Cool trends define Ramya's progress
Most printers assume that success is to do with only volumes, but for this Bengaluru-based print specialist, it is also infrastructure, machinery and dedicated professionals. Deepika Arwind finds out
29 Jun 2011 | By Deepika Arwind
Cool trends define Ramya's progress
Ramya Reprographic, Bengaluru-based offset and digital specialist, has been producing high-quality work in the city since the last 16 years. Since it’s inception, Ramya Reprographic has developed a niche in printing a variety of communication material, not just for clients in Bengaluru, but from those across the country and globally.
The brain-child and creation of its young director, R Narendra after he received a diploma in printing, the company has moved from operating on a modest level to running every hour of the day, in order to meet the demands of the customers.
Steady growth
Till a few months ago, Ramya Reprographic functioned out of a 28,000 sq/ft unit in Bomannahalli. This unit was the first one set up by the company, but over the last two years, the management sensed the need for a bigger unit, which would accommodate their new machines as well as provide a better working environment for the 250-member staff dedicated to the company.
Now Ramya Reprographic has shifted into a 90,000 sq/ft unit, three kilometres away from their previous unit. This six-storey unit has a separate digital unit on the ground floor to take care of the needs of walk-in customers and enquiries for digital printing, all taken care of by C Bharathi, wife of Narendra.
Ramya Reprographic is well-equipped with the latest multi-colour and single-colour offset machines. Complementing this is the in-house design unit and a core in-house production system.
"They are manned by some of the best professionals in the printing industry who have expertise in creating, design and printing," says Narendra. He adds, "This dedication is continuously inspired by the dual company vision of superior quality and complete customer satisfaction."
A print corner
The company has a total of seven offset printing machines including the latest Komori Lithrone and two Heidelberg SM 74 machines, with built-in coaters and in-house CTP. "Our plan is to begin investing in post-press machines in the coming years. We want to acquire case-making, foiling, gathering, section-stitching and three-knife trimmers," says Narendra. In terms of software, Ramya are looking at colour correction software from GMG and an MIS software. In the pre-press , it plans to add an 8-up CTP.
According to Narendra, it is the constant eye on the future as well as a quest for perfection that has led Ramya Reprographic to the kind of success it has had. The company has a rigorous maintenance policy, which entails daily and weekly maintenance exercises by the staff at Ramya as well as quarterly, half-yearly and yearly maintenance by the machine manufacturers themselves. "We check each and every printed sheet using the densitometer before it goes for approval," says Narendra.
The temperature and humidity levels are controlled as per industry standards. The client-related practice has won them appreciation. There have been quick and effective interactions with first-time clients, who know the status of their job in the first 15 minutes.
"Once we say yes to a job, the clients do not have to check with us about the status of the job. We send them emails and text messages and they are kept updated without a worry in the world," says Narendra. It is this kind of single-minded focus on delivering on time that has earned them a reputation of being infallible amongst their peers.
People power
The other focus is on the employees. One of the things that the company has always kept in mind and cared about has been their employees. "The role of motivation has been a huge one in the company," says Narendra.
Much attention is given to the employees’ lives within the company. Best performer awards, birthday and wedding celebrations are part of this. Moreover, there are special measures taken to support their employees, like financial support for their children’s higher education. Plus the one to one interaction which Narendra has with every staff is a rare quality.
"It not only removes the fear from the minds of those working with us, but also boosts their morale," he says. It is no surprise that he has been able to retain a bulk of his staff in the last 16 years.
Ramya Reprographic wants to continue expanding itself. One of their key missions is to take Ramya to a more visible, national level. "We want to do this by opening a city office, and several branches within the city as well in other cities," states Narendra. Other than this, the company also wants to strengthen its already existing commitment to its customers. "We aim for zero rejection and zero complaints for any print job we do," he adds.
Rewarding work
In their digital section, the company turns out about 50,000 digital prints a month, a market that is continuously growing. "We cater to the commercial segment, from advertising to FMCG, and school and college requirements," says Narendra. "Close to 25% of our turnover comes from exports," he adds. Ramya Reprographic already owns a Canon 7000VP and hopes to acquire an HP Indigo in the coming year, for they believe in its print quality, especially on textured paper.
Considering this, Ramya Reprographic is the winner of several print awards, including the Asian Print Awards 2008 for brochure printing, received in Singapore plus an impressive array of short-list from the PrintWeek India Awards. Ramya also bagged the Canon Best Site in India Award 2009 after the installation of the 7000VP and the Sappi Trading Printers of the Year 2010 Award.
For the company, awards have always been encouraging. "We look at awards as a tool of motivation and recognition in the world of printing," says Narendra. "They help us bring out our creativity and allow us to think out-of-the-box in terms of printing, designing and finishing. We think, this is important for growth."
But most significantly, awards, especially international ones, are a way to travel abroad and meet printers from across the world. "It is also a golden opportunity to understand new and innovative value-added process and latest technology involved in bringing out extraordinary print jobs," concludes Narendra.
Ramya Reprographic is one of the top 500 print firms in India. This rating is from THE 500 list which is published by PrintWeek India and powered by Xerox India.
