With Komori, Lodha Offset's future is bright

As the Jodhpur-based paper stationery manufacturer forays into print packaging, Rahul Kumar chats up with Namit Lodha, finance and marketing director, Lodha Offset.

06 Apr 2015 | By PrintWeek India

With an investment in Komori LA437 HUV machine, along with automatic die-cutting, folder-gluer and fully automatic guillotine machines, Jodhpur-based Lodha Offset, a stationery manufacturer, is all set to expand into the packaging industry.

With its plant in the industrial complex in Basni, Jodhpur, measuring 60,000 sq/ft, with total production and storage space of 35,000 sq/ft, Lodha Offset, started by Ganpat Lodha, is in business for the last 40 years. Currently, the company has four distinct divisions, office stationery, school stationery, filing solutions division and printing and packing division.

While the school stationery division caters to its clients aboard, the office and filing solution divisions play a key role in managing the ‘Brand Lodha’ supplies and logistics. The printing division presently caters to the corporate sector demand for packaging and advertising.

On why the company chose to invest in the HUV Komori press and Kodak CTP, Namit Lodha, has just two words - quality and flexibility. “HUV enables us to be flexible with the substrate choices while Kodak Thermal CTP and Komori allow us to meet and exceed quality expectations. Having flexibility in pre-press (FM and AM screening, etc), along with flexibility in printing substrate choices (plastics, MetPet or paper and board) is a win-win situation,” Lodha argues.

This, however, was not an easy decision to make. Lodha says the company explored all the available options in the market and finally decided to go with the investment based on the company requirements. “Other options available were not able to meet the criteria set by the board of directors. The unique size of 25x37inches, combined with HUV is the ideal combination that suits our packaging client needs,” he adds.

The machine in question is Komori Lithrone HUV 37-inches, a four-colour press with nonstop feeder, auto roller wash, CIP 3 connectivity, auto plate changer, thickness preset, paper size preset, etc.

“LA37 HUV machine is the first Hybrid-UV machine in India. Our focus would be to suffice the requirements for our stationery manufacturing unit along with packaging requirements for our FMCG clients,” says Lodha.

On the other hand, the Kodak Trendsetter Thermal CTP with UDRC option is the first setup of its kind in Rajasthan.

The Lodha Offset shopfloor also boasts of Excel Maxima EXB-35 automatic die-cutting and embossing machine, Alpha Omega folder-gluer with HHS gluing system, Grafica Nano Plus screen printing machine with UV curing and 5-in-one screen maker, and Sudarshan SA107 automatic cutting-machine. “These tools help us create value addition to the covers and packaging,” he adds.

Now, how the new investment will help boost the company’s production and business? Lodha explained, “We are a stationery manufacturer, now diversifying into packaging printing. This investment will help us secure CPG and blue chip clients with packaging needs. We are already seeing tremendous response from regional companies who were outsourcing their packaging work to other metro cities.”

Packaging being a new segment for the company, Lodha sees this division contributing to approx 20% growth in the company’s total business. “Having a niche product and capability to offer HUV printing, we expect an ROI on this machine within three years,” he added.

For Lodha Offset, its entry into packaging has a long-term plan. “We are committed to be the one-stop shop for all packaging needs,” Lodha says, adding, “While sales locally are growing, we are also expanding our reach to clients abroad for their print and packaging needs.”

They are supported by a team of middle management professionals and dedicated skilled staff of more than 125 people. “Our human capital strength represents a distinctive and competitive advantage, which has been developed over the years through on-the-job and expert training schemes,” Lodha concludes.

FACTFILE
Number of printing facilities: One Area of the facility: 6000 sq/mt Staff: 125 Certifications: Government of India recognised Star Export house, Awarded with Export Excellence Award by CAPEXIL in 2007 and 2008, Certificate of achievement from Jodhpur Printers Association Equipment: Fleet of pre-press, press, post-press and binding equipment, including Komori Lithrone 25x37-inches four-colour Hybrid-UV, Kodak Trendsetter Thermal CTP, Excel Maxima EXB-35 automatic die-cutting machine, Alpha Omega folder-gluer with HHS, Grafica Nano Plus screen printing machine with UV curing and 5-in-1 screen making unit, ruling machines, various binding machines, auto-shrink wrapping machine, file-making machines and lamination machine with sheet separator, and so on. Specialisation: Packaging cartons, paper stationery and school notebooks. Consumption: Combined capacity of 30 metric tonnes of paper and board every day. The company converts more than 6,000 MT of paper and board in stationery exports (mainly notebooks).

FACTFILE

Number of printing facilities: One

Area of the facility: 6000 sq/mt

Staff: 125

Certifications: Government of India recognised Star Export house, Awarded with Export Excellence Award by CAPEXIL in 2007 and 2008, Certificate of achievement from Jodhpur Printers Association

Equipment: Fleet of pre-press, press, post-press and binding equipment, including Komori Lithrone 25x37-inches four-colour Hybrid-UV, Kodak Trendsetter Thermal CTP, Excel Maxima EXB-35 automatic die-cutting machine, Alpha Omega folder-gluer with HHS, Grafica Nano Plus screen printing machine with UV curing and 5-in-1 screen making unit, ruling machines, various binding machines, auto-shrink wrapping machine, file-making machines and lamination machine with sheet separator, and so on.

Specialisation: Packaging cartons, paper stationery and school notebooks.

Consumption: Combined capacity of 30 metric tonnes of paper and board every day. The company converts more than 6,000 MT of paper and board in stationery exports (mainly notebooks).