PrintWeek February issue celebrates Forty Under 40

The 100-page issue captures a decisive investment cycle in India’s print and packaging industry, moving the conversation from capacity expansion to value creation, automation, and strategic positioning.

In News, the Union Budget’s implications for the graphics arts industry set the policy backdrop, while Bindwel’s SigLoch installation at L&M Innovative Publications signals continued momentum in book production.

The 18th edition of Print Summit 2026, organised by the Bombay Master Printers’ Association at the Tata Theatre, NCPA, gathered over 1,000 industry leaders under the theme The Unstoppable. Meanwhile, Datta Deshpande, founder of Pratham Technologies, received the MMS Lifetime Achievement Award.

Forty Under 40 is the cover story of the February issue. It featured 40 young achievers and industry icons who represent the next generation of printers and packaging specialists shaping the curve. The foreword by Dibyajyoti Sarma offered an insight into the ideas, philosophies and inspiration driving these leaders. There is a strong sense of optimism among the next-gen cohort, particularly around innovation and technology.

At Pamex 2026, sheetfed offset reaffirmed its relevance through repeat investments by Canpac Trends, Provin Technos, and others, while digital print’s evolution was marked by the expansion of white toner capabilities from Konica Minolta and Xerox. Converting and finishing equipment dominated capital expenditure, with automation, die-cutting, folder-gluers, and digital embellishment systems leading deal activity. The exhibition, organised by AIFMP at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, underscored what Dibyajyoti Sarma describes as a “calculus of confidence”.

Heidelberg Connect, hosted by Heidelberg India at Taj Santacruz, examined growth opportunities and future market direction. The Forty Under 40 feature spans pages 21 to 67, celebrating young leaders reshaping the sector through technology and innovation.

The Rotatek section explores new applications and hybrid offset strategies through installations and open house discussions, including Mudrika’s investment in the Universal 850 and conversations around in-mould labelling.

DinoLabelDigital highlights the shift toward process-led premium labelling for short runs.

The issue concludes with Me and My...which features Wonder Pac’s installation of the Jmetech N5-430 signals continued interest in narrow-web flexo.

The 56-page WhatPackaging supplement has a cover story focusing on Ball Beverage Packaging India, where Manish Joshi outlines how rising beverage demand, sustainability economics, and advanced manufacturing at Sri City and Taloja are shaping long-term growth.

PlastIndia 2026 coverage includes insights from Sacmi and Manjushree Technopack, the latter announcing its rebrand to Alternicq and projecting significant expansion.

Afflatus Gravures details how robotic laser engraving has improved efficiency and reduced ink consumption, while Ester Industries outlines its roadmap for high-barrier and circular packaging materials.

Brand-led narratives include Rohan Rai on building Eda Baby, Studio Modak’s structural design philosophy, Tata Consumer Products’ use of QR and AR-enabled packaging, and Rahul Bose of Neural Hinge on packaging systems driven by user behaviour and barrier science.

The supplement also continues its examination of gig-economy pressures in the delivery ecosystem, highlights Karan Mahajan’s innovation roadmap for Hi-Tech, and explores high-performance UV and LED inks through Bhaumik Mehta’s focus on compliance and collaboration.