A peek at Print Pack Sign Digital 2012

The show was inaugurated by Pradeepsinhji Jadeja, minister for law in the Gujarat government. Later Manoj Mehta, chairman, Utility Printpack said that the agricultural productivity and industrial development in Gujarat is a source for driving the print industry. Mehta was hopeful that there will be many more opportunities for the print industry in the state. Mehta spoke about setting up a print city in Gujarat. “We have to give the printers something different,” said the former president of the All India Federation of Master Printers. 

Narendra Parmar, the organiser of the show thanked the exhibitors for showing up in such big numbers and running their equipment live at the stall. “Through this exhibition, we have added benefit to the customers. Having seen the machines in operation, they have a reason to buy.”While stalls of manufacturers representing pre-press and printing machines remained popular, post-press players dominated the show floor with visitors flocking their stalls, emphasising the point that printers and service providers are looking at this segment very seriously. The key stalls  were:

Aura Print Solutions
Aura Print Solutions, representing MGI for their range of digital presses and finishing production in India, showcased it latest digital press MGI Meteor 8700XL (profiled on pages 52-53 of this issue). The machine, which was recently showcased at Photofair 2012 in Mumbai procured two orders and a number of leads. “The two machines are being installed, one in Surat and the other in Rajkot,” said Umesh Kagade of Aura Print. “This is the only machine in the market to print 13x40-inch in production mode and capable of printing on all types of paper, non-tearable media, metallic boards, PVC, making it a versatile machine to produce high-end photo books, wedding albums, catalogues, debit cards and hotel key cards,” said Kagade.

Autoprint spruces up Dion 450 with specs
Autoprint, the Indian manufacturer of sheetfed presses; continuous stationery printing machines; post printing; and label printing and packaging machines, showcased the Dion 450 live at the show. The flagship press for four-colour printing has new additions to its specs since it showing at Ipex South Asia last September.These additions to the Dion 450 address some problems and issues in the machine. “In the new version, we have introduced printing with bearers in contact and stepless adjustment of ink from ink duct roller, which earlier was lever-controlled,” said M Ganeshamurthy, deputy manager for marketing at Autoprint. “In today’s market scenario, quality printing is paramount.”According to Ganeshamurthy, these modifications have been included after some of the Dion 450 users shared their inputs. “We take these suggestions seriously,” he said. “First, we positioned the critical bearer such that it holds up better to present a different surface to the friction and second did away with the lever provided to adjust ink. Now the bearer positions have improved quality while the stepless adjustment in the ink duct roller delivers ink control.”Autoprint has installed over 30 Dion 450 machines in India and elsewhere. “We hope to up the figure post this show. We have received serious enquiries for the machine,” concluded Ganeshamurthy.

Fortec plans to upgrade its two-fold binding systems
Fortec Binding Systems, the book finishing machine manufacturer from Coimbatore, brought its two-fold binding systems, Fortec 2 Fold at the show, the kit it showcased at the recently concluded Pamex show in New Delhi. The company also shared its plans to introduce a four-fold single operator automatic folding machine next.The company garnered three orders for the Fortec 2 Fold machine at the show and expects ten more from the enquiries made by prospective customers. “It’s been a good show for us with a number of serious visitor footfalls,” said Rohin Kumar, managing director at Fortec. The company has appointed a dealer in Ahmedabad to cater to sales and service demands in Gujarat state, where it already has installed 15 of its total installation of 300 machines across India. According to Kumar, the print market in India, as it is in Gujarat, is upbeat and his plan to introduce the four-fold machine is justified. “Based on Fortec’s performance in the last few years, we believe we will continue a phase of strong growth, and it will be good to introduce a new machine, which will infuse new interest in our products.”

Megabound showcases products with new verve after moving into a new corporate office
Megabound, manufacturer of hard-case book finishing range of machines, perfect binding and edge-squaring machine, showcased the M-Book Series hard-case book finishing kit, saying “It’s the only company in India to do so”. The show comes soon after the company completed its move to larger premises in Bengaluru.The new move into office at the Ramegowda Industrial Area was prompted by the need to make available space to build a strong team of service engineers, sales and support staff. “It’s more a service-oriented office with online service engineers. This is in addition to service engineers posted across the country,” said N Srinivasa Reddy, director for marketing at Megabound. Established in 2001, Megabound has an installation base of 1,800 in India and outside, 590 of which are using the M-Series hard-book case-making kit. “The M-Book series is one of our popular models and can produce 450 books per hour,” said Reddy. “We have upgraded the kit by automating the board feeding and making it two-pass four-fold turning and introducing a brush-turning unit, a world proven technology.” At the show, Megabound sold five of its M-series kit. Talking about this customer, Reddy said, “The client, a binding specialist, took tests on the machine, which was running at the show and was satisfied with the results.”

Memory Repro Systems launches Sava blankets
New Delhi-based Memory Repro Systems launched the Savatech range of Advantage blankets during the show. Savatech, according to Memory, follows 90 years of tradition in manufacturing rubber products and tyres for industrial applications. “By developing the Advantage offset printing blanket, Sava has got ahead of the renowned world producers,” said Sanjeev Chadha, director marketing at Memory. “The characteristics of its unique construction, which is based on the cord carcass, bring outstanding advantages: decreased use in the printing process or a 30% saving in comparison with standard offset printing blankets.”A large part of Gujarat’s print industry uses the offset technology, which according to Chadha, is potential big market for Sava blankets. “With this product we are offering Gujarat printers an innovative approach to meet customer requirements with effective solutions to specific applications,” he said.

