FEATURES

Dr NC Saha calls for a shift to responsible packaging, where every stakeholder in the value chain is accountable for environmental and safety outcomes
SUSTAINABILITY

Rethinking packaging, beyond sustainability — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

Dr NC Saha is set to reframe the packaging debate at the Respack Conference in June 2026, calling for a shift beyond sustainability towards a responsibility-led approach rooted in science, regulation and cross-industry collaboration, as India’s packaging ecosystem confronts the realities of scale, safety and circularity. Dr Saha in conversation with the PrintWeek/WhatPackaging? team

Andrew Galloway and Pradeep Saroha of Informa Markets at an industry event, discussing the rebranding of Labelexpo to Loupe and the shift towards broader packaging applications

Loupe reframes label conversation in India

The rebrand from Labelexpo to Loupe is a shift beyond self- adhesive labels. Noel D’Cunha talks to Andrew Galloway and Pradeep Saroha to find out more

Shivani Agarwal, founder of CoziKat
CORRUGATION

The curious case of crafting cat furniture with corrugated paper

Shivani Agarwal, founder of CoziKat, creates environmentally friendly cat furniture using corrugated and Kraft paper

Industry professionals and visitors at Media Expo Mumbai 2026 engage with exhibitors showcasing non-PVC substrates and TPU-based graphic films, reflecting a shift in the wide-format printing industry toward sustainability, innovation, and evolving material choices
EVENTS & AWARDS

Will India's wide-format industry be able to replace PVC? — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

During the Media Expo 2026 held from 9-11 April 2026 in Mumbai, one resonant theme was how India’s print shops are ditching vinyl to embrace scalability, high-value applications, and a quiet sustainability revolution. PrintWeek reports

Overview of India’s publishing and printing industry highlighting digital and inkjet press installations, increasing short-run book production, and statistics on 21,000+ publishers and up to 1,00,000 new titles produced annually across more than 20 languages
PUBLISHING

The rise and rise of books

Printed books are here to stay, despite all doomsday predictions

Modern print production facility with multiple digital and hybrid printing machines including inkjet, electro-photography, and embellishment systems, representing advanced hybrid print technology and innovation in the printing industry
PEOPLE

The ten commandments of print entrepreneurship

From Bengaluru to Varanasi, print entrepreneurs are blending digital muscle with handcrafted precision to build resilient, high-value businesses. Vimal Parmar’s principles capture the mindset driving India’s print renaissance.

Print shop MIS dashboard showing cost estimation for paper, labour, and machine time in a commercial printing workflow
SOFTWARE

Why estimating accuracy still collapses on the shop floor

Even accurate MIS estimates can fail on the shop floor, here’s why: Madan Singh of Pentaforce / Countwonder writes for PrintWeek

Panel discussion in the printing industry featuring young leaders and moderator Naresh Khanna
CONFERENCE & SUMMITS

Ink in their veins

Naresh Khanna moderates a conversation with the next generation of print leaders, revealing a cohort that is not just inheriting businesses but actively reshaping them through technology, systems thinking and a sharper view of global competition

Webinar panel discussion on evolving label industry trends in printing and packaging sector
LABELS

Labels take centre stage in India’s packaging shift

At the AIFMP-PressIdeas hosted Masterclass on Printing (MCOP) webinar held on 7 March 2026 and moderated by Amit Shah of Spectrum Scan, industry leaders, including Suhas Kulkarni, Ranesh Bajaj, Manish Desai, Harveer Sahni and Anuj Bhargava outline how technology, sustainability and shifting demand patterns are reshaping India’s label industry. A PrintWeek report

Industry association members touring a manufacturing facility to understand production and quality processes
ASSOCIATIONS

PTA Mumbai delegation visits Jani Sales and Sejal Glass

The Paper Traders Association (PTA) Mumbai recently organised an insightful and engaging industry visit for its members to Jani Sales and Sejal Glass. Hiren Karia, president, PTA Mumbai, writes about the experience

Packaging and label printing with serialised QR codes under Goa’s Deposit Refund Scheme, showing variable data printing, high-resolution labels, and traceability systems for recycling and circular economy
SUSTAINABILITY

DRS to drive surge in serialisation and QR code printing demand

With mandatory serialised QR codes under the deposit refund scheme, Preeti Mishra of Holosafe Security Labels outlines the production, inspection, and data challenges facing label printers

Industrial inkjet system printing serialised QR codes for packaging under Goa DRS, showing high-resolution variable data printing and traceability solutions across multiple substrates
SUSTAINABILITY

Inkjet emerges as preferred technology for DRS-driven variable data printing

As Goa’s deposit refund scheme accelerates demand for serialised QR codes, Jetsci Global’s Neeraj Sharma explains why inkjet systems, inspection tools, and data integration are critical for converters

Recykal DRS digital platform showing QR code generation, serialisation, and real-time tracking of packaging lifecycle from production to consumer return and recycling verification
SUSTAINABILITY

