Digital Overview: A to Z of digital print industry in India

Developments in the digital segment has meant that print production has transformed itself. Sachin Shardul travels around the country and provides a binocular view of the who's who of digital

05 Apr 2011 | By PrintWeek India

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Adyar Students Xerox installed a Konica Minolta LD 6501 colour digital press in September 2009. Thus becoming the first print service provider in Chennai to do so. The kit has been installed at its new branch in Nandanan, the 21st branch since its inception 23 years ago.

Mumbai-based A Little World installed the Meteor DP60 Pro four-colour digital press from MGI in February 2009. This is the first installation of such machine in India.

Anderson Printing House, a commercial printing company based in East India installed Kodak’s Nexpress 2100 Plus to enhance and diversify service offerings to its customers which include 300 corporate houses.

Ankita Communications, pre-press solutions provider based in Okhla Industrial area New Delhi installed a Xerox Digital Color Press 700, which Xerox stated is India’s first.

Arihant Digital Images in Mumbai installed a Canon Imagepress C6000 digital press for photo printing business.

In January 2008, Avantika Printers the New Delhi-based digital printer boosted their core printing operations with Canon’s Imagepress C7000VP press and in January 2010, the company installed India’s first Canon Imagepress 1135.

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Bansal Reprographics installed a Canon Imagepress C7000VP. The unit has two Canon 6085s, IR8500, IR105, KIP, HP plotter, digital print unit and binding kit. The firm invested in the second Konica Minolta C6501 in December 2010.

Vijaywada-based Bhaskar Digital installed a new HP Indigo 3050. The company is the first in Andhra Pradesh to do so.

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Ernakulam-based Colortone has made a push for improved colour reproduction in its digital printing division after investing in a HP Indigo 5500. The business, which is also a CTP bureau, made the investment to meet the changing demands of the short-run market.

New Delhi-based Chawla Reprographic has installed its first Canon7000 VP at its Nehru Place unit. It did so, to widen its digital base.

Commercial and stationery specialist Cirrus Graphics made its entry into the digital arena after it installed a Konica Minolta LD 6501. The firm’s focus is on digital due to the requirements in a big stand-alone contract for printing from one of the government agencies.

CMS iDent the Navi Mumbai-based security card producer has installed a MGI DP 60 Pro colour digital printer investing Rs 3- crore in the first quarter of 2010.

Colorhouse, a leading photo service provider based in Thrissur, Kerala, inaugurated its photo printing services for its consumers by installing a HP Indigo 5500 six-colour press. The digital photography revolution has led to innovative ways of using images, creating new direction and great opportunities in the photo merchandise market. Meeting demand for photo books, calendars, cards and other products will be one of the most significant revenue opportunities for service providers like Colorhouse.

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DMK Digital Press is the result of a joint venture between three Mumbai-based printers Kohinoor Printers, Utility Printers and GP Offset. DMK has installed India’s first Xerox Docucolour 800AP digital press.

Bengaluru-based Digital Xpress installed Canon Imagepress C7000VP, fortifying its colour offering and adding to its short-run capabilities.

Dhote Offset Technokrafts responded to a growing demand for short-run work by investing in a Xerox 700 colour digital press. The Mumbai-based offset printer made its move into digital print with the installation of a Xerox 4112 monochrome press to help it produce short-runs in minimum time and boost the capacity of its digital offering. Besides 700 and 4112, the firm has recently added Xerox 4127.

Digital 360 is targeting the security card sector after investing in its first MGI Meteor DP60 Pro colour digital printer. The Mumbai-based printer opted for the Drupa-launched machine to fulfill the versatile printing demand.

Dharam Reprographics says it has gained a competitive edge and exceeded growth after it added two Xerox Docucolor digital presses in December 2009.

Deepam Color Lab has installed Xerox DC 5000 AP. The firm has established 15 lab branches in Tamil Nadu, mainly catering to the needs of customers in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Karur, Pudukkottai and Trichy with the availability of an ultra modern photo processing and printing technology in most of the units.

