DE Converter boosts capacity with Gallus Labelmaster 440

Founded in 1950, the family-owned enterprise has grown into a INR 200+ crore group with interests spanning laminates, machinery manufacturing, and confectionery manufacturing and packaging. The new Gallus press joins the company’s existing flexo capacity. It is expected to increase output by 10–12% in volume and up to 25% in net profit — reinforcing the company’s focus on profitable growth rather than volume alone.

Sandip Kundu, director, DE Converter India, shared that while the company’s Lombardi press was delivering strong performance, customer demands for faster turnaround, greater substrate versatility, and smaller job runs led them to explore additional technology. “We cannot depend on one machine alone. With Gallus, we can reduce waste, change over faster, and run with fewer operators — all critical for meeting today’s delivery timelines,” Kundu said.

The decision was cemented after trials at Gallus’ Pune demo centre, where DE Converters tested their substrates, including challenging 12-micron polyester, paper, and others.

Sandip Kundu, director, DE Converter India

The Gallus Labelmaster 440 is renowned for its modular design, enabling future upgrades such as digital plug-in modules. The press’s eight-colour configuration plus two die-cutting stations is optimised for DE Converter’s mix of tea-tags, FMCG labels, and specialised short-run packaging. Cold-foiling capability expands decorative options for premium products.

Thomas Frank, managing director, Heidelberg Asia Pacific, said, “India is one of the fastest-developing printing markets in the world. Technology like the Labelmaster enables converters to produce at lower cost, improve productivity, and stay future-ready.”

With the new installation, DE Converter expects monthly production to reach 100 tonnes, compared to the earlier 70-80 tonnes in its narrow web flexo segment. The company is also planning a greenfield expansion with extrusion lines and roll-trim facilities on a 14-acre site in West Bengal.