Recykal platform to enable end-to-end traceability under Goa DRS

As scheme operator for Goa’s deposit refund system, Recykal’s Vikram Prabakar explains how QR-based serialisation, data infrastructure, and real-time tracking manage the full lifecycle of packaging

Industrial inkjet printing system producing serialised QR codes for packaging under Goa’s Deposit Refund Scheme, enabling traceability, high-speed printing, and software-integrated compliance solutions
SUSTAINABILITY

DRS-ready systems to ease adoption of QR-based serialisation

Kridwinn Innovations’ Dinesh Thakur says existing inkjet systems with integrated DRS software enable converters to adopt serialised QR code printing with minimal investment

MARKET INSIGHTS

The secret to India's remarkably resilient print, packaging, and publishing fraternity — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

A survey by PrintWeek which evaluated responses from 141 industry icons shows what a majority of the industry aims to do in their factories. Noel D'Cunha and Rahul Kumar report

Book “Logo to Legacy” by Anoop Venugopalan highlighting the role of packaging in brand perception, consumer behaviour, and pricing strategy in competitive retail and eCommerce environments
PUBLISHING

From logo to legacy: Why packaging is India’s most overlooked growth lever

In a world of seven-second decisions, packaging determines whether a product is noticed, understood or ignored. Anoop Venugopalan explains why it is the most powerful, yet underused, business tool

Chart showing India’s print revenue stability at ₹259.4 billion driven by newspapers and magazines performance trends
MARKET INSIGHTS

Print holds its ground but the ground is shifting: EY report

India's print industry closed 2025 essentially where it started, revenues flat at INR 259-billion, yet underneath that calm surface, advertising and circulation are pulling in opposite directions, and publishers are racing to adapt before the divergence becomes a rupture

Small print shop in Konkan producing a short-run personalised photobook for a local wedding overnight
DIGITAL

Digital Print Awards: Celebrate the unsung print superstars — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

PrintWeek’s Digital Print Awards, introduced this year, aim to bring boutique digital print firms from Tier-2 and Tier-3 businesses into the national spotlight, focusing on execution, innovation and real-world impact. Are you ready to showcase your achievements and join the leaders of the print industry?

Pulkit Chhaparia speaking at Print and Beyond 2025 about export-focused packaging business, highlighting entrepreneurship lessons, specialisation, and challenges in global trade and manufacturing
PACKAGING

Specialisation is not a choice — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

Why Pulkit Chhaparia believes niche focus is the only defence in a de-globalising packaging world

Conference keynote presentation showing a map highlighting a 5-kilometre radius around Kochi, used to illustrate themes of distance, deglobalisation, and personal reflection in the printing industry seminar
MARKET INSIGHTS

Distance, risk and the reinvention of Indian print — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

Speaking at Print and Beyond 2025 in Kochi, P Sajith reframes print as a geography business. With 2.5 billion textbooks printed annually, smartphone exports crossing 30-billion dollars, and digital enabling hyper localisation, the industry must choose its distance with care

Professional speaker Preeti Mishra addressing a printing industry seminar, discussing her transition from investment banking to security label manufacturing and insights on operational complexity in the printing sector
LABELS

Five lessons that are reshaping Holosafe Security Labels

Speaking at the Print and Beyond 2026 seminar in Kochi on 28 February, Preeti Mishra of Holosafe Security Labels decodes operational rigour, brand protection, variability and why systems will define the next decade of print in India

EDITORIAL PAPER & PULP

Opinion: The Indian paper industry’s real challenge

By producing better quality and competitively priced paper domestically, imports will decrease, which will automatically increase domestic demand

DIGITAL

In printing landscape finishing now decides who scales

India is seeing a steady rise in digital print businesses built around shorter runs, more SKUs (multiple titles), personalisation, and tighter delivery windows. This is no longer a niche behaviour — it’s the operating model

FRAUDS, SCAMS & CONTROVERSIES

Book scam in Bahraich: Tip of a much larger iceberg

The news, when it surfaced, felt less like a police report and more like a betrayal ripped straight from the soul of the nation. In Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, 15,000 government-supplied textbooks — books meant to be the free, priceless keys to a future for poor children — were sold by the very teachers entrusted with their distribution. The price? Four rupees per kilo. Let that sink in. The future of a thousand children, sold for less than the price of a cup of tea.

