initiative of printing a booklet has been welcomed by all customers and many have readily agreed to share the burden with their printing partners.

NMD: The past 12 months have been challenging for businesses in Indore.

How have the IMPA members coped?

PJ: The Covid-19 lockdown of 2020 will

forever be remembered for a variety of reasons.

Within our industry, while many businesses suffered; many flourished.

Survival always depends on how fast you can change to the market demand. Many

40 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

10 May 2021

Vijayshri Packaging’s 2,00,000-sqft plant in Indore and the new logo (in inset) www.printweek.in

ecture for packaging growth commercial printers have now started offering packaging services as well to cope with the times.

NMD: Will new business and opportunities emerge post-coronavirus crisis?

PJ: Definitely, India will continue to grow

in terms of volumes and spending power of the average consumer. This is probably our biggest opportunity –a growing market, which provides enough opportunities to satisfy all suppliers.

NMD: VijayshriPackaging re-branded its logo. Why so?

PJ: 2021 marks 30 years of our existence.

Our old logo was special and very dear to us. It represented the company’s prowess as a four-colour printing company. While that was of great importance in the 90’s; it is not so today. The new logo is more corporate in feel and sets the tone of a growth story for Vijayshri in this new decade.

NMD: Any revamping of Vijayshri’s manufacturing strategy because of the Covid-19 crisis?

PJ: We are proud of the future-ready

manufacturing infrastructure we created

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in 2016. It included a positive pressured air circulation system, clean and open spaces, hygienic cafeteria and in-house accommodation of more than 25% of the workforce. Hence we were able to take on this additional challenge in 2020, without breaking a sweat.

NMD: Vijayshri has plans to get certified for pharmaceutical and food packaging standards…

PJ: Yes. We are already certified for

ISO9001:2015 (QMS) and ISO14001:2015 (EMS).

Our current floor area is 1.8-lakh-sqft excluding the 12,000 sqft of office area.

Our new unit has a floor area of 70,000 sqft. We have plans to get certified for BRC/IoP: global food packaging standard and PS9000: pharmaceutical packaging standard.

NMD: How have you kept the workplace morale up during the pandemic?

PJ: By personally coming to the factory

every single day and supporting people when they are most vulnerable.

Fortunately, we were able to rejig our team and give them new roles. This kept them busy and made them feel renewed with a new energy.

NMD: How is business at the moment for Vijayshri and for the Indore sector?

PJ: Business was good until the second

wave hit the country. Now coupled with the sharp increase in raw material prices the demand has fallen flat.

RR: What are the operational things that Vijayshri will be focussing on in 2021-22?

PJ: We are focusing on three important

things – automation, ergonomics and systems. This year will mark the inauguration of our second unit with focus on value-added corrugated products. The cornerstone of this expansion is a brand new six-colour UV press to be installed by May 2021. A new corrugation line, flute laminators, two die-cutting machines and a folder gluer will round off this investment.

NMD: One lesson you learnt the hard way during the past 12 months ...

PJ: A stitch in time; saves nine. Before

investing in capital equipment, understand its capability and assess how useful it will be for you. It’s wise to not blindly follow any brand name and its marketing strategies. And lastly, never invest without testimonials and references from people you know.n

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 41

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TECHNOMEC

PROFILE

XIII

PROFILE CORRUCASE

For CorruCase, Corru was its pandemic pi

When hospitals were filling up at an unprecedented pace, the corrugation specialist responded to medical beds by producing corrugated beds, Ayush Khetan, director at Khetan Corru Case (CorruCas Noel D’Cunha (NMD): In the initial days of the pandemic, unprecedented had become commonplace, and many industries made a massive pivot in a bid to respond to the escalating situation. What did you do?

Ayush Khetan (AK): We did what we are doing now in view of the massive surge of Covid cases in the second wave since April 2021.

The non-essential product brands and companies, apart from eCommerce and packaged foods, started to see a sudden drop in their demand and also with cases rising, some plants started to shut down due to manpower issue. There was a sudden shortage of beds across India. We started the production of our CorruBeds again as we did during the first lockdown last year.

But this time, the crisis is huge and the daily cases are sharply rising. And our CorruBeds was a frugal solution for the situation, so we made more than 3,000 beds in the last 10 days of April.

NMD: A whiff of hope in the cruel times...

AK: Yes, it came in the form of demand for

beds for hospitals looking after the Covid19 patients. While metal beds would take longer to fabricate, a corrugated bed could be quickly produced. It can be set up without much fuss as it does not require screws to assemble. It is cost-effective and strong, and can be dismantled and disposed of as quickly as it can be assembled.

NMD: Did you produce anything similar before?

AK: While in the past, we had developed

some non-packaging related products using the technology at our disposal, the development of CorruBeds has been the most exciting for us.

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NMD: Was CorruBeds your classic example of Covid-crisis innovation?

AK: We designed a disposable corrugated

bed made from high strength corrugated cardboard with a special coating to make it water-resistant. We had actually tried our hand earlier by making few products through the corrugated board (bed/ temple/ table) for internal use, but the pandemic actually was the right time for such a product because of its rapid scalability in production.

NMD: How many?

AK: CorruCase produced around 1,500

beds per day, shipping 500 flat-packed beds in a 32-ft sized container.

NMD: The second wave of Covid-19 is hitting us even harder...

AK: During the last few days (the second

wave of Covid-19), we have shipped around 2,000 beds and with bed crisis in our country and now the virus reaching villages, CorruBeds is a great solution and is the need of the hour. Last year we donated a few hundred beds and also supplied to some government hospitals and other organisations at cost value.

NMD: When the lockdown came, the earth shifted for many in the print industry.

How was it for you?

AK: The pandemic’s initial months were

very bad, as we mostly catered to nonessential category products, which used our offset printed boxes.

NMD: How bad?

AK: At CorruCase, we saw a 40%-50%

drop in April-June 2020, as we majorly catered to non-essential categories. It started stabilising in the subsequent months, but is still 30% down compared to the pre-Covid levels. For the past two

months with stricter norms and restrictions in place, the drop in the volumes is back to Covid-19 times.

NMD: CorruCase is managed by a gen-next like you with a plant in Hyderabad. What are the other things about your company?

AK: We are a Mumbai-headquartered

company with our plant in Hyderabad (both fully automatic 5-ply corrugated plant and 3-ply and 5-ply litho-laminated boxes) and we have our press in Navi Mumbai where we have the Roland Ultra presses, converting and finishing equipment. We are into offset printed box (mono cartons but fluted) as well.

NMD: Why did you go to Hyderabad?

AK: Going back, we started off in

Hyderabad in 2009 under the name Khetan Containers. Now, to why Hyderabad... one of our clients was looking for a partner who could provide them with good quality boxes and most importantly service. It had to be close to their plant in Hyderabad.

NMD: Did the formation of Telangana help?

AK: The formation of the new state –

Telangana – set off growth at an unprecedented pace, with many companies setting up their new facilities.

The state government of Telangana is very cooperative and supportive. It is now South India’s gateway and its geographical location is an added advantage. In 2016, we set up a fully automatic 5-ply plant, which became operational in 2017.

NMD: Apart from corrugation boxes and mono cartons, what all is CorruCase into?

AK: We also print banners (LD foam) for

few clients on the offset press.

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ruBeds pivot

nded to the growing need for CorruCase) tells Noel D’Cunha NMD: What all do you do in terms of application?

AK: In mono cartons, we cater to bigger

boxes or outer cartons used for shelf displays or for categories such as electronics and tiles, where the packaging appeal of secondary packaging’s printing also plays a role in its marketing. We don’t cater much to primary packaging. We have the option for finishing such as aqua varnish, UV and lamination.

NMD: You have a raft of equipment both in the post-print flexo, offset, corrugation line as well as converting. Before you ink an equipment buying contract, what helps you make up your mind?

AK: The most important aspect for us is

the after-sales service and the vendor’s engineering team’s strength and capability to timely resolve issues. Obviously, the capability and the technology of the equipment also affect the buying decisions, but we don’t just go for the brand or the number of features. We focus more on the reliability aspect and longevity of the equipment as well.

NMD: Producing corrugated boxes is about printing on different substrates. What varieties of substrate do customers demand?

AK: We print different substrates such as

coated duplex (offset), uncoated duplex (flexo), white kraft liner (WKL), and white top testliner (WKTL).

Customers who are focused on-shelf display choose a coated duplex with offset prints and probably with some varnish coat or lamination, but majorly in the edible oil or dairy products, the demand for WKL is more because of the required CS parameters and volumes (cost sensitivity comes into play, so lightweight comes in). www.printweek.in

Ayush Khetan (right) and his father, Ashok Khetan, form the CorruCase management team 10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 47

PROFILE CORRUCASE NMD: What level of automation do you deploy at your plants?

AK: In terms of equipment automation, we

always look forward to it. We are a team of young motivated individuals trying to disrupt with innovation in our conventional industry of corrugated packaging. This may be through the use of ERP (Finsys) for our day-to-day entries through a handheld device (such as a tablet/ mobile), incorporation of barcodes for tagging and tracking, use of solar (80% of power requirement) and other greener sources of energy (brickets for heating and LED lights).

We are now focused on shifting towards flexo (high-graphic flexo) post-print and exploring options for investing in a highend machine, as the trend and demand of client and shorter job runs make it a better option.

NMD: What’s special in your pre-press?

AK: We have a Basysprint platesetter and a

Bora heavy-duty processor from UK. We think these are top-notch kit, which can fire 2,400dpi thermal dots.

NMD: What about your press and postpress?

AK: The facility in Navi Mumbai is

equipped with three four-colour Roland offset machines, one 40x56-inch size press and two 44x64-inch presses. These extensive ranges of machines give us the versatility to serve all our customers’ needs – a press for every purpose.

We also offer a range of post-press services to enhance the value of the printed material right from varnishing, lamination and eyeleting, enabling us to meet the print finishing needs of our diverse customer base.

NMD: Do you liaise with your clients?

AK: To make our customers’ final product

more effective, our executives’ advice clients on the quality of paper (substrate)

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10 May 2021

Khetan and his team at the CorruCase plant in Hyderabad

to be used and the kind of printing to be undertaken. In short, they guide you through the entire process.

NMD: How do you handle different MOQs small, medium and big? Have you invested in digital print? Are you thinking in that direction?

AK: Yes, there has been a considerable

shorter run demands from the clients and number of items/SKU per brand or the client is also increasing.

Currently, in offset printing, we try to go for a minimum job of 5,000 sheets, but as the runs are getting shorter, we are trying to explore shifting of jobs to post-press flexo, which we are planning to invest in soon.

NMD: What’s the break-up of your production?

AK: We are into shipper or CFC or

secondary packaging – corrugated flute

cartons. 80% is flexo (post-print flexo) and around 20% is pre-printed offset litho laminated boxes. In the offset printed box, there is around 30% with UV varnish or special effect and around 5% with lamination.

NMD: The biggest challenge during the pandemic months was the people, as many were exiting the cities. How did CorruCase cope?

AK: Lockdown created a lot of panic. No

one had seen such a thing before. Many migrants lost their livelihood and started to leave because they had no option. This mass exodus, however, created fear, anxiety and panic among the workforce of the corrugated industry as well, which was allowed to function.

NMD: Did your workers exit, too?

AK: No. Fortunately, our team showed

courage and resilience and didn’t panic. A

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few did leave, I would say around 5% of our total workforce of 60, which includes contract employees. But others were committed to our company and so were we.

NMD: What measures did you take?

AK: On our part, we took complete care of

their safety and until complete unlock happened and few more months after that – for around six months – we provided them on-site accommodation, meals and toiletries. Basically, all the things required for daily necessity were provided and also sanitisation was maintained.

NMD: So much was happening with the paper prices...

AK: Yes, both the duplex paper and kraft

paper prices had gone up exorbitantly by 40%-50% in duplex and almost more than 70% rise in kraft.

NMD: You are in the business of manufacturing and supplying packaging (corrugated boxes), which is not a product business, but a service providing business...

AK: Packaging is a commodity now and we

have always differentiated ourselves through our service. During the initial days of lockdown or the first wave, we kept our operations open and even during the price rise phase from December 2020 till March 2021, we supported all our clients.

With a few new clients with amicable pricing, we helped our clients sustain their operations.

Our clients were kept in the loop with proper data sharing from our end, which eventually helped in sharing the load. But yes, it has impacted the bottom line. I guess it’s the case across the packaging industry, as the majority of the units being MSMEs, the price rise has impacted the working capital limits adversely and also the bottom line.

As far as we are concerned, we have a very strong and old relation with our

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clients and our clients were well aware.

AYUSH KHETAN - AT A GLANCE

NMD: How do you handle waste in the world of sustainability?

AK: We try to follow what we call as SPP

(sustainable production practices), such as treating washed ink water and waste ink water and recycling the same for our on-site gardening, or use of agro waste brickets for our heating, and using 80% solar power to meet the power requirements of our Hyderabad factory.

NMD: Can you share a few initiatives you have taken in the past 10 years to serve your customer better?

AK: We have been providing our clients

with just-in-time service for up to 1,000km radius from our manufacturing facility. We have our own transport/ logistics to give round-the-clock support to our clients. With business model engineering, we are trying to sustain the logistics cost and provide our clients with the most economical packaging solutions by keeping logistics costs to a minimum.

We are not only a converter, but alsofunction as a partner for the supply chain for our clients, be it throughlogistics support or going ahead and helping them optimise the carton designstructure through light-weighting and thus help them save cost while sustainingthe required strength parameters for the packaging.

NMD: And finally – Awards?

AK: Well, we have been recently

nominated to the World Corrugated Awards 2021 in two categories. The first being the Environmentally-friendly category for our sustainable production practices. The second is for Humanitarian Company category for developing and providing CorruBeds at the time of need during this pandemic.

How did you unwind during the pandemic?

The pandemic gave us more time to be at home. So I did get time to catch up on some series online or go cycling.

One phrase you heard during the pandemic months.

Let’s have zoom call, doh gajj ki duri, mask hai zaroori, no scrap collection, and OCC prices increased again.

Which film or web series did you watch?

There are quite a lot across the platforms – The Shark Tank, The Founder, Upstarts, Suits, Tandav, Scam 1992, the list goes on.

Once the pandemic is over, where will you vacation to?

Europe.

Favourite snack.

Pizza or Indian street food.

Your adda in your city?

During the last pandemic year it was my home.

One historical thing about the city you live in no one knows.

It’s the place where the first passenger train ran in India started from Thane to Mumbai (Bombay, Boribunder).

One print job you love.

Actually it’s not a print job as such, but our innovative disposable bed – CorruBeds.

NMD: Wishing you the best.n

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 49

PROFILE ECONOVOUS PACKAGING

Econovous and the art of sustainable packaging Pune-based packaging engineering company facilitates reduction in carbon footprint for the automotive industry through clever and green packaging solutions. Nilesh Wadhwa finds out how Econovous Packaging is working with OEMs and suppliers to enable up to 93% reduction in their packaging carbon footprint.

T

he word ‘sustainability’ has become a very common topic of discussion among industries alike. In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” No wonder, leading responsible organisations are looking at newer ways of becoming more and more sustainable. In the automotive sector, while many see OEMs focusing on reduction in tailpipe emissions, there is a lot of other factors being addressed behind the scenes, be it using clean energy to power factories, rainwater harvesting or even sustainable packaging.

While a lot has changed and improved

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in other areas, there is still a long way to go in the packaging industry and Puneheadquartered Econovous Packaging aims to be a leading partner to enable automotive industry to switch to green packaging and further reduce their carbon footprint.

“Organisation vision with clear KRAs (Key Result Area) and policy deployment need to be spelled out with vision statement by top management ‘To achieve carbon neutrality by year . . . ’. There is a long-drawn process for reducing carbon footprint based on sustainability report looking at entire supply chain. Packaging is one of the contributors for carbon emission and challenges we have is lack of awareness and willingness among the customer to change from traditional way of packaging to green packaging.

PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY IN A MADE-IN-INDIA BOX ACMA estimates that made-in-India component export value is estimated to reach $80 billion by FY2025-26.

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Most exported made-in-India components include gearbox, engine, drive axles, suspension system, transmission, braking system, hydraulic system, wheels and BIW parts.

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Econovous enables around 93% reduction in packaging carbon footprint and up to 15% saving in packaging cost.

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Despite being a young company, it counts Mahindra & Mahindra, Kubolta JLR, and Tier 1 suppliers among its customers.

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The company has co-designed and co-innovated palletless packaging, which is 100% eco-friendly by completely replacing use of wood.

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www.printweek.in

Validation and lead time of changed packaging with reference to laboratory and RWUP testing (Real world usage pattern testing) especially for export is also delaying in implementation. I believe most of the automotive companies have already initiated to work in this direction, but this needs to be relayed down to Tier-1 and Tier-2 companies and challenges remains here. Green initiative should be one of the criteria for supplier selection and training and awareness to provide to existing suppliers,” explains Ramesh Prasad, founder and MD, Econovus Packaging.

Econovus is a packaging engineering company and said to be among the fastest growing packaging company in India in the automotive and industrial space. The company enables 93 percent reduction in carbon footprint based on replacement of wooden packaging with eco-friendly lighter material. It is targeting to reach www.printweek.in

100 percent by replacement of wooden pallet with its innovative ‘ESP Pallet’. The solution also enables reduction in cost up to 15 percent through its unique engineering approach working in 3D environment to ensure best box optimisation and container optimization using its inhouse state-of-art laboratory for raw material testing and final Compression testing.

“Further, we have established 10 Step ENPDP (Econovus New Product Development process) to ensure FTR (First Time Right) product,” explains Prasad.

Reduction in packaging cost

As a manufacturing powerhouse, India is the world’s fourth largest automobile manufacturer and also one of the key exporters both in terms of vehicles as well as parts. In terms of key products, the most exported made-in-India automotive

Right: Logistics and packaging cost play a key role in the decision making for export viability. There is an urgent growing need for cost-effective, sustainable packaging solutions that ensure that the parts arrive at the end destination fully intact and damage-free.

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 51

ECONOVOUS PACKAGING PROFILE INTERVIEW

RAMESH PRASAD, FOUNDER & MD, ECONOVUS PACKAGING What are the various products and business models you offer for automotive?

Expendable packaging especially for export, returnable packaging-rental model for domestic clients, design and engineering services and onsite services.Other business models we provide is onestop packaging solutions and complete management of CKD operations at customer’s site.

Who are your key automotive clients in India?

Mahindra & Mahindra, Kubota JLR and Tier-1, GM Tier-1, Stellantis Tier-1, Vinfast Tier-1. We are also closely working with other automotive MNCs.

‘We are in talks with OEMs for technology-based returnable packaging and management of CKD operations.’

What volumes does Econovus Packaging typically do in a month?

Currently we are doing $0.2 million (Rs 1.5 crore) per month and have a robust plan for expansion and consolidating revenue growth in coming months.

What is the average amount of goods impacted

The company established a 10-step ENPDP (Econovus New Product Development process) to ensure FTR (First Time Right) product.

components include gearbox, engine, drive axles, suspension system, transmission, braking system, hydraulic system, wheels and BIW (Body in White) parts.

The annual expenditure of Indian automotive parts’ export packaging is estimated to be more than Rs 7,500 crore a year. Prasad says there is a “huge potential and scalability of export packaging as export business of automotive component expected to reach $80 billion (Rs 592,080 crore) by FY2025-26 according to ACMA. Suppliers can reduce packaging cost based on our unique engineering ‘Design to Cost’ approach and cherry-pick the right eco-friendly material. Co-design and co-innovation are key factors to meet customer expectations.” www.printweek.in

during transit in the automotive industry?

Honestly, I don’t have the data to be backed up but based on experience and interfacing with various automotive companies and logistics companies around 0.5% for export and approximately 2-3 percent for domestic transit impacted in automotive industry.

What are the new products/services you are looking to offer?

All our new offerings will remain be in line with our product strategies i.e. – sustainable, innovative and cost effective. Palletless packaging, which is 100 percent eco-friendly for complete replacement of wood, is the product we will be working closely with customers as a part of co-design and co-innovate approach. This product we would be working extensively for export packaging. Technology-based returnable packaging and management of CKD operations for customers are our two services where we are discussing with automotive OEMs.

The automotive supply chain works in an immense complex environment and finding the right balance of functionality and sustainability becomes an overarching challenge. “The continued focus on green supply chain and carbon neutrality, the role of packaging becomes utmost critical and challenging. Usage of sustainable packaging contributes for the reduction of carbon footprint by replacement of wooden and plastic material by alternate green material. Further, ensuring chain of custody and identifying areas within the company to reduce carbon footprint, based on carbon lifecycle assessment (LCA) and sustainability reports. The purpose of reducing the carbon footprint is to offset the existing emissions to support automotive companies’ plants carbon-neutral,” explains Prasad.

Reducing the carbon footprint

As is the case, digitalisation plays a key role in almost all industries, and the packaging industry is no different. Prasad says digital packaging has a huge role not only in box and container optimisation but overall management of container operations especially in the automotive CKD operations. Smart or clever packaging solutions is the right usage of technology and packaging skills resulting to increased efficiency and ‘Pokayoke’, which is also called mistake proofing.

Some of technology used is software design, simulation for optimisation and

Bar code, QR code, BLE technology for material tracking and inventory management.

Econovous also uses pallet-less packaging and paper pallet as some of the sustainable product where it completely replaces wood. “This not only reduces carbon but also reduces packaging and freight cost due to reduction in 40 percent weight. This is how we differentiates ourself from traditional packaging and other competitors. The wooden pallets after its use cannot be recycled and ends as landfills, were as ESP pallets can recycled reducing the burden on environment. The utilisation of ESP pallet of standard Euro size of 1200 x 800 x 150mm enables a carbon footprint reduction of upto 90.35 percent,” mentions Prasad.

With sustainability no longer being just a buzzword, Econovus aims to be a leading partner of choice for OEMs and suppliers looking to shed the kilo as well as reduce carbon footprint in their packaging solution. n

Nilesh Wadhwa is Correspondent at Autocar Professional 10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 53

PROFILE ESSCEE ENTERPRISES

EssCee Enterprises: The packa The firm started with a single machine and has now mastered the art of investing in new and proven technology that is future proof. A story of practice, patience and persistence. Words: Abhishek Muralidharan

1999

. EssCee Enterprises was born. The choice of kit was interesting. A second hand lamination machine for job works. “That was how we began our first day at the company,” says K R Chandrashekhar, Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) who along with BV Shashidhar, a Diploma Holder in Printing Technology, are the two partners in this firm.

The two share a cordial relationship and have innumerable interactive sessions before making decisions. Shashidhar looks into production, planning and marketing; while Chandrashekhar takes care of administration, accounts and other projects.

Both were employees at Geetanjali Graphics in Bangalore, now Bengaluru.

Together they built the firm gradually by acquiring various machines over a period of time by planning the technology strategy for pre-press, pressroom and post-press as per their customer needs.

Assembling the dream machinery

If the success of a company is to be measured by its production capacity then consider this: keeping in mind the average of different sized cartons, with printing resources available 24x7, EssCee has a conversion capacity of about 300 tonnes of boards per month and an average production output capacity of 12 lakh cartons per day.

But it wasn’t all hunky-dory when it began. After the lamination machine in 1999, EssCee bought a two-colour Heidelberg press in 2003 to announce themselves as the printers in Bengaluru.

It was on this very machine that they fulfilled their first challenging job – a cata54 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

10 May 2021

K R Chandrashekhar (l) and BV Shashidhar (r) partners of EssCee Enterprises, Bengaluru

logue for Ivega Technologies. Its earlier catalogue was printed in the US and at a cost of USD10 (around Rs 700) per catalogue. EssCee achieved the same quality on a Heidelberg press at the cost of Rs 52 per catalogue.

“And then in 2013 came our first important investment which was buying a fivecolour Heidelberg CD 102 printing press which started our foray into catering to a larger volume based clientele of pharmaceutical companies,” says Chandrashekhar.

EssCee has relocated two times in the company’s history due to space constraint and moved onto bigger facilities. First when it started off, it was in a rented premise in Mathikere and then it was moved to its own facility of 24,000 sq/ft printing and packaging facility located in Rajaji Nagar Industrial Town. Then in 2017, they moved to a 60,000 sq/ft facility located in Peenya Industrial Town.

Managing the space availability efficiently

has been a steep learning curve which has made the company to think out of the box to accommodate and has resulted in automation of its machineries. Initially, the firm was looking for a large-format printing machine to cover its large volume orders and bought the five-colour Heidelberg press plus coater of size 28x40 inch.

Later in 2017 it went looking for a six-colour printing press plus coater of 23x30 inch size, which was ideal for most pharma packaging and that size machine was only available with RMGT. The six-colour RMGT 790 ST press with UV is an interesting format. The rationale behind this investment is well thought of. “We have a UV ready machine, but we are not actually using it for UV coating. We only do inline aqueous varnish on the RMGT press and we have a separate two-colour Heidelberg press for UV coating which is now under installation,” says Chandrashekhar.

And then it also went for a smaller forwww.printweek.in

ckaging wonder of Bengaluru machines from Suba Solutions,” says Chandrashekhar.

He is proud of the company’s investment in a hard-case grooving machine. “The grooving machine helps in cutting down the wastage, improves the quality and gives much better productivity when compared to manual punching of the hard case jobs,” says Chandrashekhar. The company didn’t have to convince the customers as they were “happy with the quality of the finished product and the lesser lead time for delivery.”

The company relies on a service-based workflow wherein it feels committed to deliver on customer’s urgency and “we really don’t stick to the first in first out policy,” says Chandrashekhar.

It’s no wonder then that EssCee Enterprises is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company. Periodical audits of the international quality system are conducted to check the compliance of the quality objectives like waste reduction through strategic planning resulting in lower manufacturing costs, employing emerging technologies to achieve superior production, frequently training, updating and motivating the workforce to produce products of international level.

Print management lessons

mat five-colour Komori press plus coater that was utilised for short run jobs and mostly as a backup machine.

It gives EssCee the distinction of being one of the few packaging companies in India which has invested in three different brands of multicolour presses.

“This was done mainly keeping the customer in mind. We have acquired the reputation of being pioneers amongst our customers in supplying to their customised needs with different styles of packaging,” says Chandrashekhar. “This has helped us to build our customer base which has grown rapidly and boasts today of the top global brands and reputed companies.”

The output from the presses is ably supported by an investment in resilient postpress machinery that includes a combination of Bobst and Suba Solutions.

“We have invested in three Bobst auto diecutter machines, two Bobst carton folder gluer machines, and two blanking www.printweek.in

Many converters are looking at upskilling.

In this sense, EssCee has always maintained standards for make-readies and to reduce machine downtime.

It holds monthly meetings for each department to assess the make-ready time and down time due to both – the machine and the operator.

“It is through these meetings that we decide on our possible scope for an investment in automation to implement faster processes,” says Chandrashekhar. “For a daily procedure the sheets per man hour or SPMH is assessed and a standard is set depending on the working condition of the machine and the complexity of the job.”

Many converters tend to deploy unusual methods to finance their investments. It is not the case with EssCee Enterprises which prides in its simple success mantra in terms of capital deployment for generating growth. “The need of our customers is what we have invested in and we have gradually automated with faster machinery as the volumes have increased. We finance these investments by re-investing a major chunk

of our profits back into enhancing our facility,” says Chandrashekhar.

These profits are not always easy flowing.

To balance this, the company extended its operation by diversifying the product range and having customers across various sectors. It is one of the primary reasons for the company to get into folding cartons.

“We started our firm by doing job works for packaging units and we gradually forayed into other aspects of pre-press, press and post-press. Along with time we have diversified our product range and subsequently installed the machineries required,” says Chandrashekhar.

The company has been able to spread its production portfolio across an interesting mix of brands. With varying clientele across different sectors, the different peak seasons balance out with the troughs of other sectors and helps the firm from getting overloaded. “This criterion has really helped us to remain busy throughout the year. We have a base price at which we accept orders and we don’t do our pricing based on the market conditions,” adds Chandrashekhar.

The price war in Bengaluru

Chandrashekhar feels that the Bengaluru market was good when they had started.

“The prices were good with lesser number of players and though there weren’t advanced technologies available in the Indian market yet, we tried to keep ourselves updated with whatever we could.”

In the last two decades the competition has gotten intense and the pricing has become extremely competitive driven by a humungous number of players in the market. The customer has also become more demanding with getting the job done at lesser prices and with lesser lead time offered for deliveries.

EssCee’s aversion to dynamic pricing has not had an effect on its bottom lines even in these tough times. That is mainly because the customer is kept well informed about the processes involved. “We usually suggest any alternative process that is available with us which can improve the lead time and can also enhance quality of the end product, and we inform them about the financial implications of it. We leave it for our client to decide,” adds Chandrashekhar.

Pricing is also one of the major hindrances to implement the green approach in packaging according to Chandrashekhar.

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 55

Key Clients

BLA PACKAGING

ENGRAVE

CONVERTING IDEAS INTO REALITY

PACKAGING

And Many More...

ERP & CRM Solution Providers For: Flexible Packaging Films & Paper Alu Alu Foil Induction Wads, Lids Mono-cartons Rigid Packaging Labels Corrugation Roto Gravure Printing Cylinders Chemicals ATS Bouquet, BGF-001, Sector 132, Noida - 201301, UP, India

+91 9871597781 | +91 9958859813 Email: info@flexibizerp.com www.flexibiz-erp.com

ESSCEE ENTERPRISES PROFILE

EssCee’s infrastructure at the 24,000 sq/ft printing and packaging facility in Bengaluru

Sometimes the brands get serious about recyclability of the packaging material.

“Our customers do opt for a go-green approach wherever possible. As an industry we still have quite a way to go to move towards a complete green initiative. Plus the government has to implement crystalclear norms for it to work on a larger scale.”

BV SHASHIDHAR – AT A GLANCE Favourite snack… Bajji and Bonda.

Favourite book… Board Roomina Sutta Mutta (Kannada) by Satyesh N Bellur.

An international print factory you visited which is a must see? Heidelberg factory in Germany.

Stepping into 2021

Past 12 months have been bad for the Bengaluru print market. It being one of the worst hit cities in this pandemic hasn’t helped the cause. Being an IT and commercial hub, Bengaluru saw a lot of shops shut and EssCee saw a drop of about 30% in its turnover.

“In this situation, since the development of new requirements was delayed by our customers, we really didn’t have much to quote for. But due to shortage of raw materials the industry has escalated the prices of raw materials and inevitably affected our customers pricing,” says Chandrashekhar.

The Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 and the www.printweek.in

subsequent lockdown resulted in 50% of its 250 employees move out of Bengaluru to their hometown. Being a supplier of packaging boxes for the pharma industry, EssCee managed to fulfil its customer needs with 50% staff.

“We have had to tweak a few minor processes in the SOP’s during the lockdown due to shortage of staff. But once we started getting back to normalcy, we reverted to our SOPs after updating the ones that were earlier overdue,” says Chandrashekhar. “We have even given the increments in 2021 as with every year. We have had our staff working through the pandemic, so we have continued the increment process.”

With the employees now returning the situation is starting to look better and with the orders picking up, EssCee seems to have overcome this challenging time in business. “The start of 2021 has been good with business getting better with each quarter. It has been a tough time for us as well as the customers and we have tried to support them as much as we can with our need based services,” says Chandrashekhar.

