Poll open for PrintWeek’s Power 100 Class of 2026

The PrintWeek Power 100 is a roll call of the 100 most influential players in the Indian print industry, as voted by their peers, the PrintWeek and WhatPackaging? magazines readers.

The list contains 150 names, out of which 100 names will be selected based on the votes.

The parameters of the voting are subjective, but we are selecting the companies (and their business owners) based on the 7Ms. These are Machinery, Materials, Methods, Measurement, Manpower, Money and Mother Nature.

This year, the selection criteria will also focus on the financial results of the companies ending March 2026. This is to separate the “coasting legacy giants” from the “hungry disruptors”. The idea is to captures market relevance and demand momentum. In this context, a converter growing at 18% CAGR in labels or flexible packaging is signalling something very different from a flat commercial printer.

At the same time, EBITDA margin reflects operational discipline, shows pricing power in a commoditising industry, and helps compare different segments (cartons versus labels versus commercial). A company holding 18–22% EBITDA in packaging is operating in a different league than someone stuck at 8–10%.

Another parameter will be return on capital employed (ROCE). This is the metric for capital-heavy industries like print. It measures how efficiently presses, plants, and investments are used, rewards smart capex, not just aggressive capex, and filters out companies that grow by just piling debt.

Yet another parameter is cash flow from operations (CFO) consistency. This is the “no-nonsense” metric. It separates real businesses from accounting illusions, reflects working capital control (critical in print), and ensures growth is backed by actual cash, not just receivables. In Indian print, where credit cycles can stretch, this metric quietly reveals the best-run companies.

In Power 100 terms: this tells you who is actually creating value, not just expanding footprint.

The list of nominees to vote on will not be limited to the names listed. There is a possibility that a few names may be missed out, so if a voter is unable to find the individual to vote for, the voter can add a nominee to the list, and it will be reflected in the list.

The Power 100 will be featured in PrintWeek's 18th Anniversary Special Issue in May 2026. 

Please check the list here.