When the pack carries the brand — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

At Heidelberg’s Networking Summit in Mumbai on 29 January, brand owners and packaging service providers debate how print packaging now anchors identity, trust and value across retail, eCommerce and quick commerce, and why the pack has moved from a support act to a brand instrument

Vinsak positions Rotatek 850 as the missing middle for packaging converters

Ranesh Bajaj explains why the company is betting on lower origination cost, inline hybrid capability, and energy-efficient drying to build a new offset opportunity in packaging. Noel D’Cunha reports

Post Script: Rakhi Joya

Rakhi Joya is the management executive at the Institute of Packaging Machinery Manufacturers of India (IPMMI)

Industrial printing press in operation producing in-mould labels for packaging, with experts discussing web-fed offset technology, sustainability, and packaging innovation for food, beverage, and personal care products
LABELS

In-mould labels, market realities and why web offset is back in the conversation

At the Rotatek Open House held from 12 to 16 January 2026, the conversation around in-mould labelling does not begin with a press spec sheet; it begins with a question: why do in-mould labels deserve attention when they sit outside the mainstream volumes of packaging print. Noel D’Cunha reports

Product of the month: Nilpeter FB-Line

The FB-Line from Nilpeter delivers fast set-ups, accurate register, and multi-substrate capability, Manish Kapoor from Nilpeter India tells Rahul Kumar

Me & My: Masterwork Easymatrix 106 C die-cutter

The decision to invest in the Masterwork Easymatrix 106 C was driven by the need to strengthen capacity and efficiency, says RD Nayak of Bengaluru-based Nice Prints

Post Script: Namita Sharma

Namita Sharma is the marketing and communications lead at Ace Technologies Group

Made in India: S3S Sleeve Press from Multitec

Multitec’s latest launch, the S3S, represents a breakthrough in India’s flexographic printing landscape as the country’s first and only sleeve-based mid-web flexo platform, Amit Ahuja of Multitec tells Rahul Kumar

BookWatch: Jiya Somaiya explores books on finance and economics

Inspired by ABBA’s Money, Money, Money, we enter the world of global and national economics, finance, and how policies make or break the market. Essential reads to understand the rich man’s world.

Young business professionals in the print and packaging industry being recognised for innovation and leadership, representing India’s new generation of entrepreneurs under 40
PRINTWEEK AWARDS

The future of the industry is in safe hands — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

PrintWeek’s Forty Under 40 list recognises and celebrates the exceptional achievements of young professionals in the print and packaging industry in India. These rising stars have transformed the industry through innovative ideas, technical expertise, and a commitment to excellence

Marathi literary conference gathering in Satara discussing the declining readership of the Marathi language and concerns over preserving its literary and cultural heritage
CONFERENCE & SUMMITS

The case for print: Why Marathi’s future is bright

The All India Marathi Literary Conference in Satara sounded an alarm: as readership declines and bookshops fall silent, the Marathi language faces a quiet but urgent existential crisis

Modern printing and packaging factory control room with digital dashboards displaying KPIs, charts, and efficiency metrics, highlighting data-driven monitoring systems in industrial operations
DIGITAL KNOWLEDGE & EDUCATION

The shopfloor's biggest lie: Why your gleaming dashboards are just digital wallpaper

Madan Singh, founder of Pentaforce Printing Software, explains how dashboards are a visibility illusion and what print shops need to do about it

GEOPOLITICS

The India-EU FTA: A strategic tipping point for India’s paper industry — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

The India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is poised to be less of a celebratory moment and more of a strategic confrontation for the Indian paper and pulp sector. Read on...

REGULATION & POLICIES

The India-EU FTA: A strategic tipping point for India’s paper industry — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

The India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is poised to be less of a celebratory moment and more of a strategic confrontation for the Indian paper and pulp sector. Read on...

RIPTAA’s vision for a smarter future for Bengal printers

From fostering AI adoption to promoting green technologies, the Regional Institute of Printing Technology Alumni Association (RIPTAA) is helping West Bengal’s printers evolve through education, collaboration, and innovation. In an eMail interaction, president Surendra Dhote tells Noel D’Cunha how the association is bridging tradition and technology

Our primary focus is to expand into tier-II, tier-III cities: Koji Miyao of Ricoh

Koji Miyao, president, Ricoh graphic communications BU and corporate officer, Ricoh Company, who was in India recently, talks about Pamex and Ricoh’s plans for India

Flexible packaging printing technologies including digital inkjet presses and mid-web flexographic systems for labels and flexible packaging production showcased at industry trade exhibitions
LABELS

Loupe, formerly Labelexpo, showcases technologies shaping the future of packaging

The last two Labelexpo shows — Labelexpo Europe and Labelexpo Asia 2025 — demonstrated how core label converting technologies have been adapted to open up new opportunities in the flexible packaging and folding carton markets. Andy Thomas-Emans, strategic director at LOUPE Global, Informa Markets, explains

Industrial paper manufacturing facility with large paper rolls and machinery, representing India’s paper industry facing new challenges and opportunities under the India-EU Free Trade Agreement
PAPER & PULP

India-EU FTA opens debate for paper sector

Industry sees technology and input cost gains, but experts warn exports to Europe remain a stretch and imports may favour EU mills

Mudrika Group Rotatek Universal 850 flexo press installation for advanced label and packaging production, enabling high-value applications and global market expansion
INVESTMENTS & EXPANSIONS LABELS

Mudrika’s next leap is not a press, it is a new playbook — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

Manish Desai says the investment in Rotatek Universal 850 is aimed at new applications and global customers, backed by a production model built for speed and consistency

DIGITAL INVESTMENTS & EXPANSIONS LABELS OFFSET

The multicrore deal maker: What Pamex 2026 really sold — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

The Pamex show (27 to 30 January) has closed its doors, but the real story—as always—wasn’t on the main thoroughfare. It was in the back rooms, over lukewarm cups of chai, and converters signing on the dotted line. Read on...