The B2B nature of the print business poses a set of challenges. Right from the beginning EssCee has always focussed on building a packaging centric unit based on the needs of its customers. “Eventually it has turned out to be a good business with the need for value-added packaging growing with time. We have had challenges along the way like with any other industry, but things have mostly gone well for us,” concludes Chandrashekhar. n

How do you unwind? By spending time at my farmhouse with friends and family.

One thing about Bengaluru no one knows? It has the highest number of doctors along with the highest number of engineers.

One activity you love? I have a particular interest in social work.

One print factory in Bengaluru you love?

Our own – EssCee Enterprises.

Favourite films… Lagaan, 3 Idiots and Babruvahana (Kannada).

Who is on your speed dial? My mother.

Once the pandemic is over, where will you vacation to? Switzerland.

One phrase, you utter at least once a day? Any achievement is a happiness, enjoy the achievement.

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PROFILE EXQUISITE PRINT AND PACK

Exquisite targets two million cartons per day The company’s story is that of thoughtful and committed partners who dreamt of modernisation and professionalism in the rigid and conventional print business mindset of Kolkata.

Words: Dibyajyoti Sarma

W

hen Exquisite Print and Pack decided to establish in 2011, the biggest hurdle it faced was changing the mindset of the people.

“It wasn’t only about the mindset of the industry, but also of our own people. We had an aim to bring professionalism in the old-school print culture of Kolkata,” says Anirudh Khemka, who looks after marketing. His senior partner Snehashish Ganguly takes care of production.

The first thing that dawned upon Khemka on the first day of the company was how challenging it was all going to be.

Both Khemka and Ganguly were competitors before they formed Exquisite Print and Pack. But the common bonding element was that they both understood the challenges of modernisation. It brought them together.

They decided to get out of the comfort zones of their respective business and went on to synergise their strengths and planned strategies across all aspects. “It is how we were able to plan our technology strategy for pre-press and pressroom and postpress,” says Khemka.

A modern vision

Exquisite Print and Pack has tried to build a packaging brand with mono cartons. It aims to achieve two million cartons per day.

Automating the packaging manufacturing process required integration between press 58 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

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Khemka: “2021 looks like an especially challenging time for businesses in the print market of Kolkata”

and post-press. The company was well aware of this and it made its first investment in the form of a new Bobst Novacut die-cutter. It now boasts of new post-press machinery from Bobst and Suba Solutions.

“I had only worked on second-hand machinery in the past and adapting to the new and latest set-up was very important,” says Khemka. “We have always been into folding cartons since inception. Ganguly and I both have cut our teeth with folding cartons – now it is an investment of over 20 years. So the experience is huge.”

Shifting from a second-hand conventional unit to a new and modern automated unit has been a huge learning curve for both Khemka and Ganguly. They both consider lack of productivity as the greatest hurdle to success in the converting industry in East India. “People in this part of the country are used to manual machines and the productivity it delivers. Making them understand the benefits of the efficient and improved machinery was very difficult.

Slowly, but surely, we have been able to overcome this problem in the last decade,” says Khemka.

In-depth engagement with the Exquisite Print and Pack’s customers shot up on the task list. Certain post-printing processes are more profitable than the other. The company does a process-wise study and then accordingly redirects the clients’ thought process. The conversations with its customers are mainly about how to improve their brand value by way of improving the aesthetics and quality of their mono cartons.

“We try to educate our clients to opt for better products. If a client takes it positively, it works in our favour.”

It is often a practice for converters to go all out on finances while modernising the units. And also to try and find the capacities to match their investment. Many converters even deploy unusual methods to finance their investments. But that is not the only way.

As Khemka says, “For us, it is a conservative approach towards capital deployment. www.printweek.in

Planning investments that will not hurt our credibility is our mantra.”

A lot of MSME packaging companies tend to have one or two large clients who give them 50-60% of their turnover and they tend to grow with the clients. “This business model is being followed by us. We have an interesting mix of brands that work for us. It gives us stability,” says Khemka.

“Our target is to have a perfect blend of being reasonable price-wise and provide quality at a price, which does not harm our profitability.”

It eventually led to flourishing of a company to manufacture value-added printed cartons as well as corrugated cartons for the likes of Emami, ITC, Lux and Amul (Macho) and other industries in pharmaceuticals, white goods, FMCG and cosmetics.

Coping with the pandemic

Exquisite Print and Pack has managed to overcome the challenges of the past 12 months and has performed better than 2019-20. It took a certain level of understanding from its customers while dealing with the crisis of unprecedented price hike of raw materials. “We are lucky to have buyers who understood the problem in a reasonable manner and cooperated with us and hence, the raw material price hike was not too bitter for us,” says Khemka.

Having said that, the company could not afford to stay away from the dynamic pricing prevalent in most print markets of India. “We have got to manage our bottom lines in these tough times. These days, if you are not engaging in dynamic pricing

then you cannot survive. Cost cutting is the main tool to manage in these tough times,” says Khemka.

2021 looks like an especially challenging time for businesses in the print market of Kolkata. When clients don’t even know what’s going to be on the presses in the next six hours, Exquisite Print and Pack, with its experience in the past year, has an assurance to provide them: “Do not worry, your material shall be perfectly delivered on time.”

The pandemic did not deter Exquisite from handing the salary increments. It follows a simple disciplinary rule that pays rich dividends for the company.

“Punctuality is celebrated here. We recognise everyone who is punctual and not absent on any given day. This has resulted in better productivity and it helps us get going.”

Print in Kolkata

Printing and packaging in Kolkata seems to have come a long way from the days of illogical pricing and conventional technology. “It is now extremely competitive and very quality conscious,” says Khemka.

Khemka feels that print and packaging in Kolkata is on the way up. And in the coming four to five years, it will see a growth proportional to the professionalism and modernisation that is getting imbibed by the industry.

“Kolkata is lucky to have lot of latest printing machines and most of the units are now running professionally. It is not a personal, but collective achievement by all the players involved,” concludes Khemka.n

ANIRUDH KHEMKA: - AT A GLANCE How do you unwind?

By watching cricket.

One activity you love?

Sleeping (if it qualifies as an activity).

Favourite films Family-oriented comedy films.

Once the pandemic is over, where will you vacation to?

Australia (my daughter stays there and I haven’t met her for the past two years).

Favourite snack?

Maggi noodles.

Favourite book?

I would recommend all to read Most and More by Mahatria Ra. Favourite sport / sportsperson?

Cricket and Sachin Tendulkar.

An international print factory you visited, which is a must see?

Huhtamaki plant at Valencia, Spain.

One print factory (other than Exquisite) in Kolkata you love?

CDC Printers.

Who is on your speed dial? Number 1 on my speed dial is my father.

A lesson you have learnt from your dad. Not to get over excited about anything.

One phrase, you utter at least once a day. God is kind.

KBA Rapida 105 offset press and Bobst die-cutter at Exquisite www.printweek.in

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 59

PROFILE JK FINE PRINTS

JK Fine Prints: David ve The Taloja-based label specialist has a simple approach. You can think of the difference between tactics and strategy as the difference in doing things right and doing the right things. Both are required as Noel D’Cunha finds out

T

he generation-next of the Kapurs, members who call their fathers “trendsetters”, are in the saddle of the Rs 35-crore label business. “Our fathers introduced self-adhesive labels to India. This was an era when India knew only wet-glue labels,” says Himanshu Kapur, director at Taloja-based JK Fine Prints. Kapur’s father Surendra is the founder president of the Label Manufacturers Association of India (LMAI). “When we started JK Fine Prints, we concentrated on incorporating advanced technology and automation in the printing and manufacturing part of the business,” says Kapur.

In his spare time, Kapur prefers to watch videos on different kinds of machines and the way they function.

Popular among the label circles in India, Kapur and his two cousins, Karan and Rahul, have been thrust into the competitive world of production, marketing and sales, after the previous generation passed on the baton to the young guns.

“In 2006, we established JK Fine Prints under the guidance of my father, uncle, Jatindra. With over three decades of experience in printing for computer stationery and label printing, we saw a greater potential and future in self-adhesive labels. So, we decided to foray into a specialised unit dedicated to that sector,” says Kapur.

The new generation of Kapurs has displayed the combination of ability, desire and experience to fuse the potential of its

60 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

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Kapur (l) with cousins Rahul, Karan and father Surendra at JK Fine Prints’ two-storied plant in Taloja

label business into a potent and unified force. “As time went by, we started adopting European norms into our company.

For example, using benzophenone-free inks when the printing industry in India wasn’t even aware of it,” elaborates Kapur, adding, “We worked very hard to achieve and be certified with Sedex (SMETA-4 pillar) accreditations. We are also proud of receiving other certifications such as FSC, GMP, ISO-9001, ISO-14001, ISO-45001.

Standardisation in our manufacturing unit is paramount at all levels, which leads to seamless integration and smooth flow between departments. We are constantly innovating systems and processes in order

to minimise wastages and maximise efficiency, thereby reducing our carbon footprint.”

I ask Kapur whether this is the usual green PR that’s become mandatory these days. Here, he said, giving me an example of the recently started waste segregation department, which optimises recycling output (see box). “It’s a full stainless steel shed. Each colour denotes a certain type of material to be sent to its respective slot for waste management,” explains Kapur.

In November 2018, JK invested in a third Gallus EM 280 as it planned to scale up its capacity from the present six-lakh sqm to one-million sqm per month. Last www.printweek.in

versus Goliath

HIMANSHU KAPUR - AT A GLANCE

How did you unwind during the pandemic?

The only real unwinding I experienced was when we took a five-day holiday to Munnar in January this year with my family. We were staying within the Chola forests.

Being one with nature was very therapeutic after such an intense year.

One phrase you heard during the pandemic months.

I think it’s on everyone’s lips – stay home, stay safe; or wear masks, sanitise and wash hands. And the funniest was – go Corona go.

Which film or web series did you watch?

The Serpent, Joker, Ozark, This Is Us, Ludo, Mirzapur, the entire Marvel collection, among others.

Once the pandemic is over, where will you vacation to?

My wife really wants to visit and go on a road trip to Ireland. So I guess that’s on the cards since family holidays are her department.

Favourite snack.

Anything made with red meat.

Favourite book.

Frankly, I don’t read books in my spare time. I prefer watching TV or videos about different kinds of machines and the way they function.

Your adda in your city.

Pre-Covid times, it was Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel. Or a coffee shop.

month it invested in an ABG Omega RTS330 sheeter capable of running speeds of 40 m/min for an A4 size sheet, producing 150 labels a minute; and are in talks to buy the latest spectrophotometer and lightbox.

JK has currently only invested in label printing in pharmaceutical, food and beverage, lubricant, automobile, FMCG and personal care. However, within the label segment, it has increased its focus on specialised labels such as ophthalmic labels, EN-71/3 toy industry, low migration, void, direct-contact labels. “The compliance norms are extremely difficult to attain; www.printweek.in

One historical thing about Mumbai you find interesting.

Close to where we live, there is a historical place of interest called Towers of Silence, which is the only real patch of green and quite truly very green like a mini forest. It is the final resting place for the Parsi community in India. It is not uncommon to spot snakes or peacocks when one passes by.

thereby making us one of the very few label manufacturers that cater to companies that require these sensitive labels,” says Kapur.

One print innovator from history you want to meet.

I meet him every day. He’s my father. He was a pioneer in his time in this industry. He has been my guide and mentor.

Machine selection brings print power

JK prides itself in operating three fully loaded flexo presses from the Swiss company Gallus, two letterpress

One phrase, you utter at least once a day.

“Hurry up, do fast”.

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PROFILE JK FINE PRINTS

The Kapurs: JK Fine Prints has been a loyal Gallus customer, having installed three Gallus EM 280 flexo presses at its plant in Taloja

machines from Taiwan, four 100% defectdetection machines from ABG Graphics, UK and Prati from Italy. Also, it possesses a host of other finishing machines such as backside numbering machines, corecutting machines, flat-bed converting machines, and multiple quality control machines.

I ask Kapur how he decides which machine is the best fit for JK, and he tells me that before he narrows down on any machine, he takes into account several factors such as pedigree of the manufacturer, reliability, accuracy and of course technology. Besides the above, he selects a company that holds a strong presence in India so that any servicing needs, should they arise, can be tackled promptly.

“Our research and study about printing machinery have led us to conclude that European machines are more reliable, productive and high on accuracy,” exerts Kapur.

And it’s just not the make, but also the type of machines he buys. The first Gallus EM 280 was a seven-colour press installed in 2006, while the second installed in 2013 was a 10-colour press. And like the 10-colour press, the six-colour press is equipped with web guide, servo tension, Corona treater, infeed and outfeed full servo, all units with active antistatic bars, chilled drums, auto ink pumps, two die62 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

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stations, two cameras, auto-register and plate mounter and India’s first IST MBS 7 UV system.

“It’s all about economics, and the benefit is either in time or money. We work on a set size and a line of similar press format means whichever press finishes first takes up the next job. Ideally, all three keep on rolling,” says Kapur.

That said, in terms of technology, Kapur says, it’s been quite some time since flexo has seen any real change in the printing technique. “The only changes observed have been in automation of print, which does not really impact the final product, but merely assists the operator in faster make-ready.”

However, one area in which he has seen major technological advancements is in pre-press and digital printing wherein year-on-year the print quality keeps improving. JK does have a small conventional pre-press set-up, which is used for emergency jobs. Most of its flexo plate requirements are outsourced to Reproflex.

“The pre-press house has developed an advanced screen system that delivers high-quality HD flexo. Another reason we chose them is that they use green solvents thereby not harming the environment. A good pre-press sets the stage for a good quality label.”

Surender Kapur, Ferdinand Rüesch of Gallus, Anil Kumar Sharma of Avery and Samir Patkar of Heidelberg India Automation makes it easy

There is little doubt that automated manufacturing systems make it easy to develop and deliver new types of products and in different sizes very quickly.

Flexible automation can also make label production profitable, promising increasingly specialised products that cater to brands’ needs.

That’s very true, says Kapur, whose firm’s 60% jobs are vanilla (pure flexo) and the remaining 40% are with embellishments such as multiple foils, holograms, invisible UV printing, thermochromic ink printing, embossing, screen-printing, label-on-label, scratchoff labels, and scented labels. “That’s the reason we choose to configure our machines to be operator-independent as possible.” He gives the example of the automatic capabilities such as automatic www.printweek.in

registration, automatic ink pumps, dual camera system and reel lifters available on the presses and on the shop floor.

JK had invested in an automatic core cutting machine very early on, and recently added a Prati slitting machine with a 100 % defect-detection system from Nikka having an in-built spectrophotometer. “We don’t believe in manual inspection as humans are prone to err, but machines can eliminate errors,” emphasises Kapur.

The company has also developed its own software to have a linear workflow between all departments. In order to aid ergonomics and prevent back injuries, its employees use a rechargeable roll lifting and moving device from Prati. There is also an automated GRN generation system that converts an alpha-numeric code into a barcode to facilitate workflow between various departments. All its employees are cross-trained and wellversed with the functioning of each installed machine.

“This ensures continuity in case of any staff absence,” says Kapur, adding, “Honestly, our team is very knowledgeable and efficient, and with very good backend support from our associates we iron out our challenges fairly quickly.”

All the automation has made handling orders easier for the company. “We regularly print as low as 500 running metres up to 2,00,000 running metres to give you an idea of our range,” says Kapur. “We can handle any MOQ as long as the price is justified.”

But investing in a digital printing kit as Capex investment is something that Kapar feels is not justified, as its output and many other processes that are otherwise performed online on a flexo press, increases the cost of labels. “Take for example, die-cutting, white lay-down, cold foil, lamination, and varnishing. But once digital printing heads towards a complete automated system – from the input of raw material to finished product, that’s when we will certainly look at it as a complement to our current processes.”

A prudent and profitable player

There are multiple small changes being made and tweaked along the way to generate more profits. As they say, with multiple drops of water a sea is formed.

The same way JK keeps a check on the smallest of aspects to add to its bottomline.

Kapur shares three examples. “We increased our outer delivery box size slightly to accommodate that much more www.printweek.in

material, which in turn increased our tempo carrying capacity and reduced delivery costs. Two, the core used for matrix rewinding was a paper core so we had to keep changing it, now we have a heavy siliconised pet core, which is reused for years as the matrix jumbo roll leaves the core and it saves us considerably on an annual basis. And three, the smaller waste raw material is joined and wound into larger rolls and used for colour matching. We have a host of small initiatives, which has led to a reduction in costs.”

Customer satisfaction is another reason that the company has seen them sail through even during the pandemic. “As a company, we are always ready to incorporate and comply with clients’ needs to the best of our and our machines’ ability.”

Moreover, Kapur says, “We are willing to learn and ameliorate our processes.”

I found out that one of JK’s client required a large quantity of 1x1-inch individually cut labels for which it invested in a whole new post-production machine line up only to cater to that client. “Yes, and we are also in talks with another company that requires a class 8 HVAC system,” says Kapur. “Regular repeat order

jobs are always made in excess and kept ready and available so that when a client requires those labels, it is dispatched almost immediately. We have created a track-and-traceability system, which enables us to trace back to entire production records if at all a customer requires them.”

By 2030, JK would like to diversify into offset printing and tap those markets.

Integration of software where real-time data is relayed within each department of the entire business is also on the cards.

Kapur says, “We are working our best towards contributing to a more carbonneutral environment. We dream of harnessing solar and wind energies to generate our own electric power. We aim to become one of the forefront companies catering to industries that require high compliance standards of printing and certifications especially in the pharma and toy sectors.”

But what brings a big smile on his face is when I ask him at the end of the interview, about the one print job Himanshu Kapur loves. His answer, “I genuinely enjoy making toy labels as they’re fun to look at with different cartoons or characters and also the fact that it would bring pure cheer to a child’s face.”n

JK’S GREEN INITIATIVE

Waste management is extremely crucial and is the need of the hour. Taking this project very seriously, JK Fine Prints has recently set up a waste-segregation unit that separates the silicon liner, matrix waste, recyclable plastic drums, wooden palettes, and mercury lamps.

For example, the mercury lamps are sent to a hazardous waste management system. Silicon waste is outsourced to be recycled into silicon again. Likewise, plastic waste is sent to a separate recycling facility, and wooden palettes are reused till the end of its life.

JK is in the process of adding a waste-water fogulator, which essentially separates the clean water from contaminated inks and other residues. The remaining non-recyclable waste all goes to kilns for power-generation, which in turn leads to lesser carbon footprint. It also celebrates World Environment Day, where all employees are encouraged to plant a tree.

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PROFILE KAYDEE PRINTS

In tough times, how Kay manages its print hubs He spent 12 hours a day fine-tuning equipment, planning and upgrading the entire workflow from March to June 2020.

Implementing them is a form of unwinding, he says. That’s Captain Rajendra Agarwal for you. Noel D’Cunha reports

C

aptain Rajendra Agarwal’s favourite book is Dale Carnegie’s How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. I asked him how he stopped worrying and started living with all the bad news. The seasoned ex-serviceman in him retorts, if Arunima Sinha can climb Mount Everest besides leading a normal life, then why can’t we.

Agarwal is the founder of Kaydee Colour Lab in Lucknow and Kaydee Prints in Surat.

And he hopes to boost revenue. Like Apple’s revenue in China, which jumped a staggering 87% to USD17.7 billion, propelled by strong demand for its first 5G smartphone.

I ask Agarwal where does he look for inspiration and see that it’ll all be okay, Agarwal replies, “One of the things I look at is the technology I have. If that does not keep the optimism going or keep you committed to trying to constantly pitch ideas and think about solutions, nothing will.”

Agarwal says, “Every time you are at the helm of a task like this, you need to think differently. The most important of all was that we had to deliver. This (different) thinking, was not only required at the top, but had to be scaled down to every single person in your factory. To make the impossible possible, you need to have the entire 64 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

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team believing that they can do it. We all believed it could happen.”

Big prints and quick

In 2010, the 1996-established photography lab and studio specialists Kaydee Colour Lab diversified its business portfolio. The firm made its first move into digital photo printing in eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP) with an investment in a seven-colour HP Indigo 5500 for specialised photo book printing.

The 5500 was installed in March 2010, which was followed by the launch of Rishtein Yaadein, a customised, faderesistant, non-tearable, lightweight, waterproof designer photobook.

At PrintPack India 2013 show, Agarwal inked a deal for four (yes, four!) NexPress SX 3300 digital production press with the NexGlosser and 36-inch long sheet feeder.

The first of the four was installed at his firm’s Surat location, a unit he had established in a bid to expand operations. In those days, Kaydee dealt with more than 12,000 studios and had more than 2,000 dealers with 21 collection centres.

The Kodak SX 3300 NexPress has the capability of a photo press and also to produce different applications such as dimensional, flood-coat and glossing, larger printing area and size scalability, higher productivity, the versatility of the press, colour reproduction, and Kodak’s service and support. “The invitation cards and other printed products showcasing NexPress applications distributed during the event is a first-hand proof as well as an example of versatility and quality excellence of this press,” he had said.

“I am a firm believer in technology. I have always invested heavily into it,” says Agarwal. “This keeps my business well protected and less dependent on manpower.

We managed to reduce about 25% of manpower owing to the pandemic and managed well with present production volume, which is touching almost the same as of a few years back.” www.printweek.in

aydee s

Captain Rajendra Agarwal, founder of Kaydee

Agarwal adds, “Bad times also teach us a few good lessons, provided we observe, plan and are ready to learn and willing to adopt.” He says, “Luck never comes to the unprepared. Every company has to prepare for this moment. We had to build breakthroughs that would change.”

We concur with this theory. The chairman and CEO of Pfizer, Albert Bourla said, “We were looking at changing the whole company.” Pfizer significantly increased the investments in digital and research. The reason being: Bourla knew that the company can’t be transformed by changing the business portfolio or by changing the location. Bourla said, “You can only transform it by changing the culture. If we didn’t have the courage to think big, we wouldn’t think of manufacturing three billion doses. That’s how we found solutions.” Agarwal believes in this credo.

Digital wherewithal

Also, Agarwal believes in Benny Landa, not as a printer innovator, but for his vision of digitisation, which is happening now. Who can forget his famous line – “Everything that can become digital will become digital” – and printing is no exception. Not surprisingly, when he decided to make his first move into digital print production his first buy was the HP Indigo press.

Kaydee’s present infrastructure comprises two Kodak NexPress digital production presses and a HP Indigo 5500 at Surat and a HP Indigo 7600 in Lucknow, both the locations specialising in photobooks and high-end textile catalogues.

The presses are complemented by adequate post-press capabilities to ensure that the printed products are finished with utmost precision.

Agarwal, adds, “We also have a sound designing team and a wellequipped studio to cater to the needs of our customers.”

The changing scenario

When I asked Agarwal what is the change in the print market in cities he operates (in the past 12 months) that we should be aware of, he says, “Considering the market situation, the customers are not placing orders in bulk, which means reduced printing.”

Therefore, one has to stock raw material accordingly. Plus, as the market is tight, clients are facing hardships and are using pandemic as an excuse to delay payment. “Cashflow www.printweek.in

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KAYDEE PRINTS PROFILE is important, and we as service providers have to tread with credit period cautiously,” Agarwal says.

So what is the solution? “Discuss with your key clients and advise them to avoid falling into long credit-line business. There is no point in being bullish in the market and end up losing a lot. More importantly, ensure that you don’t hold huge inventory, thereby avoiding their capital trapped into it,” explains Agarwal.

And to underscore what he calls his chutzpah, Agarwal reduced dependency on manpower and relied on technology, as one of the steps he took. “We endured getting maximum output from all the equipment at our command with the available manpower. A strict credit policy even meant having fewer volumes, which has kept our cashbook healthy to face the challenges of the future.”

Everything tough was not hunky-dory.

There was a major swing in paper demand and supply. Blame it on inward supplies from overseas manufacturers or importers due to the ongoing pandemic or just domestic paper manufacturers’ politics, pricing of paper shot up by nearly 40% in the last eight months with further supplies unpredictable, says Agarwal. “Price of paper is behaving in the line of the share market and keeps changing at every supply.

So we have to take the average paper pricing of the last few months, which turns out

to be about Rs 85 per kilo, as our production cost.”

Add to it, the woes of immediate payment against paper supplies. “Adjust these changes in your production cost. In hard times, one cannot sustain with minimal margins,” Agarwal says.

The power of digital

Agarwal acknowledges that business has been weak in the current doldrums. “The entire economy of the world collapsed due to the pandemic. Our revenue last year was not surprisingly down by 20% to 30%.”

The situation improved when the lockdowns were eased, and there was a turnaround. Digital growth in India is racing with full steam and if some jobs are affected by soft copies of pictures, brochures, then due to smartphones and digitalisation, new avenues also opened up.

Agarwal says, “The sale of smartphones increased. That meant more packaging and literature was printed. People ending up shooting a lot of pictures ended up getting approximtely 10% to 15% prints of the soft copies. Plus, there were coffee table books and few new business opportunities, too.”

Print business these days, it is said, is a challenge. Agarwal welcomes the challenge and is looking forward to turning print business into bustling enterprises, once the pandemic is under control, and the national economy picks up.

CAPTAIN AGARWAL ON SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP

“Right now, people may seem to be conservative in spending, but that can’t last for long,” says Agarwal. “I believe people will marry and when they do, they will need photos of memories. Likewise, it will be with textile and garments. And providing prints for these events and industries is the business we are in,” concludes Agarwal.n

CAPTAIN RAJENDRA AGARWAL –

AT A GLANCE

How did you unwind during the pandemic?

Spent over 12 hours a day to upgrade with technology, planning and upgrading the entire workflow with minimum manpower during the lockdown period from March to June 2020. And now, implementing those is giving a lot of satisfaction and a form of unwinding.

One phrase you heard during the pandemic months.

How long and when will the vaccine hit the market?

Which film or web series did you watch?

Mostly English, and the list is long. Few of them are: The Godfather, Scent of a Woman, Forest Grump… but most of them are based on true stories that are motivational.

Once the pandemic is over, where will you vacation to?

On my shop floor to implement and execute all the plans planned during the pandemic to ensure volume goes up many manifolds.

Favourite snack.

Pasta.

Favourite book.

Dale Carnegie’s How to Stop Worrying and Start living; Barack Obama’s In His Own World; and William Shirer’s The Rise and Fall Of the Third Reich.

Your adda in your city.

Home in Surat with my family and my workplace.

One historical thing about the city you live in that no one knows.

Good question, let me find this out...

We currently have two Kodak NexPress digital production presses and an HP Indigo press in Surat. The presses are complemented by adequate post-press capabilities to ensure that the printed products are finished with utmost precision. We also have a sound designing team, and a well-equipped studio to cater to the needs of our customers.

We have received continuous support from Kodak to meet customers’ demand in the last few months with the quality product printed by Kodak NexPress. Let me have the privilege to say that to fulfil my vision and policy to survive and create a niche in the competitive and pandemic-hit market, Kodak team and Kodak NexPress proved to be the pillar and my strength to achieve it.

We are satisfied with the support of our suppliers and share a cordial relation with them. They have been like our partners during this journey of ours. www.printweek.in

One print job you love.

All the modelling and product catalogues shot and designed by us.

One print innovator from history you want to meet.

Benny Landa (although I met him at Drupa a few years back) is not a print innovator, but I am a firm believer of him and his vision of digitalisation, which is happening now.

One phrase, you utter at least once a day.

Take up one idea and make it your life.

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PROFILE PROGRESSIVE PRINTING PRESS

Progressive Printing It’s all about the out

Transforming print business isn’t as difficult as finding the needle in the haystack of paper waste. Asgar Sanchawala of Progressive has been using smart strategies and technologies to deliver good results, as Noel D’Cunha finds out

T

here is certain resilience about Surat, the city that was hit by a plague in 1995, and its people.

In a year, the city was adjudged India’s cleanest city in 1996.

The then city’s municipal commissioner SR Rao, was credited with the transformation, imagined and implemented changes, which were necessary.

“Efficiency was one of them. He cracked down on corruption, got the bureaucracy out of its slumber,” says Asgar Sanchawala, director at Progressive Printing Press, located in Khatodra area of Surat.

“Many people who had left the city returned,” says Sanchawala. “That further strengthened the spirit of the city.”

In 2013, the Rockefeller Foundation identified Surat as one of the 100 “resilient” cities, which gave a fillip to the city to tackle natural disaster and the effects of climate change. Today, the city is among the preferred cities for investors. There are action plans in addition to 20 goals that are envisaged for the decade – 2016 to 2025. With these steps in place, Surat was declared the Resilient City 2020 in the Smart Cities of the World in September 2020.

“Before the transformation period, Surat was a city that didn’t care much towards the city’s upkeep, except for business,” says

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Sanchawala (seated) with son Latif; and Progressive’s plant in Surat www.printweek.in

ng Press: utcomes

Sanchawala. While the outlook towards the city has changed, the business acumen has only become better.

Who in the right mind would invest in new equipment when businesses around were squirrelling away any spare funds?

Sanchawala did. A fifth RMGT 755, a five-colour offset press and a second Kodak Trendsetter 800 are the two pieces of equipment, which has been installed at Progressive’s 50,000 sqft two-floor plant.

For those uninitiated, businesses of sizeable print firms, who have not been smart

enough, are down anywhere between 50% and 80%.

But Sanchawala has confidence that his company’s brand and ability to find new avenues will allow him to sprint, or at least trudge, into this fiercely howling wind.

Since 1998, Progressive Printing Press has worked to develop a strong reputation for itself in Surat’s print industry. The company, established in 1965, was using a treadle machine initially and then single-colour machines to produce four-colour jobs.

Besides commercial jobs such as brochures, fashion books, catalogues, Progressive also produces self-adhesive labels and packaging boxes.

I asked Sanchawala, “How?” “Honestly, in the past 12 months, orders we received were not related to the kind of print jobs we specialise in. We had huge orders for mask packaging, pandemic circulars, laboratory reports and the related stationeries. This bought us out of the regular business, which had dried up,” he says.

Sanchawala acknowledges that this pandemic is a lifetime experience, but there will be a turnaround. “Surat is a textile and diamond hub. The two industries are a dominant part of our business when it comes to advertisement and packaging.

Textile business in Surat is worth over Rs 10,000 crores,” he says, with an air that suggested he was quietly convinced.

Staying ahead of the curve

In June 2017, Progressive celebrated its 50 years of operation by hosting the RMGTProvin open house at its plant. Running its recently-installed third brand-new RMGT press, the 7 Series RMGT 760 five-colour press live, the open house for print CEOs from Surat, Vadodara and Ahmedabad had a chance to test the efficiency of the press.

Showcasing the press was one of the reasons. While Progressive’s customers were thrilled, the competitors weren’t very sure of how well we were using our new presses.

“We opened up our shop-floor and more than 60 print CEOs showed up,” remembers Sanchawala.

Besides the newly installed RMGT 760 then, Progressive already had a Ryobi 920 and RMGT 920, all brand new presses installed in the previous two years. The company had replaced all the pre-owned presses at the plant with new ones. “There are two major reasons why we replaced all the old presses with new ones – quick delivery and consistency of quality,” recalls Sanchawala. “We had been running second-hand machines all through, and somewhere down the line, we used to be www.printweek.in

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PROFILE PROGRESSIVE PRINTING PRESS

Progressive celebrated its 50 years of operation in June 2017 by hosting the RMGT-Provin open house at its plant with more than 60 print CEOs from Surat and neighbouring state in attendance

hampered by inconsistency in print quality.

