Heidelberg Connect spotlights the future of print and packaging

Positioned as a high-level knowledge and networking platform, the HEI Connect conference in Mumbai reflected Heidelberg’s intent to deepen engagement with the Indian market at a time when packaging, labels and value-added print continue to drive industry growth.

Global leadership signals India focus

The event saw participation from Heidelberg’s global and Asia-Pacific leadership, including Dr David Schmedding, member of the management board and chief technology and sales officer at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen; Thomas Frank, managing director for Asia-Pacific; and Samir Patkar, president of Heidelberg India. Their presence reinforced Heidelberg’s long-term commitment to India as a strategic growth market.

Addressing delegates, Schmedding pointed to the strong momentum in global print and packaging, particularly in emerging markets. He said, “The global print and packaging industry is entering a strong growth phase, driven by packaging, labels and value-added print. India is fast becoming a growth engine for the world, combining scale, innovation and entrepreneurial strength.”

He added, “Heidelberg remains committed to enabling this growth through automation, intelligent workflows and connected technology ecosystems.”

Frank highlighted the operating pressures facing printers today, from rising input costs and sustainability requirements to shorter runs and faster turnaround expectations. He said, “Printers today operate in a challenging environment marked by cost pressures, shorter runs, sustainability requirements and faster turnaround times. In this scenario, success depends on how seamlessly workflow, equipment, service and data come together to deliver productivity, consistency and reliability.”

Patkar expressed confidence in the Indian market’s trajectory and outlined the evolving role of print businesses. He said, “The future of print and packaging in India is extremely promising. As brand expectations continue to rise, printers must evolve from being suppliers to becoming solution partners. Skill development, digital integration and advanced finishing will define the next phase of growth and global competitiveness for Indian printers.”

Unified technology ecosystem in focus

A central theme of HEI Connect was Heidelberg’s integrated technology approach. Sessions demonstrated how connected solutions across prepress, press, post-press, labels, consumables and lifecycle services can support higher productivity, consistent quality and operational stability.

Presentations were delivered by Heidelberg specialists including Indukalpa Saikia on Prinect and pre-press, Justin Tye on sheetfed technology, Prabaharan on post-press, Narendra Kulkarni on Gallus label solutions, Robert Joseph on consumables and Martin Ernst on service in Asia-Pacific.

A keynote by Muthusubramanian, CEO of Packfora, provided broader market context. He spoke about India’s 2047 outlook, sustainability imperatives and how changing consumer behaviour is reshaping demand in print and packaging.

Panels bridge brands and converters

HEI Connect featured panel discussions designed to bring brand owners and converters into the same conversation.

The session titled Brand Packaging – The Silent Power of Print was moderated by Jitesh Mehta of Avery Dennison South Asia. The discussion explored how packaging influences brand trust, shelf impact and consumer engagement across FMCG, beauty, home care and e-commerce sectors. Panellists from Plum, Marico, Reckitt, Flipkart and Letra Graphix shared perspectives from both brand and converter viewpoints.

A second panel, Ink and Impact – The Branding Role of Print Packaging, moderated by Noel D’Cunha, managing editor of PrintWeek India, focused on pharma and alcoholic beverages. The discussion examined how print quality, special effects, innovation and compliance-driven precision shape brand perception, consumer confidence and on-shelf differentiation. Panellists represented Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Godrej Consumer Products, John Distilleries, Kumar Printers and Creative Labels.

The Next Gen Print Power – Build to Lead panel, moderated by Naresh Khanna of Indian Printer & Publisher, spotlighted emerging leaders in the print industry. Participants from Goyal Offset Works, Anaswara Offset, Letra Graphix, Monarch Graphics, Nobel Printing & Packaging and Temple Packaging discussed technology adoption, sustainability and leadership in a changing market.

Milestones and talent pipeline

The conference underscored Heidelberg’s strong commitment to skill development and industry–academia collaboration. Distinguished academic leaders—including Prof. Madhura Mahajan from PVG College of Engineering & Technology, Pune; Mr. Rajesh Kumar Gera, Advisor and Chief Strategist, SIES School of Packaging, Mumbai; and Prof Vipinendran, HOD, printing and packaging technology department, Anna University, Chennai, were felicitated by Thomas Frank of Heidelberg Asia Pacific, and Samir Patkar of Heidelberg India. The recognitions highlighted the importance of nurturing future‑ready talent and strengthening the ecosystem for the next generation of printing and packaging professionals.

Global perspectives added further context. Dario Urbinati of Gallus Group, along with Klaus Sauer of Saxoprint Germany and Matthias Bauer of Druckerei Bauer Germany, shared insights on smart printing, labels and advanced packaging applications.

Heidelberg India strengthens industry partnerships

Heidelberg India strengthened its industry partnerships by recognising key collaborators advancing training and technology in the printing and packaging sector. Navenn Serrao, lead technical–marketing and head of the Avery Dennison India Knowledge Centre, Pune, was felicitated for enhancing the centre’s capabilities with the Gallus Labelmaster 440. AP Selvarajan, director, Sri Kaliswari Fireworks, was acknowledged for partnering with Heidelberg India and Masterwork Machinery to establish an industry‑first live demo and training centre in Sivakasi, featuring advanced post‑press solutions such as the MK Ecocut 106 CS and Bestfold FB II 1000.

BR Satya Kumar from the Printech Park Cluster, Bengaluru, was also recognised for operating a fully integrated Heidelberg ecosystem featuring the Speedmaster CS 92 4+L, Suprasetter A106 with Prinect workflow, Polar 115 cutter, and Stahlfolder CH 66, strengthening regional access to production technology.

Building connections for the next phase

The message from HEI Connect was consistent. The future of print and packaging depends on stronger links between technology and people, brands and printers, and innovation and skills.

As automation, sustainability and digitalisation reshape the sector, the emphasis is shifting towards integrated ecosystems rather than standalone capabilities.

The Indian print and packaging market continues to expand not only in scale but in sophistication. For suppliers and converters alike, the next phase of growth is likely to be defined by integration, efficiency and partnership-driven models.

HEI Connect, in that sense, positioned itself not merely as a conference, but as a signal of where the industry sees its future direction.