MARKET INSIGHTS

On-demand printing: Reshaping how businesses produce and deliver print

Rising demand for faster turnaround, personalisation and lower inventory risk is pushing on-demand printing into the mainstream, as businesses across publishing, packaging, retail and marketing rethink traditional bulk production models

Duplo DDC-810 digital embellishment system with inkjet spot UV, UV curing lamp, CCD registration camera, and air-suction feeding for high-speed print finishing
MACHINERY

Product Watch: Duplo DDC-810 spot UV coater

The Duplo DDC-810 spot UV coater is positioned as a compact and accessible entry point into digital embellishment for commercial and packaging printers. Designed for short- to medium-run work, the system adds texture and visual contrast through selective gloss UV varnishing, creating definition and depth on printed substrates.

DIGITAL MACHINERY

Product Watch: Founder EagleJet S330

TechNova unveiled the Founder EagleJet S330 sheetfed inkjet press at Pamex 2026, positioning it for short- to medium-run commercial and publishing applications that require consistent quality and predictable productivity.

MARKET INSIGHTS

PrintWeek’s top six trends for 2026

As we enter a new year, PrintWeek editors look at the market and suggest six trends that will play an important role in 2026

Pamex VisitorSpeak: Dinesh Gada of Star Copiers

Pamex never fails to throw up new options, says Dinesh Gada, director of Pune-based Star Copiers

How on-demand label printing is reshaping converter operations

As brand owners demand faster launches and more SKU variations, converters are rethinking their production mix. Epson India’s S Prabagaran explains how on-demand digital printing is emerging as the key to managing short runs, reducing waste and building a more agile and profitable workflow

EVENTS & AWARDS

Pamex Stall of the Day: Jay Raj Fine Paper

Jay Raj Fine Paper has put up one of the most colourful stalls at Pamex 2026, where the company has found an innovative way to display the range of its papers in different colours, covering the entire spectrum, from black to white, with everything in between, from pink to yellow.

INK & COATINGS

Product Watch: Adonis thermal CTP plate

The Adonis negative thermal CTP plate is developed by TechNova in technical collaboration with Agfa. Adonis is designed for long-run commercial and packaging print applications, particularly with UV inks.

High Performance UV/LED Inks: Bhaumik Mehta’s ink fidelity

For Mehta, the printing inks industry is less a sector of commerce and more a “lab of constant, high-stakes evolution.”

DinoLabelDigital rewrites premium labelling for short runs — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

At DinoLabelDigital, premium labels are built through process rather than embellishment. Neha Jain, director at Great Eastern IDTech, explains how a digital-first production model combining CMYK plus white printing, web-to-print workflows, and plate-free manufacturing is enabling brands to balance visual impact, speed, and sustainability

Pamex 2026: A show of the printers, for the printers, by the printers

As Pamex 2026 readies to open, in the fourth and final column, Tushar Dhote, chairman, Pamex 2026 previews the inauguration ceremony and reflects on what the show represents for Indian printers, from innovation and investment to collaboration across the industry

EVENTS & AWARDS

Book fairs drew crowds as publishers spot shifts in selling models

Leonard Fernandes, co-founder of CinnamonTeal Publishing and organiser of PublishingNext, returned from a short visit to New Delhi and Chennai, where he attended the book fairs in both cities, and said the energy on the ground continued to challenge any narrative around the decline of books

Printing press shop floor showing operators monitoring machines and productivity metrics, highlighting challenges in tracking time, efficiency, and real-time performance in manufacturing
MANUFACTURING

Why OEE fails as a decision tool on India's factory floors

Indian printing factories track OEE, AI and automation, but productivity stalls. The real issue is time visibility and real-time loss detection on the shop floor

India’s printing and packaging sector transitions to an application-first model, with demand-driven innovation reshaping technology adoption, workflows, and production capabilities across books, labels, and packaging industries
MARKET INSIGHTS

Industry report: How technology is fueling a revolution — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

Across books, labels and packaging, the Indian print industry is no longer responding to trends defined elsewhere. Instead, it is reshaping what trends mean by allowing printing technologies to leapfrog applications, compress timelines, and dissolve old boundaries between scale, craft and creativity. PrintWeek's Book of Trends captures this shift not as a forecast, but as evidence, as PrintWeek team finds out