After we installed the first Ryobi, we were convinced that with a new machine, print quality is assured.”

And though it sounded a bit risky, Sanchawala explains that his facility was far ahead of its time from an infrastructure standpoint that his competitors then did not quite understand what they were seeing. Soon enough, there were print companies in the Khatodra area and around, who actually installed new presses replacing the old ones.

Progressive’s advanced standing, however, did not let Sanchawala stop his company’s momentum, and he later went on to add another RMGT press, a 790ST-4XL+ IR+OC+SLD, in April 2019, as well as the latest one.

“If you look around, you will find that we have strengthened our shop-floor differently,” Sanchawala says. “We looked at the entire flow of the print jobs we produce rather than the traditional way of looking at one particular area of print jobs.”

Business and viability

Explaining the company’s transformation since 2015, Sanchawala says, he has constantly asked his customers what their needs were, and if they were interested in doing it differently. The answer he received was: consistent print quality and quick delivery.

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At that time, the industry standard was basic second-hand four-colour presses, which required regular maintenance and manual intervention. To address the customer demands, Sanchawala completely overhauled his shop-floor, created a more efficient operation and allowed it to introduce more automation. “New presses were our answer to quality and quick delivery, and reduced dependency on manpower, though we did not reduce our workforce.

We just deployed them in a more effective manner,” Sanchawala says.

Not surprisingly, the staff at Progressive is as old as 40 years, and more or less trained within the press. “We are an inseparable family and have taken full care of each and every employee. No one has left us even during the pandemic,” Sanchawala says.

“The three most fundamental areas of business that influences the profitability and viability of any business are customer, market and employees. We have touched upon customer and employees. To grow a business today requires a multi-faceted approach, with considerations that are much broader in scope than in the past,” exerts Sanchawala.

Progressive considers printing 200 copies of a catalogue on offset as a viable proposition. Why not digital, I ask, to which Sanchawala answers, “If you calculate 200 copies with 50 pages each, the cost of printing on digital will be, say, Rs 50,000 at Rs 5

per print. And I am not talking about odd sizes. Even if I charge Rs 50,000 for the same job by printing on offset, I will be making more profit than digital. All this, after having calculated my overhead costs. I am not sure if the guy who will supply at Rs 5 per page of the digital print will include overhead costs. I doubt it.”

And printing on the new machine may take more or less the same time, but the advantage Progressive has is that it can add value to print, which digital cannot afford to provide at the same cost.

Offset and quick printing? What about producing plates, which is time-consuming? Sanchawala points to the Kodak Trendsetter 800, which it has been using since 2015 and the new one it recently acquired. “Producing plates in a jiffy is a no brainer. And we run both processless and with processor,” he says.

Incidentally, Progressive was the first in Surat to install a platesetter way back in 2006.

Stay ahead of the curve

Progressive believes in staying ahead of technology. Being updated in the advanced technology by itself is an inspiration to update and bring in new equipment to the press. “Making an estimate of the present and future demands with a desire to improve and attain perfection and quality with a delivery period as fast as light, helps www.printweek.in

us to move ahead,” says Sanchawala.

But Sanchawala is not all anti-digital.

“Any print run that’s under 200 is produced on the Kodak NexPress. Our jobs range from 200 to 1,200 per month,” says Sanchawala.

The average print runs in offset at Progressive range from 1,000 to 2,000 copies. However, during the pandemic, the range has dropped to 200 to 500 copies, but the number of jobs have increased by 20%.

Of these, 80% jobs are pure offset, while 20% are with embellishments – endless creation of foil, UV, varnishing – as Sanchawala says.

And to achieve the perfect colour matching, the company uses a GMG proofing system – GMG colour server and GMG ink optimiser. Sanchawala says the print industry is made of niches, and when one attains it, people follow and then there’s overkill.

“That’s when you start looking for the next niche, that something which will add value to our business.”

In 2015, when Sanchawala’s son Latif wanted to do something new at Progressive, he let him work with it. Since then GMG is the only colour management tool the company uses. The optimisation is based on GMG’s 4D DeviceLink profiles.

The CMY colour component is replaced by black while exactly retaining the colour impression. Sophisticated ink reduction algorithms ensure that only the structure of the separations is altered, not the colour impression.

“The improved colour composition makes it possible to stabilise the entire printing process, meaning that, for example, the gray balance reacts less to colour fluctuations. Depending on the printing process and the substrate, GMG ink optimiser simultaneously achieves up to 20% savings on ink,” says Latif.

Sanchawala claims, his company pioneered the use of Kaliedo inks in Surat and the rest followed. “It was hard work. We still do it, but very few customers use the Kaliedo inks, and we charge a premium for doing it.”

Besides, Progressive has a huge consumption of fine/art papers for its specialised jobs. “We purchase ink, paper and other raw materials in bulk, which enables smooth flow of production. A huge holding capacity and good payment reputation are key to a very respectful relationship with suppliers,” explains Sanchawala.

ASGAR SANCHAWALA - AT A GLANCE

How to lead in tough times?

Just when things had started to look up, the second wave of Covid-19 seems to have put the brake on things. The economy is shaken, there is unemployment, and one is hard-pressed to find good economic news.

Sanchawala says, there are four things we as a print community can do.

First, your employees are the vital cog in your business wheel. They know what’s going on. “Be candid about what the pandemic is doing to your business. As we say, we are all in it together, so are your employees.”

Second, the pandemic has been a major shock, but there may have been times when you have experienced tough times. “Take lessons from the past success your company has had in tough times. Put that across in context even to your employees.”

Third, look for opportunities. “It’s perhaps the best time to identify where you can cut-cost or find saving ideas without impacting quality and speed, as also new markets to go after. I would think your employees will be better tuned to find costsaving ideas.”

Fourth and last, stay positive. “If you don’t, there are people around you at your work-

How did you unwind during the pandemic?

Watching Netflix and spending time with my family.

One phrase you heard during the pandemic months.

Stay home, stay safe.

Which film or web series did you watch?

The Queen of South.

Once the pandemic is over, where will you vacation to.

Dubai, UAE. Favourite snack.

Chicken pasta, but made at home.

Favourite book.

Kane and Abel by Jeffery Archer.

Your adda in your city.

Tea at Grenee in Surat.

One historical thing about the city you live in no one knows.

Surat was the gateway to Haj by ship in the 19th century.

One print job you love.

The 30-lakh laddu boxes produced for the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Abhiyan and delivered in two weeks.

One print innovator you want to meet.

Benny Landa.

One phrase, you utter at least once a day?

“I am happy, I am healthy, I am strong”.

Kodak NexPress: Any print run that’s under 200 is produced on this Kodak kit www.printweek.in

place who will eventually be affected, too.”

Sanchawala concludes with an air of optimism, “I’ve been in the print business for over 50 years now. And every time things have looked hopeless, I was determined to make them otherwise.”

And that particularly resonates with Progressive’s success.n 10 May 2021

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PROFILE QUARTERFOLD PRINTABILITIES

How Quarterfold decided to take a risk and set up a new factory Quarterfold Printabilities has focussed on the nuances of educational printing and publishing.

A PrintWeek profile about how the rise of print management has boosted educational books

W

hat started as a twoperson team in 2014 has now turned into Quarterfold Printabilities (QFP), which has recently expanded to a new factory in the areas of print management, content development and publication support for its clients in the continent of Africa.

Within a span of six years, QFP is now one of the youngest and advanced book presses in India. “With continuous investments in production sources, technology and paper stocks, our main focus has always been in the education sector, both in Africa and recently in India,” says founder and CEO Nilesh Dhankani.

The fundamental attitude of QFP is to never say no to its publisher partners. For instance, it had to deliver two simultaneous projects with over eight million books in a time frame of 30 days. The mammoth task was completed in 26 days. “No matter how challenging the job, we never shy away from supporting our publisher friends. I guess that’s what makes us the pioneers in the educational printing domain,” says Dhankani.

Despite the pandemic, the company decided to take a risk and set up a new factory. The rationale behind it is Dhankani’s aim “to provide educational publishers with outstanding print services, delivery in short lead times and no compromise on quality.” These are calculative risks as 72 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

10 May 2021

QFP’s CEO Nilesh Dhankani (l) with his teammate www.printweek.in

QFP has a thorough market understanding and healthy projections. It took the company years of experience and market research to derive these risks.

Print vs pandemic

Dhankani seems to be bucking the trend against the tide of the print-is-dying perception. He is of the view that despite being rocked by the pandemic, new trends continued to emerge that presented many opportunities to the sector. He also feels that the notion may be gathering traction mainly in the areas related to trade, fiction or non-fiction books, where eBooks/Kindle have replaced the traditional medium of reading. “However, when it comes to education or core industry sectors, print will always remain and continue to thrive.”

Dhankani feels that the print market is gaining acceptance among many businesses across the globe. “Rapid developments in production along with changes in consumer preferences and an accessible global reach present a number of opportunities to the industry today. But companies must be ready and willing to make significant changes to their existing systems to take this advantage. It has become very important for a print company to deliver offerings way beyond the traditional methods.”

According to him, the print industry in India needs to build on the strengths that we already have. Publishers and print companies need to work together in the time of ever changing technology trends.

“Instead of cutting prices, it is high time we collaborated to share experiences, upgrade and merge our skill sets to be able to have better understanding of consumer

Quarterfold has in the past delivered eight million books in a time frame of 30 days

and ways to deliver value,” says Dhankani.

Education sector in Africa

QFP’s prime focus in 2020-21 will be in the education sector across Africa and India. Helping publisher partners with development of new products will be one of its core areas along with printing.

There have been three phases in the QFP strategy over the past few years. Be it print management, setting up infrastructure to invest in technologies or streamlining print with publishing work.

The rising costs of raw materials have affected the profit margins. One of the important strategies of QFP will be to

make efficient systems to cater to the growing consumer needs in-house, in its state-of-the-art setup. Considering the price competitive nature of this industry, it was vital to keep the cost low.”

To achieve this, QFP has been working hard in scaling up the operations. It has increased its capacity to nine web-offset and three sheetfed machines with a postpress binding set-up and that is increasing steadily. “In the past few years, we have been able to manage everything in-house.

We invest heavily in stock options (paper procurements and contracts) so that we are ever ready and don’t run out of paper,” says Dhankani.

Quarterfold plant in Navi Mumbai www.printweek.in

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QUARTERFOLD PRINTABILITIES PROFILE

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“We have to strive to run our presses 24/7 with paper in, paper out and everything in between. It is going to be challenging and it is going to feel good to be challenged,” quips Dhankani.

When it comes to quality expectations and constant deadline pressure from its clients, Dhankani feels proud that QFP does not have a single unhappy customer.

uses traditional software for measurement of metrics and movement in real time, the increase in capacity has led to IT upgradation projects operating in full force.

“We will be moving our systems to an ERP soon, preferably they will be cloudenabled,” says Dhankani.

Quality management in the book market

Print-runs are becoming shorter by the day and consumption patterns have shifted over the last few years. Many book factories have phased out B-format presses in favour of smaller 36–inch presses. Commercial printing is seeing a downward trend as digital technologies are replacing traditional print because of which print runs are becoming shorter and more expensive.

“This is true for commercial printing on sheet-fed machines,” observes Dhankani.

“As far as QFP is concerned, our jobs are mainly on web machines and with longer print runs. Since the last year, we have also started printing for publishers and certain industry sectors in India.”

As the head of QFP, Dhankani leads a multicultural and cosmopolitan team that renders a diverse and a vibrant work culture within the company.

“We are very young, dynamic and thorough professionals. Moreover, I have always believed in empowering people, as that freedom helps in getting the best out of them,” signs off Dhankani. n

QFP has hedged its bets on Africa for book exports. Many African publishers prefer to use B-grade paper for their projects.

Such papers cannot achieve the same quality as A-grade paper. The question that arises is: how to cope with issues about the quality of the paper that erodes process efficiency (especially in the printing stage: longer make-ready and slower output).

To which Dhankani cites his experience of 15 years in the African market. “With regard to the query regarding the use of B-grade paper, I would like to say that this is a misconception. In fact what I have seen is on the contrary. Many of our African clients prefer using A-grade paper.

When it comes to the systems for planning and logistics for the African clientele, QFP has tied up with shipping companies and transporters.

“To oversee the logistics, we have a good team to ensure deliveries are always on time,” adds Dhankani. Although QFP

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Team Quarterfold Printabilities www.printweek.in

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PROFILE SAI COM CODES FLEXOPRINT

Sai Com Codes Flexoprint challenges with an eye o Noel D’Cunha (NMD): How were the past 12 pandemic months for you? Good, better, or could be even better?

Harish Gupta (HG): The past 12-odd months

have been good for us. We started Digistik, a digital unit of Sai Com Codes Flexoprint (SCCF). With the new digital arm, we have aligned our efforts to meet the current market needs by offering our services to brands of all sizes. The tagline for the new venture reflects our mantra – a start-up for start-ups.

NMD: Harish Gupta, you are a firstgeneration label converter based in Sonipat. What are the other things about your company you are proud of?

HG: The one thing, which I cherish and am

proud of is that in a short span, we have grown as a company. We have four more plants across India – in Guwahati (Assam), Vapi (Gujarat) and two in Sonipat (Haryana). Few more expansions are in the pipeline.

NMD: With flexo, and now digital print equipment, is Sai Com aiming to be a onestop-shop?

HG: Yes, we are aiming to be a one-stop

solution provider. We want to cater to brands of all sizes. The requirements of a budding entrepreneur or a start-up are challenging. They have to face issues of minimum order quantities (MOQ), cost of different plates for different colours, diecutting techniques, reprinting expenditure and more. We hope to address all our customers’ challenges under one roof with smart and cost-effective techniques, flexibility in design and operational capabilities.

NMD: You have a solid infrastructure both in print and finishing...

HG: Yes, we have seven Nilpeter flexo

presses, one Mark Andy P7 flexo press, eight Rotoflex VS1, one Konica Minolta Accurio Label 230 and the recently acquired HP Indigo 6900.

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www.printweek.in

nt braces for e on growth

The pandemic months have been hard, but Harish Gupta, managing director at the label company made swift moves, which brought new opportunities. The transformation will hold his company in good stead going forward, Gupta says, in this conversation with Noel D’Cunha NMD: From the need to overcome lockdown hurdles with a Konica Minolta kit to HP Indigo 6900, what triggers the digital move?

HG: The pandemic triggered the demand for essential goods, including

preventive medicines, sanitisers, liquid soaps, health supplements, and cough syrups. This triggered a growth in demand for labels. To bridge this extraordinary need-gap and in view of the impaired supply chains amid the lockdown, the company decided to embrace the power of innovation. We established Digistik. To overcome the mobility restrictions imposed by the lockdown, we decided to print labels digitally to enable immediate delivery of labels to the manufacturers.

NMD: Your digital arm became a success...

HG: Our print runs grew. We started producing different kinds of labels for

the health and hygiene segments, which had an exponential growth. But there was a limitation in terms of multiple substrates and limited colour options of the Konica Minolta press. It was basically an entry-level press.

NMD: When did you decide you needed to upgrade?

HG: As it happens, every customer wants premium quality labels, even at

low costs and volume. During the pandemic, we decided to utilise the downtime to not only invest in upgrading our capabilities in a sustainable manner by reducing our carbon footprint, but also being able to effectively print on any surface so that recycled and biodegradable products can be used. The HP Indigo 6900, a seven-colour digital press, was just the answer we were looking for. HP has helped us to be not only a variable data printing wizard by improving our efficiency of scales but also aided us in becoming an even more sustainable choice for our customers. Today, we are generating good faith in the market by enabling our customers’ businesses to fulfil their deliveries faster to gather customer loyalty.

NMD: New technologies – are you seeing a real difference in the technologies you have invested in, since they say, the tech moves on?

HG: Technology is ever-evolving and yes, it has changed for the betterment

of the industry. Each new technology that is being launched in the market comes up with new features and delivers better results than its former counterpart. It offers flexibility– to control things that are not in our control. For example, raw material and rising prices of raw materials, that’s not in our control. Technology on presses, including finishing tools, help control manufacturing operations, interms of making most of the available resources. Likewise, it helps improve the overall quality and the ability to print with consistency. In flexo, for example, new-age imagers and processors, have eased output of standardised colour.

Harish Gupta, managing director, Sai Com Codes Flexoprint www.printweek.in

NMD: Label printing is about printing on different substrates. What varieties of substrate do customers demand?

HG: Mostly filmic for segments such as health and hygiene, paper for

pharma whereas F&B still remains a segment with multi-substrate demands such as metallised paper, clear or metallised film. Although substrates are as per customer demands, our team makes certain 10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 77

PROFILE SAI COM CODES FLEXOPRINT suggestions to brand managers that would be best suitable for their end product requirements.

BRAND SPEAK: HEALTH KART ON DIGISTIK Digital printing makes economic sense for brands Rishi Singh: In the current scenario demand is very volatile and to sustain we need to keep doing advancements based on consumers’ needs. We experiment with new products continuously, and even make small modifications to current top-selling products as well based on the consumer’s feedback. The digital printing solution provided to us by Digistik enabled us to save time and resolve MOQ issues while implementing the new projects and during continuous changes.

NMD: SCCF is a long-run player. Were there any changes in your production numbers during and after Covid?

HG: Yes, pre-Covid we produced around

10-lakh sqm per month. This became 8-lakh sqm per month during Covid and post-Covid it’s 6-lakh sqm per month.

NMD: You are doddering, and we are into a second wave... What’s your assessment of the situation?

HG: The second wave is here and this is

more intense than the previous months.

We are already getting orders for requirement similar to the first wave, with a request for quick turnarounds, however, quantities have reduced as there is no panic buying in the markets. The team is geared for challenges ahead, as I earlier said, we stood like an extended family, we will stand together. We are geared up for these challenges as we now have the potential to deliver our customer expectations with two digital presses. All plants (and supply chain, too) have permissions to perform under the “essential category”, hence we don’t foresee any downtime due to restrictions.

NMD: One of the challenges during the pandemic months were people. Many people exited their place of work and now here we are with the second wave. How has SCCF coped?

HG: We retained most of our people during

the pandemic months. Our staff, as well as our workforce, stayed with us. We made sure that proper hygienic accommodation and care is provided to all our workers so they don’t face any problems in these testing times. We all are one extended family and we stick together.

NMD: You are targeting high print volumes from your flexo presses and short-run from digital. What is the capacity utilisation for each of the presses – flexo and digital?

HG: The flexo presses are at 65% utilisation

and digital being a new set-up is at 35% capacity.

NMD: How do you manage breakdowns, as in despite any machine breakdown, how do you maintain your production schedule?

Should one have a spare press to fill in for any casualty? In that case, is the load on that press kept relatively low?

HG: We have tight preventive maintenance

schedules, which we adhere to, to keep our machines in good health. It is not viable to 78 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

10 May 2021

Ankit Garg

Rishi Singh

Ankit Garg and Rishi Singh represent Health Kart. The company is a medium offering personal wellness and health wellness for individuals through several brands under their kit. “We thrive to bring products that can impart immunity to people of every age. We are providing comprehensive solutions to individuals for their needs of healthy wellbeing through a diverse portfolio of products.”

Small run by the right label media Rishi Singh: Label media type (PP white, metallic film and paper) offered by Digistik gave us a stand-out advantage on store shelves. Our label designs, print and post-operation such as gloss, matte UV, as well as decoration such as screening, gave us an advantage over others.

Service and cost – two important parameters Ankit Garg: Service and cost are two important factors for any organisation and both supplement each other in a normal scenario.

Digistik offered us great services at a very competitive price. With Digistik, we got one-stop solution that perfectly balanced the key factors – service and cost. We approached Digistik as a part of our cost optimisation process and needed a customised solution wherein it offered us the cost advantage by either increasing the MOQs of our topselling product or by clubbing different SKUs in one kit. They offered us a great service advantage by delivering the new projects in no time.

(Ankit Garg is general manager -supply chain and Rishi Singh, manager procurement operation import - RM & PM at Health Kart)

Sample pics of labels produced by SCCF

have a spare press, however, we have multiple similar composition presses, which gives us the flexibility to ensure customer schedules are met, even in case of breakdowns. We can immediately shuffle jobs between different presses and our team is capable of having similar outputs, even using different printing processes.

NMD: The benefits of a workflow are well understood. How does SCCF deploy it? And what are the advantages?

HG: ERP workflow has helped us a lot by

connecting all our plans together.

We have an in-house developed work-

flow, which was designed around the actual business model. It connects all our plants together and gives us an edge to centralise our supply chain, enabling effective sharing of resources, including capacities and capabilities between different plants.

NMD: What is special about SCCF’s prepress?

HG: It’s all in pre-press. We have an

experience-rich team, which gets 95% of the jobs, first-time-right output. The key is to have an experienced team with wellsynced plate outputs. We have our presses periodically calibrated with our plate www.printweek.in

HARISH GUPTA - AT A GLANCE

How did you unwind during the pandemic?

By focusing on fitness.

One phrase you heard during the pandemic months?

Stay at home.

Which film or web series you saw?

House MD Sai Com Codes Flexoprint’s 1,000 sqm plant in Sonipat, Haryana

output partners. We use HD plates and manage different screen angles as per job requirements. The team is provided with training on the latest trends and developments to keep them updated with industry trends and practices.

NMD: Let’s look at the labels business. In some respects, it’s similar to the paper business, in that it’s exposed to the volatility of raw material prices and it’s dominated by suppliers. This industry was in the doldrums during the pandemic months. How did SCCF cope?

HG: Yes, you mentioned very rightly, but

with our experience and industry connection, we professionally managed the effect of the volatility of raw materials during this pandemic time.

NMD: How? HG: Our team puts in a lot of effort while

designing a job to fit maximum jobs in similarly available sizes, which gives us the flexibility to stock fewer sizes, but with more quantity. The similar-sized inventory also means that we have steady rotation and the material does not hold for long. We keep our customers updated with challenges and suggest similar alternatives, which do not hamper the performance of the product and helps in meeting the required timelines if exact material is delayed beyond a reasonable time.

NMD: How do you handle waste in the world of sustainability?

HG: The generated waste is treated www.printweek.in

sustainably. We are closely associated with the label waste management programme of the Association of Label Printers and Suppliers (ALPS). Apart from treating the waste responsibly, we also believe in reducing the amount of waste being generated first-hand. Less wastage, lesser carbon footprints and more eco-friendly ways of doing business are what we are striving for.

NMD: What are your aspirations for SCCF in the next decade?

HG: Less waste, more efficiency, sustainable

and eco-friendly choices are what we are aiming for apart from expansion in the national and international market. We plan on adding self-adhesive and shrink labels to our list of services with the improved variable data printing (VDP) technology.

Shorter runs, quicker turnarounds, no plate costs and photo print quality devoted to meet the branding and marketing needs of our clients, giving them the benefits of customisation and ensuring that their budgets aren’t overrun is what we believe will help us build our brand, and grow ouir business in future.

NMD: What are the initiatives you think has ensured SCCF has a better business?

HG: Setting up the digital arm, Digistik is

certainly one of them. The traditional way to get labels usually takes weeks and amending changes in orders was a nightmare and the costs of redoing bulk orders for minimum order quantities has always been a catch.

Once the pandemic is over, where will you vacation to?

The Maldives.

Favourite snack?

Chicken Tikka.

Favourite book?

Bhagwad Gita.

Your adda in your city?

City Park.

One historical thing about the city you live in no one knows?

It has best biryani outlets.

One print job you love?

Country Bean.

One print innovator from history you want to meet?

Gutenberg.

One phrase, you utter at least once a day?

“Times are tough, I want to go out”.

By innovating and updating ourselves we ended the tyranny of being stuck in the endless loop of waiting and paying through their noses for a product that is just passable. We delivered premium quality labels to start-ups, small and medium brands, liberating the market with our digital printing upgrade and making Digistik the effortlessly malleable one-stop solution to all their packaging woes.n 10 May 2021

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PROFILE SILVERPOINT PRESS

Silverpoint’s print rejuvenation shifts focus to digital After two years of deliberation and three years of existence, a traditional offset company Silverpoint launched www. printnation.in and is currently seeing 100% growth year-on-year.

Saifee Makasarwala, the company’s chief operating officer, traces their journey, success, and challenges in the eCommerce space.

Words: Sriraam Selvam

this online space just to ensure we do it the right way and try as much as possible to make the plan on paper feasible before going live. Since there are a lot of horror stories of burning private equity cash on such a business model and for us entire investment is from our kitty hence due diligence was imperative,” he adds.

Talking about the transition to an online business model and the perceptions associated with it, Makasarwala says, “With the offline print business, we built a rapport with every customer, and they ensured they get the quality, the service and the price they want. With online, the quality and service have to be a given; otherwise,

you’re wasting your time – but the biggest issue is trust, and the only way you can demonstrate that is through independent reviews.”

“Online business is all about user experience; when the prospect is on your site, he doesn’t know you, nor is he aware of what setup you have. The only reason he gets convinced is his experience on the site and your online customer support,” he adds.

In its effort to provide the best possible user experience, the website has achieved a phenomenal rating of 4.9 out of 5 with 4000 reviews.

“Not only the ratings but the overall user experience is imperative- from surfing the

The early days

“The main reason to launch Printnation in 2017 was to have our presence in online web to print business since most of the developed market trend is to provide an automated platform to regular print buyers, which saves them time and effort procuring print. We do have a lot of corporate accounts and also PSP’s that do not have an advanced printing facility in house and wants to outsource their jobs with us,” explains Makasarwala.

The portal, which initially started as a B2B version, has pivoted for the past 14-months to a full-scale consumer website.

“It took us almost two years to convince ourselves to get into this space, but once the decision was taken (in the year 2017), we launched our web site www.printnation.in. The initial few months were difficult- we were learning the ropes, now after almost 18 months of efforts, we are growing year on year with more than 100% growth,” says Makasarwala.

“We spent a lot of time understanding 80 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

10 May 2021

Saifee Makasarwala, COO at Siverpoint: Printnation.in has achieved a phenomenal rating of 4.9 out of 5 with 4000 reviews www.printweek.in

site, shortlisting the product they want, designing online or uploading the file, payment gateway. Add to that the back office team supporting the client to sort out artwork issues like low-resolution image, bleed fonts, and finally timely delivery and sending all notifications to the client giving updates for the job,” explains Makasarwala.

According to Makasarwala, the biggest learning in the last few years is different ways to reach customers.

“The chronic issues like problems in artwork file I think will remain forever since in the online space people who are buying are mostly who don’t know much about printing, so these challenges are part of your business process. The most significant learning I would say is identifying the different ways to reach its potential customer through online marketing.

It is also about continuously learning and implementing those changes to not miss out on marketing your product and services. This is the key in the online space,” he explains.

www.printweek.in

The Silverpoint plant is equipped with both digital (HP Indigo) and sheetfed (Heidelberg) presses The digital expansion

One of many changes that Silverpoint made during this transition was to invest in digital presses. The investment included the HP 12000 installation.

“We started experimenting with digital printing for more than a decade now; initially, we started by outsourcing the requirements to various suppliers who had different printing engines, and very soon we zero down on suppliers with Hp Indigo machines. This is because we were satisfied with the print result and consistency in quality. Soon our volumes grew, and we saw the client’s requirements also for shortrun’s printing increased, and that’s when we did our numbers and decided to test the waters and installed our first Hp Indigo 3550,” says Makasarwala.

The Hp Indigo 3550, was an A3 entrylevel machine. According to Makasarwala, the installation was the key to mastering the digital press benefits and understanding the technology limitations.

“Our team started experimenting with offerings of personalised printing solutions. We also did a lot of work which was hybrid combining offset and digital printing. During this period, HP launched the B2-size press, and we started our homework as to how the B2 size will impact the overall business. It became crystal clear that size matters a lot; we realised that we could shift a considerable portion of the short-run business to B2 size,” he explains.

Silverpoint’s team conducted several trials along with HP for a long time to be assured of the technology’s stability before taking the plunge.

“We saw a game-changing opportunity and knew this would give us a tremendous boost in staying ahead of the competition by investing in Hp Indigo 12000. I must say we had immense support from team HP throughout. They helped us and our entire team transition from a traditional mindset of offset printer to start thinking of selling

personalised printing solutions from a printer mindset to a solution provider,” says Makasarwala.

“It’s the fourth year running, and we see steady growth in the short-run and personalised and variable data printing segment.

For a company like ours, which only focused on the commercial printing segment, digital printing was a logical extension of our business,” he adds.

Speaking about the company’s learning and unlearning process from a hardcore litho plant to a digital-focused setup, Makasarwala believes the short-run job handling methods was critical.

“It definitely is a different ball game! You cannot run a digital setup with a litho mindset and hence a lot of unlearning and learning the new trade specially when you initially start doing small run jobs which are just one quantity. The billing happens, and you feel depressed with the kind of investment you have made. When you start multiplying those one quantity requirement and set a system to sell and deliver them efficiently in a large number, you see the real potential of having this powerful engine. The mindset from just a typical printer to a print service provider with solutions makes the difference,” he says.

“We also chose Indigo because it prints like litho and the technology supports reproducing very close to offset printing. It also opens up a broad spectrum of possibilities that are not possible with toner or inkjet-based technology,” explains Makasarwala as one of the reasons for them partnering with HP. Makasarwala believes the digital space has much more to offer than the PoD segment and feels the real business is in providing an entire gamut of personalised printing, variable data printing etc.

“The ability to achieve quick turnaround time for challenging jobs which your competition may shy away from is another example of what digital can do. There are 10 May 2021

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SILVERPOINT PRESS PROFILE errors and quick flow of the job through the system. The goal is to keep the system free so that the next job can come and flow out without bottlenecks,” he adds.

Future is B2C

Silverpoint’s three-storeyed 50,000 sq/ft plant in Mahape, Navi Mumbai

many other possibilities wherein you change your business model from being just a service provider to product selling and marketing them,” explains Makasarwala as the advantages of going digital.

Consolidating operations

As part of their operation effort, Silverpoint consolidated their three sites under the same roof in Navi Mumbai.

“It became necessary as running multiple sites was throwing up several challenges. The most significant advantage of bringing everything under one roof was control over the entire process, less wastage and better quality management,” explains Makasarwala.

“Recently we have added several print finishing machines to handle short quantity jobs mainly. The SOP’s remains more or less the same as we have formed a dedicated team that takes care of online business. We also have 24x7 customer support services if someone needs any help while placing an online order,” he adds.

The company also takes extra effort to keep their homegrown team fully equipped.

“We schedule regular training from experts so that the team is always agile, and where ever we fall short of talent, we outsource and fill the gap,” says Makasarwala.

Deliver just-in-time

According to Makasarwala, the company aims to provide a bespoke, personalised product in the same timescale that an offthe-shelf product can be picked and shipped.