Jaipur-based Digital Reprographic Print Services (DRPS) has invested Rs 4.5-crore in a new state-of-the-art equipment and technology. DRPS aims to set high standards of print services under one-roof. The infused capital has opened the doorway for Jaipur’s many firsts – a HP Indigo digital press 3500; RedTie (RTT) the complete digital workflow solution for web-to-print; Taopix photo workflow solution and Optimus Dash Management Information System (MIS).

Pune-based offset and variable data printing (VDP) house, DPM Printers celebrated its silver jubilee by adding one more Xerox DP 180 digital press to its present digital setup which boasts of an array of Xerox Nuvera 120, two Fusion 4110, DC12, DP 180 and three Xerox Teak 4112.

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New Delhi-based Ess Aar International, after the installation of Xerox 260 and 5000 at its digital unit - Instant Prints, has reported a four-fold increase in sheet consumption.

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Partners Mohinder Gupta and Amit Gupta of Friends Digital Colour Solutions said that their iGen3 purchased in October 2008 boosted their digital print production capacity by 25%.

Fast Scan System has expanded its presence in the digital market after starting a new unit - Fast Print Junction -and installing a Canon Imagepress C7000 VP in Bengaluru.

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Gurukrupa Digital Prints, the Mumbai-based installed the Canon Imagepress C6000 to cater to the demand of short-run jobs.

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New Delhi-based HP Dzine Prints chose Konica Minolta Bizhub Pro C6501 to guide the firm’s effort to cater to clients pitching for short-run jobs and curb wastage.

Hitech Print Systems in Vijaywada, has further established its faith in the inkjet technology with the installation of a third Kodak Versamark in January 2010.

Digital for label printing looks to be going through the start of its early growth curve in India. HP reported the recent sale of two top-of-the-range WS6000s to flexible packaging converters, including one at Essel Propack. This makes a total of 15 HP industrial digital presses in India, including four s2000s for specialty applications.The 11 web presses are working in the full range of packaging applications including labels, flexible packaging, folding cartons, tubes and sleeves.

HP has seen a 5% increase in digital page impressions in its industrial business. Likewise Xeikon with two industrial presses at Webtech Industries. One of the major drivers, has been security applications rather than the organised retail sector. Some 70% of digital converters coat their own
materials.

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Indigo Print, a unit of Kapsons International installed a HP Indigo S2000 to boost its card printing capacity.

Mumbai-based digital print and gifting solutions provider, Inndus installed Konica Minolta’s Bizhub Pro C6501 in a bid to increase capacity, uninterrupted print services and provide intelligent marketing solutions for its clients. The firm’s foray into variable data printing (VDP) and digital wide-format solutions is firmly on course . Also owns Xerox iGen3.

Indian Binding House installed its first digital multicolour press from Konica Minolta to increase opportunities with its customer demands as well as cater to new jobs.

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Jim Offset Press, the Pallakad, Kerala-based press has reinforced its print solution offerings by adding short-run capabilities after taking delivery of the Konica Minolta Bizhub Pro 6500. This is the first 6500 press to be sold by HCL Infosystems, one of Konica Minolta’s dealers.

Print specialist, Jolly Reprographics’ investment into digital presses from Canon, Xerox and more recently Ricoh t C900s, is an effort to keep its digital business, Sharp Digital, in top production shape.

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Bengaluru-based Kolor Kode, a newly established firm has ventured into the digital arena with installation of its first HP Indigo Digital Offset Press 5500. KolorKode is hoping to become an end-to-end digital solution provider to publishers, advertising agencies and corporate houses.

New Delhi-based Kohli Graphics has diversified into digital with the installation of Konica Minolta’s LD 6501 at its Pitampura unit.

Lucknow-based photography lab and studio specialists, Kaydee Colour Lab has diversified its business portfolio. The firm has made its first move into digital photo printing in eastern Uttar Pradesh with an investment in a seven-colour HP Indigo 5500 for specialised photo book printing.