Seshaasai Technologies manufacturing facility showcasing advanced printing, electronics, data integration, and automation systems reflecting a technology-driven and innovation-led production environment
COMPANY NEWS PACKAGING

The Tushar Dhote Column: Seeing the future of print in action

In this column, Tushar Dhote, chairman, Pamex 2026 shares insights from his visit to Seshaasai Technologies and explains why print’s next growth wave will be driven by integration, data, and automation

Packaging production facility at Esscee Printpack showing folding carton manufacturing, finishing processes, and sustainable mono-material packaging solutions reflecting FMCG and personal care brand demand for customized, high-value packaging with shorter lead times
EDITORIAL

The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column | Looking back at 2025: What shaped performance (Part-II)

As we step into 2026, PrintWeek examines how industry leaders responded to shifting demand, rising operational complexity, and margin pressure in the year gone by. In this Sunday Column, eight CEOs reflect on value creation, technology choices, and the decisions that defined performance across the year. Read on….

Pamex 2026 exhibition concept visual showing advanced printing and packaging machinery displays, live technology demonstrations, and industry professionals evaluating new solutions, reflecting a future-focused trade fair environment for informed decision-making
EDITORIAL

The Tushar Dhote Column: When technology must show its impact

In his second column, Tushar Dhote, chairman, Pamex 2026 argues that as print becomes more data-driven and competitive, Pamex 2026 must go beyond static showcases and help businesses make informed technology choices

Conceptual visual of global climate summit COP30 in Belém highlighting climate finance systems, sustainable supply chain frameworks, and their impact on print and packaging industries in India, including evolving material standards and carbon-responsible manufacturing practices
SUSTAINABILITY

What COP30 in Brazil means for a press in Sivakasi

COP30 marked a shift from climate ambition to execution, with direct implications for the print and packaging sector. For Indian printers and converters, sustainability is moving from compliance rhetoric into commercial reality.

Creative agency team at Azure Communication using AI tools and collaborative workflows, reflecting value-driven growth, balanced revenue streams, and modern infrastructure in India’s evolving communication sector
MARKET INSIGHTS

The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column | Looking back at 2025: What shaped performance (Part-I)

As we step into 2026, PrintWeek examines how industry leaders responded to shifting demand, rising operational complexity, and margin pressure in the year gone by. In this Sunday Column, eight CEOs reflect on value creation, technology choices, and the decisions that defined performance across the year. Read on….

Industry leaders discussing growth trends in India’s print sector at PAMEX 2026, showcasing digital printing, packaging innovations, automation systems, and smart factory technologies
PRINTWEEK EVENTS

Why Pamex 2026 matters now

In his first column of 2026, Tushar Dhote, chairman, Pamex 2026, reflects on the momentum building across India’s print and packaging industry and explains why Pamex 2026 arrives at a pivotal moment for technology, investment, and sustainable growth

LaserEcoClean anilox roll laser cleaning system using precision scanning technology to remove ink deposits without damaging ceramic microstructures in flexographic printing
FLEXOGRAPHY

Daily safe, deep cleaning for anilox roller: LaserEcoClean

Interacting with PrintWeek, Vasily Burmistrov, director of LaserEcoClean, shares how the patented Single Small Spot Scan technology is capable of vaporising ink at 400°C without ever reaching the 1,500°C ceramic melting point. By replacing cumulative heat with targeted precision, the solution eliminates the mirror effect of bridge melting, preserves ink volume, and provides the 1000x diagnostic proof required to protect and extend the life of anilox rollers.

Compilation of Noel D’Cunha Sunday Column articles highlighting key discussions and debates from India’s print industry in 2025 across publishing and packaging sectors
EDITORIAL

Most Popular Sunday Columns of 2025 - Part-II

Noel D'Cunha's Sunday Column is a popular read for the Indian print industry. He penned 52 columns in 2025. In this Sunday Column, we select those which were the most discussed and debated

Printing pressroom using Hydro Chem fountain solutions, plate cleaners, and roller washes to maintain ink-water balance, improve print consistency, and support alcohol-free offset printing across commercial, packaging, and newspaper production environments
MADE IN INDIA

Made in India: Pressroom chemicals from Hydro Chem Industries

Hydro Chem's portfolio supports a range of applications, including alcohol-free printing, high-speed newspaper production, premium commercial work, book printing, folding carton packaging, and pharmaceutical printing, says Mukteshwar Velaga, CEO, Hydro Chem Industries.