“As I mentioned earlier, we have automated a lot of processes so that we can www.printweek.in

quickly turn around jobs. Similarly, we do many personalised single quantity books; in such jobs every page is personalised, and it is hard case bound. During peak promotion seasons the order quantity increases eight to ten folds, but we ensure all dispatches go out by the end of the day,” says Makasarwala Explaining the process flow of the delivery mechanism he adds, “As standard practice, all online jobs which are received by 11 am are dispatched the same day. Many times we receive a request from our clients for a very urgent same-day delivery which 95% of the time is done unless it involves a process which is practically not possible to achieve in a short time. Otherwise, our team ensures that all requests are 100% fulfilled. Often, the jobs are delivered to the client while they are on the way to the airport or a launch event,” The pandemic times

“Unlike the good old days when we had sizeable calendars and diary business nowadays, there is nothing like a peak season. The commercial printing business has become flat. We now need to be creative and solutions-oriented to increase the share in the pie. Last financial year because of the pandemic, it was a challenging year for all, and the same was true for commercial printing business too,” explains Makasarwala.

“It is even more challenging for businesses like ours, which is demand-driven.

Also, keep the entire team on their toes to ensure that all critical decisions are taken on the fly and ensure the high-quality product is delivered in the shortest possible time. Many processes are now automated, which helps ensure near-zero human

“We are at the infant stage of our eCommerce venture, and we see a lot of growth opportunity. Yes, we are growing very fast in the online space almost 80% of the business is from repeat clients, and we are pleased about that. I must tell you though the cost of customer acquisition is very high in the online space,” explains Makasarwala.

“I must also add that the opportunity is massive in the B2C segment though we definitely feel you need deep pockets to sustain and grow further,” he emphasises.

Silverpoint has also been thwarting several M&A (mergers and acquisitions), keeping in mind the market space and condition.n

SAIFEE MAKASARWALA: AT A GLANCE

How old were you when you started in print?

I was 20 years old, straight from GIPT joined Silverpoint as a trainee in 1993.

Have you always been a part of the Silverpoint family?

This is my first job after completing my diploma.

What is the key to your partnership with Shabbir Muchhala?

The key is his ability as a leader to set a vision and road map and then delegate and motivate to achieve those goals that I think is very rare in our industry, which is run predominantly by family members and professional like me cannot grow beyond a certain point.

Is there room for craftsmen with bespoke offerings for niche markets? The good old fashioned letterpress creator?

Yes, there is most premium invites in the US are printed on letterpress.

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PROFILE ST FRANCIS PRESS

PS Rajan: The printer who dreams about meeting William Carey With the commercial and publication business at an all-time low, PS Rajan of St Francis Press is making moves that will help him stay relevant in the print business.

Words: Noel D’Cunha

W

hen I met PS Rajan, 63, I had asked him to name one print innovator from history he wanted to meet. He replied, William Carey, the cobbler who made fonts for more than 20 Indian languages for the first time in Calcutta, and printed the Bible.

Rajan, managing partner at St Francis Press in Kochi, shares with me, “The Baptist missionary William Carey appointed an East India Company employee Charles Wilkins and the ironsmith Panchanan Karmakar as well as his nephew Manohar. All of them were employed by Carey in order to develop a set of Nagari fonts.”

The Baptist Mission Press is supposed to be the first Indian foundry for Devnagari, Bengali and other Indian types.

Located in

Serampore, it’s here where technical print innovation and the first large-scale printing of books in Indian characters began (in Hindi and Urdu), before spreading elsewhere.

The four-generation-old St Francis Press was established by the late Thomas Putherikal in 1926 to print religious books on a simple hand treadle press.

Over the years, the print technology on the shop floor has evolved. Currently, the press floor is equipped with Heidelberg SM52 and Ryobi (now RMGT) 920 four-colour offset press, Kodak

Trendsetter platesetter, a Canon digital printing press, Horizon booklet maker, a perfect binder, folding machine, eyeleting machine, saddle stitcher, book sewing machine, laminating machine, and foiling machine, and caters to the commercial printing segment.

As the Covid-19 pandemic unleashes its wrath on many small and medium businesses, printers in Kochi, Kerala’s print capital, is seeing players make a move that can put them in a position to survive and even prosper.

Rajan says, “There is a large-scale transition happening in the commercial and publication sectors. They are moving to packaging and embellishment businesses.

Commercial and publication

PS Rajan, managing partner at St Francis Press in Kochi

jobs have more than halved due to marketing spend cuts across industries and educational sectors. So, it has affected job work presses at large.”

Also, in the past decade, the premiumness of owning a four-colour press has been lost. “There’s a ready availability of second-hand press and cheap funds in the market,” explains Rajan.

Due to the pandemic, St Francis’ own revenue has declined. “It’s down 30% year-on-year, compared to steady performances in the preceding years. The workforce has substantially reduced, expenses are under control and other expansion ideas were put on hold,” says Rajan. As a result, he has a plan to focus on packaging.

Priceonomics

One of the reasons why the print industry is doddering is its marketing strategy of undercutting competitors’ prices. This results in squeezed margins.

And it’s happening in Kochi, too, says Rajan. He explains, “There was a time when the fixed-cost pricing model worked. With volume expansion, we could make profits.”

But things have changed. “As volumes shrunk, overheads increased. The cost of manpower and capital equipment has been increasing, too, and then there are other unforeseen expenses such as hike in raw material. If we continue at old prices, we will obviously make less money,” says Rajan, adding, “If we further undercut an already low price offered by the competitors, we are probably staring at a loss.”

Hence, no matter how much you print, underpricing your product will put you out of business.

Paper woes

Since November last year, the print industry in Kochi is facing a steep price hike and shortage of paper and other consumables such as films and inks. “The price grew 30% to 80% during this period,” says Rajan. “Our challenge is to convince the customer about these difficulties.”

In Kochi, because of the seaport, the imported paper was available at competitive rates before the Covid-19 period. The abrupt decline of imported paper due to lockdowns and container shortages plus huge demand created by consecutive elections (panchayath and state) has led to skyrocketing prices. “The art paper price had gone from Rs 58 to Rs 90 per kg.

Interestingly, clients opted for maplitho paper, which was available,” added Rajan. www.printweek.in

Kodak Trendsetter platesetter at St Francis Press

St Francis’ requirement of paper was around 50 tonnes per month. “We had to buy the art paper at exorbitant rates to manage the business,” said Rajan.

Technology investment? Hmm...

While Rajan is scouting for finishing equipment for his packaging endeavour, he is not sure if he should be investing in workflow automation software.

He says, “We had invested in an estimation software last year, but it was difficult to train the workforce and implement it.

And with the business down 30%, that is not a priority right now.”

But he is excited about how digital is turning out to be a model for growing print business.

New generation clients rely mostly on the web to find a good printer and check their rating before placing the orders.

Instagram and Facebook have opened avenues to exhibit and market creativity, ideas and talents, especially during the lockdown.

Rajan says, “Many housewives turned to baking and brand consultants have created new unique stationery products, labels and packaging solutions for them.”

The advent of digital solutions has enabled print service providers to keep the customers engaged and reduce the number of errors. Payment gateways, SMS alerts on the job status are some of the things that will soon be the new norms.

“And with the new avenues of marketing opening up, it has become easier to market print products as well. An ideal scenario would be to use the best of the two worlds – print and digital. For instance, QR codes in tags,” he adds.

Normally, a finished print product is seen as the culmination of digital creativity. Rajan adds, “Printed products and digital solutions can co-exist. For example, a beautiful wall calendar can fetch more views than a digital ad campaign. It’s upon us to educate our clients about the benefits. Also, print products are considered more acceptable as it is tangible, unlike digital solutions.”n

PS RAJAN - AT A GLANCE How did you unwind during the pandemic?

I am enjoying a second childhood – playing with grandchildren.

One phrase you heard during the pandemic months.

Have a positive mindset and watch the Sensex.

Which film or web series you saw?

Sherlock Holmes and Drishyam 2.

Once the pandemic is over, where will you vacation to?

Coorg in Karnataka.

Favourite snack.

Thairuvada (dahivada) and onion oothapam.

Favourite book.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.

Your adda in your city.

Kerala Master Printers Association’s weekly meetings.

One historical thing about your city no one knows.

Most would know that it was colonised

by Dutch, English and Portuguese. It was also the hub of spice coast trade – Queen of the Arabian Sea. The history of my city...

Fort Kochi replaced the Muziris town (near Kodungallur) as a trade hub for spices, after a great deluge in the 13th century.

One print job you love.

Printing KMPA’s Print Miracle magazine.

One phrase you utter at least once a day?

Cross-check the work for any shortcomings for improvements.

10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 85

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TAURUS PACKAGING PROFILE

Our plan is to always solve the problems of our clients Chetan Jain, executive director, Taurus Packaging, explains to Rahul Kumar how the company’s recent innovation in HIP Framework is helping its clients achieve short-run shrink sleeve labels

I

t’s been mostly business as usual for Greater Noida-based Taurus Packaging in the past 12 pandemic months. The company started early after the pandemic and were able to service its clients in time. “We did suffer shortage of raw materials and manpower while following all protocols, but we took up the challenge and catered to our clients, mostly FMCG companies.

Despite the loss of demand with some of our clients, we managed to add more products and clients in our business and did well,” says Chetan Jain, executive director, Taurus Packaging.

The company, which manufactures shrink sleeves, BOPP wrap-around labels, flexible laminates and pouches, has put up base in Greater Noida because being closer to New Delhi, it’s well-connected with the entire country through road, rail network and airport. “And with the western freight corridor, the New Delhi-Mumbai expressway, and the Noida airport coming up, we will see definite advantage of our location to service our clients swiftly,” Jain says.

“Access to international airport and inland international cargo ports also made it our preferred choice.”

He adds that FMCG is set to see furthergrowth in India and the company is wellprepared for servicing the sector.

The company

The company is in rotogravure and UV flexographic printing, and has a host of www.printweek.in

Chetan Jain, executive director, Taurus Packaging 10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 87

Built by perfectionists, for perfectionists.

SOMETHINGS DON'T HAVE A PRICE TAG WhatPackaging?

ADVERTORIAL

APRIL Group focuses on a sustainable future

The Indonesia-based pulp and paper manufacturer’s APRIL2030 strategy is aimed at delivering ‘a positive impact on climate, nature and people’, while growing its business sustainably, says Praveen Singhavi, president, APRIL Group

A

key buzzword in the print and the packaging industr y right now is sustainability. Every stakeholder - print service providers, print equipment manufactures. as well as raw material manufacturers like paper producers - wants to provide products that are manufactured in a more environmentally friendly, sustainable way. Some companies have even launched programmes that focus on reducing carbon footprints.

One of these companies is APRIL Group, a large producer of fibre, pulp and paper with plantations and manufacturing operations in Sumatra, Indonesia. In November 2020, the company launched its long term APRIL2030 strategy, which it has described as its commitment to deliver ‘a positive impact on a climate, nature and people’, while growing its business in a sustainable manner.

The company’s APRIL2030 strategy is made up of four commitment areas - climate positive, thriving landscape, inclusive progress and sustainable growth - with 18 targets. “These targets are ambitious. We plan to drastically reduce carbon emissions to achieve netzero emissions from land use and a 25% cut in product carbon emissions by 2030,” says Praveen Singhavi, president, APRIL Group.

Sustainable development goals (SDGs) Since 2017, APRIL Group has been working with PwC Singapore in Indonesia to assess the impact of its business activities using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework. Seven priority SDGs were identified.

These are comprised of four core goals with direct alignment with APRIL’s operations - SDGs 12 (responsible production and consumption), 13 (climate action), 15 (life on land) and 17 (partnerships for goals). They also include three catalytic goals - SDGs 3 (good health and wellbeing), 4 (quality education) and 6 (clean water and sanitation) - where the company believes it can also make a positive impact.

The APRIL2030 strategy supports the achievement of the SDGs at the national level in Indonesia and more importantly, at the village level in the province of Riau.

Singhavi informs, “The alignment of our targets against the relevant SDG targets can be seen on our APRIL2030 microsite. No company’s sustainability vision can be enduring if communities are left behind”.

Achieving the APRIL2030 commitments A major target within the APRIL2030 strategy is to achieve a 50% increase in fibre productivity through investments in silviculture and peatland science. This, Singhavi says, will be supported through increased investments in nature. “In turn, these will be funded by $1 USD per tonne of plantation fibre harvested per year.

We are also installing 20MW solar panels at our operational sites.

When completed in 2025, this will be one of the largest private-sector solar panel installations in Indonesia.”

There are other tangible initiatives, which are underway, to drive the APRIL2030 strategy. These include the peatland science hub that has been set up at the RER EcoResearch Camp on the Kampar Peninsula in Sumatra. Last year, the company also signed up with the Science-Based Target Initiative (SBTi) to set science-based emission reduction targets aligned with the SBTi’s criteria. Singhavi says, “These initiatives build on our existing sustainability commitments. We have a particular focus on increasing our adoption of renewable energy and more efficiently managing our water and waste”.

Other initiatives abound. To find alternative cellulose or plant-based feedstock and closed-loop manufacturing, Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), of which APRIL Group is a part, has announced plans to invest US$200 million over 10 years into cellulosic textile fibre R&D. APRIL is also researching the exchange of greenhouse gases in peatland landscapes on the Kampar Peninsula, in Sumatra, Indonesia, where are its operations are located. Singhavi says, “This involves measuring the net ecosystem-atmospheric exchange of carbon dioxide and methane. The data is collected using instruments placed on four 50 metrehigh flux towers, which are located in different areas of our concessions.”

Sustainability - onus on manufacturers With the increasing global move towards the adoption of sustainable business practices, Singhavi says, APRIL Group fully understands the importance of continuing to integrate sustainability into our operations.

APRIL’s Sustainable Forest Management Policy (SFMP 2.0) is the foundation of its approach to sustainability. “Our mill has been running on 100% plantation fibre since December 2015, and there has been no new plantation development and no deforestation in our concessions. There has been a limited loss to fire, even during the worst fire season Indonesia experienced in 2015. We also continue to actively protect almost 365,000 hectares of conservation and restoration forest areas. KPMG PRI Canada verifies the implementation of our commitments every year,” says Singhavi.n APRIL (Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited) Group’s pulp and paper manufacturing plant in Riau province, in Sumatra, Indonesia

Praveen Singhavi, president, April Group

www.printweek.in

TAURUS PACKAGING PROFILE converting equipment such as high-speed slitters, high-speed non-stop seaming machines, label cutting machines, and dry and wet lamination. The company also has an in-house design and pre-press team, where it creates 3D and actual mock-up for its clients for shrink sleeves, which helps brand owners make an informed decision.

The company also employs many techniques as per client’s requirement for preventing counterfeiting of shrink sleeves.

These include invisible inks, variable alphanumeric codes, scratch off inks, holographic effects, lenticular printing and so on.

Until the last year, the company was producing about 99% of jobs, which were pure gravure without any embellishments, but with active R&D and the ability to produce highly innovative surface finishes, this year the demand for innovative embellishments has been growing – from 1%, the figure has gone up to 4-5%.

The company’s print-runs normally vary between 5,000 sqmt to 25,000 sqmt.

During and after the lockdown, the company added newer products and clients due to its capability to do much lower print runs

with its new technologies. However, Jain adds that bulk quantities have also increased since the lockdown.

Jain says the company’s investment decisions are completely based on only one question: Will the new equipment help solve the problems of its clients? He explains, “We saw a major problem for short-runs and slow time to market. We saw clients getting frustrated due to lead time of four to six weeks in developing their shrink sleeves. We made our investment, which could help us deliver shrink sleeves using our Hybrid Intaglio Printing Framework (HIP Framework). We solved a major problem of short quantity requirements and are now able to produce shrink sleeves with best-in-class graphics in three days.”

However, he adds that the company doesn’t believe in minimum order quantity (MOQ). “All business or products are not alike, and so, the demand is varied.

Limitation of MOQ shouldn’t hinder or lead to compromise on anyone’s packaging.

We offer shrink sleeves with practically no MOQ,” he says.

He agrees that technology upgrades are now faster than before. “Every time, we buy

a printing or converting machine, we see the technology changing. But the needs of printers like us are changing, too,” he adds.

This changing needs also relates to different variety of substrate customers demand.

“With respect to shrink sleeves, we see a wide variety of demands from our clients or from the application point of view. Clients are now more open to experimenting. We offer the highest ranges of substrates for shrink sleeves in India. Like I said before, we solve problems, and one solution doesn’t fit all, which creates the purpose of having different sleeves,” Jain says.

To achieve this, the company uses an ERP

Chetan Jain’s father, Rajesh Jain

Taurus Packaging plant in Greater Noida www.printweek.in

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TAURUS PACKAGING PROFILE system. It requires a lot of real-time data entry. Jain says there was an initial resistance when the company shifted to digital data entry mode, but it was sorted with training. And they use a workflow software, which Jain says, is an easy-to-use, cloudbased system.

Talking about substrates, Jain says the raw material supplier is an equal stakeholder in any company. “For us, suppliers and clients are alike. It’s a partnership. We don’t change suppliers frequently and we believe service is more important than price,” he says.

The business

Jain agrees that the flexible packaging industry is going through same issues, including price hike by major suppliers.

“Initially, we faced difficultly convincing our clients for price increase, but when the entire industry is affected, situation is the same for all clients and all converters.

Customers have been very supportive, accepting a major share of the burden of the price increase. Moreover, we had been finding ways for reducing our costs to client. For example, with the increase in prices of PVC, we had been convincing our clients and managed to convert some of them to PETG, which is more economical than PVC right now. With our experience in this area, and a professional technical team, we made a successful and valuable transition (from PVC to PETG) for our clients,” he explains.

Talking about sustainability, Jain says most of the company’s waste is single layer plastics, which can be recycled. The rest of the waste is passed on to a government-registered waste management company.

The company recently launched the HIP

Framework, a technology that offers shrink sleeves with no MOQ, and with fastest turnaround time possible. “This, I believe, is a ground-breaking technology,” Jain says.

“Also, with HIP Framework, lot of start-ups and SMEs in the FMCG space, who have smaller volumes or multiple SKUs, are able to get low volume sleeves without worrying about high inventory and expensive print cylinders. Normally, they would have to compromise on their product or packaging or number of SKU’s or keep unreasonably highly inventory, which might get obsolete.

But now, they are able to get world-class packaging.”

He adds that the HIP Framework also helped the company during the Covid crisis. “We launched it at the right time. With uncertain market conditions, and volumes, many of our clients opted for low quantities for test launches and that also without bearing any cylinder cost for these small lots.

This was a real deal for them. And we were happy we could cater to the changing market dynamics. Some immunity or sanitising products had to be launched faster, and we were prepared to help our client get their shrink sleeves delivered in three days of order confirmation,” Jain explains.

According to Jain, Taurus is always evolving. “Our plan is to always keep on providing solutions to the industry. Problems keep changing and keep evolving, and so does Taurus. We are already planning for further investment in technology and materials, which will ultimately help our clients bring down their packaging buying cost and with even faster turnaround time.

We wish to serve all clients regardless of the size. We want to play a pivotal role in improving the overall standard of packaging in India. We see many companies willing to compromise on packaging and

CHETAN JAIN - AT A GLANCE

How did you unwind during the pandemic?

Spend time with kids.

One phrase you heard during the pandemic months?

Social Distancing.

Which film or web series you saw?

Line of Duty.

Once the pandemic is over, where will you vacation to?

Go for a trek in Uttarakhand.

Favourite snack?

Chhole Bhature.

Favourite book?

The One Thing by Gary Keller.

Your adda in your city?

Starbucks Coffee.

One historical thing about the city you live in no one knows?

Ravan is believed to be born in village Bisrakh in Noida.

Dusshera festival is not celebrated in this village.

One print job you love?

Any shrink sleeves where we get do innovative embellishments.

One print innovator you want to meet?

Benny Landa.

One phrase, you utter at least once a day?

“Kya Haal Chal”.

printing quality due to commercial and availability limitations. We want to change that,” he adds.

At the end of the day, Taurus prides itself to be one of the most innovative packaging companies in India. “The bottom and top line is critical for any business, but from time to time we do invest in our R&D infrastructure. We have a dedicated R&D lab and technicians. Our biggest-ever innovation has been the HIP Framework, which is helping our clients,” he concludes.n www.printweek.in

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PROFILE TECHNOMEC

Technomec goes interational, starts a facility in Middle East Santej-based Technomec in Gujarat kickstarted 2021 with the launch of a 1,35,000 sqft facility in Ras-Al-Khaimah, UAE. Abhishek Muralidharan finds more about the company’s horizonal expansion plans

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echnomec has been a manufacturer and exporter of rotogravure cylinders for the last 30 years. With its new facility in UAE, the company now aims to produce close to 70,000 electronically engraved cylinders annually. And with the combined strength of the India and UAE units, the roll manufacturer has set sights to produce close to 8,000 base cylinders per month.

The new set-up boasts a full-fledged infrastructure – right from the raw material preparation and base cylinder manufacturing to electronic engraving. The infrastructure consists of an in-house cylinder fabrication unit having CNC machining centres, computerised dynamic balancing, bore and cylindrical grinding machines and a full-fledged Galvano line. While its polishing department features the latest CFM and a 3.6m wide Polishmaster.

Besides this, the unit is equipped with the latest electronic engravers and hardware and software accessories to generate near-laser results. The company also employs fully colour-managed graphics workflow supported with GMG and proofing kits, which enables the company to produce both – shaft-less as well as fixedshaft cylinders.

When PrintWeek asked about the strategic decision for choosing the UAE, Amal Amin, director, Technomec Roll Manufacturing, says, “Along with our Santej unit, this set-up will give us the geographical edge to tap the Gulf 96 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

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Cooperation Council (GCC) and also cater to Europe, Africa and Asia – the major markets for gravure printing – in minimum time-frames. Apart from this, as the work environment and time-zone of UAE resembles India, both units can work in synchronisation. I am confident that this venture will surely help us increase our global market share.”

Technomec – at a glance

The company was established by Amal’s father Nehal Amin in 1988 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Technomec began its journey with steel-base cylinders, which gained traction in the market on account of interests from leading industry players such as Huhtamaki, ITC and Amcor. It has been catering to these companies for more than a decade now.

In 2006, Technomec forward-integrated into copper-plating by installing an automatic copper plating line, which was further supported with the inclusion of a Daetwyler Polishmaster in 2013. The Santej-based company then ventured into

electronic engraving in 2016 with two Ohio Spectrums, one Hell K500G3 and two Hell K5 Smarts engravers.

The company boasts of being acknowledged and endorsed by major OEMs such as W&H, Rotomec, Pelican and K-Walter and converters such as Constantia, Huhtamaki, Amcor, ITC, VPP and Vijayneha Polymers among other companies.

The horizontal expansion

Industry experts say that the flexible packaging market comprises 80% gravure printed and 20% flexo printed jobs. This highlights gravure’s dominance in the Indian market. However, as there have been a range of developments in flexo, especially in Europe, which has a 50-50 gravure-flexo ratio and the USA with flexo having an upper hand, Amin foresees substantial growth for the industry. And thus, Technomec has lined up to cater to the flexo market as well with new facilities for platemaking and other hybrid services.

However, as gravure still has a competi-

The rotogravure cylinder specialist has lined up itself to cater to the flexo market as well with the addition of platemaking services in its horizontal expansion plans www.printweek.in

, t

With its new facility in Ras-Al-Khaimah, UAE, the company now aims to produce close to 70,000 electronically engraved cylinders annually TECHNOMEC FACT FILE Established in 1988 Location Santej, Gujarat, India and Ras-Al-Khaimah, UAE Speciality Rotogravure cylinders Equipment (in UAE) Cylinder fabrication unit - CNC, computerised dynamic balancing, bore and cylindrical grinding machines and a full-fledged Galvano line. The polishing department CFM and a 3.6m wide Polishmaster Turnover USD 10 million

tive price advantage over flexo, Amin mentions that flexo has a long way to go.

“There could be some applications, where flexo might have an upper hand, but these applications will also provide the gravure industry with an opportunity to explore newer avenues and offer a competitive advantage. Moreover, in regions such as Asia, where the consumption volumes are more and job runs are long, gravure is eventually cost-effective and beneficial,” says Amin.

He adds, “Gravure is not going to be replaced anytime soon in India, but flexo is catching up. So, it is going to be an interesting mix, and it all depends on how one changes with time and adapts to newer technologies. This is the reason we have devised plans for horizontal expansion to extend our stake as one of the major vendors in the industry.”

Market challenges

The customer expectations of cylinder deliveries in crashed lead times is the biggest challenge in the gravure market.

“This is why we have equipped all our manufacturing facilities under one roof.

This enables us with an opportunity to reduce and control our manufacturing time better,” says Amin.

In addition to the delivery time-frames, Amin highlights that printers and converters are striving to achieve reductions in set-up time, on-line wastages, optimise press speeds and most importantly, reduce machine downtime. “We have certainly www.printweek.in

enhanced our capabilities to cater to these industry demands as our dynamically balanced printing cylinders help printing machines to run at higher speeds with lesser wear and tear.”

Gravure presses on the rise

As compared to earlier times, procuring a gravure cylinder is not as tedious with a fortnight waiting period. Plus, the cylinder cost has reduced. However, there has been a steep cost reduction, as converters are looking to cut corners by compromising on quality, explains Amin.

“This is why we had to define our paths differently. As the industry has evolved and evolved for the good, we have equipped ourselves with advanced technologies at our disposal to take care of the tediousness and the monotony of operations. This enables manufacturers like us to combine our vast industry experience with innovations to produce high-quality cylinders.”

Besides the cylinders, the gravure presses have also evolved significantly in recent years with the increasing demand for packaging jobs. “We are seeing more and more high-speed gravure presses with longer cylinder lengths, which are boosting the demand for good cylinders as it is a prerequisite for print quality.”

“We are expecting substantial growth in the number of gravure press installations in the country, which will give a boost to our business,” concludes Amin. n 10 May 2021

Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 97

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to PrintWeek Power 100

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hese are nightmarish times. After skipping it in 2020, we return with The Power 100 in 2021. The story, this year, has been dominated by the deathly effects of the Covid-19 calamity. The economy has teetered with the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping across India.

Somehow it seems inappropriate to talk about profitability and processes to celebrate professionalism and production when a nation is reeling. But here we are. As they say, the show must go on...

Several companies we have spoken to have taken a body blow. Many commercial print firms have slipped off the radar in the Power 100, as the traditional print buyers have chosen to snap their wallet shut in these uncertain times. And yet (some say, we are being optimistic), key print sectors have grown year-on-year. Printing plates and printing inks are witnessing growth. The demand cycle is undented.

Why so?

Well, in the past 12 months, we saw popular brands adapt to online consumers and consumers in the rural markets. This has impacted packaging design and product packs. Lots of international and Indian brands have opted for smaller schemes for their products. This means products in the price range from Rs 5 to Rs 20. The changes have been visible in the packaging products.

The team spoke to Rajesh Subramaniam, president and COO, FedEx. He explained how the company used the crises that surrounded the Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity. It dates back to May 2019, well before the pandemic, when FedEx decided to double down on eCommerce because of the resurgence of the category. To deliver, FedEx relies on 670 aircrafts, 2,00,000 motorised vehicles, but the most important asset is its 6,00,000 frontline team members.

Unknown to the rest of the world, a similar saga is playing out with the print and packaging industry.

Many firms in the Power 100 followed a similar model. Many CEOs mentioned to us about how they went from a five-day network to a seven-day network. And so, when the Covid-19 pandemic came along and people stayed at home, the industry was delivering everyone’s personal supply chains. A top CEO told us that his company has 99.99% delivery accuracy. This is a mind-boggling statistic. More so, when you remember most of these firms transport around a million boxes per day, and each of those boxes are scanned 20-30 times. Everything needs to be perfect.

The point is that the pandemic has highlighted the danger of relying fully on old methods.

Sales have risen for those firms that have altered their old ways. This is notwithstanding hurdles such as unprecedented price hikes and raw material availability. Many companies in the Power 100 have taken full control of the customer journey — from virtual approvals to their userfriendly track-and-trace to better coordination platforms. As a result, some of the companies in the Power 100 have posted their best financial performance in years.

With a record-breaking 7,474 votes (registered and verified), the industry lent support to The Power 100. In addition to the votes, the edit team members looked at profitability and performance and products and print buyer ratings. Plus we doffed our hat to those who maintained high standards (and high morale) and deserved to be India’s most important print and packaging firms. We congratulate The Power 100 companies. We thank the print and packaging industry for serving, We, the People in these tragic times.

Noel D’cunha Managing editor, PrintWeek and WhatPackaging?

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GN Visvakumar Rajams Digital, Chennai Launched in 2008, Rajams caters to the designing and print production market in Chennai, with an array of designers, executives and technical staff who are well-versed in their fields. It is one of the few companies in Chennai having digital and offset printing with finishing in the same premises serving customers for both short- and long-run jobs.

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Peter Anil Rego Brilliant Printers, Bengaluru Brilliant is the word to describe the company, which has been delivering exceptional print solutions since 1970. Its cutting-edge infrastructure is matched with a highly dedicated and proficient manpower, committed to quality, passionate attention to detail and quick turnaround. It specialises in books, Bibles, journals, diaries, especially low gsm paper printing.

TP Pandey Taco Visions, Mumbai A creative enterprise established in 2000, Taco Visions explores the new facets of innovative print communications. Under the aegis of Pandey, a wellknown name in industry for the last 30 years, the company has grown manifold with the latest print technology, infrastructure and a pool of talented individuals with expertise in lenticular and 3-D printing.

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Himanshu, Rahul and Karan Kapur JK Fine Prints, Navi Mumbai A specialist in self-adhesive label printing and a supplier to leading companies in India and overseas, the company boasts of knowledge and experience in the self-adhesive label industry.

Karan, Himanshu and Rahul belong to a family which has a brand name in the industry for more than 30 years, and have been careful and consistent in its quality, delivery, pricing. Read the case-study on page 60.

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MN Pandey and Himanshu Pandey Avantika Printers, New Delhi Over the years, MN Pandey has built Avantika as a distinctly different print production company. Understanding of client inputs, interpreting the non-specific requirements and providing cost-effective solution is its core competence. “Personal attention to each assignment and meticulous care for details is our USP,” Pandey says.

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Deepan Samarth Sai Paks, Pune Samarth laid the foundation of Sai Paks in 1994. He toiled through it all and turned his struggles into opportunities, as he worked relentlessly to establish a firm with honesty, transparency and quality as its underpinning. He built a team that understood and respected these three parameters as their ideals. Today, with over two decades of experience and more than 400 loyal customers, Sai has carved a niche for itself.

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AMSG Ashokan Jeyagraham Art Crafts, Sivakasi Industrialist and educationist, Ashokan is the former president of the AIFMP, and the current Congress MLA from Sivakasi. His company, Jeyagraham, is a service provider of calendars and diaries, books, posters and pamphlets.

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Bimal Mehta Vakils Premedia, Mumbai A subsidiary of Vakil & Sons, a 66- year-old printing and publishing business, the company creates, manages and processes information through its integrated pre-media services, including packaging, pre-press, page composition, colour management, data conversion, ePublishing, and cross media services. Infrastructure and IT security systems, supported by graphic designers, software developers and pre-media technologists, are its strong points.

