Dayuan optimistic about the Indian market

Zhejiang Dayuan Machinery, established in 1999 as Ruian Ruiyang Printing Machinery, now manufactures hot stamping, die-cutting, and slitting machinery. The company serves clients in over 130 countries. While specific annual production figures are not public, in 2017, the company stated it produced around 400 automatic die-cutting machines and approximately 300 roll-to-sheet cutters. Its main products include automatic hot foil stamping and die-cutting machines. These machines integrate hot foil stamping and die-cutting processes, offering precision and efficiency.

Zhejiang Dayuan Machinery holds 72 patents for its proprietary technologies, reflecting its commitment to innovation in printing and packaging machinery. Dayuan employs the 7S methodology (sort, set in order, shine, standardise, sustain, safety, and spirit) for raw material handling. This ensures a clean, efficient, and safe working environment. Lead time from order to delivery is typically 10-15 days.

Dayuan Machinery’s strategic expansion in India

Rahul Kumar (RK): What are your plans for the Indian market?
Jinzhe Cai (JC): We’re establishing a long-term partnership with Robus India as our general agency for the Indian market. They have a professional sales and after-sales service team, which provides a foundation for our collaboration. Robus India will participate in major international exhibitions like Drupa and this year’s Shanghai and Beijing exhibitions. We’re optimistic about India’s market potential and believe Dayuan’s process technology will be well-received. Dayuan holds a significant market share in China, with an annual output of up to 1,000-units. For 26 years, Dayuan has focused on researching, developing, and producing die-cutting and sheet cutter machines, building technical expertise and innovating industry-leading equipment.

RK: How do your products align with Indian customer requirements?
JC: Our die-cutting machine series includes three product lines: the Confidence Series (MHC), the Performance Series (MHK) for the mid to high-end market, and the Excellence Series (BHT) for top-tier customers. These cover the needs of most Indian customers, offering diverse choices through a broad product range. Dayuan’s die-cutting machines also come in various specifications, from 820-mm to 2,100-mm, covering over 100 products. We can meet various customer needs for processing cardboard or corrugated paper. For sheet cutter machines, we offer five product series: CM, GM, KM, SM, and SMC, providing customers with wide options.

RK: India is a price-sensitive market. What’s your strategy to convince Indian customers?
JC: Dayuan’s three product series allow customers to choose products at different price points. Regardless of the series, our technology and craftsmanship surpass competitors. Our continuous technological improvements and innovations are our main advantage.

RK: When you and Robus India approach new or existing customers in India, what do they expect, and what technology do they demand?
JC: Dayuan’s equipment offers significant advantages. Our operational speed exceeds industry averages, and processing precision is superior to similar products. This is due to our CNC machining centres, including advanced equipment from Germany and Japan. These machining centres allow us to control product precision within 0.02-mm. Precision is key to equipment service life and operational stability. This precision ensures Dayuan’s products offer efficient, stable operation and a reliable user experience.

RK: How is your partnership with Robus India?
JC: We’ve cooperated for seven years, starting in 2018. The partnership has been successful, and Robus India’s sales performance is excellent. We believe Dayuan’s products have promising prospects in the Indian market. With Robus India’s continued investment and professional market promotion and after-sales service, we expect Dayuan’s product performance in India to achieve a stable annual growth of 10%.

RK: There are rumours in the Indian market that Dayuan China is coming to India directly. Is that true?
JC: Yes, we’ve discussed setting up a factory in India. India’s large market and future growth potential are very appealing. We believe India could become a market comparable to China, offering business opportunities. This is why we plan to establish a production base there. We’re also planning to gradually set up production bases in other countries as part of our global strategy to expand our international market and optimise resource allocation.

RK: Will it be a manufacturing unit or an assembly unit?
JC: Our production process will cover both manufacturing and assembly. Core components will be manufactured in China, leveraging our established production system and technology to ensure stability and reliability. Some parts will be produced locally in India to meet local market needs, reduce costs, and create industrial opportunities there. This division of labour will guarantee product quality, enhance market competitiveness, and optimise resource allocation.utters, Excellence Series die cutting tailored to Shweta’s production needs.

