Is investment essential to print’s future? - The Noel D'cunha Sunday Column

Malhotra cited an example where he dedicated a space for an HP Indigo press, which replicates the shelf of a retail store. It is called Pack Lab. Alia’s collaboration with HP is an attempt to offer mock-ups along with colour correction.

“Considering the financials, the investment is not our smartest move but the experimentation with technology has added value for the client. It has helped us position ourselves, retain and enhance our relationships with the clients,” said Malhotra.

There are others in Mumbai who have invested. Here we take a look at some of the  investments in Mumbai in the last few months.

Kalapi invests in Heidelberg CD102 to boost productivity
Kalapi Printing Press, the Vasai-based packaging printing firm has invested in a brand-new Heidelberg CD102 LX six-colour UV press to boost the production capacity. The company wanted the latest technology for print production, because it said, demand for environmentally friendly production is growing. The UV powered, brand new Heidelberg CD 102 LX six-colour press was the best choice, said, Nazim S Nanjee, managing director, Kalapi Printing Press.

Ajanta’s Sharjah plant to get a Weigang boost
Ajanta Packaging is a Mumbai-based company, with a unit in Baddi and Sharjah. When the company had to bolster its converting needs at the Sharjah unit, it relied on Weigang machine, supplied by Global Graphics Machineries. The Weigang ZM series converting machines are driven by Bosch-Rexroth servo systems with re-pass function, which enables one to do UV flexo printing, cold foil stamping, UV varnish, intermittent die-cutting and sheeting in re-register, while lamination and slitting also can be done in-line.

Start-up firm, Shree Ji Corporation, invests in Vasai’s first Xerox 8080
A start-up, Shree Ji Corporation (SJC) opted to delve into digital printing because Krunal Jasani, director of the company, saw an opportunity in the town of Vasai. There was no digital printing firm, which could cater to short-run cut-sheet printing, he says. In the three months after installing the Xerox DC 8080, the company has produced more than 20,000 impressions. The company also invested in an Epson SureColor SC30670, 64-inch wide-format printing press to cater to the indoor and outdoor signage segment.

Mumbai-based Reproscan acquires a Presstek 52DI AC
Pre-press and digital print specialist, Reproscan, houses an HP Indigo 3050 for its printing needs. But when it wanted to do longer-run jobs with digital-like quality on offset, it brought in Prestek 52DI AC digital offset press.

Epson installs in Mumbai and Pune score on studio quality
Letterpress in Andheri, Zodiac in Worli, Ajay Arts in Bhandup, Ad Make India in Goregaon are all key users of eco-solvent machines. They all installed Epson’s SureColor SC-S30670 press. When Aditya Ronoliya, director of Ad Make spoke to PrintWeek India, he said, we had an Epson Stylus Pro 9860, but we faced limitation for applications wider than 42-inch. “We opted for the 64-inch S30670. The USP of this machine is its studio quality output, which is similar to inkjet output.”

Mangal Paper Mart houses its second Komori
Mangal Paper Mart, commercial printer is a Komori loyalist. "Komori machines deliver the desired speed, quality and return on investment," said Amit Kotak, after bringing in a second Komori press, a four-colour Enthrone 429. . It’s not just that. The purpose of the investment was two-fold; to increase the production capacity and cater to large-size requirements in-house.

Silverpoint books Paper Bind's new launch; 444 Pro Plus
Silverpoint Press became the first to book Paperbind’s PUR 444 Pro Plus, when the system was launched in June during Dscoop in Bali. Silverpoint wanted to open a fresh array of possibilities and explore new application for its product with the new investment.

Padma Prints installs Zund S3 cutter for maximum productivity
Zund was Padma Prints’ investment choice when it needed to broaden its post-press portfolio. The Thane-based company opted for S3 model because it wanted to do away with labour-intensive die-cutting process and speed up production process.

Indraprasth Printers invests in new Heidelberg Speedmaster SM-74
Indraprasth Printers wanted to stay ahead of competition, and it could do that only if it upgraded its shopfloor. It installed a new Heidelberg SM-74, and graduated to Magna Cum Laude in commercial printing, exclaimed, Pravin Totre, the founder of Indraprasth. He added, in an environment where the next guy is as good as you are or even better, you need to find ways to differentiate your offerings.

Mazda Imaging installs India's first HP Indigo 10000: PrintWeek India's video snapshot
Mazda Imaging, moved to B2 digital space with India’s first HP Indigo 10000 press. Why? It wanted to leverage the first-mover advantage and participate more effectively in commercial printing and publishing spaces. Mazda, which has been revolutionising the photo printing business in India since 1982, made its debut into digital in 2006 with the installation of India’s first Indigo 3050 and has since been a trusted ally of HP Indigo.