Forty Under 40 Report: The Vision of the Dream Factory
The responses from industry leaders who have won PrintWeek's Forty Under Forty (FUF) define the ideal factory not just by its size or machinery, but by its operational discipline, advanced technology, and human-centric culture.
27 Jan 2026 | 108 Views | By Dibyajyoti Sarma
PrintWeek's Forty Under 40 is an annual event that will recognise and celebrate the exceptional achievements of young professionals in the print and packaging industry in India. The winners are the people who have inspirational print/packaging stories. People who have contributed to the business and have success stories. Individuals who are passionate about helping to drive the industry forward — not just in terms of business success but also in terms of the welfare of the people working in the industry, in terms of making the industry welcoming to people currently excluded from it, and in terms of making their communities and the world better places.
The most inspiring factories, or "dream factories," visited by the Forty Under Forty industry leaders share the characteristics of precision, cleanliness, and process discipline. In these global examples, particularly European and US factories, are admired for their emphasis on cleanliness, meticulous planning, and systems designed for ultimate efficiency.
In terms of automation and engineering excellence, companies like Jyoti CNC Automation in Rajkot are cited as a source of inspiration for embodying the future of Indian manufacturing, featuring automation, precision engineering, clean production systems, and Industry 4.0 technologies in perfect harmony.
Many of the Forty Under Forty winners spoke about "scale and high-output execution. As Ashish Bhushan, who is the country head of Haymarket Media, said, "The ambition is often to blend the process discipline of Western factories with the immense scale, speed, and execution intensity of Chinese plants." Large-scale facilities like the JSW Steel Vijaynagar township and highly automated plants such as Graphic Packaging's Hoogerheid and MM Packaging's Trier are noted as best-in-class examples.
In addition, balance and design-led systems, the best facilities are seen as ecosystems that balance technology with human judgment and efficiency without overworking people. They are automated, data-driven, and design-led, but still retain trusted human insight where needed.
Specific factories like the Siegwerk factory were recognised for its "perfect blend of innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence".
Also, the Ferrero's plant in Baramati and Concord Packaging's new plant at Kotambi are mentioned for their fantastic scale, planning, and forward-looking approach. Also, industry-specific sites like Parksons and Tetra Pak in Chakan, and the Heidelberg factory in Heidelberg, are recalled for their scale and planning.
Many of the winners spoke about the ideal factory floor (Internal Culture and Environment). When describing their own favourite aspects of their factory floor, leaders emphasised intangible qualities and a focus on people and process. The winners spoke about a sense of ownership and team culture. A factory floor is favoured when it gives a sense of "home" and is defined by the team's "vigour, motivation and ownership". The floor is seen as a place that is calm, focused, and respectful, where people care about doing things right.
Winners highlighted the energy, noise, movement, and the "hum of machines" as the "pure music" of entrepreneurship, where ideas meet execution. Also, the importance of a workflow where every job has checks built in and corrected along the way, not just inspected at the end. The obsession with process discipline is what allows companies to move fast without losing control, as this framework is critical to sustaining quality at scale.
One of the top winning values is having open space, not just concrete and steel, and having plants and saplings in and around the factory.
In summary, PrintWeek's Forty Under Forty (FUF) said the dream factory is a complex entity: a highly automated, disciplined, and globally-scaled operation that is nonetheless powered by a focused, respected, and engaged team.
Forty Under 40 highlights the rising stars who have transformed the industry through innovative ideas, technical expertise, and a commitment to excellence. By showcasing the accomplishments of these individuals, PrintWeek aims to inspire and motivate others while providing a platform for young talents to shine. Look out for the complete list of winners in the February issue of PrintWeek.
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