Omkar Labhade: We need better technicians

The print industry urgently needs new approaches. Your view?
The industry is growing along with technology. At the moment, we need better technicians.

One suggestion about what is needed next?
We must look at high school graduates or design students with artistic skills. With moderate job training, the industry can create technicians with knowledge and experience. Basically, we need committed personnel who are masters of their techniques and can ensure 100% of these technologies will boost productivity and production.

Is there a limit to technological fixes?
Talking about technology and it’s features, we can see many organisations which follow the rule of 3Rs. This has led to a greater demand for eco-friendly production processes. This needs to be addressed, quickly.

Should machine manufacturers have a broader approach?
If machine manufacturers can help these organisations in their noble cause, then they can reuse their own products, it would boost the fortunes of the printing industry.

A print blunder you spotted, recently?
The “Miller billboard size”. This was the launch of a genuine craft beer and they were marketing the product. The problem was they managed to misspell the word contradiction while using a slogan ‘ a tasty contradiction’.
A software trick or tech app everyone in our industry should know about?
Creating a vector graphic in CorelDraw in six easy steps rather than deploy Photoshop, which takes almost 25-30 steps.

What are the six steps?
Well, it is simple. a) choose the image (jpeg, png, etc); b) isolate the section you want to trace; c) begin the tracing process with power trace; d) delete the Seagull vector image; e) smooth the rough edges with the smooth tool, and f) the vector outline is smooth.

A packaging factory you visited which blew your brain! Why so?
I visited Positive Packaging which is now taken over by Huhtamaki Ltd. It was my first industrial visit three years ago. The factory is well managed and disciplined. They are manufacturers of flexible packaging food grade materials. For me, the astonishing moment in the plant was when I got to know they manufacture the raw materials (flexible sheets). They have a separate department of raw material manufacturing which follows the blown film process.

One book about print or packaging that you have read which is a must read according to you?
Handbook of Print Media by Helmut Kipphan. It is an innovative, practical manual, which is specifically designed for print and media engineers, and covers the entire spectrum in our field.

 

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Janice Coutinho: Manufacturers need to develop a kit that is energy-friendly and economic

The print industry urgently needs new approaches. Your view?
The world is moving fast and is now depending on technology for all its needs. Hence, the print industry needs to adapt and reach out to its audience through various digital platforms.

One suggestion about what is needed next?
Building good websites, creating pages on social media such as Facebook and Instagram seems like a viable option to reach out and display your products. More e-newsletters should be encouraged.

Is there a limit to technological fixes?
Ineffective equipment leads to inefficient business.

Should machine manufacturers have a broader approach?
Considering how far technology has come, machine manufacturers must have a broader approach. Developing lighter machines will decrease the labour work involved in moving massive machines. Converting analogue machines to digital will also reduce workload and increase precision and efficiency.

Any feedback for manufacturers?
Manufacturers need to develop machines that are much more energy-friendly and economic (saving on operating expenses and other utilities).

A software trick or tech app everyone in our industry should know about?
Esko provides software called Studio Essentials for Adobe Illustrator. It has all the tools that you need to create the packaging of your liking.

How does it help?
With this application, you are holding the package that you have created in your own hands. It is much easier to see how viable the packaging is, considering the fact that it is three dimensional.

A print factory you visited which blew your brain!
Manipal Technologies is an amazing printing press. They provide printing services for multiple markets such as education, government, publishing etc.

Why so?
The press is systematic and organised. They also use the latest technologies and get orders from all around the world.  They have a total of over 7,00,000 sq/ft  of production area in Manipal, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi as well as several marketing offices across the country.
One book about print or packaging that you have read which is a must read according to you?
Handbook of Print Media by Helmut Kipphan is a must read! It has the A-Z of what you need to know in order to survive the printing industry. Whether you are a newbie in the printing sector or a veteran, this book will have an answer to all your questions.