Akar signs Koenig & Bauer Rapida deal at Pamex

Akar has signed a deal for a Koenig & Bauer Rapida 105 six-colour plus coater sheetfed offset press at Pamex 2026, strengthening its packaging operations with higher UV capability, productivity and process consistency.

Akar operates as an integrated packaging and brand-promotion solutions company, with infrastructure spanning folding cartons, luxury rigid packaging, flute packaging, CDU solutions and promotional products. The company’s facilities combine in-house design, pre-press, printing, finishing and quality control, enabling end-to-end execution for high-value packaging applications.

Speaking to PrintWeek, Ashok Jain, managing director at Akar Packers, said the investment formed part of a planned expansion within the company’s existing manufacturing setup. “Over the last few years, our packaging vertical has grown steadily in terms of complexity and value-added work,” Jain said. “The new press strengthens our current plant by adding advanced UV capability, higher productivity and better consistency.”

The Rapida 105 will be shipped to and installed at Akar’s existing manufacturing facility in Silvassa, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, with installation planned for July 2026 in line with the agreed delivery and commissioning schedule.

Jain added that customer requirements were increasingly moving towards tighter tolerances, reliable repeatability and higher-quality finishes. “Having worked with Koenig & Bauer presses for many years, the technology and print quality were already proven for us,” he said. “This configuration allows us to align capacity expansion with quality enhancement rather than simply adding volume.”

Rahul Jain, director at Akar Packers, said the company evaluated multiple options before finalising the Rapida platform. “The configuration was finalised jointly with Indo Polygraph Machinery, keeping our substrate mix, UV requirements and long-term operating considerations in mind,” he said, adding that shorter makeready times, precise registration and stability on packaging substrates were key deciding factors.

According to the company, the new press is expected to improve turnaround times and effective daily output, driven primarily by faster changeovers and reduced downtime. Akar also anticipates lower start-up wastage and rejection rates, supported by improved automation and process control.

Samarth Surana, director at Indo Polygraph Machinery, said the signing at Pamex 2026 marked an important milestone in the long-standing relationship. “We are extremely pleased with this order and value it as an important milestone,” Surana said. “We are fully committed to a smooth installation and successful commissioning, and we are confident that this machine will deliver strong results for Akar.”