Son N Naykpura has been named the preferred provider of blanking tools for Bobst India following the global press manufacturer's decision to exit in-house blanking die production. The Vadodara-based specialist, which has supplied cutting and stripping dies to the Indian packaging industry for more than 35 years, has acquired Bobst India's former blanking die manufacturing equipment and now offers converters a complete single-source tooling solution covering cutting, stripping and blanking operations.
The transition, which took effect in mid-2025, marks a significant shift in how high-end blanking tooling will be sourced and serviced within India's fast-growing folding carton and corrugated packaging sectors.
The relationship between Son N Naykpura LLP and Bobst Asia Pacific began in 2021, when the global OEM approached the firm about a certified die-maker initiative. The following year, both parties formalised the programme, with Son N Naykpura's team completing extensive training in blanking die technology.
The firm's capabilities were put to a visible public test at Bobst India's 2023 open house, where its tools were demonstrated on the company's die-cutter to strong results. That performance, combined with the endorsement of tooling consumables supplier Cito, which recommended Son N Naykpura as the only die-maker in India working exclusively with 100% Cito materials to the required standards, helped establish the credibility that ultimately led to the preferred provider designation.
When Bobst India opted to close its in-house blanking line and sell the associated equipment, Son N Naykpura moved swiftly to acquire the setup, directly integrating it into its Vadodara facility.
For packaging converters, the practical implication of the transition is a consolidation of the supply chain. Previously, converters frequently sourced tooling for cutting, stripping and blanking operations through multiple channels, which extended lead times and introduced the potential for coordination errors between suppliers.
Son N Naykpura now manufactures and supplies all three tooling categories under one roof. The firm says this integrated approach will shorten turnaround times, reduce complexity for production planners and improve consistency across full tooling sets, a proposition it describes as unique within the Indian market.
Bobst India will continue to provide layout analysis support, and Son N Naykpura has invested in the same design software used by Bobst for blanking die development, enabling direct technical collaboration on layout issues before production commences.
The transition has been accompanied by substantial capital expenditure at the Vadodara facility. In the 2025 to 2026 financial year, the company added a large milling machine for three-dimensional embossing and foil block production, an additional rule-bending machine, multiple rule-processing machines, and a grid bender with a frame assembly station. A further plotter and milling machine are currently being commissioned.
The company has also continued to invest in training to ensure its production processes remain aligned with the latest technical requirements set by both Bobst and the broader high-speed packaging market.
India's folding carton and corrugated packaging markets have expanded considerably in recent years, driving demand for tooling that can perform reliably at full machine speeds. Local availability of world-class blanking tools, previously dependent on international supply chains or on-site OEM manufacturing, is expected to have a tangible impact on production efficiency for domestic converters.
Brijesh Naykpura, director, Son N Naykpura, says, "We plan to work closely with Bobst on future technological advancements while continuing to deliver customer-focused solutions to the Indian market and neighbouring continents, indicating a broader regional expansion beyond just the domestic market."