MD Graphics focuses on roll-to-roll labels with AccurioLabel

New Delhi-based first-generation label printer MD Graphics has installed a Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 230 digital printing press.

01 Oct 2021 | By Rahul Kumar

(l-r) Mukesh and Dheeraj Sharma of MD Graphics

Dheeraj Sharma, director, MD Graphics, said, “Our customers were demanding labels in the roll form and we were working on it. Initially, we planned to wait for a while before making an investment. Then we received an order from a client and we had to make a decision. As the AccurioLabel 230 is an entry-level machine to produce labels in roll forms, it proved to be suitable for our requirements. We are running the machine around 8-10 hours a day.”

Sharma added that a digital label press is an ideal option as most customers today work on zero inventory and want labels as per their requirement. “Nowadays the job run is less, the delivery time is fast, and labels need VDP. So, we are in digital from day one,” he added.

MD Graphics is a partnership business between Dheeraj and Mukesh Sharma. Mukesh Sharma, director, MD Graphics, said, “We worked together for a decade and have been in business together for the last 15 years.”

The duo started MD Graphics on 2007. “We didn’t have any work for the initial six months but people in our industry, business partners and our vendors supported us and they became our strength,” Mukesh Sharma added.

Both are mechanical engineers. Dheeraj Sharma completed his engineering from Sonipat, Haryana and Mukesh Sharma did his engineering from Pune, Maharashtra.

Today, MD Graphics is a multi-locational business entity and has label production plants at Dehradun, Uttarakhand and Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The label printing company has a warehouse in Maharashtra.

“Right now, we are providing labels to home appliances manufacturers. We are working to expand our portfolio and are adding more segments. We produce different types of labels and are working to expand the gamut. We hardly print plain four-colour labels. Most of our labels are treated with different print beautification processes,” Mukesh Sharma said.

Up next, the company will be shifting its Delhi plant to Kundli, Haryana. The area of the new plant is 35,000-sqft and will be completed by the end of the year. “After that we will be able to produce more kinds of labels under one roof.” Mukesh Sharma said.

The company uses digital, screen, offset and flexo printing technologies to produce labels. “We have machines from HP, Xerox, Fujifilm and overseas manufacturers. There is no dearth of work in the market,” Dheeraj Sharma said. “We produce 50% labels on screen, 30% on digital and 20% on offset and flexo. We can deliver from a single label to nth number of labels. Our clients are happy and around 96% of our clients are with us from day one.”

Mukesh Sharma said roll-to-roll is in demand because it is easy to put on the product through applicators, easy to store and less/no fear of loss. “We are expecting around 10-15% growth with this machine. We are in white goods and can go into cosmetics now,” he said.

The company is growing at 10-15% CAGR and Mukesh Sharma said if third wave of the pandemic doesn’t happen, it will cross the 2019 business this year.

“We print around 100-million labels (of different sizes, materials and processes) per annum. Customers aren’t concerned with technology or the machine. They need better results, fast delivery and affordable prices. We are targeting FMCG, auto and essentials segments to produce more labels. We have opted for IATF certification also, to cater to the auto industry,” he added.

Dheeraj Sharma is responsible for finance and new product development, and Mukesh Sharma is responsible for production and marketing.