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Jiten Shadija Shiv Offset, Indore Joining the company in 2005, at the age of 20, Shadija’s strategy was to acquire and grow. His company was the only manufacturing unit in the state that provided packaging material for pharma. “That’s not all, we took care of our people, distributed three-lakh vitamin tablets and two-lakh face masks to the local municipal and police authorities,” he says.

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Ravindra Reddy SD Packaging, Secunderabad Reddy established SD Packaging in 2018 with all new equipment — from pre-press to post-press. Then he converted the facility to a UV-enabled press. Reddy joined his family business in commercial and books printing in 2001, and as the segment became competitive, he set up a new facility to cater to packaging printing. There are more expansions in the offing.

10 May 2021

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WhatPackaging?

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90

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RV Maheshwari Orient Press, Mumbai From being a canvasser to packaging major, Maheshwari has seen it all, as Orient continues to evolve, offering services in commercial and security printing, flexible packaging and printed cartons.

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Rakesh Khandelwal Nextgen Printers, Kolkata / Sikkim Khandelwal and his partners began Nextgen in 2009 with a plant in Sikkim. Once that plant was busy, they commissioned a greenfield project in Kolkata. Now, Nexgen has two factories plus a corrugation plant in the name of Brilliant Packaging. Khandelwal and his partners have achieved quite a lot in spite of having no godfather in the industry.

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Amit Shah Spectrum Scan, Vasai Shah’s logic is simple: the market wants quality product at a good price; produce it profitably. Spectrum’s four units in Vasai’s industrial area is spread across 120,000sqft, and has one of the most advanced manufacturing set-ups. With 25+ years of experience in creating and manufacturing innovative point-of-sale products, Spectrum has established itself as a retail brand building specialist.

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SFA Print, Sivakasi Srinivas, with his mantra of ‘Go ahead and keep trying,’ has helped SFA become one of the leading book printers in Sivakasi. With fresh ideas and strong leadership, the company has carved a niche for itself through a commitment to integrity and quality. Today, with cutting-edge technology and equipment, it offers services, such as book printing, book binding, and stationery printing.

Singhania Offset Printers, Hyderabad From a humble beginning in the year 1982, the company has grown manifold over the years to establish itself as a leader in packaging printing — from cartons to flexible packaging.

Nilesh Dhankani Quarterfold Printabilities, Navi Mumbai What started as a two-person team in 2014 has now turned into Quarterfold Printabilities, which has recently expanded at a new factory in the areas of print management, content development and publication support for its clients in Africa. Within a span of six years, the company has operated the youngest and most advanced book presses in India.

Read the Quarterfold growth story on page 72.

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Birju Talati Metro Printers, Surat With Talati at the helm, Metro responded to the changes in the traditional print mindset with a thoughtful new work process in the midst of the pandemic. “Diversification is a must,” he says. So, the company diversified from offset to digital, and went a step ahead to become a book printer and a manufacturer and supplier of sublimation paper and ecofriendly paper bags for eCommerce operations.

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Influence

O Venugopal and Anoop Venugopal Anaswara Offset, Kochi Anaswara owes its almost four decades of excellence to the dedication of its three founder directors, including O Venugopal.

Today, building upon their work, business operations are helmed by the second generation. From introducing Kerala’s first four-colour Heidelberg, the company has been upscaling its infrastructure and prides itself on accomplishing every print and packaging challenge brought to it.

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R Suresh and Magesh Karthik ST Reddiar Sons, Kochi ST Reddiar has been around for a hundred years, and Suresh has been at the helm for the past few decades. With the next-gen joining in, in addition to book publishing and newspapers, it has been creating a model which ensures print has to work in order to deliver round-the clock products. The company’s mission is to keep itself up-todate; like seeking eco-options for plastic polymers.

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Sandeep Jain Manali Carton, Chennai The ISO 9001-2015 certified company manufactures corrugated outer boxes, UV printed value-added cartons, with complex processes and automatic lines on a shopfloor with all processes under one roof, from design to dispatch. And during the lockdown last year, the company went for an ERP system. The aim was, “better lead times, OTIF deliveries, with consistent quality levels and customer delight,” Jain says.

A Dhanesekaran Safire Offset Printers, Sivakasi Dhanasekaran has led Safire to be one of India’s leading commercial colour printing firms. Having carved a niche for itself as a high-quality printing house, the company has emerged as the ultimate printing destination for those who value compelling graphic design, competitive pricing, and deadline requirements.

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Minesh Patel Shreedhar Printers, Ahmedabad Established in 1990, and promoted by Patel, Shreedhar and Shivkrupa Printers, have been one of the key service providers to the publishing as well as textile industry. The ever-smiling Patel has now entered the label segment, investing in a flexo press and a high-end inspection system.

“If you have to run a print business, you need a lot of passion, for sure, but it’s really perseverance that matters,” he says.

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Mandar and Abhijit Ugar Vikram Printers, Pune Established in 1964, Vikram Printers has made a name for itself with its quality in printing, sound economics and integrity in all business dealings. In 2020, the company started a label division, Ugar Labels, offering packaging solutions to the food, pharma, FMCG, spirit and beverages, among other. It also runs a publication division, Wordsmith Publications, and Wordsmith Infotech, which creates digital educational solutions.

Rajeev Chhatwal Kwality Offset, New Delhi Kwality has been offering label printing services for over 50 years now. As one of the leading labels specialists of India, Chhatwal has been following the legacy of providing quality and services to FMCG companies, including liquor, food and healthcare. The company uses conventional offset printing, narrow-web flexo and digital press and all the three verticals run parallel in its premise.

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Saubhagyanidhi Seksaria and Niten Shah Vyjack Packaging, Bhiwandi Vyjack is a joint venture between Mumbai’s New Jack Printing Press and Pune’s Vyoma Graphics. Both Seksaria and Shah were contemplating to venture into the packaging space. The reason: the growth trajectory vis-a-vis commercial printing, which has limited scope for growth. “Being together gives us better leverage to set up a successful packaging company,” says Seksaria.

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Ashish Agarwal, Neeraj Bhardwaj, and Prabhat Kumar Shri Balaji Publications, Muzaffarnagar, UP The publisher-printer recently installed an entire range of hard cover machines from Impel. The reason: the two-decade old company produces a wide array of books for various competitive entrance examinations and central boards, and in these hard times, they needed a hard cover. The founders say, “We do not compromise in the quality of content and naturally, this gets extended to the print and binding quality.”

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Nirav Shah Letra Graphix, Ahmedabad Shah is the man behind the success of Letra, the PrintWeek Innovative Printer of 2019. In the last 26 years, the company, which offers customised and cost-effective self-adhesive labels, has seen happy customers coming back for more work. “Innovation is the key to success and this is what I love doing the most,” he says. “I have always put in my best in each customer to give them the most innovative way of decorations in their requirement.”

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Deepanshu Goel Creative Graphics, Noida A self-taught artist with good entrepreneurial abilities and great motivation, Goel has steered Creative from modest beginnings to a premier pre-press trade shop in India. The company lives by the basic principle of quality and customer satisfaction. “Our thirst for the highest quality parameters and continuous upgradation of technology has given us an edge over our competitors,” Goel says.

Ashok and Ayush Khetan CorruCase, Telangana It is India’s first corrugated facility to run on 80% solar power. The captive solar rooftop plant, along with other sustainability measures, has helped the company achieve over 40% carbon neutrality. “Aligned to our customers’ global sustainable goals, we are working towards achieving 100% carbon neutrality in our process in the next 10 years,” says Ayush Khetan. Read more on page 46.

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Amol and Nikhil Borkar Borkar Packaging, Goa The carton packaging czars from Goa are happy to stay in the paper and paperboard segment. And why not?

They are making a killing at it. “There are many value additions that can be done in a product and this is where we consult with brand managers. Supply chain manager engagement happens for finalisation of location and logistics management deliver,” they say.

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Vineeth Bhandari Managing director Divya Impex, Bengaluru Following his father’s footsteps, Bhandari has infused fresh energy to make Divya a global leader in brand security products, such as security holograms and hologram labels. The main focus of business is in meeting the needs of customers, which often translate into the creation of innovative security products.

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Gautam Tholasi Tholasi Prints India, Bengaluru Established in 1972, the company has enjoyed consistent growth and success, acknowledged by its clients and industry awards for excellence. It uses state-of-the-art technology and make sure that its infrastructure is suitable to take on projects that are challenging.

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Ganpat Lodha Director Lodha Offset, Jodhpur Recognised by the government of India as a Star Export House, Lodha has ensured that the company is known for its quality, consistency, timely delivery and transparent communication. It offers office stationery and printed covers for mono cartons and packaging, and “a business relationship that lasts forever.”

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Anirudh Khemka and Snehashish Ganguly Exquisite Print & Pack, Kolkata With Exquisite, Khemka and Ganguly have built a packaging brand with mono cartons. It aims to achieve two million cartons per day. “And we, also aimed to bring professionalism in the old school print culture of Kolkata,” says Khemka. Read more on page 58.

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Bharat Gupta Shuban Prints, Jaipur A young and dynamic entrepreneur, Gupta recently overhauled its post-press segment with automatic machines to service its customers and witnessed a 35% rise in its customer portfolio.

“Technology and brand matter when you approach print buyers,” he says.

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Rajesh Nema Managing director Pragati Graphics, Indore Already one of Central India’s most advanced packaging companies, Pragati recently invested in print inspection systems to achieve a ‘zero rejection’ level of print quality.

With this, Nema sees a potential to “improve our print quality and our productivity even more.”

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Sanjay Gupta and Saurabh Gupta SBM Print Media, Rai, Haryana Recently, the Guptas steered the company towards concentric diversification by launching a specialised warehousing and logistic facility while moving to a newly developed space of 3-lakh sqft. “We have freshly inducted around Rs 30-cr in our recent expansion programme,” Sanjay Gupta says.

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Faheem Agboatwala Managing director Hi-Tech Printing Services, Mumbai Beating deadlines since 1988,” the company is focused on pharmaceutical packaging, including mono cartons, patient literature, and publicity material. Agboatwala’s advice to the industry – “Accept your mistakes and move on; the earlier the better.” The heart and soul of BMPA, he created a Covid response taskforce with the industry biggies.

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Abhisek Kapoor Meghdoot Group, New Delhi As India witnessed a retail boom a couple of years ago, with brands exploring the myriad possibilities of point-of-purchase (POP), Meghdoot, a leader in corrugated boxes, equipped itself to translate a print idea from marketers into eye-popping reality.

And the journey continues.

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Hemendra, Lokesh and Amit Agarwal Miracle Group of Companies, Jaipur It’s indeed a miracle how the company, founded by the three brothers in 2011, has emerged as one of India’s largest manufacturers of corrugated boxes, mono cartons, adhesive labels, and blow-moulding jars. Now, they aspire to develop India’s first packaging park, not an impossible dream for the company with 1,500 employee and a turnover of Rs 400-crore.

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Chetan Jain Taurus Packaging, Greater Noida A specialist in short-run shrink sleeve labels, with the mission to solve the problems of its clients, Jain recently invested in HIP Framework to deliver short-run shrink sleeves with faster turnaround time. “Limitation of MOQ shouldn’t lead to compromise on packaging. We offer shrink sleeves with practically no MOQ,” he says. Read more on page 87

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Aman, Amit and Vikas Gulati Galaxy Offset, Manesar The three Gulati brothers manage the commercial, packaging and corrugation divisions of the company, making it a pioneer specialist in industry, with an experience of over two decades, owing to a perfect symbiosis between the highest standards of printing technology, creative implementation, and unwavering commitment to quality.

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Sanjeev Sondhi Zircon Technologies, Dehradun For Sondhi, flexo printing is an art. “If you print the job as you receive it, it becomes a routine mechanical task.

When we add our touch using our expertise and skill, it results in a much-improved print,” he says. This is one of the reasons of Zircon’s success as a multi-location label converter with four plants operational and one under construction, in a short span of 12 years.

KG Sharma Miraj Multicolour, Udaipur Established in 2001, under Sharma’s leadership, the company has earned a name as a reputed office stationery products manufacturer. Complete with hi-tech technology, huge infrastructure and a skilled workforce, the company serves as a printing and packaging solutions provider, from pre-press to post-press, with the production capacity of 20 to 25-million cartons per month and exercise book capacity of 3.50-lakh per day.

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Asgar and Latif Sanchawala Progressive Printing Press, Surat Winner of the 2018 PrintWeek SME Company of the Year Award, and one of the oldest printers in Surat, the company has aggressively upgraded its facilities to print high-end fashion catalogues. Now, with the second generation joining in, the company has opted for digital printing and has invested in chemical-free technology, as “it is the key for a better tomorrow.” Read more on page 68.

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Gururaj and Gopi Ballarwad iTekPackz, Bengaluru Gururaj Ballarwad is an old hand when it comes to label and packaging. So, it was given that he will make any venture he is associated with a successful one. iTek was formed in 2013, accommodating the folding carton operations of Wintek after ITW Signode retained Wintek’s flexo division, and today, it has built a solid market for itself.

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Nitin Patil Numex Blocks, Mumbai Established in 1985 as a design and processing studio for packaging artworks, Patil has created a company which can help brand’s journey to the market with a commitment to quality. It recently invested in an Esko imaging line, as Patil believes “the ability to produce the quality plates improves our agility to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers.”

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Sanjay Patel Param Packaging, Silvassa Patel manages a professional packaging printing unit equipped with quality control lab, ink kitchen and strong printing department, offering creative packaging solutions to its global customers. Operating from a built-up area of 30,000-sqft, it employs 250 permanent and contract workmen, producing more than 500-million cartons annually.

KVS and Nikhil Warrier Saptagiri Packaging, Thane The Warriers have built a company committed to the highest levels of customer service and quality manufacturing, where it doesn’t settle for ‘good enough’. With a reputation for meeting deadlines and working to contain budgets, the company is dedicated to developing lasting business relationships by putting each customer’s needs first.

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Vikas, Vivek and Vinod Khanna Ajanta Print Arts, Navi Mumbai Started in 1952 as a commercial art studio, at the hand of the third generation, Ajanta has now become a packaging company offering packaging and publicity solutions. And successive investments have made it capable of producing litho laminated, folding cartons, plastic cartons, blister cards, shelf-ready packs and others.

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Rajesh and Nitin Shah Award Offset Printers & Packaging, Mumbai Founded in 1972 by their father, the Shah brothers have added their brand of hard work and passion to make Award a name synonymous with excellence and quality in the industry, becoming one of the leading manufacturers of printed packaging materials.

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BK Manjunath Global Printing & Packaging, Bengaluru Over the years, Manjunath has built a future-proof business – a two-level plant which houses offset and flexo operations, offering packaging solutions that combine state-of-the-art printing, rapid turnaround, and optimum value.

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Anuj Bhargava Kumar Labels, New Delhi Bhargava started the company in 2007 with the objective of becoming a label provider that would not only offer consistent quality, but also quick delivery at reasonable prices, offering cut and stack and self-adhesive labels in roll or sheet form. And to say that he has succeeded beyond the goal is an understatement.

Abhishek, Animesh and Sunil Kejriwal Parksons Graphics, Mumbai Starting with printing playing cards, the Kejriwals have, over the years, set up a full-fledged commercial printing facility which can deliver jobs of the highest quality. The next-gen at Parksons are changing the game.

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Kuldip and Naveen Goel Any Graphics, New Delhi The story of Any Graphics is the story of innovation.

You notice any innovative package and label, chances are it’s done by the Goels, in turn making the company a brand unto itself. And they are not stopping anytime soon.

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Rohit Badlani Uvbiz, Indore Badlani is a lesson in how to create a niche business and make it successful. So, in 2018, the director of Indore-based MB Industries set up a flexible printing business to plug the gap for smaller flexible packaging requirements. The rest, as they say, is history.

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Manish Desai Mudrika Labels, Vasai Desai and his two brothers have always kept an eye on the market, and have created labels which are special, reinforcing the theory that from small beginnings big things can develop. Started in 1976, Mudrika owns and operates an offset-based corrugation unit in Daman and Bhilad; a packaging plant in Vasai; a label-stock material plant; and a joint venture with a South Korean partner for manufacturing heat transfer films, decals and in-mould labels.

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KV Prasad Label Kingdom (Kora Pack), Chennai As the name suggests, Prasad has indeed built a kingdom providing all kinds of label and packaging solutions. His print power: a new plant, 1.40-lakh sqft facility in the outskirts of Chennai equipped with seven multi-colour offset press, a gravure machine, a slew of post-press machines and 10 rigid box making machines capable of producing 1.2-mn mobile boxes per month.

Janus and Denver Annunciation Janus International, Navi Mumbai The 24-year-old company currently has over 300 customers, and during the pandemic, the brothers ensured that they meant business, and that everyone on the shopfloor is equal. “We decided to lead from the front, and ensured that we were present at the factory daily,” says Denver Annunciation.

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Harish Gupta Sai Com Codes Flexoprint and Digistik, Sonipat Started around 14 years ago, the company today has print production facilities in Sonipat and Guwahati, and a new unit is coming up in Vapi. “We are aiming to be a one-stop solution provider. We want to cater to brands of all sizes,” Gupta says.

With around 250 people working for the company, its major business comes from FMCG, liquor and food segments.

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Nilesh Todi Canpac Trends, Ahmedabad Earlier this year, JM Financial Private Equity invested Rs 600-million to fund the company’s current expansion plans. This speaks volumes about how Todi, a first-generation entrepreneur, has successfully scaled the business over the years, making it a fast-growing packaging player in the country with a key focus on folding cartons and corrugated boxes.

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P Srinivas Rao KL Hi-Tech Secure Print, Hyderabad Established in 1986, KL today is one of India’s leading security printers, which can boast of producing 340+ million Aadhaar cards to date. “To become successful, protecting data and uptime were critical, but we also looked beyond. Security is about protecting employees, picking up the perfect equipment solution, and ensuring proper supplies on which the business depends,” Rao says.

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Amit Banga SB Packagings, New Delhi Banga turned SB Packagings into one of the largest manufacturers of specialised PE bags and films in India following four mantras — quality, innovation, sustainability and service. He takes care of innovation and sustainability. “SB Packaging is at the forefront of sustainable packaging, which essentially means recyclable packaging based on mono materials,” he says.

Vinod Vazhapulli Skanem Interlabels, Mumbai With two decades of experience across industries, after he rejoined the company in January 2019, Vazhapulli set his eyes on increasing foothold in Asia and Africa, with “continuous improvement, trust and team spirit”. “I keep them in mind on a daily basis and live up to them by taking care of employees, putting systems in place, investing in training, and being transparent,” he says.

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Romi Vohra Repro India, Mumbai When it comes to print on demand, Repro remains the leader, and rightly so, as one of the early players to embrace the concept, the company went all out and made it its own, beside establishing itself as a comprehensive, international publishing industry services company.

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CJ Jassawalla Thomson Press, New Delhi Established in 1967, Thomson Press is known in equal parts for its state-of-the-art infrastructure, skilled team, robust processes and adoption of the latest technological advances, and also for Jassawalla’s innate skill in heading the commercial print business comprising of offset and digital printing, with five manufacturing units.

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Chittranjan and Manu Choudhury CDC Printers, Kolkata For Manu Choudhury, the idea of flow is the most important skillset in business and management. “We don’t start any job unless we have everything that we need to complete the job,” he says. And this is how, from a humble beginning in 1990, CDC has come a long way, equipped with unmatched technology, infrastructure, people, processes, and enhanced with stringent quality control at every stage of the print assignment.

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Maneck Davar Spenta Multimedia, Mumbai Established in 1995 with a single magazine, Davar has turned Spenta into a leading media house for custom publishing in terms of number of magazines and revenue.

The Rs 80-crore organisation, with a combined print production capacity of over 1-million magazines a month, Spenta has around 285 employees with offices in five cities.

Manish Sharma Printo, Bengaluru India has a big potential for web2print and Sharma knows how to leverage it. So, the retail print shop chain, with presence in six cities, went ahead and acquired Inkmonk and Canvera, making it the largest online printing services destination. With the aim to make printing a simple and hassle-free process for both business customers and individuals, Sharma wants to make Printo a professional print retail chain. Read his Guest Editorial on Page 33.

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Ankit and Ashim Mehra York Print & Pack, Guwahati The Mehras picked up a geography hitherto ignored and single-headedly captured the packaging market in the North East, becoming one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of printed folded cartons and corrugation boxes in India. All thanks to founding director Ashim Mehra’s expertise and insights to bring solutions to the most complex challenges in printing and packaging procedures.

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V Ramesh and S Ramu Chennai Micro Print, Chennai Who says you need to choose between commercial and packaging? You can do both and do it well, as Ramesh proves, making the company a one-stop book printing solution and innovative packaging provider. “The key strategy for our plant is dedicated infrastructure for our book printing and packaging line — one plant with two units,” Ramesh says.

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VS Raveendran Sel-Jegat Printers, Sivakasi With confidence, business acumen, and a bevy of equipment for multiple technologies — flexo, intermittent, offset, Raveendran has built a label factory to be proud of. He says: “We try permutations and combinations. We try to complete special requirements of special application labels with multiple passes on different presses,” he says.

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Priyata Raghavan and Arvind Sekhar Sai Packaging, Bengaluru Family-owned, yet professionally managed, Sai, established in 1996, continues to raise the bar in the packaging segment, thanks to the enterprising and futuristic direction of Sekhar and Raghavan, making it a preferred provider for cutting-edge print packaging solutions across diverse business verticals.

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C Rajesh Srinivas Fine Arts, Sivakasi A case study in what a book printer should do right, Srinivas Fine Arts today is one of Asia’s leading printing and book producing companies.

The credit goes to R Chockalingam, Rajesh’s father, who started with outsourcing printing services, slowly building up his own identity.

When Rajesh took over, the company’s boundaries revolutionised from a printing company to an international publisher and stationery brand with ultra-modern printing facilities. Rajesh has taken the legacy forward, adding packaging to its portfolio of offerings.

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K Selvakumar and Senthil Kadarakarai Lovely Offset Printers, Sivakasi Started by their father C Kadarkarai in 1961, specialising in the printing of self-designed papers and wedding cards, the brothers today manage a state-of-the-art facility employing about 800 people with a large customer base in India and abroad, manufacturing diaries, calendars, invitation cards, wedding cards and stationery under its brand Lovely Cards.

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Shabbir Muchhala Silverpoint Press, Navi Mumbai Those who are quick to write obituaries for commercial printing need to study how Muchhala has kept Silverpoint relevant with changing times. He introduced cuttingedge technologies resulting in Silverpoint delivering unparalleled quality. Please read about how Silverpoint underwent a transformation in terms of automation and expansion of its services including its online presence printnation.in on page 80.

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Kamal Chopra Foil Printers, Ludhiana Chopra is a man with a mission, a mission to make print grow and shine. He is a force of nature, a print evangelist, who, while leading organisations like the OPA and the AIFMP, has always worked towards making printing a viable business, especially in small-town India. The industry needs more people like Chopra who leads from the front.

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Pranav Joshi Temple Packaging, Mumbai It is to Joshi’s credit, who looks after the marketing and finance of the company, established in 1994, that Temple has become one of the largest pharmaceutical cartons and printed leaflets manufacturer in the country, with manufacturing units in Daman, Baddi and Telangana, and a new plant in Indore for HDPE bottles.

This means an active involvement in monitoring quality and service levels to ensure a high standard of customer satisfaction.

Aaditya Kashyap Marks Emballage, Baddi Started in 2013 with a modest label production facility, Marks Emballage today caters to some of the key names in the pharma industry, all thanks to Kashyap’s penchant for planning. “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail,” he says. “An actionable business plan is like a GPS on the road to reach the business destination. We need to start by defining and selecting the best route.” He sure did.

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Sanjay Bhatia Hindustan Tin Works, New Delhi In the last 40 years, Sanjay Bhatia helped HTW to become one of the top metal packagers in India. Initially, the Sonipat plant was making cans for edible oils. Now it manufactures cans for both food and non-food products. No wonder HTW exports its products to more than 30 countries around the world. Bhatia, as president of the Metal Container Manufacturers Association of India, has been spearheading an aggressive drive to reclaim the clout of metal cans.

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KV Vishnu Raju Hitech Print Systems, Krishna, Andhra Pradesh Established in 1986, and one of the early players in India to implement variable data printing, Hitech today has two facilities-Vijayawada and Sangareddy in Telangana.

It specialises in printing of examination related material for the recruitment boards, universities along with security documents and have a product share of 85% in the educational/examination related sector.

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Aditya Patwardhan Manohar Packaging, Mumbai With three manufacturing units in Mumbai, Goa and now in Patiala, Punjab, Patwardhan’s company is the one to beat when it comes to cartons, labels, and canisters. The proof? The 2019 PrintWeek Packaging Converter of the Year (Carton) Award.

Manohar Packaging’s 1,40,000-sqft factory in Punjab is up and running since January 2020.

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Anil Namugade and Milind Deshpande Trigon Digital Solutions, Mumbai A leading print and packaging solutions provider with an all-digital setup since 2007, Namugade and Deshpande have turned the company into a responsive packaging and printing solutions provider, with five operational locations in Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Dubai, and Singapore, and 200 employees.

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Dinakaran M Dina Color Lab, Chennai Weddings in India will never go out of fashion, and Dinakaran M has found a perfect business model to cash-in on it. With digital print shops all across Tamil Nadu, plus web2print facility, Dina has become a preferred destination for photo albums. “A company’s success depends on how well and fast we adapt with the growing technologies,” he says.

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Rajendra, Ayush and Pritesh Jain Vijayshri Packaging, Indore Winner of the PrintWeek SME Printing Company of the Year in 2019, Rajendra Jain, along with Pritesh and Ayush, have built Vijayshri to be a company equipped to provide total solutions for all kinds of folding cartons and litho laminated cartons, with an installed capacity of 1.25-crore cartons per month. Now, a new plant is in the offing. Read more on page 40.

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Ankit, Tejas and Bipin Tanna Printmann Group, Navi Mumbai Investments and reinventing the paradigm have remained central to the company’s strategy since its inception in 1987. The second generation– Tejas and Ankit – have spearheaded the company’s growth as it continues to build capabilities in cartons, leaflets, labels, and aluminium foil printing.

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Manish Patel The South India Paper Mills What happens when a paper mills enters into corrugation? The answer is SIPM. With three paper machines, the plant’s current capacity is about 200 MT/day. Meanwhile, established in 2007, its printing and packaging division caters to brand owners who use paper-based packaging material, delivering superior value to its customers.

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Kirit Modi Horizon Packs, Bengaluru With over four decades of experience in the kraft paper and corrugated box industry, Modi, who started Horizon in 1991, has established a pan-India presence for the group with manufacturing locations across the country.

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TOP PACKAGING INDUSTRY PLAYERS (MATERIAL WISE) RIGID PLASTICS  Manjushree Technopack

 Moldtek Packaging

 Hitech Corporation

 Time Technoplast

 Parekhplast

 Rajshree Polypack

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 AVI Global Plast

PAPERBOARD BROWN BOX  Wadpack

 Empire Packages

 B&B Triplewall Containers

 WestRock India

 Supack Industries

 TGI Packaging

GLASS  Piramal Glass

 Hindusthan National Glass

 HSIL

 Haldyn Glass

 AGI Glaspac

 Borosil Glass Works

 Empire Industries

 Schott Kaisha

METAL  Tinplate Company of India

 Kaira Can Company

 JSW Platina

 Ball India

 Oricon Enterprises

 Casablanca Industries

 Zenith Tins

CAPS AND CLOSURES  Alupac India

 Amcor

 Oriental Packaging

 Guala Closures

 Plenco

 Cap & Seal

Himanshu Gupta S Chand & Company, Delhi The third-generation scion has been working toward bringing the company founded by his grandfather Shyam Lal Gupta in 1939, to the brave new world of today’s education publishing, making it one of the country’s largest educational publisher, maintaining leadership in K-12 content and solutions segment through a smart mix of technology, knowledge partnerships and inorganic growth.

 Scholle IPN

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09 Monica Malhotra Kandhari MBD Group, New Delhi Carrying forward her father’s legacy, Kandhari has taken the publishing business of MBD to newer heights making it one of India’s biggest education publishers. She single-handedly manages the entire gamut of businesses of the MBD Group of companies, including publishing, printing, eLearning, skill development, teacher training and project construction and design — not a mean feat.

08 Amila Singhvi International Print-o-Pac, New Delhi Singhvi is the first and perhaps the only woman in our industry to build a print empire. People who have worked with her call her accommodative. She listens and then she decides and delegates. A rare quality.

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A Bhalchandra Rajhans Enterprises, Bengaluru The Bengaluru people gets to reads their morning newspapers thanks to the efforts of A Bhalchandra to make Rajhans one of the leading printers in South India, rendering its services to all the major newspapers and magazines.

Perhaps the first Indian printer to own a Rolls Royce, Bhalchandra is in charge of all its units and their operations, customers and labour.

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Gautham Pai Manipal Technologies, Manipal With Gautham Pai at the helm, the 75-year-old company has 16 manufacturing facilities, three product and solution development facilities, and nine sales offices. His mantra? “We should be open to ideas and should consider other people’s opinions,” he says.

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Ramesh, Siddharth and Chaitanya Kejriwal Parksons Packaging, Mumbai With more than fifty years of experience, Ramesh Kejriwal and his two sons combine technical expertise with market insights to deliver customised solutions in the folding cartons segment. The company recorded revenue of around Rs 1,000-cr last fiscal, and recently received a Warburg boost with the private equity firm acquiring 80% stake in the company.

04

Narendra, Harsha and Hemanth Paruchuri Pragati Offset, Hyderabad Pragati’s key to success? “Knowledge is power,” said the senior Paruchuri while accepting the Viren Chabbra Print Leadership Award in January 2020. Another lesson is “adapt to change,” which the company displayed in its recent investment of a Komori Lithrone G 37, which, Paruchuri said, “will help meet the demand and challenges of post-Covid.”

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Saket, Akshay and Vidyut Kanoria TCPL Packaging, Mumbai Promoted by the Kanoria family, one of country’s largest manufacturers of folding cartons, with plants in Goa, Guwahati, Haridwar and Silvassa, the company’s latest investment has been in the 28,000-sqm Goa plant.

Akshay Kanoria says, “There’s a pull factor in attracting a product. The packaging should communicate the brand value and appeal to customers. For example, people don’t remember the taste of Toblerone, but they do remember its unique packaging.”

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Bhuvnesh, Vikaran and Sanandan Seth Managing directors Replika Press, Kundli In the last twenty years, Bhuvnesh Seth and his children have built Replika as a book printing powerhouse spreading three plants, and a fleet of equipment. Now, the company seeks to replicate the same success in the rigid box segment.

www.printweek.in

Spending power

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Well connected

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On the up

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R Senguttuvan ITC PPD, Chennai With rising complexity and proliferation of the number of packaging SKUs (especially during the past 12 months), there was a huge opportunity in automation, simplification of artwork creation, reproduction, approval and archival. With Senguttuvan at the helm, the PrintWeek Company of the Year 2019, with factories in Munger, Haridwar and Tiruvottiyur, the company remains the packaging converter to beat.

ITC’s secret? How it manages the complexity and variety plus nonstandardised assembly lines. For the Indian packaging industry, which is heavy on the action on the shop floor, the management needs to allocate both human and financial resources to maximise the usage of these emerging technologies and not lag behind. Team ITC did this with aplomb.

