Utility Forms sets up dedicated commercial printing unit in Faridabad

Established in 1982, Utility Forms began as a modest operation, servicing IT companies, corporates, financial companies and banks offering security printing and pre-printed computer stationery. Today it has grown into an integrated printing services provider that occupies more than 100,000 sq.ft area across five production facilities, and services companies, both large and small, across a wide range of industries, which includes commercial printing, book printing, digital colour printing, security printing, financial document printing and variable data printing.

Praveen Agarwal, director, Utility Forms, said, “We were doing commercial jobs for our existing customers from our production site in Mohan Cooperative Industrial Estate, but as the volume went up, we decided to establish a dedicated plant. Right now, our production is in full swing.”

Beside Faridabad and Mohan Cooperative, Utility has also plants in Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai.

The new print production facility of Utility is equipped with a brand new four-colour Komori LA 37 online coating printing press. The binding section includes a Stahl folder, six-clamp perfect book binder from Welbound, a Muller Martini six station flowline, Symth sewing machine, Polar 115 paper-cutting machine and Guowang cutting machine from China, a thermal lamination machine, a nipping machine, plate cleaning machine from Memory Repro and other supporting equipment.

This is an interesting turn of events, as the consensus in the market is that the commercial printing segment is struggling. Agarwal agreed that it is a general topic of discussion that commercial printing is not doing well, but added that Utility soon realized that if you are giving a quick turnaround, offering high quality of printing, having all facilities under one roof, and then there is no dearth of work in the market.

“There is a problem in financial management and costing,” he said. “Printers offer long credit periods with lower prices. The combination of these two can bring you down. You have to learn to say no. Raw material prices are going up and most printers are not asking for higher prices due to high competition. But how long can printers survive under such circumstances.”

 “We are expecting around Rs 15 crore business from this unit in FY18-19,” Agarwal concluded.

Next, the company is planning a new 100% export-oriented factory in Greater Noida to produce large volume stationery, art and craft products.

Utility has around 365 people at all its five locations, including new unit in Faridabad, where company has hired a new team of 30 people.