Holoflex integrated security printing facility in Kolkata showcasing holographic label production, embossing, metallisation, and security labelling operations, alongside ERP-driven workflow management for real-time production tracking, costing, and inventory control systems
ME & MY

Me & My: Flexibiz ERP

Ajit Surana of Holoflex explains how Flexibiz ERP helps gain visibility, strengthen traceability and costing, and manage multi stage holography and label production on one platform

Packaging production showcasing UFlex UV, LED, and dual-cure inks, coatings, and adhesive solutions used for labels, shrink sleeves, in-mould labels, aseptic cartons, and flexible packaging applications with high-quality printing, decoration, and functional performance
ADHESIVES INK & COATINGS LABELS PAPER & PULP

Product of the month: The UV portfolio from UFlex Chemicals

The UV portfolio from UFlex Chemicals Business delivers compatibility, customisation, sustainability, LED efficiency, versatility on paper/films and global competitiveness, supported by technical service, says Rajesh Srivastava of UFlex.

Industry roundtable at India Habitat Centre hosted by Bindwel showcasing sample books with production defects such as lamination issues, cover cracking, and binding errors, featuring discussions among publishers on quality control and manufacturing challenges in book production
MANUFACTURING

Bindwel roundtable stresses the importance of error-free books

From lamination cracks to signature mix-ups, India’s book value chain put its worst mistakes on the table at Bindwel’s annual roundtable. Treya Sinha reports on a session that reframed failure as the starting point for better craft.

Independent zine-making scene in Mumbai featuring handmade mini-magazines and artist booklets displayed at art pop-ups and flea markets, showcasing DIY publishing, creative self-expression, and alternative literary culture outside traditional publishing systems
PUBLISHING

For the love of print: The story of zines

A quiet revolution is underway, with zines taking over art festivals, libraries, and pop-up spaces. Jiya Somaiya speaks to zine artists to understand a modest zine’s role in publishing.

Portrait-style narrative of Purushottam Todi’s life story from Varanasi, highlighting his family-run photography goods store Film Cine House, early exposure to the photography trade, and cultural memories at the Ganges ghats during sunrise
PEOPLE

Rooted in family legacy and a passion for print

Varanasi entrepreneur Purushottam Todi’s journey reflects a deep passion for preserving memories through print in a rapidly changing industry.

Editorial compilation page featuring Noel D’Cunha’s Sunday Column highlighting selected 2025 articles from the Indian print industry, showcasing discussions, debates, and key insights on printing trends and market developments
EDITORIAL

Most Popular Sunday Columns of 2025 - Part-I

Noel D'Cunha's Sunday Column is a popular read for the Indian print industry. He penned 52 columns in 2025. In this Sunday Column, we select those which were the most discussed and debated

Paper packaging manufacturing facility showing corrugated board production, coated paperboard processing, and packaging operations, reflecting India’s growing paper industry driven by e-commerce demand, sustainability trends, and increasing pressure from raw material costs and import competition
PAPER & PULP MARKET INSIGHTS

Paper industry: the report card — consolidating amidst headwinds

Driven by packaging growth, the paper mills face margin pressure from high wood costs, cheap imports, and GST issues. Players are investing to tap into future demand. Prabhat Prakash reports

Indian paper manufacturing and consumption ecosystem showing paper production units, printing and packaging facilities, and supply chain flow where paper serves as a key input cost driver for print and packaging industries across large-scale industrial operations
PAPER & PULP PACKAGING

Paper, print and print packaging in India

The paper, print, and print packaging industries in India are distinct sectors, each with its own operations, challenges, and market drivers. However, they are interconnected by paper, which is the output for the paper industry and an essential input for printing and packaging. This interdependence necessitates a shared understanding of each industry’s challenges, strategies, and growth paths to establish a common roadmap for survival and growth.

Multitec flexo printing open house demonstrating the S3S sleeve-based narrow-web press, showcasing short-run flexible packaging production, engraved sleeve printing, variable repeat formats, and print-to-pouch workflow for converters transitioning from digital and gravure systems
OFFSET

Multitec Open House spotlights S3S sleeve-based flexo platform

The message was clear: short-run flexible packaging is not only possible on flexo — it can be highly profitable, Amit Ahuja of Multitec tells Rahul Kumar.

Pamarthi Subba Rao of UPS Guntur overseeing secure high-volume printing operations, including government certificates and OMR sheets, in a security printing facility with advanced presses and surveillance systems
INSTALLATIONS

Two decades of growth for Universal Print Systems — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

From a modest 1,500-sq ft rented shed in Guntur in 2008 to a turnover of INR 24 crore in 2025, Universal Print Systems (UPS), under the leadership of managing partner Pamarthi Subba Rao, has charted a growth story centred on security printing, technology, and team expertise.

Sustainable print and packaging manufacturing environment showing ESG-focused operations, energy-efficient machinery, recyclable materials, and data-driven production processes reflecting the industry’s shift toward environmental accountability and green manufacturing practices
SUSTAINABILITY

Green Report: The sustainability imperative in Indian print and packaging

This Green Report reveals how Indian converters are shifting from compliance driven initiatives to strategic sustainability programmes that cut waste, save energy and reshape plant culture

Stack of uniformly printed books on a production line, illustrating consistency, measurable quality standards, and precision manufacturing in modern bookbinding
CONFERENCE & SUMMITS

Observations on quality in book manufacturing and publishing

Kai Buentemeyer discusses the basics of books, emphasising the need for quality and a commonsensical approach to bookbinding.

