Pratham Technologies' support to PrintWeek Awards underscores role of automation in printing

Pratham Technologies has taken on the role of Automation Partner and sponsor of the Packaging Converter of the Year (Pharma) category at the PrintWeek Awards 2025.

Varad Deshpande, CMO, Pratham, said, “Our sponsorship underscores the pivotal role of automation in achieving excellence in pharmaceutical packaging. By enabling precise, traceable and compliant manufacturing, automation delivers higher yield, faster time-to-market and stringent quality control. Through this collaboration, we aim to elevate industry standards, accelerate skill development and empower converters with scalable and high-precision capabilities.”

At the heart of this commitment are Pratham’s automation solutions, including the fully automatic outsert system with glue, tape and size inspection, and the robotic tray packer. Inline vision inspection enables real-time defect detection, while track-and-trace features ensure compliance with regulatory norms. Deshpande stated, “This combination boosts throughput and consistency, while also supporting sustainable and scalable operations.”

Sustainability is embedded across the company’s technology. Energy-efficient folding machines, waste-reducing jogger units and simplified maintenance all contribute to greener operations. Deshpande explained, “By designing systems that accept a variety of substrates and introducing smart maintenance practices, we support packaging that is both regulator-ready and environmentally responsible.”

New products launched at Drupa 2024 extend this philosophy further. The iRPF 53 and Super Tray Packer (STP) 1200 are designed to streamline high-volume leaflet production with a roll-fed system that reduces handling and waste. Deshpande said, “By eliminating intermediate processes, we save time and materials while delivering regulator-ready output for pharma packaging.”

Global partnerships are also shaping Pratham’s expansion agenda. The company has teamed up with IGS UK to develop new robotics and automation prototypes, which will be displayed at its London demo centre before mass production in India. Deshpande added, “London gives us proximity to global customers, while India remains our base for delivering scale and innovation. Our journey towards automation began with IGS, and this partnership continues to be central to our growth.”

Deshpande concluded, “As automation partner of the Awards, our aim is to highlight how innovation and responsible practices can strengthen the Indian industry’s global competitiveness in pharmaceutical packaging.”