Kadam Digital Transprints (KDT) has become the first pre-press bureau in Pune to install Kodak’s Nexpress SE 3000 five-colour press.

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Laxmi Digital Prints and Solution (LDPS) in Thane added one more Xerox DocuColour 5000, it’s second, and a DC 260 to meet the demand of their growing digital print business.

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Mumbai-based Mail Order Solutions (MOS) has more than doubled its production capacity after investing Rs 6-crore in three Xerox Nuveras during the financial year ending 2009. The company said it is now in a position to meet growing volumes from existing and new clients. The digital firm has recently invested Rs 4.5-crore in a Xerox iGen4.

New Delhi-based Mega Caliber has installed a Kodak Digimaster EX 9110 monochrome digital production system for the capacity expansion of its production facility at Mumbai. The Rs 15-crore Mega Caliber has operations in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Mohali and employs 250 persons. The company is engaged in transactional printing. During PrintPack India 2011, the firm ordered its third Kodak Digimaster 9110.

Offset printer Ma Prints is targeting the digital segment after it invested in two InfoPrint machines, one of which is the InfoPrint Pro C900 that comes with EFI Fiery RIP. This is the first one of its kind in India. The second unit is a monochrome printer.

Municipal Printing Press, a part of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai in Byculla, has stepped up its expansion plan and taken full control of its book production work with the installation of a new monochrome Xerox Nuvera 288.

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Mumbai-based pre-press bureau Neat Graphics has diversified from its core business with a new service that will offer short-run digital prints. Neat Graphics has installed a Xerox Docucolor 242 which will run from the firm’s site located at Jak Printers’ unit in Byculla, Mumbai.

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Perfact Color Digital Prints, based in Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon, Haryana has launched the ready to use the web-to-print portal, www.printmyemotions.com, its photo album business.

Chennai-based PM Digital Products installed an HP Indigo 3500 to cater to the increasing short-run offset segments. Specialist in variable data printing, they also print posters, brochures, sample books, labels and other short-run print jobs.

PODS (Print-On-Demand Services) showcased the installation of the Kodak’s S3000 press at their Andheri site in Mumbai which was attended by the print community that included digital printers, top Kodak officials along with Jim Liszewski and Puru V Purushotham of Jyoshan Global Services.
Pre-Press Services based in Kalkaji, New Delhi installed India’s first Konica Minolta Bizhub Pro 6501 digital press last month to meet short-run print demands.

Agra-based P L Color Lab’s new Xerox DC 700 installation has mixed "cutting-edge technology and savvy" to its digital services and ensured that the firm delivers photo albums, VDP, coffee table books and title pages efficiently.

Mumbai-based Printography Systems India, has enhanced its high-volume, personalised transactional and transpromo document production service with the installation of GMC Software Technology’s PrintNet T software and moves to a 65,000 sq/ft site in Ghatkopar. The new acquisitions come close on the heels of Printography’s investment in a brand new Océ Varioprint 6320, the first in India, which was installed six months ago.

Printelligent, a sister concern of Friends Digital Color Solution, has kick-started its expansion with a new Canon Imagepress C7000VP digital press. The Canon kit has been commissioned in a 1,000 sq/ft lower ground floor of a shopping complex in the corporate hub of Gurgaon.

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Bengaluru-based Ramya Reprographics has entered into the digital arena with purchase of Imagepress C7000VP. With the installation of the C7000VP, Ramya caters to the walk-in customers, freelancers and small time printers.

Mumbai-based Repro India installed a new Xerox iGen3 in order to provide quality print solutions for its customers.

Rajmudra Offset, the Aurangabad-based printer has installed India’s first Xerox iGen4 as it ventures into the digital printing segment.

Belgaum-based printer Rainbow Forms in Karnataka installed Kodak Digimaster 9150 during Pamex 2010. The firm is empanelled as a security printer with Indian Banks Association and is an approved printer for MICR instruments.