Label industry professional observing modern printing press operations, highlighting the shift to digital workflows, shorter production runs, and flexible label manufacturing environments
DIGITAL LABELS

Listening to the rhythm of a changing pressroom

Narendra Kulkarni reflects on the Gallus journey and the new shape of digital and hybrid printing

DIGITAL EDITORIAL

HP Indigo champions India’s digital packaging leap

Arnon Goldman of HP Indigo outlines how Indian converters are driving the global shift toward agile, automated and sustainable label and packaging production through advanced digital tech

GEW UV LED curing systems and retrofit solutions showcased at Labelexpo Europe 2025, demonstrating faster, energy-efficient printing and improved curing accuracy for label converters
INK & COATINGS

GEW drives fast LED transition in narrow web technology

Marcus Greenbrook of GEW explains how AeroLED2, ArcLED upgrades and DoseGuard accuracy shape a more sustainable curing roadmap

AI-powered industrial printing systems automating quality control, workflow optimisation, and predictive maintenance to improve efficiency and reduce waste in modern print production environments
AUTOMATION

How artificial intelligence is transforming efficiency in industrial printing

Through intelligent algorithms, AI has transformed the industrial printing floor from a space of constant supervision to one of constant innovation, Manish Gupta of Konica Minolta Business, writes in this exclusive piece for PrintWeek

Gallus and Heidelberg digital label presses showcased at Labelexpo Europe 2025, featuring Gallus Five and Gallus Alpha systems designed for modular, scalable, and connected printing workflows
DIGITAL EDITORIAL

Gallus unveils G5 and Gallus Alpha, next-gen digital presses

Dario Urbinati of Gallus outlines how the company redefines hybrid and digital printing with its latest industrial solutions

Monotech Systems Jetsci digital track-and-trace and hybrid printing solutions displayed at Labelexpo Europe 2025, highlighting QR code authentication, automation, and supply chain transparency technologies
ANTI-COUNTERFEITING

Monotech showcases smart track-and-trace and embellishment focus

TP Jain of Monotech Systems highlights how traceability and embellishment technologies are driving smarter, value-added growth for converters in a transforming label market TP Jain of Monotech Systems highlights how traceability and embellishment technologies are driving smarter, value-added growth for converters in a transforming label market

Visitors engaging with M.F. Husain-inspired artworks and detailed exhibition descriptions at Rann Utsav, exploring Indian art, culture, and storytelling through an immersive cultural experience
PUBLISHING

Celebrating printmaking: From Raja Ravi Varma to MF Husain

In an exclusive interview, Chaitya Dhanvi Shah, curator and managing director, DRS Arts Company, speaks about Husain @ 110 – an exhibition showcasing Husain’s 110 printmaking editions.

NBG Printographic Machinery Starflex flexo press showcased at Labelexpo Europe 2025, highlighting label printing innovation, customer-driven design, and global market expansion
INSTALLATIONS

NBG strengthens flexo innovation with 18 installations of Starflex

Taruna Garg of NBG Printographic outlines how precision engineering, service, and collaboration are powering the company’s Starflex flexo presses toward global growth

Nilpeter FA-26 and FA-17 flexo presses demonstrated at Labelexpo Europe 2025, highlighting automation, fast job changeovers, and efficient label and packaging production workflows
FLEXOGRAPHY

Nilpeter pushes automation for faster flexo operation

Martin Teilberg of Nilpeter talks about Nilpeter’s FA-26 and FA-17 showcase as converters chase agile production

Notion Press self-publishing and print-on-demand workflow illustrating automated book production and global distribution for independent authors
PUBLISHING

From idea to identity: How Notion Press transformed self-publishing

On a quest to redefine publishing, Naveen Valsakumar, in 2012, founded Notion Press, a global platform for aspiring writers, which allows authors to take control of their intellectual property.

Heidelberg Speedmaster SX 102 eight-colour perfector operating at Goyal Offset Works’ Kundli facility, enabling high-speed, automated textbook and educational printing with improved efficiency and consistency
INSTALLATIONS

Me & My: Heidelberg 102 eight-colour perfector

Ramit Goyal, director, Goyal Offset Works, shares his reasons behind the investment in a Heidelberg Speedmaster SX 102 eight-colour perfector

High Drip Master UV coating machine by SASG UV Solutions showcased at PrintPack 2025, featuring advanced spot UV, drip-off, and multi-effect coating capabilities for commercial and packaging printing
PRODUCT WATCH

Made in India: High Drip Master from SASG

The High Drip Master, with new formulations and upgraded features, stands out. So says Sankoch Gaur of SASG UV Solutions to Rahul Kumar

Kolbus Casemaker DA 260 automatic case-making machine used for producing hardcover bookcases, folders, and luxury packaging with folding, gluing, and pressing operations
MANUFACTURING MACHINERY

Product of the month: Casemaker DA 260 from Kolbus

The ease-of-use and fast operation of the Casemaker DA 260 from Kolbus make it an attractive investment proposition, Deepak Walia, managing director, Manroland Sheetfed India, tells Rahul Kumar.

