Industry Report: Forty Under Forty leaders share the secrets to their success
Based on the responses from industry leaders in the Forty Under Forty (FUF) submissions, the favourite element of a factory is a dynamic mix of human capital and optimised operations, while the "secret" strengths often revolve around deep-rooted process integrity and technological agility.
27 Jan 2026 | 318 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.
Most of the Forty Forty winners said the floor is their favourite thing about the factory. And this floor is defined by three main categories: human capital, process harmony, and advanced technology.
A large number of leaders cite the people (their energy, dedication, and attention to detail) or the culture (sense of ownership, mutual respect, and collaborative spirit) as their favourite part of the factory.
One of the winners said, "energy when our team collaborates on solving complex client challenges" and "people who put their 100% day in and day out" are noted as key sources of pride.
Likewise, leaders value a clean, organised, and workflow-optimised production floor where "everything is aligned, it’s poetry" during a smooth run.
The hidden strengths of these businesses reveal a commitment to quality, process R&D, and technological diversification, which they believe gives them a distinct competitive edge.
The secret is sometimes an extremely high, unpublicised level of internal testing and rejection before anything is delivered to the customer.
The "secret" for one paper bag manufacturer is a hidden manual quality-check station for strength and alignment, even after full automation, ensuring zero-complaint delivery.
A core secret to efficiency is that "most efficiency gains come from systems, not machines," reinforcing that process discipline is their biggest strength. Multiple companies noted they "quietly test and refine processes continuously" or spend time on colour-matching and structural R&D before a new product reaches the shelf.
One company's secret is the ability to employ sheetfed offset, rotary silkscreen, flatbed silkscreen, flexography, rotogravure, and digital printing, all within one factory.
One leader schedules "innovation hours" where the production floor goes silent for brainstorming, which is the source of their best process improvements.
A key financial secret is a pre-press strategy that helps cut the initial cost of a new job to its lowest point.
For a commercial printer, the secret is that a "large part of the revenue today is online, through web-to-print," which is seeing double-digit growth.
One factory's secret is that key machine operators are cross-trained across processes, giving the company unusual flexibility during peak loads and tight timelines.
Another secret is treating customers’ brands as their own, taking complete ownership and involving themselves in the process long before briefs are finalised.
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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