Low-cost, local mailrooms are in demand: Roy Alex

India is yet to get into the culture of direct mail promotional materials, as seen in the developed world. This is waiting to happen, but we do not know when. The first step, of course, according to Roy Alex of Newstech, would be commercial inserting in newspapers, which is absent at present.

05 Apr 2017 | By Rahul Kumar

Roy Alex of Newstech

“As you know, this is mostly done by vendors, for whom inserting before delivery – adding, advertising and commercial material – is a side business,” says Alex.

He should know, as Newstech, the Mumbai-based provider of newspaper technology solutions, launch NTPJ 100 supplement/insert jogger and the NTCS-205 cross strapper for newspaper bundles two years ago. Alex says the growth is steady but slow. “We have sold some equipment but it definitely could do better,” he added.

NT TS 300 Counter Stacker

The company, which has evolved into a platform, providing technologies and services to cover 70% of the gamut of production tools for newspapers, was started by Alex in 1984.

In 2003, the company entered into a joint venture with IdabWamac, Sweden, for the manufacture of entry level mailroom system in India. After the JV agreement ended in 2011, Newstech continues to manufacture and market entry level mailroom system under the brand name Newstech. In 2004, it entered into a JV with BETZ Technologies, Germany, for the manufacture of automated ink pumping system in India. This JV ended in 2012, and today Newstech manufactures its own ink pumping system.

“We mix and match,” says Alex. He gives the example of the Malayala Manorama plant, where a gripper conveyor and the inserters are from Schur and the stack/pack-line is from Newstech.

Alex believes there is still a long way to go for a bulk of the Indian newspapers in terms of automation of the ‘process’, though this is surely happening. “Standardisation is required; this is how stakeholders put a ‘value’ to this concept. The leading newspapers have already done this, with many of them having ISO certifications! But a lot more should be done,” Alex concludes.

Newstech mailroom system Installations

Malayala Manorama: All 9 units

DB Corp: Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Bangalore

Times of India- Nagpur – 2 Systems

Anand Bazaar Patrika, Kolkata: 3 systems

Bartaman, Kolkata: 2 systems

Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad: 3 systems

Dinamalar . Madurai

Mathrubhumi, Trichur, Trivandrum, Calicut

Midday, Mumbai: 2 systems

Mangalam, Kottayam

M M Publications, Kottayam: 4 packing lines for magazine