Violet CTP: 20 years of reliability in Indian newspapers
As TechNova marks twenty years of violet CTP in India, the testimonials from newspaper majors underline how the plates have delivered cost savings, sustainability gains and production reliability across the overwhelming majority of India’s newspapers.
15 Sep 2025 | By PrintWeek Team
Amit Khurana, CEO of TechNova Imaging Systems
For 20 years, violet computer-toplate (CTP) technology has been the production backbone of India’s newspapers. Supported by TechNova Imaging Systems, violet has moved from being an alternative to becoming the country’s most widely used plate. Today, virtually every leading newspaper in India depends on violet, a dominance shaped by local manufacturing, supply chain integration and continuous service support.
Pranav Parikh, CMD of TechNova Imaging Systems, reflects: “Twenty years ago, when we introduced Violet CTP technology to India, our vision was to help newspapers embrace consistency, affordability and sustainability. This journey has been made possible only because of the trust our customers placed in TechNova and our unwavering commitment to serve them with innovation, dependability and 24x7 support. As we celebrate this milestone, we also reaffirm our promise to walk alongside the Indian newspaper industry in shaping a sustainable and resilient future.”
Chem-free and low-chem plates
The move to chem-free and low-chem plates was more than a technical upgrade. Between 2014 and 2023, the Indian newspaper industry collectively conserved an estimated 270-million litres of water. Chemical effluent discharge reduced by almost 21-lakh litres, while energy and maintenance costs declined by around INR 30-crore.
A growing majority of Indian newspapers now use chem-free and low-chem plates, signalling that sustainability has become a mainstream choice rather than an add-on. For publishers, this translated into measurable cost-savings while addressing environmental compliance.
Technology partnership
Beyond the plates, partnerships have reinforced Violet’s position. TechNova has supported the industry with regional distribution centres and vendormanaged inventories to ensure uninterrupted availability. Training and technical support have enabled print centres in both metros and remote regions to operate with confidence, ensuring continuity across the country.
Amit Khurana, CEO of TechNova Imaging Systems, underscores this : “Violet has become the production backbone of India’s newspapers because it combines technological robustness with TechNova’s unmatched service ecosystem. Our chem-free and lowchem innovations have helped the industry save over 270 million litres of water and cut costs significantly. At TechNova, we remain committed to driving such innovations that deliver measurable value while supporting the industry’s sustainability goals.”
Outlook
The violet story is closely tied to the resilience of print. As digital disruption reshapes media, newspapers continue to rely on reliable prepress systems. The Indian example demonstrates how sustainability, costefficiency and technical stability can reinforce the medium’s credibility.
Testimonials from NPs for violet CTP journey – IPS 2025
Neeraj Mahajan
Lokmat
“Our long association with TechNova’s violet CTP plates has transformed Lokmat’s print operations. The plates deliver superior image quality, reduced waste, and high efficiency across our network. Supported by TechNova’s 24x7 technical service, this solution continues to combine print excellence with cost-effectiveness.”
Dinesh Sharma
Dainik Bhaskar Group
“TechNova’s violet CTP plates and systems have streamlined production across our extensive network with consistent output and reliability. Low wastage, affordability and responsive support make it a sustainable and scalable solution, wellsuited to multi-location publishing.”
Debarshi Ray
The Times of India
“From an operations perspective, TechNova’s violet CTP plates have brought significant efficiencies to The Times of India. Easy to use, with excellent tonal reproduction and low wastage, they are perfectly suited for our highpressure environment. Timely support from TechNova ensures consistent uptime.”
Pratim Datta
Anandabazar Patrika
“For Anandabazar Patrika, quality and consistency are non-negotiable. TechNova’s violet digital offset plates have delivered precision, reduced waste and faster turnaround for nearly two decades. Their robust performance, supported by TechNova’s responsive service, makes them an indispensable part of our print setup.”
RC Malhotra
The Indian Express
“Adopting TechNova’s violet CTP solution has brought measurable improvements at The Indian Express – better image quality, streamlined plate processing and fewer pressroom rejections. The violet technology’s stability, coupled with TechNova’s dependable technical support, ensures continuous operations and strong ROI.”
PT Bhasi
Mathrubhumi
“At Mathrubhumi, consistency across diverse climates is vital. TechNova’s violet digital offset plates have delivered admirably – ensuring print precision, reducing setup time and streamlining workflow. With TechNova’s reliable service, this durable solution remains central to our production strategy.”
Rakesh Singh
Amar Ujala
“Over the years, TechNova’s violet CTP plates have contributed greatly to Amar Ujala’s operational consistency. The plates deliver excellent reproduction with minimal wastage, perfectly suited to high-speed daily publishing. With TechNova’s proactive service, our operations remain seamless and dependable.”
R. Ramesh
Dinakaran
“At Dinakaran, TechNova’s violet CTP plates have proven their worth with consistent output, low maintenance and operational stability. Easy to operate with minimal training needs, they have been smoothly adopted across teams. Reliable TechNova support ensures uninterrupted production cycles.”
PVK Prasad
Sakshi
“TechNova’s violet CTP systems have been integral to Sakshi’s growth across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Reliable, scalable and cost-efficient, they deliver uniform performance across all centres. Supported by TechNova’s proactive service, we consistently meet our daily publishing demands without compromise.”
BS Shesh
Hindustan Times
“TechNova’s violet CTP plates have been integral to Hindustan Times, enabling highquality print while reducing wastage and improving turnaround times. Simple to operate and resilient in performance, the solution has enhanced agility across our centres. TechNova’s prompt support reinforces our trust in this technology.”
Rakesh Bhandari
Rajasthan Patrika
“TechNova’s violet CTP solution has brought remarkable efficiency to Rajasthan Patrika. The system combines image sharpness, cost-effectiveness and operational reliability. With TechNova’s nationwide service, we have consistently met print schedules without disruption, proving its robustness for large-scale publishing.”
RK Datta
Prabhat Khabar
“In the eastern region, where logistics pose unique challenges, TechNova’s violet CTP solution has proven both resilient and dependable. It consistently delivers superior print quality while reducing waste and downtime. TechNova’s quick-response service ensures uninterrupted continuity – crucial for our business.”
Key milestones in adoption
The trajectory of violet in India is best understood through its milestones:
| Year | Development | Impact |
| Early 2000s |
Thermal plates dominate prepress |
Violet faces climate-related challenges |
| 2008 | Third-generation violet plates, locally manufactured |
Stability, faster throughput, lower costs |
| 2009 | Chem-free violet plates launched |
India becomes one of four countries with local chem-free production |
| 2011 | Half of Indian newspapers migrate to violet | Marks a decisive market shift from thermal |
| 2014 | VioGreen Plus plates introduced | Advances in sustainability and lower chemical usage |
| 2014– 2023 |
Efficiency gains achieved |
~270 million litres water saved, 21 lakh litres effluent cut, Rs 30 crore reduction in energy and maintenance |
| 2025 | IPS 2025 milestone | Violet used by ~90% of Indian newspapers |
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