IPAMA lifetime awards to four print legends

In the sidelines of PrintPack 2017, IPAMA honoured four print veterans for their contribution to the industry in during the customary Exhibitor’s Night event on 6 February 2017. The four honourees are Bal Krishan Khindria; Darshan Singh; MM Kohli and Sukhdev Kumar Gupta.

07 Feb 2017 | By Rahul Kumar

A legend among the local manufactures, Balkrishan Khindria was the general secretary of the current governing body of IPAMA and was working towards PrintPrint 2017 until his death on 21 November 2016. Khindria dedicated 46 years of his life to printing industry. He started his career in 1970 with Monotype. By 1980, he established ‘Memory’ brand. In 1996, he set up a manufacturing unit in Mundaka equipped with latest CNC machines and automation processes.

He was a founder member of IPAMA and was also the president of associations at Kirti Nagar Packaging Complex and Mundaka Udyog Nagar welfare society as well as governing council member of Apex Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The life of late Darshan Singh was an example of ‘work is worship’. Late in 50s, he learnt basics of machine manufacturing, at a very early age, in Mumbai. He established Darshan Engineering Works in 1961 and developed various machines for post-press, like heavy-duty box stitcher, double staple stitcher and table stitchers. He was a member of Sri Guru Singh Sabha, member of managing committee of Ajit Vidialaya Amritsar and of Khalsa College Amritsar.

MM Kohli modernised the printing industry. In 1980, he integrated latest CAD and CAM technology and thus, brought about state-of–the art quality and reliability in his product portfolio. Soon, because of high quality and durability, The Printers House (TPH), which he inherited from his father KD Kohli, gained global popularity. Today, TPH has the most versatile and flexible range of products allowing the customer to print with an array of colour combination and paginations. In 2000-2001, TPH was recognised for the ‘export excellence in the category of industrial machiner’. In 2006, it was recognised for ‘excellence and contribution to the printing industry.

Sukhdev Kumar Gupta, managing partner of Associated Engineering Corporation and director of AEC Machinery, Amritsar, is one of the pioneers and has dedicated 45 years to the Indian graphic arts industry. He has played an active role in building the Sujata brand machinery in India as well as abroad.