The brain-child and creation of its young director, R Narendra after he received a diploma in printing, the company has moved from operating on a modest level to running every hour of the day, in order to meet the demands of the customers.
Steady growth
Till a few months ago, Ramya Reprographic functioned out of a 28,000 sq/ft unit in Bomannahalli. This unit was the first one set up by the company, but over the last two years, the management sensed the need for a bigger unit, which would accommodate their new machines as well as provide a better working environment for the 250-member staff dedicated to the company.
Now Ramya Reprographic has shifted into a 90,000 sq/ft unit, three kilometres away from their previous unit. This six-storey unit has a separate digital unit on the ground floor to take care of the needs of walk-in customers and enquiries for digital printing, all taken care of by C Bharathi, wife of Narendra.
Ramya Reprographic is well-equipped with the latest multi-colour and single-colour offset machines. Complementing this is the in-house design unit and a core in-house production system.
"They are manned by some of the best professionals in the printing industry who have expertise in creating, design and printing," says Narendra. He adds, "This dedication is continuously inspired by the dual company vision of superior quality and complete customer satisfaction."
A print corner
The company has a total of seven offset printing machines including the latest Komori Lithrone and two Heidelberg SM 74 machines, with built-in coaters and in-house CTP. "Our plan is to begin investing in post-press machines in the coming years. We want to acquire case-making, foiling, gathering, section-stitching and three-knife trimmers," says Narendra. In terms of software, Ramya are looking at colour correction software from GMG and an MIS software. In the pre-press , it plans to add an 8-up CTP.
According to Narendra, it is the constant eye on the future as well as a quest for perfection that has led Ramya Reprographic to the kind of success it has had. The company has a rigorous maintenance policy, which entails daily and weekly maintenance exercises by the staff at Ramya as well as quarterly, half-yearly and yearly maintenance by the machine manufacturers themselves. "We check each and every printed sheet using the densitometer before it goes for approval," says Narendra.
The temperature and humidity levels are controlled as per industry standards. The client-related practice has won them appreciation. There have been quick and effective interactions with first-time clients, who know the status of their job in the first 15 minutes.
"Once we say yes to a job, the clients do not have to check with us about the status of the job. We send them emails and text messages and they are kept updated without a worry in the world," says Narendra. It is this kind of single-minded focus on delivering on time that has earned them a reputation of being infallible amongst their peers.
People power
The other focus is on the employees. One of the things that the company has always kept in mind and cared about has been their employees. "The role of motivation has been a huge one in the company," says Narendra.
Much attention is given to the employees’ lives within the company. Best performer awards, birthday and wedding celebrations are part of this. Moreover, there are special measures taken to support their employees, like financial support for their children’s higher education. Plus the one to one interaction which Narendra has with every staff is a rare quality.
"It not only removes the fear from the minds of those working with us, but also boosts their morale," he says. It is no surprise that he has been able to retain a bulk of his staff in the last 16 years.
Ramya Reprographic wants to continue expanding itself. One of their key missions is to take Ramya to a more visible, national level. "We want to do this by opening a city office, and several branches within the city as well in other cities," states Narendra. Other than this, the company also wants to strengthen its already existing commitment to its customers. "We aim for zero rejection and zero complaints for any print job we do," he adds.
Rewarding work
In their digital section, the company turns out about 50,000 digital prints a month, a market that is continuously growing. "We cater to the commercial segment, from advertising to FMCG, and school and college requirements," says Narendra. "Close to 25% of our turnover comes from exports," he adds. Ramya Reprographic already owns a Canon 7000VP and hopes to acquire an HP Indigo in the coming year, for they believe in its print quality, especially on textured paper.
Considering this, Ramya Reprographic is the winner of several print awards, including the Asian Print Awards 2008 for brochure printing, received in Singapore plus an impressive array of short-list from the PrintWeek India Awards. Ramya also bagged the Canon Best Site in India Award 2009 after the installation of the 7000VP and the Sappi Trading Printers of the Year 2010 Award.
For the company, awards have always been encouraging. "We look at awards as a tool of motivation and recognition in the world of printing," says Narendra. "They help us bring out our creativity and allow us to think out-of-the-box in terms of printing, designing and finishing. We think, this is important for growth."
But most significantly, awards, especially international ones, are a way to travel abroad and meet printers from across the world. "It is also a golden opportunity to understand new and innovative value-added process and latest technology involved in bringing out extraordinary print jobs," concludes Narendra.
| Ramya Reprographic Factfile |
| Founded in 1995 Location Bengaluru Specialty Wall and desktop calenders, brochures, leaflets, hang-tags, folders, ID-cards, paper carry bags, annual reports, books, catalogues, magazines, directories, collaterals (letterheads, business cards, envelopes), invitations, certificates, posters, photo-books, product stickers, manuals, diaries and large-format printing Annual turnover Rs 17-crore Equipment Four-colour with inline coater Heidelberg SM 74, Komori L29 and Dominant presses, Canon 7000 VP, Epson large-format proofer and Screen CTP, fully computerised Proteck cutting machines, Horizon folding machine, Horizon perfect binding among other machines. Staff 250 |
Ramya Reprographic is one of the top 500 print firms in India. This rating is from THE 500 list which is published by PrintWeek India and powered by Xerox India.
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