Robus ready with customisable solutions suited to Indian operations

By understanding customer needs, whether it’s speed, space, or custom job sizes, Robus India provides customisable solutions suited to Indian operations. Prem Vishwakarma, managing director, Robus India, the Indian representative of Dayuan Machinery, tells Rahul Kumar

Rahul Kumar (RK): What was the initial vision behind Robus India? How has it evolved over the years?
Prem Vishwakarma (PV): Robus India began with a clear vision: to supply the Indian packaging market with quality machines at competitive prices.
As we entered the market, we focused on understanding customer challenges. We discussed their concerns and developed practical solutions to ease their difficulties. With over 20 years in R&D within this industry, I understand packaging machinery.
This allows me to quickly identify necessary changes or innovations just by listening to client feedback. At Robus India, we don’t just sell machines; we create value-driven solutions that truly benefit our customers’ operations.

RK: How did the partnership with Zhejiang Dayuan Machinery come into existence, and what makes it unique?
PV: We first met the owner of Zhejiang Dayuan Machinery in Wenzhou, China, in 2016. We were impressed by their extensive setup, covering over 67,900-sqmt, with a construction area exceeding 112,000-sqmt.
During our factory tour, we saw over 500 employees, including around 55 senior R&D professionals. We also learned Dayuan uses international technology to produce intelligent, efficient prepress and post-press equipment.
After evaluating their infrastructure, technology, and focus on innovation, we partnered with Dayuan. Their commitment to building intelligent modular production lines for automated die-cutting machines, along with reliable after-sales service, made them an ideal partner for the Indian market.
Dayuan manufactures a wide range of machines, from small to large formats, incorporating advanced technologies like double platen and trio press systems. We were equally impressed by their product quality, innovation, and competitive pricing, which we believe align perfectly with the Indian packaging industry’s needs.

RK: What kind of support and collaboration did you receive from the parent company?
PV: Dayuan’s after-sales service is excellent, and their technical department is efficient. At Robus India, we have a strong team of service engineers handling after-sales support nationwide. Whenever a technical issue arises, Dayuan provides prompt assistance.
Their support team ensures necessary spare parts are dispatched quickly. A standout aspect of working with Dayuan is their flexibility and willingness to customise. If we suggest a specific machine model or require a custom size, they are open to our input. They consider our information and execute accordingly, making them a reliable, customer-focused manufacturing partner.

RK: What are some of your best-performing machines in India and why?
PV: Robus India leads the Indian market in large-format (more than 28x40-inch) die-cutting machines, with the highest number of installations nationwide. This machine is known for its durability, precision, and robust performance.
It is a trusted choice for converters who need productivity and consistency. Part of our premium Excellence Series automatic die-cutting range, this machine represents engineering and automation. It features variable-speed worm gear technology for wider motion angles with minimal nicking. It has boosted production by over 25% on multi-up jobs compared to standard platen systems. It has a heavy-duty structure with 600-tonne cutting pressure and a heating chase for specialised applications. It can perform cake base cutting, Kappa board cutting, micro/nano/3D embossing, and more. Additionally, Robus offers advanced die-cutting solutions like Dual Platen Systems and Tri-Press die-cutting machines, expanding capabilities for complex jobs.

RK: How do you ensure robust after-sales service and technical support across the country?
PV: A significant portion of our orders come from existing clients. Many customers have bought 10 to 13 machines from us. Our sales and service team ensures end-to-end support for every installed machine.
From routine checks to anticipating future needs, our team maintains a stock of essential parts—sourced directly from China—to minimise downtime. We offer full technical support from our in-house experts.
In rare cases where our engineers face complex challenges, we coordinate with our counterparts in China for prompt solutions. Since last year, our after-sales service operations have been fully integrated with the digital service platform by Cloverleaf Global Solutions. This system maintains a complete service history for each installed machine, tracks service cases, and offers preventive maintenance via timely reminders through calls, emails, or scheduled engineer visits.
In our Excellence Series’ die-cutting Model BHT, we’ve introduced the computerised maintenance management system (CMMS). This empowers customers to optimise maintenance, centralise information, automate tasks, and gain insights to improve equipment reliability and minimise downtime.

RK: What’s your vision for Robus India in both domestic and international markets?
PV: For the domestic market, our goal is to establish Robus India as a market leader in packaging and converting machinery across India. We aim to expand our customer base across tier-2 and 3 cities by offering reliable, efficient, and cost-effective solutions; invest in localised service and support centres to enhance customer satisfaction and reduce downtime; drive innovation through in-house R&D, focusing on automation, energy efficiency, and digital integration (Industry 4.0); and build strong strategic partnerships with OEMs, converters, and packaging leaders in key sectors like FMCG, pharma with Braille, and eCommerce.

On the global stage, Robus India seeks to become a respected exporter of world-class industrial machinery. Our vision includes expanding our footprint in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe, where demand for cost-effective and high-quality machinery is growing.