RIPT aims to train vast pool of technicians for print industry

The Regional Institute of Printing Technology (RIPT), Kolkata, conducted a three-day online short-term training programme (STTP) focused on quality assurance and process control in print production. Held from 19 to 21 January 2026, the programme positioned itself as a direct answer to a long-felt need within India’s printing ecosystem, where expectations for consistency and repeatability are rapidly rising while structured training opportunities remain scarce.

The initiative was born from the observation that many print setups still rely heavily on individual experience and visual judgement during tight deadlines, often leading to avoidable rework and uneven results. As the industry moves toward faster, more digitised production environments, the need to understand why variations occur across machines and materials has become urgent. Jayanta Banerjee, director of technical education and training for the Government of West Bengal, inaugurated the programme in the presence of Haroprosad Mondal, principal-in-charge of RIPT. The programme was coordinated by Shankhya Debnath, lecturer and head of the department of printing technology at RIPT, who designed the sessions to provide both clarity and confidence to professionals without requiring them to take long-term leave.

The effectiveness of the STTP was evidenced by the engagement of its 20 participants, who represented a vital cross-section of the industry. The cohort included nine industry professionals, six industry leaders, and five academicians. This specific mix allowed the dialogue to move beyond abstract theory into the realm of realistic implementation, as leaders, executors, and trainers shared their unique constraints and best practices. Geographically, the programme achieved a significant national reach by connecting participants from West Bengal, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, and Assam. This spread demonstrated that the demand for quality-led approaches is a national priority across various print clusters and not limited to a single region.

The core value of the programme was framed as a response to day-to-day production realities rather than an academic exercise. Participants focused on building a practical mindset aimed at reducing variation, interpreting quality deviations, and maintaining repeatability over time. By establishing a disciplined routine for checking and control, the programme aimed to improve business outcomes such as reducing press stops, minimising material waste, and strengthening client trust. For industry participants, the goal was to stabilise workflows and reduce dependence on last-minute corrections, while academic participants gained industry-relevant knowledge to better align classroom teaching with professional expectations.

In their concluding feedback, participants noted that the STTP was a highly relevant and effective learning experience, specifically praising the industrial orientation and scientific clarity of the topics. The in-depth discussions on spectrophotometry and colourimetry were highlighted as particularly valuable for those working in print and packaging organisations. The participants expressed high levels of satisfaction and an interest in future editions, suggesting that upcoming programmes cover broader topics like finishing and be scheduled on non-working days to further improve accessibility. Following the success of this inaugural session, the institute plans to develop more focused programmes to strengthen the industry-academia linkage and support the continued skill upgradation of the printing community.