According to Yash Randar, the family businesses have traditionally been involved in trading of raw silk, granite and marble processing, construction, and more recently in building a D2C home interiors brand. As part of its diversification strategy, it identified printing as a high-growth sector where technology can create a significant competitive advantage.
“We were particularly drawn to the IML label segment. During our market study, we identified a gap between the level of innovation seen in mature markets and what is currently available in India, both from a material and design perspective. Rather than simply entering the market, we decided to build an infrastructure around addressing this gap,” Randar said.
In this, the Bobst M5 was the natural choice as it provides the technology platform required to develop premium IML and flexible packaging solutions with international-quality standards. “Our objective is to be at the forefront of the next phase of IML printing development in India,” he added.
Randar said today’s market demands shorter runs, faster turnaround times, and greater SKU complexity. “The Bobst M5 gives us the flexibility and efficiency to respond to these requirements without compromising on quality,” he said, adding, “More importantly, it allows us to move beyond commodity printing and focus on high-value applications, particularly in IML and flexible packaging. We believe the future belongs to converters who can combine speed, consistency, and most importantly innovation, and the M5 provides us with a strong platform to compete at that level.”
He said from the outset, the company wanted to enter the printing industry with Bobst because of its strong reputation for quality, innovation, and performance. “The M5 allows us to reduce setup times, maintain consistent print quality, and switch efficiently between multiple SKUs, which is increasingly important in today’s market,” he said.
He added, “The 520-mm web width was actually more important to us than the 200-m/min speed. A wider web gives us better layout optimisation, more labels across the web, improved material utilisation, and ultimately lower conversion costs. Speed is valuable, but only when it is backed by consistent quality and efficient changeovers. Our focus was on building a business with strong operating margins, and that comes from maximising output per square metre of substrate rather than simply running faster.”
The company’s primary focus will be in-mould labels (IML) and flexible packaging. Randar believes IML, in particular, presents a significant opportunity in India. “When we look at mature packaging markets such as the United States and Europe, IML has evolved far beyond a decorating technology. Brands are increasingly using advanced materials, tactile effects, embellishments, and premium finishes to create stronger shelf appeal and brand differentiation. We see a clear gap in this area within the Indian market and have positioned our investment strategy around addressing it.”
He added that IML is structurally the most recyclable label format available today. The label fuses with the container. One material stream. No peeling, no separation, no recycling contamination. It’s basic chemistry. On the production side, the M5’s live process monitoring and we have also finalised an inline AVT inspection meaning waste doesn’t build up quietly on the shop floor. Deviation is caught in real time. Less substrate wasted, tighter setups, fewer rejects.
“We expect the Bobst M5 to be a significant growth driver for the business. Our investment thesis was straightforward — deploy capital into a technology platform that gives us access to higher-value segments rather than commoditised volumes. Our objective was never to add capacity or chase tonnage, but to build a business with healthy margins, strong cash generation, and scalable growth over the long term,” he said.
Randar also praised the Reifenhauser India team. As first-generation entrants into the printing industry, choosing the right technology partner was just as important as choosing the right machine, and in that regard, Reifenhauser India exceeded our expectations,” he said.
He concluded, “We’re here to learn, to build, and to contribute, and we’ve made sure we have the right technology, the right partners, and the right intent to make this industry proud. We believe the Indian printing industry is entering an exciting phase of innovation, and we’re looking forward to playing our part in shaping that future.”