Pragati Offset is now India’s first Fogra PSO certified press
Quality is not an act, it is a habit. This mantra is on display as Hyderabad-based Pragati Offset becomes the first and only print company in India to receive the Fogra PSO (Process Standard Offset) certification, the world’s most rigorous print quality standard.
04 Jul 2025 | By Sai Deepthi P
With this milestone, Pragati has raised the bar and redrawn the quality baseline for the Indian graphics art industry
The Fogra PSO certification was officially granted by Fogra Forschungsinstitut fur Medientechnologien e. V. (Fogra Research Institute for Media Technologies), the Munich-based German institute renowned globally for advancing scientific research in print technology. It places Pragati among an elite group of printers worldwide who follow ISO 12647 process standards to the letter and spirit, from colour management and proofing to platemaking and press control. Narendra Paruchuri, managing director of Pragati Offset says, "At Pragati, quality has always been foundational. This certification is another validation of that belief." Paruchuri adds, "We have always focused on building a system-driven culture. Fogra PSO is a natural fit for that mindset."
The PSO certification process included an intensive audit and compliance testing, where every aspect of the production chain was benchmarked against global best practices. The evaluation was conducted by Kulakkada Pradeep, PSO partner and CEO of Future Schoolz, with final validation from Fogra in Germany.
"What impressed us about Pragati was not just the quality of output, but their insistence on first implementing the systems thoroughly - and only then applying for certification," said Kulakkada Pradeep. "This certification is not a badge, it’s a system. Our clients now benefit more from quantifiable colour accuracy, reduced proofing cycles, and international-level predictability," said Harsha Paruchuri, the executive director of Pragati Offset.
Harsha adds, "It’s part of our long-term commitment to align with global brands and offer world-class consistency in every sheet. We had to collaborate closely with various material and pre-press solution providers to finetune every component — from inks and workflow systems to calibration targets. It was a rare example of a print firm taking the harder, but correct, path to excellence."
Jurgen Gemeinhardt, the head of Printing Techniques at Fogra, on his tour to India last year had visited Pragati Offset, prior to starting this certification process. "Gemeinhardt was impressed by the discipline, repeatability, and control Pragati had already achieved — even before the official testing phase began, points out Jose Thomas, the principal consultant at Future Schoolz.
Why Fogra PSO Matters
Fogra PSO is the definitive international benchmark for sheetfed offset printing quality. Based on ISO 12647-2, it ensures that colour reproduction, correct usage of profile and intent, proof-to-print matching, and production consistency meet precise tolerances. PSO is respected for not just requiring good prints but demanding predictable and measurable print results across time and jobs. The Fogra PSO emphasises building of knowledge and applying it internally and diligently following the process standards at multiple levels of print workflow which alone produce the stringent quality and consistency levels stipulated by ISO 12647-2.
Fogra PSO is the definitive international benchmark for sheetfed offset printing quality. Based on ISO 12647-2, it ensures that colour reproduction, correct usage of profile and intent, proof-to-print matching, and production consistency meet precise tolerances. PSO is respected for not just requiring good prints but demanding predictable and measurable print results across time and jobs. The Fogra PSO emphasises building of knowledge and applying it internally and diligently following the process standards at multiple levels of print workflow which alone produce the stringent quality and consistency levels stipulated by ISO 12647-2.
Jose Thomas adds "Across global markets, print buyers are placing greater emphasis on elevated production standards — a shift driven by increasingly discerning consumers. With a sharper eye for design detail, refined aesthetics, and high-fidelity reproduction, today’s end users expect more — and the brands they trust are responding by demanding precision, consistency, and craftsmanship in every printed piece."
These trends are increasingly relevant in the Indian market as well, particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals, FMCG, cosmetics, fashion, and food, where colour consistency and visual accuracy are not just aesthetic preferences, but essential markers of quality and compliance. The certification reaffirms Pragati’s reputation as India’s most quality-conscious print house one that has continually blended aesthetic brilliance with process-driven engineering.
About Fogra PSO
The ProcessStandard Offset (PSO) is the culmination of decades of research into print standardisation, developed by Fogra alongside the The German Printing and Media Industries Federation (bvdm). Serving as the foundation for the ISO 12647 series, PSO defines a controlled, step-by-step procedure covering everything from data preparation, proofing, plate imaging, to the actual printing run with stringent tolerances and repeatability parameters.
The ProcessStandard Offset (PSO) is the culmination of decades of research into print standardisation, developed by Fogra alongside the The German Printing and Media Industries Federation (bvdm). Serving as the foundation for the ISO 12647 series, PSO defines a controlled, step-by-step procedure covering everything from data preparation, proofing, plate imaging, to the actual printing run with stringent tolerances and repeatability parameters.
Critically, the influence of PSO extends beyond print processes to include the materials themselves. The use of ISO 2846-compliant inks, along with certified fountain solutions, washing agents, and substrates, helps in meeting the standards. These consumables are evaluated and approved by Fogra to ensure compatibility and performance, often forming part of manufacturer release lists for press systems.
About Future Schoolz
Future Schoolz is a member of four global bodies, Fogra, the International Color Consortium (managing cross-industry colour standards), Ghent Work group (governing PDF standards)-first Educational member from India, and CIP4 (automating machine-to-digital interactions). Also it is a member of the Bureau of Indian Standards locally.
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