ALPHABETICAL LISTING / RANK Ajanta Print Arts Anaswara Offset Any Graphics Avantika Printers Award Offset Printers & Packaging Borkar Packaging Brilliant Printers Canpac Trends CDC Printers Chennai Micro Print CorruCase Creative Graphics Dina Color Labs Divya Impex Exquisite Print and Pack Foil Printers Galaxy Offset Global Printing & Packaging Hindustan Tin Works Hitech Print Systems Hi-Tech Printing Services Horizon Packs International Print-o-Pac ITC PPD iTek Packz

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49 83 44 96 48 69 99 38 32 28 70 71 15 68 65 22 57 47 19 18 61 11 08 01 53

Janus International Jeyagraham Art Crafts JK Fine Prints Kala Jyothi KL Hi-Tech Secure Print Kumar Labels Kwality Offest Label Kingdom/Kora Pack Letra Graphix Lodha Offset Lovely Offset Printers Manali Carton Manipal Technologies Manohar Packaging Marks Emballage MBD Group Meghdoot Group Metro Printers Miracle Group of Companies Miraj Multicolour Mudrika Labels Nextgen Printers Numex Blocks Orient Press Param Packaging

40 94 97 78 37 46 75 41 72 66 24 81 06 17 20 09 60 84 59 55 42 89 52 90 51

Parksons Graphics Parksons Packaging Pragati Graphics Pragati Offset Pravesha Industries Printmann Group Printo Progressive Printing Press Quarterfold Printabilities Rajams Digital Rajhans Enterprises Replika Press Repro India S Chand & Company Safire Offset Printers Sai Com Codes Flexoprint & Digistik Sai Packaging Sai Paks Saptagiri Packaging SB Packagings SBM Print Media SD Packaging Sel-Jegat Printers SFA Print Shiv Offset

45 05 63 04 79 13 30 54 85 100 07 02 34 10 80 39 26 95 50 36 62 91 27 87 92

Shreedhar Printers Shri Balaji Publications Shuban Prints Silverpoint Press Singhania Offset Printers Skanem Interlabels Spectrum Scan Spenta Multimedia Srinivas Fine Arts ST Reddiar Sons Taco Visions Taurus Packaging TCPL Packaging Temple Packaging The South India Paper Mills Tholasi Prints India Thomson Press Trigon Digital Solutions Uvbiz Vakils Premedia Vijayshri Packaging Vikram Printers Vyjack Packaging York Print & Pack Zircon Technologies

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VIRTUAL.DRUPA 2021 REVIEW

VIRTUAL DRUPA 2021: A STIM

GLOBAL PRINT AND PACKAGING

V

irtual.Drupa made history as the first purely digital version of the leading global trade fair for printing technologies, which took place from 20-23 April 2021.

Around 17,000 registered visitors from 155 nations logged in on the very first day to attend the 17th Virtual.Drupa 2021, the first-ever of its kind since 1951. The first day was packed with 660 minutes of “inspiring” and “cutting-edge” topics in the Conference Area, and 930 minutes of live web sessions and networked with 212 exhibitors from 45 countries in the Exhibition Space and Matchmaking Plaza.

Exhibtors, as well as team participants from global subsidiaries, presented their product portfolios and innovations within the online showrooms, and more than 125 live web sessions with an average of 140 participants was conducted during the four-day show.

Overall, there were around six lakh page views and 45,000 unique users, with international visitors from 155 countries making up more than 82% of the total number. “This highlighted the fact that Virtual.

Drupa has been able to provide access to potential customers on all continents and have been adopted as a digital platform for international knowledge transfer and networking opportunities,” said Erhard Wi e n k a m p, C O O a t Me s s e Düsseldorf.

At the Virtual.Drupa 2021, the international print and packaging community had the opportunity to participate in keynotes, panel discussions and live web sessions.

Major global players including Bobst, DuPont de Nemours, Electronics For Imaging, Esko, Fujifilm, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, HP, IST Metz, Koenig & Bauer, Kodak, Komori, Konica Minolta, Kurz, Kyocera, 154 PrintWeek Vol XIV Issue 1

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Landa, Siemens, Stora Enso, Windmöller & Hölscher and Xeikon among others were among the exhibitors and event partners.

Wienkamp added, “Virtual.

Drupa was implemented in order to maintain contact within the industry during the pandemic. The numbers demonstrate that we have achieved this. Virtual.Drupa enabled exhibitors and prospective customers to reinforce their networks, generate new leads and gather incentives for their corporate targets.”

Additional 130 presentations in the context of five special forums focussed on key issues as well as global mega-trends and their impact

on the industry. The presentations and discussion revolved around seeking solutions to questions such as: What role does AI play in the print and packaging industry? How can workflows and processes be optimised? How does product design drive innovation? And what role will the circular economy play in the industry? Whether specific use cases or long-term strategies for the future, the visions of renowned industry experts inspire, provide orientation and help develop concrete measures.

“We are delighted about the positive feedback we have received fro m p a r t i c i p a n t s,” S a b i n e Geldermann, project director print

technologies, Messe Dusseldorf confirms. “The overwhelming number of global players – both in terms of exhibitors and visitors – has resulted in an industry dialogue that was particularly important during this time. The wide spectrum of target visitor groups, profiles and areas of interest was impressive. This also applies to the exhibitors and their product portfolios along the entire value chain.”

Geldermann was also excited in anticipation of Drupa 2024, saying, "Many participants are already signalling that they are looking forward to this industry highlight and the live experiences". www.printweek.in

TIMULUS FOR

NG INDUSTRY CLAUS BOLZA-SCHÜNEMANN PRESIDENT OF DRUPA COMMITTEE

Claus Bolza-Schünemann, president of Drupa Committee, opened the 17th edition of Drupa, a virtual show this time around.

Bolza-Schünemann opened the doors for four consecutive days, each morning starting with a topnotch keynote, followed by a diversified programme for networking, attending live web sessions, and discuss with experts. Besides the keynotes, there were more than 250 live web sessions to cover the key messages of the Virtual.Drupa 2021 of artificial intelligence, circular and platform economy, as well as the connected customer.

“It has been a difficult task for all involved – to take a decision on 13 March 2020 to postpone this international trade show to April 2021, and again, on 13 December 2020, to cancel the physical Drupa for the year 2021, the first time ever in 70 years,” said Bolza-Schünemann.

“However, in pandemic times, with many restrictions around the globe up to today and with no other alternative, this decision to hold Virtual.Drupa 2021 to keep the printing industry up-to-date was born.”

There are 212 exhibitors from 35 countries, five of these exhibitors are from India. They are Chemline India, Line O Matic, Pratham Technologies, Shivam Machine Tools and Sukukha Hitech Products Industries. There are more than 12,000 registered users from 152 countries who followed the Virtual.Drupa 2021.

Bolza-Schünemann said, “As a president, I appreciate and honour all efforts made to enable this special event and wish for its success to all participants. But, to be honest, the sound of running equipment, the smell of ink and paper, the smiling faces of visitors and vendors, the exchange of thoughts, ideas, and the permanent search for solutions will be missed.”

The next Drupa, the 18th show in May 2024, will hopefully be a physical show. “By then, Covid-19 will be a threat of the past and we all look to meet and greet, face-to-face, again,” concluded Bolza-Schünemann.

www.printweek.in

Coming a year after it was originally scheduled, and appearing only virtually, the biggest industry show, Drupa, called Virtual.Drupa this time, is understandably low-key. But the show must go on and the manufacturers have made their presence known in the virtual platform. PrintWeek talks to 23 such manufacturers present at the show ASAHI, ESKO UNVEIL AUTOMATED FLEXO PLATEMAKING SOLUTION

Asahi Photoproducts and Esko showcased their breakthrough, fully automated flexo platemaking line Crystal Clean Connect at the Virtual.Drupa show. Asahi Photoproducts, a pioneer in flexographic photopolymer plate development, has collaborated with Esko, the global developer of integrated software and hardware solutions for the packaging and labels markets, on the innovative flexo platemaking solution. Crystal Clean Connect fully automates the entire flexo plate production, from imaging to plate cutting, reducing the number of steps in the flexo platemaking process from 12 to just one, which equates to a reduction from 36-minute operator platemaking time to only 2.5 minutes.

“With Crystal Clean Connect, we have brought together key hardware and software technologies from both organisations to deliver a number of breakthrough advantages from design to print,” said Pascal Thomas, director of Flexo Business with Esko. “Crystal Clean Connect delivers a cleaner, more environmentally balanced operation that simplifies the flexo platemaking process, improves safety and boosts print quality consistency.”

According to Thomas, Crystal Clean Connect offers operational as well as environmental benefits to businesses.

“With the removal of so many process steps, there’s an immediate 90% reduction in required operator time, which not only eliminates the potential for human error, but also delivers

immediate efficiency gains. Quality is assured through Asahi and Esko technologies working in complete harmony, and the combination of improved efficiency and quality delivers an average increase of 25% in press OEE.” Dieter Niederstadt, technical marketing manager for Asahi Photoproducts stated, “Flexo needs to simplify its processes while improving quality, consistency and profitability. In doing so, flexo can create new business opportunities and positively transform into a printing technology in balance with the environment. This breakthrough innovation is different in many ways to other solutions on the market. It is not just an assembly of available plate making processes delivered inline, but rather a holistic approach to connecting technologies, up and downstream of the pre-press value chain, using an intelligent automation hub as the backbone and heart of the solution. CCC is truly pushing boundaries to the current scope of plate automation delivering a mount-ready plate as well as being the first automated production solution without the need of VOC-based washout solvents in the platemaking process.”

Thomas added: “At Esko, we have long been dedicated to improving the platemaking experience, in terms of quality, productivity and connectivity.

Together with Asahi Photoproducts, we are taking the flexo platemaking process to a brand-new level, enabling our customers to be even more competitive while also ensuring they can meet today’s demands for flexible and sustainable supply. With Crystal Clean Connect, our ultimate objective is to improve our customers’ overall business performance and profitability.”

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Corporate Office: LOVELY OFFSET PRINTERS (P) LTD, 14, Velayutham Road, Sivakasi 626 123. Tamilnadu. INDIA. Ph: 04562-220141, 221141 E-mail: saravananks@lovelyoffset.com Website: www.lovelyoffset.com

ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL YOUR LARGE VOLUME PRINT REQUIREMENTS!

REVIEW VIRTUAL.DRUPA 2021 COMEXI EXHIBITS ITS INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Comexi introduced its innovative solutions for the flexible packaging

printing and converting industry at Drupa. During the event, Comexi presented the company's latest innovation in flexographic, offset, and digital printing, as well as lamination and slitting.

“A primary pillar of Comexi is sustainability and concern for the global environment, which we extend to our innovative printing and converting solutions. We embrace our responsibility to

flexible packaging and not only believe in finding more sustainable alternatives, but also in a circular economy as a global solution itself,” said Jorge Serra, marketing director at Comexi.

“Innovation, automation, and digitisation are our strengths regarding quality professional services that guarantee the optimal implementation of our products within the industry. All

APEX PRESENTS GTT ANILOX ENGRAVING

Apex International presented its patented GTT anilox engraving, which can achieve positive results in many different industries, at the Virtual.Drupa 2021. For the flexo industry, the GTT can help print fixed palettes or produce long runs with less cleaning of the plates. For the offset/coating industry, the GTT transfers liquid without air or pinholes resulting in a smooth and equal laydown.

The benefits can be more gloss, better rub resistance or closed surface.

Joris Cabri, VP, sales, Europe and Africa, Apex International, said consumer goods and supermarket packaging has seen a surge in demand in 2021.

Supermarkets and food retailers have seen sales rise drastically and stabilise at levels previously only achieved on Christmas or Thanksgiving trade weeks. With the increased demand, the result is stress on the packaging supply chain. This, in the shortterm, led to packaging designs continuing instead of being re-designed to ensure supply levels were not compromised. In some cases, old packaging stock was being used to fill the

www.printweek.in

demand on goods, such as toilet paper and cleaning fluids.

With the pandemic, there is a thinking that online-delivered product/home delivery of shopping will lead to a different view of packaging and how it can engage with its customers.

For example, inside printed boxes to maximise promotion, advertisement, and brand awareness when the unboxing experience begins; tactile lacquers to catch the attention of the food retail buyer in that short time from taking the product out of the shopping bag and putting it into the cupboard “Thus, core branding will need to be of instant recognition and design changes more subtle. Environmentfriendly and sustainable packaging will increase much more than previously anticipated,” Cabri said. The future is exciting, and opportunities will rise accordingly in the coming months.”

He added that the company understands the requirement for increased press efficiency in addition to its customers’ need

for solutions and not just a product. “When we consider that a modern wide-web press can set up automatically in less than 15 minutes and yet press up-time (time when the press is producing saleable product) is as low as 40%, there is a clear need to streamline the production process. Apex has taken the bold move to establish the FlexoKite Centre in Nashik. This centre enables customers to learn and understand the entire print process from pre-press design, platemaking to printing. The education and training opportunities are endless and can be experienced either digitally or physically as required,” he said.

The company has also developed and launched an online customer portal. This gives customers the instant answers to frequently asked questions and the ability to check on their order status and progress along with additional digital data and information to facilitate effective planning.

Cabri said, the slow trend towards sustainable packaging will take a leap forward within the next year in addition to true standardisation. Full solution options from suppliers will take centre stage instead of a single product. The use of virtual reality digital technology can bring designs and products to life. This dimension has not fully been explored but can create unlimited promotional/ marketing opportunities from printed products,” he added.

aimed at making Comexi's moto a reality: better packaging, better world."

At Virtual.Drupa, Comexi conducted seven free webinars, which were open to all registered fair visitors. Two webinars explored Comexi's new launches for 2021 and Comexi’s innovative solutions for flexible packaging.

Furthermore, there were webinars on sustainable printing and sustainability in the converting processes.

Drupa is the starting point for the new generation of Comexi machines. To maintain the ergonomics and efficiency of the Comexi F2 presses, as well as obtain the highest performance and maximum printing quality with every automation and operator aids developed under GeniusTech technology, the new F2 evolution incorporates the latest advancements in anti-bouncing systems (GeniusRun), inking systems (GeniusFlow and GeniusDoctoring), and drying efficiency (GeniusDry).

The offset central impression printing technology has evolved since its launch in 2012, with proven performance in flexible packaging and labels. The new Comexi Offset CI Evolution, equipped with an EB curing system, provides greater surface protection for mono-film recyclable packaging. It is solventfree, produces high quality printing, allows for faster prepress, and makes plates at a lower cost. This new enhanced performance model has new automation features, as well as new optionals, including colour control.

This laminator incorporates new fairings and optionals, which will facilitate the conversion of flexible packaging, making the Comexi ML2 an increasingly efficient machine. Among these options, the Comexi Closed Loop is prominent, which allows for the automatic adjustment of adhesive grammage without solvents while maintaining it throughout production.

Furthermore, the automatic adjustment system of mark-tomark cold seal registration avoids 10 May 2021

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Cartons | Embedded Cartons | Self-Adhesive Labels | Leaflets | Outserts | Blister & Strip Pack | NC Free Foil | CR Foil | Cold Forming Alu | Printed Lids

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REVIEW VIRTUAL.DRUPA 2021 operator intervention and greatly reduces material waste and loss of set-up time. Ultimately, the objective of these two systems is to facilitate job set-up and make machines more automatic.

The new Comexi S1 DS slitter is a double shaft machine with a focus on large output diameters and has every available automation. It will be able to work at a speed of 1,000m/min, making it the fastest machine in Comexi's history. This slitter offers high efficiency regarding long runs, as well as optimum changing format agility.

The Comexi Digiflex, an inline digital bar, which can be installed on analogue presses, laminators, and slitters, is a configurable machine and allows for the printing of variable data, including QR codes, datamatrix, barcodes or numbering, among others, at a speed of 250m/min.

The forthcoming Comexi D4 water-based inkjet digital press will be a completely configurable machine of four-colour CMYK to eight-colour CMYK - OGV and white. This press will print at a high- and low-resolution speed of 75m/min and 150m/min respectively. As a result, Comexi will enable its customers to profitably and sustainably offer the best solutions in response to the current demanding needs of the market.

DUPONT FLEXO PLATES, PROCESSORS IN SPOTLIGHT Tucker Norton, global business leader - Cyrel Solutions, DuPont discussed the company’s new flexo plates and processor during the Virtual.Drupa show.

DuPont introduced a new Cyrel Easy R flexo plate family at the show. Cyrel Easy R is the family of new formulations that maintain the benefits of Cyrel Easy flat top dot photopolymer plates while adding new attributes to help improve plate handling and on-press performance, especially for flexible packaging and tag and label applications.

The plate family consists of photopolymer plates suited for thermal and solvent development and come with smooth or www.printweek.in

EFI SAYS DIGITAL POWER WILL DRIVE REAL GROWTH

At Virtual.Drupa 2021, Electronic For Imaging’s (EFI) focus has been on highlighting ways in which print professionals can grow their businesses with more productivity and greater efficiency. It also showcased applications as it highlighted advanced digital solutions.

Besides, EFI’s chief technology officer Doug Edwards on 23 April 2021 held an EFI session on adjacent industrial growth opportunities for print professionals, leveraging advanced integrated technologies.

structured surfaces to provide “the best match for a large variety of print conditions”.

Speaking to PrintWeek, Norton said, “Cyrel Easy R offers increased dot robustness for high resolution, reliable long-run print consistency as well as great ink transfer and superb print quality on a wide variety of substrates.”

Additionally, DuPont has also launched the DuPont Cyrel Fast 3000 TD thermal flexographic plate processor at Virtual.Drupa.

The Cyrel Fast 3000 TD system is the latest addition to the range of solvent-free flexographic

“Our team has continued to innovate and deliver for our customers even in challenging times,” said Edwards. “It’s more important than ever for us to lead the industry not only in terms of consistent delivery of innovative products, but also in providing the know-how that our customers can lean on to drive digital transformation and new business strategies.”

Edwards’ session focussed on how each of EFI’s solutions leverages common technology platforms to drive efficiency and speed. He spoke about the

printform processors and offers “superior productivity and performance” while helping reduce processing costs, processing time, and environmental impact compared to existing solvent-based platemaking methods – now at plate sizes up to 50x80 inches.

Elaborating on the benefits of eliminating the use of solvents, including water from the platemaking process, Norton said, “For example, the Cyrel Fast 3000 TD system produces maximum-sized plates that require no drying time and can be

mega-trends driving the analogue-to-digital conversion in print and the various stages of digital transformation across different verticals. Edwards also previewed the EFI product launches planned for 2021.

At the show, EFI unveiled a new entry-level wide-format production solution, the EFI Pro 30h UV LED hybrid flatbed/rollto-roll printer. The new kit gives users broader application capability, versatility, and profit potential in wide format work, EFI said.

The 3.2-metre wide Pro 30h is ideal for commercial print shops, sign shops and in-plant print departments looking to start, upgrade or add board and rollto-roll print jobs to their wideformat capabilities. It comes standard with two channels of white and optional clear ink for unique, high-value prints with high gloss images, special effects, and multilayer printing.

prepared under 30 minutes. With the same efficiency as other Cyrel Fast systems, the 3000 TD offers flexible packaging customers and other users with large-sized jobs and high productivity needs a platemaking solution that helps reduce downtime, energy consumption, and environmental footprint.”

Norton believes that there would be an ever-increasing need in printform and packaging production to match the requirements for productivity, sustainability and quality.

“DuPont Cyrel is continuously working on new solutions to meet these industry requirements.

Flexo thermal plate processing is a key technology to reduce access times and environmental footprint for converters and trade shops, all at very high-quality levels. With new capabilities to process larger plates, waste reduction in platemaking is even further improving the plate maker’s efficiency,” Norton concluded.

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CARTON CONVERTING EQUIPMENT

SINCE 1985 NOW IN INDIA

VISIT US FOR LIVE DEMO

Technofold Folder Gluer is designed to run maximum speed of 300meters/min with Solid Board ranging from 170gsm -800gsm and 3 Ply Litho-laminated cartons upto 20mm folded thickness

Technocut 1050 - Automatic Flatbed Diecutter with speed of 7500 sheets/hr for the Solid board ranging from 80gsm - 2000gsm and 3 Ply micro-fluted sheets upto 5mm thick.

ETH 1450 - Automatic Flute Laminator for laminating offset printed sheets on 2 Ply corrugated sheet at speed of 80meters/min. Also have full servo controlled Smart-Flute X with a speed of 13000 sheets /hr.

TechnoFoil 1050 FSC - Automatic Hot Foil Stamping machine with Diecutting and waste removal at a speed of 7500 sheets/hr.

This machine can be configured from 2-6 advance shafts including longitudinal, transverse direction foil movement and registered holographic foil-stamping as an option.

SmartFold Classic Folder Gluer - is designed to run maximum speed of 400meters/min with Solid Board ranging from 170gsm -800gsm and 3 Ply Litho-laminated cartons upto 15mm folded thickness.

Most Versatile Flatbed Diecutter and FoilStampers made by DGM with feature like...

Most Versatile Folder Gluer range offered by DGM Global with possible retrofits and options Like...

• Flatbed Diecutting, waste removal and front waste removal • Motorise cutting Force • Sheet Synchronisation device • Electric Pile correction • Convertible Pull and Push type sidelay on both operator and opposite operator side • Non Stop feeder with inline pile preparation • Non Stop Apron Delivery

• Inline Braille Embossing (Visit us for live demo) • Inline Inspection system • Inline Window Patching • Inline Bump and Turn • Inline Ejector

• Foil Stampers in different configuration as per customer need • Registered Hologram Stamping • Heat insulation • 12 heating zones • Foil Brake control system • lonised Air to prevent static genetation in foil • Used Foil rewind system • Longitudinal and transverse foil

• Inline Handle Applicator • Inline Double side Tape Applicator • Inline Tear Tape Tape Applicator • Inline Easy feeding system • Inline Semi-automatic and automatic collection system

Manufacturer of • Automatic Diecutter • Hot Foil Stamping • Automatic Flute Laminator • Automatic Folder Gluers for Folding Carton and Corrugated

DGM AUTOMATION INDIA PVT. LTD. Address : B-90, Sector-80, Noida, Phase-II, Uttar Pradesh, Pin-201306, Contact : PUNEET AGGARWAL +91 9910123648, puneet@dgm-global.com

www.dgm-global.com

REVIEW VIRTUAL.DRUPA 2021 HEIDELBERG SHOWCASES AUTONOMOUS PRINTING SOLUTIONS

Heidelberg showcased its portfolio of solutions for autonomous printing at Virtual.

Drupa 2021.

The German company’s exhibition space saw presentations on the new product developments in the commercial, label and packaging segments.

One of the highlights was the enhanced Push to Stop concept for autonomous printing with end-to-end solutions, which Heidelberg said, takes the smart print shop to a whole new level.

FLINT GROUP DIGITAL SHOWCASES ITS TECHNOLOGY PROWESS

Flint Group Digital has six major products at the Virtual.Drupa 2021, including technologies such as Sirius, Cheetah and Panther. The Sirius technology (Xeikon SX30000) offers more capacity and higher efficiency to consolidated volume in the graphic arts market while the Cheetah technology (Xeikon CX300, Xeikon CX500) offers a high digital printing solution based on dry toner for the cosmetic, wine, spirit, food, pharmaceutical and craft beer labels. The Panther technology (Xeikon PX2000, Xeikon PX3000, Xeikon PX30000) offers entry level digital printing solution based on UVIJ for the cosmetic, chemical, industrial durable, performance and premium beer labels.

Among other products from Flint, the company showcased the www.printweek.in

“Heidelberg is demonstrating completely automated offset production – from job acceptance to post-press, including fully automatic plate logistics, enabling commercial and packaging printers to further boost their productivity in the 70x100 format,” the company stated.

Heidelberg also shared insights on how print shops can become far more efficient by using artificial intelligence.

Individual discussion on various

Rex technology, which provides printers and converters a low threshold to step into industrial digital printing for both graphic arts and labels; the walldeco solution built around entry (Xeikon CX50) and high-end (Xeikon CX500) kits, and Xeikon FEU, which offers a digital solution for embellishing labels with 2D, 3D and haptic foiling and varnish.

Speaking about the ways through which Indian printers can improve their production methods, Filip Weymans, VP marketing, Flint Group Digital, said, “The first question is if the Indian market is really looking for a shorter time to market. Not all products will require this, but if this is the case, the only answer is digitising the manufacturing processes. This goes beyond printing. It would require investing in MIS software, more automated processes, reducing production steps (this is where digital can help as you skip the steps of plate making and ink mixing)... It will still be an aspect

topics was available at the Networking Plaza, and Matchmaking Tool saw Heidelberg dialogue with partners based on profile, preferences and interests.

“Despite being a virtual event this year, Drupa remains an important meeting point for our industry. We are impressed by the concept,” said Ludwig Allgoewer, head of global sales and marketing at Heidelberg.

Allgoewer added, “Virtual.

Drupa is just one of a number of customer events this year. In March, we started the HD4YOU digital webinar series. In June, we will take part in the China Print trade show in Beijing and accompanying this with a digital customer event in Europe. And following the summer break, there will be another Innovation Week at the Wiesloch-Walldorf site, which our customers will hopefully be able to attend in person this time around.”

that every printer has to dive into to understand if it would bring value for his/her business knowing that cost structures are different than Western Europe.”

With the pandemic driving eCommerce, Weymans explained what needs to be done. He said, in graphic arts, eCommerce delivers a new opportunity to tap into a new market, a new channel to reach a new customer base.

“The product range is only hindered by the imagination. So, you see a lot of people stepping into the industry with these new business models,” he said.

However, he added that eCommerce is not having a big impact on the existing L&P volume. “It is creating a lot of new corrugated volume for shipment. This also drives volume in logistic labels. In the longer term, I do see the potential that, due to the success of retail eCommerce, a 'new' retail product portfolio is created,” he said.

Weymans said digitisation of

print manufacturing is the next big thing. “But I can imagine that this has less relevance for the Indian market due to their current price structure,” he added.

FUJIFILM PUSHES SUPERIA ZX PLATE, JET PRESS 750S

At the Virtual.Drupa 2021, Fujifilm highlighted two new products – a new processless thermal CTP plate, Superia ZX, which offers significant improvements in printability (faster output, higher durability and improved scratch resistance) thanks to the development of next-gen technologies, and a new model of Jet Press 750S, which is already well established due to its ultra-high quality, colour stability and performance.

The Superia ZX will be launched before summer and the launch of Jet Press 750S high-speed model will be done in autumn.

Tsuyoshi Yoshioka, manager, POD business group, graphic systems business division, Fujifilm, said the company’s broader product portfolio, from conventional to digital, including these two products, should help its customers improve their production methods.

On the impact of the pandemic, Yoshioka said the company’s customers are claiming 30-40% drop in business in 2020, but are recovering gradually. “We are expecting the real recovery in 2021, but the current situation seems not quite easy. It depends on the application and market segment, though,” he said.

He added that the pandemic will change work style drastically, and more and more jobs will be managed via online without involving manpower for the majority of applications.

“Fujifilm and Fujifilm Business Innovation together will provide a broader range of products on this, especially after 1 July when the Graphic Communication Division 10 May 2021

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REVIEW VIRTUAL.DRUPA 2021 will be established,” Tsuyoshi said.

He said the company has received queries from its customers as to what would be the fast recovery application postpandemic, and what areas of applications would be next generation’s growing business. “It seems, customers would like to foresee what is coming and prepare for their investment, as well as securing resources to match their future applications.

Using Fujifilm’s global network, we provide information and customer case studies to offer relevant and useful information to prepare for the future to come. We stand alongside our customers, showing we are their partners to grow their business,” he said.

He added that smart factories for lean production, with digitisation and digital transformation should bring enormous benefit for the total value chain. “Again, we would like to be a long-term partner for the customer’s success from this perspective,” he said.

GOEBEL CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS ITS VSOP 2.0

postpone investments any longer if they want to stay in business and used machines are often not a good option for the customers' current needs,” Steinke said. “I think there are great advantages to web-fed offset presses as opposed to sheetfed or flexo presses.”

He added that the VSOP technology allows for short setup times and high speed, low-cost printing. “We have also seen a trend for environmentallyfriendly, paper-based void-fill for packaging. Many of our machines are used to print only in one colour and then fold the void-fill for packaging,” he said.

Recently, the company established its India unit, Goebel Printing Machines (India), to be closer to its customers in India.

Steinke said security printing is the next best thing, especially during the pandemic where countries are looking for secure printing solutions for vaccination certificates. “There is also a pressing need for high quality packaging printing for vaccine labels, pharmaceutical inserts, and more. Goebel is specialised in security printing,” he added.

rotogravure can print with brilliance and fully recyclable inks instead. A second change I see is the recyclability of the printed product. The only three good printing methods with best recycling results are offset, dry toner and gravure,” he said.

What should the Indian printers do to improve their production methods? “I recommend modern printing presses and equipment from European suppliers who can implement digital information into the workflow of the printing house,” Kurreck said.

Also, preventive maintenance is the key. “Moog presses have a digital information interface for the production planning, production, maintenance and the operation manual. Schooling is also the right investment into the improvement of efficiency,” he said.

FINLAND’S ISCENT OY ROOTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY

HC MOOG PRESENTS ITS NEW SHEETFED ROTATIVE DEBOSSING PRESS

Switzerland-based Goebel Capital’s star product at the Virtual.Drupa 2021 was its VSOP 2.0. It’s a variable sleeve offset printing unit with advanced printing quality, less waste and minimum set-up time.

It’s also capable of applying flexo printing with optional anilox cassettes.

According to Karl Steinke, head of sales, Goebel Capital, the company is optimistic about the printing sector in 2021. “Things are really starting to take-off in a big way. Last year, customers were reluctant to make new investments. Some customers were also looking for used machines. This has changed.

Customers now realise they can’t www.printweek.in

Germany-based HC Moog showcased its newest product, the sheetfed rotative debossing press, beside its sheetfed rotogravure presses, at the Virtual.Drupa 2021.

“With the new debossing press, it is possible to decorate folding cartons or labels in a new and cost-efficient way,” Achim Kurreck, CEO, HC Moog, said. “Debossing is also the key to sustainable brand protection if it comes to, for example, hidden images.”

Looking ahead, Kurreck said there has been a complete change to paper-based packaging, with foiling of paper or board becoming obsolete. “For Moog, it’s a good opportunity to show that sheetfed

Finland-based Iscent Oy showcased environmental-friendly optical features and holograms on packaging applications at the Virtual.Drupa 2021. According to Jaakko Raukola, he is optimistic about the industry in 2021, as packaging printing and applications are active – even in times of the pandemic. “However, customer reactions and investment decision processes are slow,” he said.

He added that Iscent Oy machines can support environmental issues, such as no waste in production, no chemicals, no VOC – adding optical attraction to packages without additional materials.

He added that new environment-friendly solutions are the next big thing for graphics and packaging segments.

ISRA VISION SHOWCASES PRINTSTAR INSPECTION SYSTEM

Germany-based Isra Vision showcased PrintSTAR and its unique Multi-View features during Virtual.

Drupa 2021. According to Danilo Maugeri, product manager - print inspection, Isra Vision, with MultiView, the company has brought additional value to inspection systems by adding surface inspection functionalities.