Chennai-based Royapet Digital Press celebrated the installation of their Canon Imagepress C6000 with a grand inauguration at their unit on 25 April 2010. Royapet Digital Press is a subsidiary of the 21 year old Executive Document Centre, a photocopying and digital press company.

R K Multi Studio based in Pitampura in West Delhi has installed its first Canon Imagepress C6000 at its new 280 sq/ft rented premise at prime business location.

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Sahaya Print Services is the first printer in India to install Screen’s Truepress 344. The machine was installed in the first week of December 2008, followed by a successful two-week test-run.
Mumbai-based SRK Creative installed a Canon Imagepress C7000VP to boost its personalised photo album printing business.

SV Color Graphics installed India’s first Canon Imagepress C7000VP after months of research with plans to expand the family-owned business.

Supressa Graphics has ramped up its short-run capacity after installing the Canon Imagepress C7000VP at its unit in Mumbai.

SGRE Labels, the Bengaluru-based label printer has installed a HP Indigo ws4500, a web-fed digital press for label printing. SGRE Labels established in 1997 specialises in the manufacturing of pressure sensitive, prime, in-rolls and bar code labels for FMCG, pharmaceutical retail, electronics and computer hardware industry.

Subhash Electrostat has installed Faridabad’s first Konica Minolta Bizhub Pro C6501 to meet escalating print demand for quality colour prints.

Subam Image Print in Puducherry launched a new print shop in May 2010 installing the city’s first Xerox Docucolor 5000AP to give its digital business an additional facility and boost.

Mumbai-based Siddhivinayak Jumbo Xerox (SJX) has revved up its digital offering after installation of a Konica Minolta LD 6501 and HP Designjet T1100. SJX until now catered to the copier segment.
Thane-based Sagar Stationery and Xerox (SSX) has boosted its digital offering after the installation of a brand-new Ricoh Pro C720s colour digital press. SSX provides print-for-pay services at its 2,000 sq/ft unit.

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Jaipur-based document solution provider Thesis Centre’s high hopes have been "more than fulfilled" after its second Xerox Docucolour 242 digital press purchased eight months ago provided quality and capacity boost, enabling the firm to meet increasing demand for short-run jobs.

Techno Offset, an enterpreneurial offset printer, has installed a Canon Imagepress C7000 VP in a bid to encash on the advancements in printing technology, which make short-run print jobs happen in no time.

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Vakrangee Softwares has invested Rs 200-crore to set up printing centres in ten cities. The company has crossed the milestone of Rs 500-crore revenue in the financial year 2009-2010 and has an ambitious target of becoming a one billion US dollar revenue company by 2015.

Gurgaon-based Vats Label & Barcode plans to go fully digital with a Xerox 4112 and hopes to extend relations with Xerox. The business was started in 1993 and the company specialises in barcoding and price ticketing primarily for the garment industry, both for the domestic as well as international markets.

Vermilion in Ghatkopar, Mumbai has installed a Xerox 700 as part of its strategy to meet the short-run market requirements of customers who fire plates from a pre-press and design studio.

Vignesh Graphics has made its first foray into digital printing after investing in a Konica Minolta Bizhub press. The Madurai-based company made the investment on the Bizhub Pro 6501 to reach out to the new-age print buyer and improve efficiency of short-run work.

With investment in its first MGI Meteor DP 60 Pro installation, Vee Pee Graphics in Bengaulru is looking at an array of sectors to tap including short-run, high-quality colour market for paper applications as well as the plastic card segment.

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Waves Arts in Karol Bagh, New Delhi became the first printer in North India to buy Imagepress C6000 digital press in India. With this purchase in February, the firm has ensured its printing options are in-house.

Mumbai-based label converting firm, Webtech Industries has procured two Xeikon 3030 digital label presses. Started in 1998, Webtech has a huge clientele in the pharmaceutical and FMCG segment.