Avijit Mukherjee: "Drupa was closely monitored on the web, so we should expect some rub-off"

Drupa has been a great show for Ricoh, specially we can talk about Ricoh India, says Avijit Mukherjee, chief executive officer of Ricoh India

08 Jun 2012 | By PrintWeek India

Avijit Mukherjee, chief executive officer, Ricoh India

Our customers have been able to experience a variety of applications and solutions like transpromo, inkjet VDP, book publishing, short-run applications like brochure, catalogue, photo applications, etc. Ricoh also displayed wide-format inkjet (colour), solvent ink products. Customers also experienced a plethora of value-added software solutions.

The greatest challenge at Drupa was time-management. It was a task, witnessing all the technologies and absorbing it at the same time.

It’s an industry trend to make new launches available after some time. We too are upgrading our existing production that will be available from time to time.

Quality-wise, visitors were extremely good and serious; some of them had business models in their minds, hence they could evaluate various technologies. Some of them were looking for new business opportunities and they wanted to evaluate the various opportunities based on technology and project viability.

In terms of our performance at Drupa, I must say that few of our customers are on a deciding mode (who have gone back to evaluate the technology) and a few are on project evaluation mode (who have gone back to evaluate new opportunities). But in terms of sales, we expect a huge rise in our growth. Our projections include installation of 100 colour engines by the end of this year.

Yes, I fully agree that Drupa was touted as inkjet version 2.0 Drupa. But I am of the opinion that eventually laser technology will be more affordable. Inkjet will improve in terms of quality and technology and there will be convergence. Both the technologies will co-exist and user will have the choice to opt, based on the application they plan to use.

Besides digital inkjet, Drupa showed various software solutions and automation tools. It is high time the Indian print industry realises the need for automation and quality improvement, if we have to make our presence felt on the world scene. India has the potential to emerge as a global printing BPO.

With almost 10,000 visitors, Drupa 2012 has offered us an opportunity for growth.

My takeaway: Drupa was closely monitored on the web, so we should expect some rub-off.