“For example, inline you can inspect your print, while a second camera bank checks the applied varnish or any other surface of the web.

Unlimited configurations are possible and even a registration check between the different surfaces is possible,” he said.

What should the Indian printers do to improve their production methods, and how can Isra Vision help in this? “The key is reduction of time and waste,” Maugeri said.

“We have to consider that each defective product creates waste, but on top of that, the time that you invest for a reprint is the time that you do not dedicate to another product. Our systems relieve customers from that pain, because we detect at appearance so that counter measures can be taken immediately. Also, PrintSTAR comes with makeready features that helps you to reduce the makeready time and create waste during this process with register control, a 100% spectrophotometric colour measurement called ColorSTAR, and many others.”

Looking ahead, Maugeri said, in recent times, the company has encountered high demand and interest in its products. "This is a result of high consumption of printed goods during the pandemic, especially in food and pharmaceutical packaging."

The pandemic is also driving eCommerce. But, Maugeri said, “E” is not the whole story. “Certainly, the way suppliers sell and promote 10 May 2021

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VIRTUAL.DRUPA 2021 REVIEW KODAK SHOWCASES A SLEW OF PRODUCTS

K

odak’s portfolio of breakthrough offset, digital and software solutions was on display at the Virtual.Drupa 2021. The company showcased the Kodak Prosper Ultra 520 digital press and Uteco Sapphire Evo W press, both of which utilise the Ultrastream inkjet technology.

The company also showcased the Kodak Nexfinity digital press, Kodak Prinergy on-demand business solutions, Sonora Xtra plates and the Kodak Magnus Q800 platesetter with T-Speed.

On the first day of the show, Todd Bigger, vice president of print at Eastman Kodak Company discussed how to successfully integrate print workflow, sharing strategy, assessment, and connection to create the workflow.

Excerpts from Bigger’s presentation: When was the last time you reviewed your workflow? Not only a look at the modules and features, but also the integration points that make it possible to share data and update business systems. Even a cursory look will tell you that those integration points are essential to the health of the business, which is why reviewing the current state of your workflow integration and your options for creating an endto-end workflow that shares data across the business is essential to long-term growth.

Look at your workflows Do you have an integration strategy? The best practice is to define and document your approach to integration and test every project against those integration policies. You should define the requirements for data exchange so that all processes share data in real-time. In a typical integration project, there may be hundreds of elements to

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consider, custom code to be written to cross application boundaries, APIs to be updated, and SDKs to be integrated, all needing project management and testing.

Working without a strategy is like a meeting without an agenda. We all gather around a table and start talking about what we think is important. Processes, pain points, bottlenecks and ideas all compete for mindshare. At the end of the meeting, there are a few action items that update processes or solve pain points.

Even if you have defined a strategy, a look at your current integration state may uncover gaps. You may find that the work needed to create seamless integration isn’t done Look for partly installed workflow suites, islands of custom code (usually undocumented), and incomplete integrations. You may find data feeds that should be connected are missing, causing team members to manually enter needed data or to make decisions without relevant data.

Incomplete integrations can stem from running out of professional

services budget, inability to find integration resources, or difficulties in working with legacy blocks of code. The result is partial integration that never realises the promise of operational efficiency. Even in a JDFcertified workflow, if the integration points aren’t connected, data cannot flow and inform, so you won’t realise the benefits of true integration.

Your integration investigation may uncover more than incomplete projects. It may uncover multiple software products intended to accomplish the same tasks. It isn’t uncommon to find multiple webto-print and digital storefront variations alongside elements of estimating, scheduling, inventory management, and shop floor data collection tools from partially installed suites and departmental acquisitions meant to solve specific challenges. Tools may be sitting on dedicated appliances and servers, while others may sit in the cloud.

When multiple tools exist, they each work in their own way. They format the data, gather and pass it in ways specific to their architecture. Two different web-toprint environments can be gathering specifications and passing them using parameters with different names.

Different products may use different naming conventions for how files are stored, and profiles are maintained. Every variation is a pain point. This is the path to directories

filled with custom code that may not be aging gracefully, and which must be maintained and reviewed with every software update.

When there are multiple locations, the impact is magnified.

People spend time resolving the differences, or they write custom code to try to normalise them. Don’t be surprised to find that some elements of essential business information are kept in private spreadsheets and re-keyed into primary business systems.

To position for growth, this is a great time to look for a true end-toend workflow that doesn’t rely on custom code, proprietary appliances, and servers, or teams of professional services contractors with limited knowledge of the products, all working to a budget.

This is the time to look for a single partner with a comprehensive solution and a team ready to create your integration success.

Plan the integration Integration is more than connecting multiple solutions. Simple connections may not adequately support the workflow architecture.

The best practice is to ensure that all systems of record can share data, so look for solutions that provide seamless, end-to-end business integration, not just production shop integration.

The Prinergy on Demand Business Solution is the only solution in the

www.printweek.in

market that meets these integration requirements. With Microsoft and PrintVIS forming a solid infrastructure with Prinergy, there is no need to hire an army of integration contractors or IT experts. The Kodak team evaluates the existing environment, builds a plan to ensure that data flows between the business and production systems, and quotes a price to deliver a complete end-to-end business system. One vendor. One solution. Complete integration.

Another advantage is the platform, which is cloud-based for flexibility and scalability.

Working with the Microsoft platform provides integration with both Microsoft 365 and Teams, two of the most widely used business tools. It also brings PowerBI to the integration, ensuring that every member of the team has access to the dashboards needed for both simple and complex business decisions. Going forward, the data locked inside MIS and ERP systems are freed to work for the entire business bringing operational efficiency to every department.

With Prinergy on Demand, you are connected today and tomorrow. By building on the industry-leading Microsoft platform, even as new features are added, the connections remain constant.

The result is reliability. Sales teams know that their data is accurate, estimations are based on current costs, and discount rates are optimised for the business. Production management has the information they need for task and machine scheduling, and inventory replenishment. Management has the overview they require and the ability to do deep dives by the department as they look for growth opportunities. The result is an empowered, integrated workflow, where every function connects to future-proof your business.

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their products has changed, but don’t forget that at some point, the goods need to be packed before transportation. The look and feel of a product package has never been as important as nowadays."

He gives the example of corrugated printing. Five years ago, the industry was dominated by the brown box. “In the past two years, based on the growing demand coming from that market, we developed our CartonSTAR inspection system and the designs that we see running daily underneath our cameras are way more than just a brown box.

Printed displays with seven colours, TV boxes with a high-resolution design, gift boxes and many other products that require a defect-free quality and consistent colour.”

So, zero-defect policy is definitely a thing. Printing quality has been always important, but the frequency of requests for higher requirements has increased drastically.

And the next big thing for graphics and packaging segments?

"Renewable materials and consumables will have a huge impact on these segments,” Maugeri said, adding, “If we think about sustainability, the first thought is immediately spent on plastic packaging and foils. But don’t forget that the applied inks and coatings are not as healthy for our nature as we might think.

Today, we connect products with a poor print automatically to “cheap” and thus not good.

Colorful designs, heavy packaging and thick material feels and looks good, but in a future society, I believe that products with only one colour applied onto a biodegradable paper bag will be a status symbol.”

KOMORI IS THE GOLD PARTNER AT VIRTUAL.DRUPA

At the show, Komori organised a Virtual Exhibition Space providing product information and the ability to contact its staff from anywhere to get answers to questions, seek advice and discuss product demonstrations.

“Komori proudly supports Virtual.

Drupa as a Gold Partner, the highest ranking among printing machine manufacturers,” Akihiro Inde, general manager, marketing department, Komori said. “Though both the organiser and Komori had to go through a trial-and-error process as this was the first virtual event, we believe that we were able to obtain new results such as new prospect acquisition and lead generation.”

The programme will be available for viewing for the rest of the year. At the same time, Komori will make information available to the regions that were unable to view the video due to time differences and language issues.

Explaining how Indian printers could improve their production methods, Inde said, “Highly efficient machines will be desired in a market that has so far been dominated by used machines. Since 2018, our direct presence in India is bringing the necessary change as we are proactively helping our customers to improve productions by carefully analysing pressroom errors and with necessary training.

This may be accompanied by changes in sizing, such as reducing the number of machines from three to two.”

Inde explained that Komori’s newly-improved product, Lithrone Advance G series, has been of much interest around the world as it offers customers automation capability.

“The package printing, not only the cost, but also the impact on the human body (hygiene and safety) is an issue that needs attention,” Inde said. “In this sense, automation is also a necessary theme. In order to achieve this, it is important to improve the productivity of the entire factory by connecting the processes. In other words, centralised management with KP-Connect is a great advantage.

KP-Connect also helps reduce downtime by directly connecting the customer and Komori for preventive maintenance and fault diagnosis.”

Discussing the impact of modern e-retail on printing companies, Inde said, “E-retail has certainly boosted the demand of packaging with careful due diligence of safety. We have started our own printing college for customers on our Komori Global Youtube channel about the pressroom challenges in the printing industry which will certainly help reduce error and improve production efficiency.”

“The pandemic is an opportunity for printing companies to actively change their old methods and adopt the innovation. Komori is equipped to provide such printing solutions to Indian printers,” he added He said that packaging companies were driving innovation on Komori’s offset presses to cater to the demand. “Among our list of products, the Advance series is perfectly capable of delivering these new innovations, also catering to the increased demand of short jobs, which today, is very important. As a printing company, it is important to change the way of thinking and build on their strengths and differentiate themselves from 10 May 2021

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REVIEW VIRTUAL.DRUPA 2021 competitors,” he explained.

Speaking about "the next big thing" in graphics and packaging segments, Inde said the direction is towards sustainable development goals and going plastic-free.

“In particular, Japanese paper manufacturers are actively promoting technologies to "paperise", which is renewable and environmentally friendly, and these technologies will evolve in the future. Printing will also be expected to respond to this trend,” he concluded.

MULLER MARTINI PRESENTS ITS MACHINE PORTFOLIO

Muller Martini presented its machine portfolio during Virtual.

Drupa 2021. “We showed our comprehensively renewed portfolio in a streamlined form with the consistent expansion of our Finishing 4.0 solutions,” said Bruno Müller, CEO of Muller Martini. “We can thus offer maximum efficiency and flexibility in the production of print products – from large print runs to individualised single copies.”

So, how does Muller Martini products help reduce time to market? Adrian Mayr, head of product management and corporate marketing, Muller Martini, said, “In general, customers who adapt to the new market requirements and focus on the production of higher value products and individualised products have good chances on the market today and achieve better margins. We support with our latest developments and a broad portfolio for the production of short-runs or even individualised, digitally printed products, be it stitched magazines, catalogues, softcover or hardcover products. The key aspect for this is our development strategy, Finishing 4.0, which was www.printweek.in

KONICA MINOLTA HIGHLIGHTS ACCURIOLABEL 230 Konica Minolta shared its expertise and played an active role in web sessions at Virtual.

Drupa 2021, with a wide crosssection of applications and products showcased. According to Edoardo Cotichini, senior manager, professional print at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, the company’s star product at the show was the AccurioLabel 230 roll-to-roll digital toner press, which now has 800 units installed across the world. The advantages of the AccurioLabel 230 include quality, shorter lead times, ease of use and shorter run lengths down to a one-sample basis.

“Circumstances such as a reduced workforce during lockdowns have led to an increased use of AccurioLabel presses,” Cotichini said. “Digital is the only technology capable of delivering urgent short to medium runs, with a quick turnaround time.”

And to achieve this, Cotichini said, printers need to embrace change and think of the complete document lifecycle and the purpose of the document. “Printers who can look at the wider aspects – even going as far as advising customers on how they might achieve better readership of the content – shall thrive longer and have stronger relationships with their customers,” he said.

He added that India is a big opportunity as a consumer and producer of content. With a population of 1.3 billion people, the domestic consumption of information is large. Customers should look to improve their efficiency and productivity to reduce their time to market.

Digital printing offers both

introduced at Drupa 2016 and focuses on four pillars, automation, variability, touchless workflow and connectivity.”

On the impact of the pandemic, Mayr said, on a global basis the printing sector is still in a

efficiency and productivity.

“Konica Minolta has a series of products both in colour and mono to meet customers’ requirements working together in partnership,” Cotichini said, adding, “We are proud that Konica Minolta has around 60% market share in production printing in India.”

Looking ahead, Cotichini said, the outlook for the printing sector looks promising with the changing requirements. “There are different segments, which still demand information in print; others are comfortable if it is available online, as print is becoming challenging because of the pandemic. Customers tell us that print is still in demand.

However, we can see a shift in the number of copies being requested with the trend moving from long-run to shortrun production. This makes it more suitable for digital printing. From the digital perspective, we see it as promising because the run lengths of the jobs are reducing and the printers from the commercial segment are also considering having digital production devices,” he said.

He added that the growth of eCommerce is one of the defining trends of the printing industry going forward, and this will have a positive impact on

transformation phase – with large differences between the individual markets. "The digital transformation has been catalysed by the effects of the pandemic, so we see an increased demand in our digital finishing solutions.

digital printing, particularly in the areas of packaging and label sectors. “It’s never been more important for customers to be able to react fast, developing eCommerce-specific packaging and labelling designs that solve the inherent challenges of postal distribution, rather than those of retail. Versioning and personalisation are also on the rise. Creating high-quality proof-of-concept prototypes and short run, individualised batches are among the many opportunities offered by the growth in eRetail and eCommerce,” he said.

Also, the pandemic means that customers are looking more towards automation and rely more on the technology to share relevant information in the production cycle, such as quality of prints and more, Cotichini said, adding, “Konica Minolta brings in a suite of AccurioPro software solutions to help our customers automate their work processes.”

Thus, Cotichini believes automation, shorter runs, variable data and a lot of embellishment are the future trends. “Customers are also looking at adding more value to print by adding more dynamic information and embellishing them to make them more appealing to the customers,” he concluded.

After a weak start in 2021, the project activity gained momentum in the past few weeks and Muller Martini was able to close a relevant number of deals,” he added.

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REVIEW VIRTUAL.DRUPA 2021 pandemic, is printing now fighting against digital more than ever?

Mayr doesn’t think so. He gives an example: “In Europe, we experienced several eCommerce companies starting up their own printed magazines or catalogues to support online sales channels – a clear indication that even purely digital companies see the value of print and invest in it.”

So, what’s the next big thing for the printing industry? “In many countries, skilled labour and labour costs are major issues for our customers,” Mayr said. “So in line with the digitisation, there is a high demand for further automation of the entire production process end-to-end.

Within our production lines, we already have achieved a high level of automation, but upfront and downstream there is still a lot of potential to improve and automate the material handling and the logistics. In the future we will see more robotics and other automated systems to interconnect the different production processes in the graphic arts industry – towards a smart factory.”

NIPPON COLOR EMPHASISES ON DIGITAL PRINTING, FINISHING OF LABELS

Nippon Color emphased on the importance of digital printing and finishing of labels at the Virtual.

Drupa 2021. It’s star product at the show was Valloy’s DuoBlade WX, which is an all-in-one digital label finisher that includes unwinding, lamination, knife-cutting, matrix removal, slitting, trimming, and rewinding or sheeting. This is the latest offering from Valloy Incorporation, Korea, which will benefit a lot of label manufacturers to finish labels of urgent jobs or short-run jobs as you do not need to make and wait for dies to start finishing your labels. www.printweek.in

“It is a unique solution as it uses four cutting heads at a time to finish the labels, overcoming the drawback of slow speed that various other digital label finishers in the market currently have,” Akshat Pardiwala, CEO, Nippon Color, said.

To add to that, DuoBlade WX applies artificial intelligence to

select and change jobs automatically without any operator intervention. The CCD camera recognises the barcode and automatically changes the job on the fly and accordingly adjusts the distance between the cutting heads.

Nippon Color, a leading supplier to the Indian printing industry

since 1972, offers a wide range of solutions from offset to flexo to digital, in terms of pre-press, printing, as well as post-press equipment. Headquartered in Mumbai, it has branch offices in New Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata, with multiple engineers deployed at each location for prompt aftersales.

ZUND PRESENTS ITS HARDWARE, SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS Zund had lined up a mix of hardware and software solutions that could increase productivity to a great extent during Virtual.Drupa 2021. These included D3 digital cutter, pick and place interface, visualising option and V-cutting tool - VCT2.

With its innovative dualbeam system, the D3 sets new standards in performance. The two beams can each be equipped with up to three different modules, instantly doubling the throughput. The cutter controller optimally allocates the jobs to each of the two beams, ensuring maximum productivity.

The Zund Cut Center – ZCC can control a robot via the pick and place interface option. This allows the cut parts to be removed, sorted and stored fully automatically. The cut-out parts can be placed at predefined positions. ZCC calculates the ideal arrangement of the suction cups and activates only those that are needed.

Visual support for parts removal via projection and monitor – with the visualising option, cut parts can be marked and labelled quickly and easily.

The visualising option ensures an overview of the cut parts at all times and simplifies dispatch logistics.

The V-cutting tool is used for creating complex models from lightweight foam or sandwich panels. A design that has been thought through down to the last detail enables quick tool changes and simple, precise angle adjustment.

According to Prasanna

Venkatesh, managing director, Zund India, for the company the Virtual.Drupa was a platform to stay connected with the market and also to showcase the intelligent automation that Zund had come up with in order to increase the efficiency of the digital cutting workflow systems.

And how can the company help the Indian printers improve their production methods?

Venkatesh explained, “It is essential for a printer to identify and eliminate unnecessary processes in the shopfloor and to have a lean organisation. One another factor would be to increase automation. At Zund, we are able to help our customers with an advanced workflow solution which helps in maximising material yield and increasing the printing efficiency manifolds.

What does the printing sector look like in 2021? “Just when we thought the worst is over and normalcy is around the corner, we get hit by the second wave of pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. This has been a jolt to the printing segment, especially when things were starting to look up. Segments like flexo printing would still sail through.

It is the offset and digital print, especially the large-format

which will struggle through this year,” he said.

He added that lockdowns are becoming the norm these days, it would give an impetus to the eCommerce business. This means the print jobs related to eCommerce are certainly going to do good.

“Short print cycles, with even shorter lead times for productions and the increasing price pressure, all call for intelligent automation in printing. With the latest print and cut workflow solution from Zund, essential datas from the ERP, MIS or web subsystems can be directly collated into a workflow for quick processing of jobs. One can track the progress of individual jobs through the metadata. These metadatas can also be printed in order to identify each job. Further, by scanning the QR code printed on the label, one can also track the order easily,” he said.

And the next big thing? “In my opinion, it's the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0. As a matter of fact, Zund already has its solutions inline with the Industry 4.0 norms. Also, our large R&D team in Switzerland works diligently to offer futureproof solutions to the market,” Venkatesh concluded.

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REVIEW VIRTUAL.DRUPA 2021 Pardiwala has two solutions for the Indian printers do to improve their production methods — digital printing and automation.

“When you say digital, you are eliminating a lot of makeready steps and time, you are eliminating the need to print a master (plate or cylinder), which can be time consuming. Of course, it depends on your job run length, but for shorter run jobs digital is the faster and economical way to go. And with automation, you are maximising the time and cost savings and reducing the operator intervention and in turn reducing human error,” he said.

Pardiwala said there is a lot of fear and uncertainty in the industry because of the pandemic.

“Not only due to Covid, but input costs of paper, printing plates have also affected our industry adversely. The main concern from our customers has been that print buyers are not empathising with the situation and not paying for the rise in costs,” he said.

He added that the impact of the pandemic has been mixed for the printing industry. Those catering to clients in the hospitality and travel industry are suffering, while those into labels and packaging have seen growth opportunities.

RISO SHOWCASES VALEZUZ T2100

Japan’s digital print specialist Riso Kagaku Corporation’s key product at the Virtual.Drupa 2021 was the Valezuz T2100. The debut-making kit is ideal for high-volume transactional printing, said Satoko Takuma, manager for overseas marketing strategy department at Riso. “As an affordable entry into production inkjet colour or as a reprint, it’s best for short-run prints or backup solution for larger print facilities,” Takuma added.

The company doesn’t believe that 2021 will be different from the www.printweek.in

last year. Print volume is drastically down as most education institutions are closed.

So, the demand for printed materials is down. "They don’t have any other option, but to use education materials in soft format,” Ranjith Kadiroo, vicepresident, sales, Riso India said.

Yet, he added that looking at the present scenario, the company is expecting that Indian printers will be more interested in going for fully atomatised set up, so that they can reduce human intervention. “Being a manufacturer of production inkjet printer, our objective is to provide a perfect solution for our customers,” he said. “Also, many customers are finding it difficult to run bigger machines, as print volumes are drastically down.

They are looking for viable and less labour-oriented machines.”

Kadiroo added that print on demand is gaining further momentum. “Print only what is required. The printers who understand it faster and take necessary steps will have a better chance of growing,” he said.

Speaking about the online exhibition experience, Takuma said,”Virtual.Drupa was a totally new experience for Riso. We had to approach attendees in a way different from the conventional exhibition. Our live web session on the latest cut-sheet inkjet technology witnessed a huge participation. We were glad with the participation count, it showed the market's high interest and expectation in our cut-sheet inkjet technology. ” SEISMOTION INNOVATES DOUBLE-FOLD NON-GLUE STEEL BAR FOR BLANKETS Poland-based Seismotion produces a wide range of steel and aluminium bars, which the company showcased at the Virtual.Drupa 2021. “Our latest invention is the NPP bar, which is 15x15x13 mm. That is a double-fold non-glue steel bar with perforation on both sides. What makes it unique is the two-side perforation. That means the bar fits to every kind of the blanket regardless of its layer structure and the grip is strong enough to have better results than

industry standards,” Nikos Drosakis, executive managing director, Seismotion, said.

Drosakis explained: “I think non-glue steel bars make a big difference. If we consider that standard barring of blanket using glue, depending on method, needs time from five to 24 hours to get the full bar grip strength. This includes all additional operations such as preparing the glue, gluing the blanket, curing the glue in the oven, and so on.

"Now, what we need to do is just to crimp the bar on the blanket and it's ready to go. Of course, not every bar can be replaced by a steel non-glue version. However, those which can make a big difference, especially when in the pandemic days, we often suffer from lack of personnel. By reducing the time of the barring process, we can try to minimise the impact on the company production rate as one person can make more blankets.”

Drosakis said for the industry, 2021 looks better than in 2020.

“Now, the market is slowly picking up. Probably, it is because we have learned how to live and function in a new environment. The formula of how Drupa is being held this year is a perfect example. We have recovered from the first shock and now, we are working hard to bring the printing sector back to normal,” he said.

On the subject of the pandemic driving eCommerce, Drosakis said, a lot of companies have moved to

the Internet and advertising has become 100% electronic. For the common person, it means less leaflets, brochures, catalogues to be printed.

“I believe, for printers this process already started years ago, but it has been compensated by constant growth of the packaging market, which will continue for many years at a level of 4% per year. Don’t forget that pandemic stimulated the demand for cardboard boxes. I think that ecopackaging, if not already, will be the new area for printers. Offset in that case should be safe, and we will be helping our customers to keep it that way,” he added.

He said, the company is working closely with its customers and is being responsive to their needs.

“Even though we have more than 20 years of experience in this business, we always listen to the converters what they need, and we are here to help them."

TESA TAPES INTRODUCES COMPRESSIBLE SLEEVE FOR FLEXO PLATE MOUNTING

At Virtual.Drupa 2021, Testa Tapes highlighted Tesa Twinlock, a selfadhesive and compressible sleeve for flexo plate mounting 10 May 2021

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REVIEW VIRTUAL.DRUPA 2021 applications. Unlike flexo plate mounting tape, the adhesion of TL sleeves is permanent, which means you can mount plates repeatedly.

This carries multiple benefits to printing customers, including cost and time saving, lasting print quality without need of adjustment, sustainable and reusable plate mounting solution that significantly improves carbon footprint and fast ROI. Ghanshyam Pandey, senior manager, marketing and technical support, Tesa Tapes, said the printing sector is growing at a good pace – approximately double-digit growth – if we see the first quarter performance of 2021. The key growth drivers are increased demands for packaging films, especially for food products, personal care/hygiene and label solutions for the pharma sector.

This growth multiplied during Covid-19 where most household items in urban areas were purchased via eCommerce mode and packaging is an essential part for this mode of supply.

He said, at present, most customers are talking about constant growth in market demand and each customer certainly wants to leverage this opportunity. However, looking forward to 2021, as the second wave of Covid-19 is hitting India, it may create some bottlenecks for growth. The key bottleneck includes consumables price rise, supply chain issues due to manpower and transportation (domestic and import) and others, which may affect the process efficiency and printers may result in losing their margin even if they maintain productivity.

“The printer may overcome this with proper cooperation to raw material suppliers. For example, by giving an advanced forecast, freight cost can be optimised,” Pandey said.

“Tesa, as a tapes expert, can make customers aware about our superior quality tapes so that they can produce high quality print jobs along with high process efficiency while using standard operating procedure for tapes,” he added.

He added that the next big thing in the market is www.printweek.in

sustainability, which comprises 3Rs (reduce, recyclable and renew). “The Twinlock selfadhesive sleeves are being used to mount photo-polymeric plates used in the flexo printing process and this technology helps printing companies achieve their sustainability drive,” he concluded.

TOYOBO SPOTLIGHTS COSMOLIGHT NZ/QZ SERIES FLEXO PLATE

Japan-based Toyobo introduced its newly developed flexo plate, Cosmolight NZ/QZ series at Virtual.

Drupa 2021. The NZ/QZ plate achieves rich ink transfer, both density and coverage wise, with consistent printability on a wide range of substrates, such as coated paper, rough paper and film. What’s innovative about this product is that the ink transfer is enriched, but inkfilling is minimised with its unique photopolymer technology, allowing customers to print longer impressions with less plate cleaning.

Kohsuke Uehara, sales, Toyobo said as productivity is more important than ever, the company is supporting customers with faster platemaking, improving pre-press and press productivity.

For Cosmolight, the platemaking time takes less than one hour, unlike the solvent plates. Therefore, customers can not only improve pre-press productivity, but also reduce press downtime. As the plate can be processed without a hazardous chemical, total solutions with a plate-making processor from a reasonable conventional cram type to a cutting-edge inline type are available.

Uehara said the company sees the market staying slow in 2021, too, “but in countries where the Covid vaccine rolled out, we are seeing some recoveries.”

“For the future, we see

processes automation and actions for sustainability as key factors,” Uehara said. “As per plateprocessing, the whole process line from plate ablation to mounting will be automated in the future. As per sustainability, a solvent-free process in printing will increase its presence.”

“With this in mind, the company is developing new products to suit the automated platemaking process that have lower environmental impact not only for being water-wash, but also with the complete recycling system of wastewater.

TROTEC LASER’S UPCOMING PRODUCTS TO BE A GAME CHANGER Present at the Virtual.Drupa 2021, Germany-based Trotec Laser Automation believes that its newly announced products, such as the SP 4000 addressing the needs of digital textile production and the GSL1400, helping label producers make the next step into digital production, will be the highlights. Both products wouldn’t be available before 2022, but, according to Alexander Kattner, business development manager, print, Trotec Laser Automation, these machines can be game changers for a lot of customers, making them more productive, flexible and profitable.

Talking about how the printing sector looks in 2021, Kattner said, it depends on the sector. There are certain sectors, which seem to have grown, such as home decoration, packaging and labels, while other areas of print — especially those producing a lot for events — have been massively hurt by the pandemic.

“However, we are feeling that there is movement in the market,

a lot of companies are finding different/new niches and are using their knowledge and experience to return from this crisis with creative and innovative products,” he said.

He added that while the eCommerce and online ordering systems have changed the industry over the last ten years, the pandemic has given it an additional boost.

“As our products are fully digital, they are fully flexible, and because of that are a perfect fit for such an environment. Nobody wants to change tools for every single job, or even have a new tool made. And that’s where our technology comes into play.

Changing from cutting wood to acrylics? Not a problem, just select the material in the database, put the material in the machine and you are ready to go,” he said.

The company is also getting a lot of feedback from its customers that they are seeing growing demand for eco-friendly production as well as the use of eco-friendly, recyclable/recycled materials.

Kattner said the next big thing is digital, automation and integration.

“Everybody is looking around to get their production as digital and flexible as possible. The market has benefited from moving to digital more than once, when it came to the actual printing.

People understand how to use digital printing, understand that this is different, and they do love the flexibility. So clearly, now is the time for the rest of the production process to follow digitisation, as much as it is possible,” he concluded.n

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CAREER

Woman Power: Industry still trying to figure out what it means According to a report by Google and Bain & Company, 13.5 to 15.7 million women-owned enterprises make up about 20% of all the enterprises present in the country today.

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hese numbers continue to rise and as the industry develops, the need to communicate the need for diversity becomes important.

On this note, Charmiane Alexander speaks to seven women from the printing and packaging industry to learn about their journey and highlight their mantras for success

Empowered women should empower women Vrinda Suneja

If I were to start my Pulp Society journey again, the one thing I would like to do differently is to be conscious about our values and work culture. We ran things as if we had learned them in our previous companies, and the result was a classic command-and-control system with a variety of leadership styles. This was a bit disorganised. A work culture began to emerge eventually, but it was chaotic. We didn’t agree on the values we wanted to put as founders, which made making decisions difficult because we didn’t have a mutual understanding to direct us.

However, we have come a long way. I recently encountered the most challenging moment for my company with the launch of our gallery just before the pandemic. It was a major setback; I found myself redoing our entire business model. When the lockdown was first announced, I woke up to the reality that I would not be able to walk down the Pulp Society galleries, or exhibitions for a while. At this moment, I saw the need for new approaches and a digital turn of art. We finally came up with an online programme where 78 artists, illustrators, writers and first-time makers collaborated in our unique digital effort to make 16 zines.

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Vrinda Suneja, founder and director, Pulp Society

“In today’s world, where women continue to face disparity in terms of wages and gender discrimination, it is imperative that women lift other women. When women come together, we can truly achieve great things.” pandemic and associated lockdowns, we were selling a total of 20 editions of each zine against the receipt of donations made to an organisation of the buyer’s choice on covid-relief.in. We have also come up with a new project called The Print Out, a

series of commissioned artworks, to print out and experience at home.

One simple but crucial practice that my company would undertake to make the workplace better for women would be to provide them with paid menstrual leaves.

This is the need of the hour in workplaces around the world today. Being a woman, I know how difficult it can be at times to constantly be on the move at work while dealing with menstrual pain. I’d like to believe that my company is the first to take such a step for our female employees.

This is also a concrete step towards eliminating the stigma around period. www.printweek.in

s

Vrinda Suneja Brands that use print and packaging the best We live in an age where packaging is as important as the product itself. I’m absolutely crazy about this local brand, All Things Chocolate, for its packaging design. Being a graphic designer, I love its poetic packaging beautifully illustrating the simple joys of life. It takes chocolate out of its conventional space and makes it intriguing.

Be your own cheerleader, the world will follow

Mayuri Nikumbh Brands that use print and packaging the best A packaging execution I have come to admire is the ingenious human story-telling on Amazon boxes.

