Exhibitor Speak: Bhargav Mistry of Grafica Flextronica

What are the top trends in the print industry in 2013 in India?

Today, there is more focus on automation, knowledge and training, value addition, quality of raw materials, inks, chemicals and machinery and finally standardisation.

What makes the Indian marketplace unique, or similar, to the global marketplace?

India’s strengths are in the way it adopts technology, the focus on quality and customer service, the competitive price offered, the eagerness to learn and adopt new technology and the commitment and dedication. Indian printers sweep various awards at international competitions like the SGIA and FESPA awards.

How is the changing role of print (through technology and print applications), impacting print firms and print brands?

In one sentence, printers are no more merely printers tagged as offset printer, digital printer or screen printer. They are print solution providers to a wide spectrum of print buyers. Technology is the lock and knowledge is the key for success, but printers need to use both technology and knowledge.

Your plans for Pamex 2013

We are showcasing our most sought after Nano Print, Nano-Print Plus screen printing machines, Nano-UV and Nano-Screen Maker 5-i-1. We are also displaying DMI’s sample gallery. This has always been our special attraction along with our live demo of printing various UV special effects.

What’s most important about running a successful manufacturing company?

Team work, focus on quality in its truest sense, focus on customer service, cost-effective production practices at all levels, demonstration of technology at exhibitions with live printing demo, and strong marketing communication through updated website, blog, social media, and in-house Grafica News India which carries technical articles, tips and detailed report of our customers about the application of screen printing.

Describe what the print industry has been going through for the past three to five years.

To begin with, increasing competition, cost consciousness are the major changes. Also, there has been a shift from being a single- process printer to multi-process printing solution providers.

What factors are impacting the Indian print industry and how are you, as an equipment manufacturer, addressing those changing needs?

Limiting to screen printing, there is saturation in certain areas, also there is lack of knowledge and step motherly attitude of printing institutes in India to give emphasis to advance screen printing education, there is shortage of skilled labour, and competition marred by price war where quality is neglected.

What should a prospective buyer consider when selecting printing equipment?

One should consider the reputation of the brand in the market, the quality of its machine, the suitability of the machine for a given application, the after-sales service provided and most importantly, the cost.