OPINION AND ANALYSIS

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

Printed books are here to stay, despite all doomsday predictions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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.

Digital printing is quietly reshaping how India’s small businesses brand, scale and compete. In an interaction with PrintWeek during the Labelexpo Europe 2025 in Barcelona, A Appadurai, country manager, Indigo and inkjet business solutions, HP India, explains how packaging is emerging as a decisive growth enabler

Umang Gupta is the country head of RX India, a leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations

Dwipal Patel says the move to 5% GST for packaging is a chance to rethink value and compliance

Inverting the print-first model, this Chennai-based firm leads with distribution, catering to premium publishing through single-copy print runs or multiple runs, and a tech-light but quality-driven approach

Manas Bhatia, digital workflow manager at Maa Gayatri Offset Printers explains why he decided to invest in a Haotian customised finishing solution from Packnology Graphics

September Editorial by Dibyajyoti Sarma, associate editor, PrintWeek

Speaking to Treya Sinha on the sidelines of Media Expo Delhi, which concluded recently, Raj Manek, executive director of Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings, talks about India’s advertising and print markets and the challenges of running exhibitions in India

Talking to Rahul Kumar on the sidelines of Labelexpo Europe 2025, Rafal Maliszewski of Hubergroup shares about the company’s high-performing flexo UV ink system Iray, which has been engineered to meet low-migration and food packaging standards, in line with the German Ink Ordinance and other evolving regulations

The entries in the label category during the PrintWeek Awards showcased an extraordinary evolution in label design and printing, with converters demonstrating remarkable technical prowess and a keen eye for aesthetic and sensory experiences

Winning the Rising Star of the Year award, Yashwi Jain, technical business developer at Sequoia Print, has developed a pre-press automation script that reduces artwork placement time. Jain has created a production data system with AI-driven recommendations to optimise output and identify bottlenecks.

Earning the Sales Champion of the Year Award, Varsha Pal, senior manager at Print-Packaging.com, is a sales leader leading projects like Pamex, which has seen 30% year-on-year growth since 2015. Pal was part of the Bharat Print Expo launch.

Winning the Packaging Person of the Year award, Tejaswini Dhanaji Patil, a doctoral researcher at IIT, Roorkee, has developed biodegradable packaging materials from millets.

Recognised for Execution Excellence, Tania Hansoti has navigated the shift from an MNC environment to the demands of a family-owned packaging business, introducing process-driven systems, sustainability measures, and talent initiatives that have strengthened S Kumar Multiproducts’ operations.

Recognised as Educator of the Year, Rashmi Sharma, community success manager, South Asia at DScoop, has led and contributed to educational initiatives. Sharma has developed content for publications, conducted site visits, and curated programs for the graphics and art industry

Winning the Sales Champion of the Year award, Rajalakshmi Ezhumalai, assistant manager of sales for food products at Suba Solutions, has achieved success in the food packaging sector. She surpassed her annual sales target and oversees the sales cycle across departments.

Winning the Mentor of the Year award, Priyanka Rathi, head of marketing communications at Holostik India, shares insights on inspiring the next-gen in the print, packaging, and publishing sectors. She believes the key to attracting young women lies in making the industry more visible and accessible.

On the sidelines of Labelexpo Europe 2025, Akshay Kaushal, executive director, sales, Provin Technos, gives a lowdown on the Miyakoshi machines, which the company represents in India

The paper-based hologram for mass adoption reduces dependence on polyester films while giving brands a sustainable, tamper-proof, and premium security feature, Ankit Gupta & Shobhit Gupta, joint managing directors, Holostik Group, tell Rahul Kumar

On the sidelines of Labelexpo Europe 2025, Akshay Kaushal, executive director, sales, Provin Technos, gives a lowdown on the Spande machines, which the company represents in India

At Labelexpo Europe, Newgen Printronics, the Indian distributor of Durst, announced two Durst RSC Digital Presses bookings. In this conversation, Selvaraj Venkatesh, managing director, Newgen Printronics, explains the architecture of Durst presses and how it can help Indian converters

Ranesh Bajaj, managing director at Vinsak, and Naoki Ogawa, sales director at Iwasaki, present a compelling case for offset’s revival in label printing. From plate-saving workflows to fully automated changeovers, the duo champion a hybrid future where offset regains agility as well as affordability.

J Natasha, director at Veepee Graphic Solutions, explains how extended colour gamut delivers precision, speed and sustainability for Indian label converters’ consistency.

Abhay Datta of UV Graphic Technologies explains how Ultraflex, a homegrown modular hybrid platform, is giving converters speed, flexibility and cost control without reliance on imported machinery. With over 190 installations, the company is pushing Indian engineering into global contention and recognition.

Manjusha Singh, CEO of Siegwerk India, shows how a 200-year-old company blends global innovation with Indian scale.