Plan for the future: Rave India builds a tech platform to ensure printing dexterity
Many firms are big on technology, but miss what matters: a futuristic plan. Alok Singh finds out as to how Rave India combines both
13 Sep 2010 | By Rahul Kumar
Plan for the future: Rave India builds a tech platform to ensure printing dexterity
From a pre-press unit to a composite global printing house in just over a decade, Rave India has reshaped and redefined the printing landscape in the rising stature of Delhi NCR as a leading print hub of India.
The progressive vision of managing director, Rakesh Bhatnagar and the director, Bhavnesh Kanwar of Rave India has developed a scaleable business model. The company has announced an investment of Rs 20-cr in a brand new premise of 32,000 sqft with new plant and machinery in Gurgaon, Haryana.
The traction in the company started in 1993 and today it boasts of a workforce of 350 – averaging a turnover of Rs 30-cr per annum.
"The year 2005 was a new dawn when we installed a new Heidelberg machine; we have never looked back since then," says Bhatnagar. Rave India has been at the forefront in embracing new technology upfront and its all-Heidelberg shopfloor has taken its stature to a next level where it is able to offer its customer value addition, especially in finishing.
Dynamics of growth
Rave has battled against "skewed" pricing and has bucked the trend by going on the offensive in the last five years. The company believes top-of-the-line equipment begets standards which should be complied with – and thereby raises the bar for skillful manpower, systems and processes. Bhatnagar says: "This improves quality and consistent services."
"Initially there was a hiccup. But now, most of our investments have paid-off thanks to successful marketing and we have won good clients," says Bhatnagar. The strength of a solid build-up infrastructure has raked-in some good corporate orders that would otherwise have gone to competitors.
More preparedness
Rave’s 350-strong workforce is geared towards being more conscious about quality than mere margins. The company recently placed orders for their fifth and sixth new Heidelberg printing presses in a span of four years prompting Klaus Neilsen, Heidelberg’s managing director to decree Rave India as one of the most "progressive printers" in India.
Bhatnagar says: "The new presses will be installed shortly. This will add to our fleet of 20 Heidelberg machines across the pre-press, press and post-press platform, which delivers cutting edge print and value-added services for our customers who are looking for quality and reliability than mere price sensitiveness."
This investment has come off the back of a successful year. The Rave team tapped key international clients. A futuristic approach and the latest kit gave the company a handle to diversify into new areas. Importantly, Rave could pick its clients and thereby shape its print culture.
Despite the pressures, the company has continued it’s upwards trajectory in recent years. In the financial year 2010, it recorded a turnover of Rs 30-cr, up from Rs 22-cr in the previous year. Bhatnagar says that the company is targeting a turnover of Rs 45-cr in the coming year.
With infrastructure across the pre-press, press and post-press platform spread across two facilities of 20,000 and 12,000 sqft each, Rave India is capable of printing 7.5 lakh impressions per day. "We have no reason not to expect continued growth of about 50%," says Bhatnagar. "We have set our sights on the global stage. We hope to boost our growth trajectory with our international clientele."
Diversification and exports
The company’s focus on exports is evident with attendance at international book shows like CTBF, LBF, FBF since the last few years. "The experience comes in handy as our business grows. It helps us meet international publishers who want to take advantage of print in India," says Bhatnagar.
"We are currently formulating our strategy. The new move with the new setup is a step forward. We are seriously contemplating entering into packaging print sooner rather than later," adds Bhatnagar.
The company is expected to inaugurate its new premise in September 2010 at Gurgaon, Haryana in Delhi NCR, which will house an array of Heidelberg kit that includes – two four-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 102s with coater, Eurobind 1300, Polar pile turner, Aster sewing machine, Polar cutting system and a Stahlfolder.
Clearly, print confidence has risen. And the Bhatnagars as well as the Rave team are much more cheerful about the future.
