PrintWeek February issue unveils Forty Under 40 list

The Forty Under 40 cohort signals a generational shift — ambitious, tech-driven, and committed to sustainable growth. Readers can access the full list here or read the February issue of PrintWeek.

For many honourees, the shop floor remains the most inspiring part of the factory. It is here that human capital, process harmony, and advanced technology converge. Leaders spoke of teams defined by ownership, discipline and collaborative spirit. A clean, workflow-optimised production floor, where every movement is aligned, was described as “poetry during a smooth run”. 

These leaders envision their ideal factory to have precision, cleanliness and disciplined processes. Facilities admired globally from highly automated European plants to large-scale integrated Indian townships are studied for their systems-driven efficiency and scale of execution.

Their competitive edge lies in quality focus, process R&D, and technological diversification. Some operate sheetfed offset, rotary and flatbed silkscreen, flexography, rotogravure and digital printing under one roof. Others credit structured “innovation hours”, cross-trained operators, sharp pre-press strategies, and fast-growing web-to-print revenue streams for their agility. A recurring theme: treating customers’ brands as their own.

For this cohort, investment is strategic rather than incremental. Capacity building, scaling up, and diversification dominate expansion plans, including multi-crore commitments aimed at meeting domestic and export demand. Noel D’Cunha, managing editor of PrintWeek and the force behind the Forty Under 40 initiative, said the focus is firmly on automation and quality. He noted that companies are prioritising next-generation presses such as the Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75 for speed and efficiency. The larger objective, he added, is to future-proof businesses by expanding into high-growth segments like labels and specialised packaging for retail and FMCG brands.

To view the complete interview with each of winners, visit here or read the February issue of PrintWeek.