Something as ubiquitous as the brown carrier package ordinarily fails to retain the attention of its rece iver. Bu t t h e A mazon StoryBoxes have managed to build human-focus narratives that made me engage with it longer than the product inside. Not only do they tell a story, but they brilliantly weave tech n o l og y w i th o u t disrupting the visual portraiture. It is an impactful example of integrating empathy, interest and technology in the most unexpected and economic way.

Mayuri Nikumbh

I believe what I am today is the sum of all my past experiences and learnings, so I seldom think about what if. However, I wish I had trusted my instincts more.

While I have taken my crests and troughs in equal stride, there were distinct moments where I ought to have had more faith in my version of myself rather than others’ versions of me.

Sometimes we undermine our capabilities and hold back when we can be present and make a difference in our full capacity. It is vital to put yourself first at times and notice how the environment around responds positively. It enables one to claim one’s place, and command respect and appreciation justly due.

I made a hard choice last year to move from a comfortably established position in my previous organisation to an entirely new set up, organisation and city. Given the perilously unpredictable times we live and work in, it was a risky move. But as with all my journeys, I had the wholehearted support of family, friends and ex-colleagues. Given my innate instinct to swim against the tide, and a deep-seated hunger to learn and grow by taking on newer challenges, I’m glad I took this leap of faith.

According to me, a simple and fair metric all organisations can adhere to is to put talent before gender. Also, with changing workplace dynamics, it is imperative to focus on how goals are www.printweek.in

Mayuri Nikumbh, head of design, Conran Design Group

“Every woman should invest in herself, without any guilt. Be your own cheerleader, the world will follow.” accomplished rather than who is fulfilling them. Organisations can create platforms that enable initiative and conversations around an equitable approach to work. As part of the Havas Group, I am proud to mention ‘Women Who Inspire’, our

gender equality programme that works towards recognising and celebrating the work women employees across the group are doing. The objective of the programme is to bring about a cultural transformation and mindset shift that will help us to build a diverse workforce.

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CAREER Being a woman is not an excuse for anything Priya Singh When I began my career, I was taken into sales but was quickly moved to the shop floor with a clear brief that I must spend four hours on the machine at the very least. I don’t know why this was done but somebody must have realised I hardly have the then conventional salesperson’s persona. It was a bit different as I was the only woman on the shopfloor. But the people were amazing, I knew them all from my industrial training days.

What was expected of me was difficult – long hours had never been a problem for me (apart from parental disapproval) but the quizzing I was subjected to was. I was hardly ever at home and when I was, I was reading technical magazines given to me with the warning that I will be asked questions! I remember always being on my toes, always a tad scared that I will not answer a question asked and embarrass myself. I was never asked but being always ready was most difficult. In retrospect, it was the best thing to happen to me. I was thus being mentored, and I didn’t even know that.

I believe that each company should have governance and a clearly stated equal opportunities code so that companies

Priya Singh, vice president, production and digital resources, Hachette India

“Hard work is the first step. Equality is not limited to one aspect – demand and delivery. Being a woman is not an excuse for anything.”

Human resource drives high-value assets

“Irrespective of the role or the project or the position that you are in, work passionately and give your best to anything you take up.”

Priyata Raghavan In the first few months of me joining the print industry, I remember the first time when we faced pressure to meet a deadline. We were trying to get the fluorescent pink, and it wasn’t fluorescent enough. I remember spending almost 36 hours on the printing press procuring different kinds of inks and getting various suppliers to sign off on lightfastness values to get fluorescent pink. It was my first exposure to how a brand finds its identity in print, and even today that is the most exciting part of the job.

When I joined the industry 15 years ago, there was a lot of emphasis on what kind of technology we were going to invest in and deploy to deliver print or packaging. But one thing we didn’t emphasise enough was the kind of people www.printweek.in

pledge to hire eligible candidates as an equal opportunity employer. And making all employees, men and women, aware of the policy for prevention of sexual harassment, PoSH act and the company’s commitment to comply with it. It should be part of all induction programmes for everyone. This simple thing will sensitise all employees and will act as a reminder to work together with equality and respect for each other.

Priyata Raghavan, director, Sai Packaging

we wanted to employ and the investment that should happen in training, growth and mentoring. It is the human resource that drives high-value assets. So, the one thing that I would do differently if I was to start again, I would focus on the important assets that do not show up on the balance sheet. Early emphasis on multi-skilling, training, mentoring, and career mapping can be a game-changer for any company.

I feel that professionalism can make the working environment wonderful for women. If you can set a clear framework with a clear set of deliverables, it will make a good working environment for 10 May 2021

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CAREER women because women usually have to multitask and deal with multiple expectations in different facets of their lives. So, giving a good and strong professional working environment will help women thrive and grow.

Passion for profession is mandatory Shyamala Viswanathan

Brands that use print and packaging the best

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Brands that use print and packaging the best iD Fresh Food products use print/package in the best way, because of its user-friendly package, cool colours, and design of the package. The recently launched iD Smart Sip Tender coconut is an inspiring sustainable packaging design.

Another inspiring packaging is Good Hair Day Pasta. The kind of package and print they use stands out in the shelves of the supermarket.

Priyata Raghavan

Multinationals like Unilever and P&G use print really well. They are able to offer the same brand identity irrespective of which country or locations they are delivering, or what substrate they’re using. It is an amazing way to use print and packaging knowledge. On the other end, many Indian startups and newage brands are getting inspired by innovative packaging from the West. They are pushing the limits of Indian packaging. I like brands such as Epigamia, Paper Boat, and Bombay Shaving Company.

These young brands are offering interesting packaging in terms of s ubs tra tes, gra ph i c s a n d decorations.

Shyamala Viswanathan

Shyamala Viswanathan, assistant manager quality control- HOD, Eenadu Press

When I started my career, the challenge was to adapt to the company’s culture.

Fortunately, I had many who supported my career growth. After every challenging situation, I felt that I have learnt and gained experience to handle such complicated issues for the future.

When I look back, I feel that I would have concentrated more on packaging.

Though print and packaging are closely related fields, switching from one to another after certain years of experience is a little challenging.

In terms of healthy workplace practice, as discontinuing a career is seen more with women employees, organisations must take steps to retain them. One of the best steps is to recruit employees with an equal ratio of women and men. As per a Harvard study, handling the cost of disengagement is a challenge to an organisation. Including few facilities such as flexible timing and supporting them in tough situations can help women employees extend their career prospects.

“Having a passion in your professional career is mandatory, which acts as life support and identity during a crisis.

Many would have realised this during the pandemic. So, before we choose to drop out of our career, we need to think twice.”

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CAREER Appreciate your strengths and work on weaknesses

Did you know?

Hindustan Unilever has launched a safety initiative for 100,000 women in the outer core.

The initiative was launched to educate and generate awareness among its women employees as well as women in its partner networks about issues around safety at work, home and public spaces.

Sudha K

I have always looked at any difficulty as a challenge in my life with positivity and composure. Also, I have made all decisions in my life with clarity analysing the cause and effect. These approaches have enabled me to succeed in my career.

I believe that each individual should ignore gender. They should focus on his or her responsibilities, the task at hand and how to accomplish it. One should appreciate their strengths and work on weaknesses to grow.

Sudha K, implementation engineer, InSoft Automation

“Decide what you want to do and focus on it. Life puts you into situations to push your life the other way, take responsibility and face it.”

In 2020, Rebel Architette created an interactive public world map showcasing 732 outstanding women architects from all over the world In March of 2021, Pepsi-Co’s Food for Good and WomanMade teamed together to provide femalefounders in the food and beverage space with resources and support to scale their businesses.

Cannes Lions has announced its jury lineups for the awards to be presented during this June’s festival. The proportion of women on the juries has hit 51%

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Food delivery platform Zomato, has expanded its board by inducting 4 women independent directors, making it one of the most diversified boards in India.

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CAREER There is nothing that we cannot achieve once we put our minds to it Hema Java In the start, I was quite overwhelmed with the lack of women in the industry and the constant reminder that this is a maledominated industry. If I could rewind back to when it all began, I’d like to tell my younger self that it’s all going to be okay, since I have personally seen that everyone is extremely welcoming to new talent and whether you are male or female is immaterial in the long run.

If I were to start again, I think I’d not be scared to start or do something new in terms of practice in the company or a change in the products we can sell or starting even a new division. I guess in the start, it’s quite intimidating if you want to bring about a change, but with time, I’ve learned that changes are only learning curves. It may go well for you or may not perform as per your expectations, but you will always learn something new.

I believe that women, or men for that matter, would like to work at an organisation where they see growth. A simple practice would be to have an equitable and encouraging environment where women are motivated by seeing in practice that their hard work can bear fruition and that success and growth can be achieved even in a male-dominated industry like print or paper.

Hema Java, manager- sales and marketing, CH Java & Company

“As women, we are used to playing several roles. We should look at these responsibilities as a driving force, and not as a deterrent to our career growth. Remember, there is nothing that we cannot achieve once we put our minds to it.”

Hema Java Brands that use print and packaging the best Purely from a consumer perspective, the agarbatti brand Phool has got its packaging bang on. Be it the colourful festive theme or the gold foiled boxes, it’s like the essence of India that is wrapped up and delivered to you in one box. Added bonus is the beautiful unboxing element they’ve added with a signed card from the person that handmade the agarbattis for you. Another standout brand for me would be Haldirams, a brand from New Delhi with a legacy in the food industry, which has adapted so well with the changing times by coming up with attractive packaging. www.printweek.in

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CAREER

Leaders must not be afraid of owning At a time when many world leaders are being questioned about how they are tackling the Covid-19 situation, Serena Williams, tennis champion, entrepreneur, philanthropist, revealed her thoughts on leadership on the third day of the Adobe Summit

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he 23-time Grand Slam champion said, “The most important thing in a leader is ownership. Leaders must not be afraid of owning up to mistakes, things that are not great, and should not be afraid of standing up to them.”

Williams added that she has also believed in the power of mistakes. “I learned important lessons in tennis and business when I made mistakes. When we talk to founders (of companies that Williams invests in), it’s a bit of a turn-off when they say everything is perfect. We want to know how one can recover from the mistake,” she added.

Along with a successful tennis career, Williams is also a venture capitalist and owns a fashion company.

“My dad, from a young age, told me that you never know what happens and you must always have something to fall back on. What I do in fashion and in Serena Ventures is something that I have been wanting to do for a long time. I wanted it to be a full-time occupation, rather than a backup plan,” she said.

Adding that her learnings from the court are taken into her business, Williams said, “There’s a lot that I take from my tennis career that I incorporate into my businesses; it’s about the tenacity, the desire, the championship mindset. It’s (the business) something I am passionate about. I became an angel investor early on and have been investing in different companies for eight years. I quickly learned that it’s fun, but very risky.”

While several VCs are investing in companies, Williams learned early on in her business career that only 2% of investment money goes to women, and even less to women of colour. It’s something she wants to address.

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ning up to mistakes: Serena Williams cheques to women and people of colour and investing in such companies,” she said.

Difference between tennis and her business career

While stating that her tennis career influences her business career in terms of dedication and hard work she puts in, there are differences too.

Explaining them, Williams said, “In tennis, the more risk you take, the more rewards you have. Business is a little more different. You’re talking a tremendous amount of funds and money and you want to make sure you make the best decision. There are goals I want to reach, if I meet them, then I feel like I have succeeded in that. There are times you don’t meet those goals and you don’t reach the minimums you want to do, so it’s about re-evaluating them and then figuring how to do better.”

She added, “I also take on a ton of mentors in the business. I want to look at mentors from businesses that you can learn from. For example, there was one company I didn’t believe in and wasn’t particularly sure of investing in. But my team believed in it. They had more knowledge about the background, and I agreed and went for it. It ended up being one of our big portfolio companies.”

Merging fashion and tech

Williams has been known for her love for fashion.

She also runs her brand (S by Serena) through which it aims to merge fashion and technology.

She explains, “For me, it’s so important to create something that’s for all body types. We call our plus size – great. We want everyone to feel good.

Tech is moving to live shopping in China. In China, users are shopping via text messages and AR, that’s what we want here in the USA (too).”

She signed off with how the brand uses social media.

“Our social engagement on social media has been cool – it’s like a conversation with customers. We are not trying to sell – but just finding out how they’re doing, especially in the last year.

Customers, especially the Gen Z cohort, love to know that they are shopping with a brand that supports causes. One of those endeavours was to use fabric that we already had, and made masks out of them when the pandemic hit.”n

Raahil Chopra is the managing editor at Campaign India www.printweek.in

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Printing Museums in India

A clarion call

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Murali Ranganathan The printing history series in PrintWeek enters its seventh year with this anniversary issue. One of the objectives of this series is to evoke a sense of history in the Indian print industry and inspire it to preserve, protect and share its collective print heritage with present and future generations. What better way to do so than by setting up printing museums?

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rinting made a relatively late entry into India in comparison to many other countries in Asia. China can lay claim to being the motherland of printing, both from blocks and type manufactured from wood, clay or metal. The history of Chinese paper and printing can be traced over two thousand years and details about the print technology and ancient printed artefacts are abundantly in existence today. From China, printing moved to Japan and Korea which also have a long and illustrious tradition of printing. By the fourteenth century, the technology had moved westward to Europe where it must have had a long gestation period before being refined and perfected into what is now known as mechanical letterpress printing by Gutenberg and his contemporaries in the 1440s. After rapidly spreading throughout Europe, printing accidentally reached India in 1556 when a printing press intended for Ethiopia

providentially reached Goa. However, it took another two centuries for print to make its presence felt in India and even longer for it to spread across the country. In the nineteenth century, India emerged as one of the largest print markets in the world and it continues to retain that status in the twenty-first century.

The colonial cities of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras emerged as print capitals while numerous other cities such as Delhi, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Pune also developed substantial print infrastructure. For the last two hundred years and more, print has permeated every aspect of life and this is certainly worth celebrating and cherishing.

Global Printing Museums

Printing museums come in all shapes and sizes.

And with a range of missions and visions. Some of them focus on the technology behind print, others on the printed object. Some aspire to be national museums like the National Print

CASE STUDY 1 TOPPAN PRINTING MUSEUM TOKYO, JAPAN https://www.printing-museum.org When digital technologies began to dominate printing in the 1990s, Toppan Printing, a leading global print solution provider, “sensed a need to preserve and pass on to future generations analog techniques and modes of expression related to printing culture that were at risk of being consumed by a wave of digitalization.” The museum opened in 2000 and received a complete makeover in 2020. The focus of the museum is the ‘History of Printing in Japan’ which can be traced back to fourteen centuries.

Housed across two floors in the headquarters of Toppan in central Tokyo, the museum is staffed by eight curators. It has a Printing House where visitors can experience printing as it was done through the ages. The museum has managed to attract a regular stream of visitors over twenty years. The museum also serves as a centre for Printing Cultural Studies and hopes “to bring together insights from a wide range of perspectives and pass on to future generations knowledge of the vital role that printing has played in society.”

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Museum of Ireland ( w w w. nationalprintmuseum.ie). Others shine the spotlight on the work of one individual, for example the Bodoni Museum which is devoted to the works of the Italian typographer Giambattista Bodoni (www.museobodoniano. com). And yet others focus on a publishing house, for example the Oxford University Press Museum. Quite a few museums have original machines or reproductions in working condition. Some are spread across a room or two while there are others with a whole campus devoted to them. Some of them have been in existence for a century and longer. Some, like the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz (www. gutenberg-museum.de), which was set up in 1900 with contributions from printers, publishers and machinery manufacturers have gone through multiple incarnations and have reoriented themselves for the twenty-first century. Quite a few museums have been set up in the last couple of decades as the importance of print heritage have been more broadly recognised.

How did these museums originate? Some of them are projects of national pride like the China Printing Museum at Beijing (www.printingmuseum.cn) which was opened in 1996 under the auspices of the Chinese government.

It celebrates print as one of the four great inventions made in ancient China and chronicles the story of its development over thousands of years. On a much smaller scale is the municipal Cheongju Early Printing Museum in Korea which celebrates the earliest discovered book to be printed using movable metal types in 1377.

It is mainly printers who have invested in protecting and sharing their print heritage all over the world . They could be ambitious projects conceived by large print conglomerates like Toppan of Japan (see Case Study 1) or small family-owned presses (see Case Study 3) showcasing print heritage. Or it could be the passion project of an individual which metamorphoses into a public-private partnership (see Case Study 2).

The number of printing museums in Europe is so numerous that an Association of European Printing Museums has been formed to create an international printing heritage network (www. aepm.eu). Besides there are numerous historical societies which are solely focussed on print history and culture such as the Printing Historical Society in the UK, the International Gutenberg Society, and the American Printing History Association.

The Indian scenario

Museums enjoy a mixed reputation in India. On one hand, India’s cultural and historical heritage going back to five thousand years are housed in them. But on the other hand, they are generally considered rather downbeat and relegated as places to be visited by children on www.printweek.in

CASE STUDY 2 THE TYPE ARCHIVE LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM www.typearchive.org The writing was on the wall by the 1990s: the era of hot-metal types had ended after an extended run of nearly six hundred years. The few UK companies which still produced hotmetal types were winding up operations. Enter Susan Shaw! A veteran of the publishing industry, Shaw took up the gauntlet of preserving whatever could be salvaged from the ruins with a crusader’s zeal.

When the Monotype Corporation went into liquidation in 1992, Shaw negotiated the purchase of the hot-metal division. The scale of its assets and archives was remarkable as Monotype was in operation from 1900 and maintained meticulous records and designed typefaces for over three hundred scripts. The collection was housed in a building which had earlier been a veterinary college.

The next acquisition of The Type Archive was a typefounding collection which had its roots in the sixteenth century. Types and matrices were considered the core of the printing industry and were passed on from generation to generation. When one master typefounder retired or died, his foundry would be acquired by an aspiring master typefounder. Through this process, Stephenson, Blake & Co of Sheffield had come to possess one of the most remarkable collections of typefounding history by 1937. In 1996, Shaw negotiated the purchase of the entire collection which had material going back to the 1500s. In the same year, the Archive also bought the largest collection of wood type in the UK, which were used for printing posters and banners. All the three acquisitions were still in operation when they were acquired by The Type Archive and now constitute the National Typefounding Collection of the UK with over 8 million artefacts.

The funding for the acquisitions and the museum site were given by National Heritage Memorial Fund whose mandate, as a fund of last resort, is to save some of the most-loved treasures in the UK. The Type Archive has also raised funds from private sources and continues to run an active fund-raising campaign. It also has a functioning foundry where it manufactures and sells Monotype matrices to a variety of clients.

school trips. Museums associated with technology and science are not only few in number but also receive the short shrift from visitors.

If one were to survey the present scenario in India with respect to printing museums, one is bound to be disappointed. Museums which could be classified as printing museums would hardly number more than three. And they would fall extremely short when measured against international standards. The Odisha Printing Museum associated with the Government Press in Cuttack is perhaps the only museum in India which is exclusively devoted to printing and has a comprehensive collection of machinery which cover all aspects of printing from the era of the letterpress to the era of phototypesetting. When the press was being modernized, the then superintendent salvaged all the old machines instead of selling

them as scrap. A dedicated building has been set aside for the museum which was inaugurated in 2014. However, none of the machines are in working condition and the museum is not visitor-friendly.

Christian missions were the major centres of print in the early days and introduced the art of printing to many areas in India. At the Danish Mission at Tharangambadi or Tranquebar, a printing press was established by Bartholomew Ziegenbalg in 1712 with Tamil and Portuguese typefaces procured from Halle in Germany. The Baptist Mission Press at Serampore near Calcutta was founded in 1799 by the missionary William Carey. Other mission presses include the American Mission Press (1817) at Mumbai, the Cuttack Mission Press (1837) and the Basel Mission Press at Mangalore (1841). In recent years, efforts have been made to recover the print heritage of these mission presses.

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Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 189

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CASE STUDY 3 THE ROYAL PRESS MELAKA, MALAYSIA

www.theroyalpress.my When Ee Soon Wei, a young marketing and branding executive, returned home to Melaka to connect with his family heritage, he discovered that the 75-year-old family-owned press was barely functioning. It did letterpress printing in all the four scripts used in Malaysia: Roman (for Malay and English), Tamil, Chinese and Arabic (for Jawi). The family had not made any fresh investments in the press for decades and the only reason for its continued operation was to provide a livelihood for its compositors and pressmen (and women) who had been working in the press for over half a century. It was only a matter of time before the press, which was operating from a heritage building, would have shut down with the passing of the older generation.

Soon Wei, who wanted to preserve this family printing heritage, considered various options to preserve the press. The city of Melaka, with its multi-cultural living heritage going back many centuries, had developed an ecosystem for the preservation of heritage monuments and neighbourhoods. Drawing inspiration from this environment, Soon Wei began to convert the printing press into a printing museum with funding from the Sime Darby Foundation. He began by photographing the treasures of the press and this led to a collaboration with a documentary film maker to make a film on the press. Eventually, the film-making process took him to Germany where he met experts from the Gutenberg Museum who advised on how the museum could be designed.

Six years after he started working on the project, Soon Wei’s dream of a printing museum became a reality in 2013. Housing a range of printing machinery (many of them still functioning), printing blocks and types, and print memorabilia like liquor labels, medicine boxes and bus tickets, The Royal Press aims to be a polyglot letterpress museum.

The Ziegenbalg House, a 300-year-old edifice at Tranquebar, has recently been renovated and efforts are being made to showcase the print heritage of the Mission. While much of the funding for the renovation was provided by the German Federal Foreign Office, donations were also received from Madras Printers and Lithographers Association, the All India Federation of Master Printers, and the Salem District Offset Printers Association. The Basel Mission initiated efforts to set up a printing museum in Mangalore in 2016. Though much of the physical infrastructure survives to this day at Serampore, a large part of the print heritage has been lost. There is no permanent display of printing history. Some of the matrices for the typefaces designed for the Serampore Mission Press by Panchanan Karmakar and his son-in-law, Manohar Karmakar have been preserved by the family to this day and are occasionally lent to Serampore for exhibition. Since most of the efforts that have been undertaken under the auspices of the mission presses are not led by experts or practitioners of the print www.printweek.in

industry or by print historians, the showcasing of the print heritage and technology does not reach the potential it could have.

Quite a few generalist museums in India have print-related exhibits. The Goa State Museum in Panaji has a section on printing history which attempts to trace the five-centuries long history of printing in that state. The Ahmednagar Museum has the original wooden printing press which was used to print that city’s first newspaper Vrutta Vaibhav (founded in 1855). The museums in Pondicherry and Chandannagar, both of which were French possessions, have a token printing press on display.

A lithographic stone here, a nineteenth century newspaper there, a few types that have been salvaged from the furnace, a sheaf of old printed material like labels and posters, is all that one can encounter in the few museums that are there in India.

Perhaps the largest collection of print machinery and memorabilia in India is in the hands of the members of the print fraternity.

Thousands of printers, both large and small,

across the length and breadth of India have saved, collected, or acquired items which take us back to the history of print. While some may have a handful of artefacts, there are others whose collection numbers in the hundreds.

Many of these items are on display in their premises. Neither are these collections accessible to the general public nor can they be called museums.

Nowhere is the story of print in India explored, nowhere are the print practitioners of yesteryear celebrated, and nowhere are visitors able to understand the overarching role print plays in everyday life.

A Vision for Printing Museums

How should a vision for printing museums in India be developed? How many of them does India need? Where will the funds needed for the implementing the vision come from? How will the real estate needed for such ventures be acquired? Should we expect local governments to take the lead? Or should it be print associations? Or printing presses and publishing houses? Or individuals with a passion for print? Print historians?

It is evident that much of initiation and planning has to be done by print practitioners and print enthusiasts. They are not only aware of the technology and processes which were once in use but are also best positioned to track down valuable print-related material and machinery which will form the core of any printing museum. Every city which has been a print centre would afford enough material for a printing museum and India can easily count a dozen such cities.

A preliminary road-map for printing museums would involve considerations about the extent of its activities, funding sources, collection of exhibits, and other practicalities. See Box for further details. The year 2022 marks the bicentenary of Bombay Samachar, the longest continually published newspaper in Asia. And there would be numerous such landmarks in the coming years. It would be fitting that efforts are made to initiate printing museums to mark these occasions. n

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We help open up the doors and reach out to the people who are shaping our industry.

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PRINTING HISTORY MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES The institution which is proposed to set up should have two parts which go hand in hand: printing history museum and printing history archives. Material for both these areas will come from the same sources, that is, the print industry and print practitioners.

PRINTING HISTORY MUSEUM

PRINTING HISTORY ARCHIVES OBJECTIVE

The print history museum should showcase the following categories of artefacts.

Collect and preserve original records of printing organisations and associations.

• Technology, equipment, and hardware as it evolved over the last two centuries and more • Imprints and other products produced by the print industry • People and the culture associated with print

• • • •

Annual reports and product brochures Design records and technical specifications Business correspondence and papers Other office records

AUDIENCE • • • •

General public Print industry Students from print technology and allied fields School and college students

• • • •

Print historians Print industry Historians from other fields Researchers from design and art

INTERACTION • • • •

• • • •

Displays of machines and information Live demonstrations Workshops Specialist print jobs

Provide facilities for reference Digital archives Conferences and seminars Publications

IMPLEMENTATION COLLECTION OF EXHIBITS • From printing presses, flea markets, collectors and print enthusiasts • Refurbishment, repairs and, if possible, restore to working condition • Collect operating manuals FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION • Determine the managing structure: trust, foundation, corporate body • Budgets, funding plan and funding sources • Identify and onboard key personnel MUSEUM DESIGN AND CURATION • Identify museum site and design the physical space • Exhibition narrative and communication plan • Operationalisation

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Collectibles (Illustrative list) Type Foundry

Photo typesetting

Given the large number of scripts used for printing in India, type design and casting was an important part of the industry.

A few cities emerged as type foundry centres. Special efforts should be made to acquire the machinery, punches, and matrices from these places. All their records, which constitute a valuable archive, should be acquired.

There was a lot of development in photo typesetting and specialist cameras and other equipment were being used. A few specimens might still be available.

Re-purposed equipment & Working equipment Many machines from the pre-offset era have been re-purposed for other uses. It might be possible to acquire these machines and restore them to their original function and maintain them in a working condition. This will help in giving demonstrations and conducting workshops.

Types and type specimen books The institution should try to acquire libraries of types for Indian language fonts. This might also be useful in the future design of digital fonts. Particular attention should be paid to wooden fonts and other non-metal fonts.

Other equipment • • •

Hot metal typesetting For many decades of the twentieth century, hot metal typesetting was an important part of the print industry.

Dominated by the likes of MonoType and Linotype, there were other brands like Bhisotype and Intertype. It might be possible to acquire functioning machinery.

• • • • • •

Proof presses Hand Platen Machines Manual Treadle Presses Zinc block making equipment Numbering equipment Binding equipment and machinery Lithographic stones and presses Stanhope, Colombian and Albion presses Paper and paper manufacturing

Related Arenas

Practicalities

Typewriters

Storage

Typewriters are closely allied with print technology and they have also become redundant in the last two decades. It might be possible to collect typewriters in Indian languages. There is a lot of variation in these models and the aim should be to have a representative collection.

Photography

While display might be the focus of the institution, it should also make adequate plans and provisions for the material which might be collected but not displayed. This would include creating adequate shelving arrangements, a proper cataloging system, and maintenance.

Human Resources

Photography is closely related to printing and many developments in the printing of illustrations are related to this field. Photographic equipment and artefacts would be an excellent adjunct to a printing museum.

This is a crucial aspect of the institution and thought needs to be given to how much investment is required in this area.

While many of the activities could be outsourced, it might be prudent to invest in resources for specialist knowledge of curating, print history, and museum/archive administration.

Design

Collaboration

Design has been at the core of every print job, be it a book or a poster or a packaging box. The role of designers in the print industry can be showcased in a printing museum.

Library Besides a museum and an archive, the institution could also consider adding a library of books and periodicals relating to print, print technology, print history and other allied subjects. The library could also have a section for rare Indian imprints (printed before 1920).

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Printing museums will have to collaborate with each other, the print industry and associations, and print scholars and academics. They might want to partner with international printing museums for special projects and exhibitions.

Outreach Any institution with a public audience will need to implement an outreach strategy to ensure that it is able to communicate its vision. This can be done through using a combination of old-world and new-age media.

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Vol XIV Issue 1 PrintWeek 195

PACKAGING IS THE FUTURE Invest in your future Invest in

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PRINT ZONE

“Grey and red are the trickest colours we have had to print” In the Rapid Fire questions series, PrintWeek asks KS Udupa questions about print and beyond 1

What is your idea of a perfect print firm in India?

A company which invests regularly on innovation and improves its techniques to meet international standards.

7

Which print technology, according to you, is the future? Why? Digital, because of its clarity, speed and flexibility.

2

What is the trait you most deplore in our industry?

When we upgrade the product with a new system, most of the customers are reluctant to pay upcharge and adopt the system.

8

If you could change one thing about your printing plant, what would it be?

I would prefer an automated pre-press workflow system.

3

What are the trickiest colours that you have had to print?

Grey and red.

9

4

A technology or a thought process you think is a passé for 21st Century press?

We must focus on using recycled paper at an economical price. We may face severe pulp shortage in future.

What is the quality you seek when you hire?

Enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

10

5

What is your most ‘wow’ moment?

Winning the PrintWeek Award for Printing Company of the Year in 2015.

What do you most value in your customers?

My customers understand when we face a problem in price or delivery in a particular situation.

6

What is the greatest strength of your printing firm?

My highly motivated and experienced team.

11

Describe your day in two sentences?

My day goes tracking pending customer samples and orders. Identifying new customers and paying attention to them is also important. I spend time looking into that as well.

K SACHINDRANATH UDUPA Director, Colors Packaging Solutions India, Indore

PRINTWEEK POLLS 25 %

y 50 30 + 20

Yes

75%

Have you been able to reduce the make-ready time on your printing press? If yes by how much?

By

Not at all:

50%

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Packaging and delivery specialists have urged businesses to plan their needs in advance and seek alternatives as cardboard box supply continues to be impacted. How long will this crisis continue?

Six months Three months

50%

Yes

5-10%: 20%

A year

25%

Will it be business as usual after the second wave of Covid is vanquished?

11-25%: 30% By

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Does commercial print need to revolutionise itself by disrupting the use of technology, by having the creatives involved at an early stage; and above all, engaging (innovatively) with the millennials

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POST SCRIPT

SAKSHI SAINI Sakshi Saini works as a research associate at Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). She believes that our baby steps to protect the environment will become a giant leap for future generations generations

One most valuable work lesson Never stop learning. Continuous learning helps to create a stronger work-life balance.

One key tip for good health Pranayama. It helps to connect your body and mind.

Most useful app?

Finshots. It is an online financial news app that delivers just one news piece a day.

Your tip to resolve conflicts…

Effective communication is the key. It can help people recognise and benefit from their differences.

Your favourite book?

Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda.

What is your favourite phrase?

The fool didn’t know it was impossible, so he did it.

Do you think there are lessons to learn from nature?

Lao Tzu said, “Nature does not hurry yet everything is accomplished”. Life is not a race. I believe the more pressure, the less positive results.

What is your favourite film?

MS Dhoni: The Untold Story.

Who do you admire the most in the industry?

Indra Nooyi, former chairman and CEO at Pepsico.

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