RAVE INDIA FACTFILE
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The progressive vision of managing director, Rakesh Bhatnagar and the director, Bhavnesh Kanwar of Rave India has developed a scaleable business model. The company has announced an investment of Rs 20-cr in a brand new premise of 32,000 sqft with new plant and machinery in Gurgaon, Haryana.
The traction in the company started in 1993 and today it boasts of a workforce of 350 – averaging a turnover of Rs 30-cr per annum.
"The year 2005 was a new dawn when we installed a new Heidelberg machine; we have never looked back since then," says Bhatnagar. Rave India has been at the forefront in embracing new technology upfront and its all-Heidelberg shopfloor has taken its stature to a next level where it is able to offer its customer value addition, especially in finishing.
Dynamics of growth
Rave has battled against "skewed" pricing and has bucked the trend by going on the offensive in the last five years. The company believes top-of-the-line equipment begets standards which should be complied with – and thereby raises the bar for skillful manpower, systems and processes. Bhatnagar says: "This improves quality and consistent services."
"Initially there was a hiccup. But now, most of our investments have paid-off thanks to successful marketing and we have won good clients," says Bhatnagar. The strength of a solid build-up infrastructure has raked-in some good corporate orders that would otherwise have gone to competitors.
More preparedness
Rave’s 350-strong workforce is geared towards being more conscious about quality than mere margins. The company recently placed orders for their fifth and sixth new Heidelberg printing presses in a span of four years prompting Klaus Neilsen, Heidelberg’s managing director to decree Rave India as one of the most "progressive printers" in India.
Bhatnagar says: "The new presses will be installed shortly. This will add to our fleet of 20 Heidelberg machines across the pre-press, press and post-press platform, which delivers cutting edge print and value-added services for our customers who are looking for quality and reliability than mere price sensitiveness."
This investment has come off the back of a successful year. The Rave team tapped key international clients. A futuristic approach and the latest kit gave the company a handle to diversify into new areas. Importantly, Rave could pick its clients and thereby shape its print culture.
Despite the pressures, the company has continued it’s upwards trajectory in recent years. In the financial year 2010, it recorded a turnover of Rs 30-cr, up from Rs 22-cr in the previous year. Bhatnagar says that the company is targeting a turnover of Rs 45-cr in the coming year.
With infrastructure across the pre-press, press and post-press platform spread across two facilities of 20,000 and 12,000 sqft each, Rave India is capable of printing 7.5 lakh impressions per day. "We have no reason not to expect continued growth of about 50%," says Bhatnagar. "We have set our sights on the global stage. We hope to boost our growth trajectory with our international clientele."
Diversification and exports
The company’s focus on exports is evident with attendance at international book shows like CTBF, LBF, FBF since the last few years. "The experience comes in handy as our business grows. It helps us meet international publishers who want to take advantage of print in India," says Bhatnagar.
"We are currently formulating our strategy. The new move with the new setup is a step forward. We are seriously contemplating entering into packaging print sooner rather than later," adds Bhatnagar.
The company is expected to inaugurate its new premise in September 2010 at Gurgaon, Haryana in Delhi NCR, which will house an array of Heidelberg kit that includes – two four-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 102s with coater, Eurobind 1300, Polar pile turner, Aster sewing machine, Polar cutting system and a Stahlfolder.
Clearly, print confidence has risen. And the Bhatnagars as well as the Rave team are much more cheerful about the future.
RAVE INDIA FACTFILE
| Founded | 1993 |
| Location | Nariana, New Delhi |
| Management | Rakesh Bhatnagar and Bhavnesh Kanwar |
| Equipment | In-house pre-press with Heidelberg Suprasetter and Agfa CTP; fleet of seven multi-colour and one single-colour Heidelberg and Planeta presses and a fleet of post-press and finishing machines from Heidelberg, Aster, Sakurai, Muller Martini and Perfecta |
| Services | Commercial printing including magazines, calendar printing, books, catalogues and brochures |
| Speciality | Anything and everything on paper |
| Turnover | Rs 30-cr |
| Staff | 350 |
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