Param Software Technologies
The Indore-based software specialist showcased its flagship SpeedPEQ Print MIS software, a complete print shop management system that offers estimating, inventory, account management, production management, receivables and sales analysis tools. The firm also provided information on its web-to-print offering, SpeedOnPrint, which according to Vinod Nawab, director of the firm, is designed to cater to the e-commerce demands of the print industry. “It’s a product that meets multiple print operation requirement,” he said. The web-to-print software, according to the firm, is a complete workflow and management platform, which integrates web-based enquiries, ordering, upload manager, pre-flight checking, design studio, VDP, job docket, production process, invoicing, delivery and payment gateway with customisation. “We have integrated it with Print MIS to compliment the workflow. It’s actually a process which will save printers the time and costs associated with meeting multiple requirements,” said Nawab. Param has an installed base of 51, the latest one at Xquisite Print Solutions in Pune, a  digital print specialist with an HP Indigo press and other digital print system with post-press facility.  Param has, among other modules, integrated a challenging special colour management tool, which does not require any change in the RGB format, when RIPing the file to print on the Xquisite’s colour digital press. “The software converts the file seamlessly without any change in colour or loss in quality and has also provided interface for their clients to handle business as per their needs,” said Nawab.

Suba Solutions
Suba Solutions, the Chennai-based supplier, showcased finishing machinery for packaging, flute laminators, foil stamping machines, die-cutting and creasing machines. Providing information about his company’s products, V Vaidyalingam, director at Suba, said, “The printers need actionable, advance information that will help them formulate their buying plans based on trends.” The company provided details and usable data while setting up meetings with prospective buyers during the show. “We are hopeful of converting some into orders,” said Vaidyalingam.  

Watthour Systems
The New Delhi-based pre-press solution provider was present to showcase range of its CTPs; RIP, proofing and colour management software; and workflows. The company, in a move to reach out to the printers in Gujarat set up an office in Ahmedabad, only a month ago. “We have installed a Highwater Cobra CTP in Ahmedabad, and are keen to leverage the good performance of our CTP installation here, by adding a few more,” said Zia-ul-Haq, the marketing manager for Watthour in Ahmedabad.The company received six enquiries at the show, which it plans to translate into orders. The other reason for Watthour to be here according to Haq is the tie-up with Xerox for selling its digital production presses and push Xerox machines. “We are in a position to capitalise on the opportunities offered by the show.”

Arets Graphics India
The only company to display the enitre range of UV inks, varnishes, and aqueous coatings at the show, Arets showcased its position as an important player in the Indian UV market. Luc Dehandschutter, international sales at Arets and one of the guest of honour at the show had flown in from Europe to meet Gujarat printers. “Luc’s visit for this show is a clear indication that Arets is serious about the growth of UV printing in the Gujarat region. Luc was overwhelmed with the response Arets received by number of enthusiastic printers on the subject of UV at the show,” said Devender Sharma, business manager for West India at Arets. According to Sharma, with the packaging segment building up, Arets sees itself as key participant. “We are happy to showcase our UV products and solutions from our portfolio that will enable Gujarat’s print providers a high quality product available in cost-effective way,” said Sharma. Arets is represented by Poojan Industries as their channel partner for Gujarat.

Monotech eyes market share in Gujarat
Monotech Systems, supplier of digital printing equipment, CTP systems and wide-format printing machines among others, has with the establishment of its centre in Ahmedabad backed by good number of installations, eyeing a sizeable marketshare in Gujarat. The digital specialist has installed three Konica Minolta’s (KM) C8000; six KM C6000; 20 KM LD6500; 14 BasysPrint CTCP and a couple of wide-format kit. “Our presence at the show is to expand and strengthen our market-proven solutions and service by reaching out to a sizeable number in the print fraternity,” said Dhaval Goswami, sales executive for Monotech Systems in Ahmedabad. Monotech’s presence in Ahmedabad was boosted with six service engineers stationed to serve the printers in Gujarat. “It’s a part of continued acceleration of Monotech’s activities to better address customer needs in this market,” said Goswami. “Gujarat is a growing market for print and we see a unique opportunity to further our presence through competitive product offerings for printers in Gujarat.”

Tek Grafik showcases technova products
TechNova, represented by Tek Grafix, the Ahmedabad-based distributor in Gujarat, showcased TechNova’s range of inkjet CTP solutions, including the PoliJet Systems 4880, 7900 and 9900; inkjet and metal plates and TechNova’s green chemistry. During the course of the show, Tek Grafix reported to close ten orders for the iCTP systems. According to Pradeep Mehta, director of Tek Grafix, TechNova’s inkjet CTP systems are a combination of machines that gives printers and pre-press specialists the ease of use, processing speed and accuracy needed to maintain complete control of platemaking tasks, without having to invest in expensive CTP systems. “It’s not surprising that many printers looking to make a foray into CTP react more positively to TechNova’s inkjet CTP systems.” TechNova has installed 400 PoliJet systems in India, of which 15 are in Gujarat. The Polijet system is made up of three components – the platesetter which is an Epson series printer, a PoliRip software and a baking device, which functions as a ‘dry, no-chemistry’ plate-finishing unit. “It’s as standard as a CTP can be imagined and the iCTP is the most classic example of a cost-effective kit,” said Mehta. Besides TechNova, Tek Grafix also represents Agfa as its indenting agent for films and chemistry; Shakti Udyog for its exposing and processing units; and an assortment of print consumables.

GLIMPSES FROM THE SHOW

Ganeshamurthy of Autoprint: new specs on the Dion 450

Fortec: three orders for the folding machine on display

Machines dealers: displayed pre-owned machinery

Srinivasa Reddy of Megabound: sold five of its M-series kit

Monotech: eyeing sizeable market share in Gujarat

Param: showcased its MIS and web-to-print solutions

Reprographic Systems: displayed print consumables and spares