Labelexpo Europe 2025 Barcelona exhibition showcasing label and packaging printing technologies, automation systems, hybrid presses, and global industry participation
CONFERENCE & SUMMITS LABELS

Automation and sustainability define a record Barcelona show

Labelexpo Europe 2025 breaks attendance records as industry prepares for a wider packaging future. An industry overview by Noel D’Cunha

Exhibition floor at Labelexpo Europe 2025 in Barcelona showcasing label and packaging printing technologies, automation systems, sustainable materials, and hybrid press demonstrations with industry professionals
SUSTAINABILITY

Flexography to digital: Key innovations at Labelexpo

Labelexpo Europe 2025 showcased a label industry in transition, driven by sustainability, automation and hybrid printing, with India emerging as one of the fastest-advancing markets shaping global strategies.

Visitors at a digital printing exhibition stand discussing label printing technology, reflecting growing interest in digital presses, automation, and cost-efficient production solutions
DIGITAL

Domino strengthens hybrid and inkjet momentum

Ajay Raorane of Domino Printech India outlines how the N730i demonstrates speed, flexibility and partnership-driven innovation for converters

Durst presentation at a Barcelona industry event, featuring digital label printing technology, G3 platform launch, and insights on global growth and innovation
SUSTAINABILITY AUTOMATION

Durst’s G3 press platform signal a new digital era

Durst’s leadership team outlines how growth, automation and sustainability define its next phase of innovation

Packaging industry professionals discussing sustainable materials and chemistry solutions, focusing on recyclability, circularity, and eco-friendly label and packaging innovation
SUSTAINABILITY LABELS PACKAGING

Archroma is making the chemistry of sustainability visible for all

Sameer Singla of Archroma Packaging Technologies outlines how specialty chemistry is driving circularity and performance in labels and packaging

Labelexpo Europe 2025 exhibition hall showcasing label printing technologies, sustainability innovations like eco-friendly foiling and adhesives, and demonstrations of automated and hybrid printing systems
SUSTAINABILITY

Flexography to digital: Key innovations at Labelexpo

Noel D’Cunha is a managing editor at PrintWeek and WhatPackaging?

Actega booth at Labelexpo Europe showcasing Signite label technology, demonstrating direct-to-surface label transfer process designed to reduce waste and eliminate traditional label layers
LABELS

Signite by Actega: Grant Schutte on the future of sustainable labelling — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

Grant Schutte, vice president of Actega North America Technologies, believes Signite is not just another incremental innovation but a complete rethink of pressure-sensitive labelling. In conversation with Noel D’Cunha, he explains how this new transfer-based system eliminates matrix waste, cuts CO₂ emissions, and enables design freedom that could redefine the way labels are made and applied.

Modern book printing facility in Ahmedabad operated by CDC Printers, featuring streamlined inline production, AI-supported workflow systems, and optimized packaging and finishing zones for efficient print manufacturing
EDITORIAL

CDC Printers’ Ahmedabad blueprint — The Noel D'Cunha Sunday Column

Manu Choudhury is busy retooling his book manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad through lean processes and digital transparency. Noel D’Cunha spends time at CDC’s newest facility

Actega packaging solutions and paperboard coatings displayed in an Asian packaging market context, illustrating sustainable and high performance materials used in paper and board applications across diverse regional markets
PAPER & PULP

Actega's strategic vision for Asia’s dynamic and diverse markets

Asia’s paper packaging industry stands at a pivotal juncture, poised for robust growth to USD 230.98-billion by 2030, fuelled by heightened sustainability requirements and shifts in consumer expectations. Within this rapidly evolving landscape, Actega’s Paper & Board strategy is distinguished by its deep understanding of the region’s diversity, harnessing China’s scale, India’s agility, and the spirit of innovation across Southeast Asia to create powerful regional momentum. In this interview, Actega's newly appointed paper and board business line manager for Asia, Rajiv Singh, examines the key

Printscape 2025 event featuring live printer demonstrations, panel discussions, and designers exploring wallpaper trends, UVgel technology, and AI-driven print solutions
CONFERENCE & SUMMITS

Arrow Digital hosts Printscape 2025 to highlight innovations in decor printing

Ahmedabad’s industrial hub witnessed a different kind of energy on 2 September 2025, as Arrow Digital opened the doors of its Innovation Centre for Printscape 2025: Innovation in Motion. Organised in association with Canon and Fotoba, the day-long event drew a crowd of print entrepreneurs, interior designers, technology suppliers, and media representatives.