Printing sojourn in the coaching capital of India – Kota

Kota, the coaching capital of India, has a host of printing presses, catering not just to the education industry but also other emerging industries. Print & Publishing went around this city to explore the printing facilities there. Here’s a glimpse of the same. Kota, Rajasthan, better known for being a major coaching hub of the country for competitive examination preparations like IIT-JEE and medical entrance exams, is also popular for cotton and oilseed milling, textile weaving, distilling, dairying, and the manufacture of metal handcrafts. Printing plays a key role in almost all industries and hence the printing industry in Kota is also evolving. Abhinav Mallik of Print & Publishing met a few printers in the city to know more about them and here’s what he unearthed.

Laser Prints
–Running 24×7

Navendu Dwivedi of Laser PrintsLaser Prints is one of the busiest presses in Kota, running 24X7, all through 365 days of a year. The man behind this edifice is Navendu Dwivedi, who has a strong grip on the printing industry in Kota. Established in 1994, Laser Prints has been serving mostly local educational institutes and few corporate houses. One of the most reputed client is Allen Career Institute.

Defining themselves as a fruitful blend of offset and digital tech-backed printing solution provider, Laser prints has maintained three most prestigious aspects of the printing business. “These include qualitative products, keeping ethical value at the top and providing best service to the clients,” told Navendu.

Their facility houses an assortment of printers like Konica Minolta digital printer, Dominant offset printing machines, Heidelberg printing machines and single-colour Hamada printing machine. They also have a full-fledged post-press facility, which is laden up with a glue machine, two automatic folding machines, Polar cutting machine and laminating machine.

On asking about their product profile, Navendu shared that they specialize in book printing, catalogues, brochures, fliers and all other study materials.

Talking about the contemporary printing industry, Navendu is quite optimist for the speedy convergence of the market.

Chambal Graphics/First Impression
–Specifically catering to the education industry

Nitin KhandelwalEstablished in 1999, Chambal Graphics is a well known print solutions provider in Kota. Nitin Khandelwal started the company with just two printing presses.

Currently, Chambal Graphics is working for educational institutes, offering them stationery job works like printing session books, registers, bills, etc. Apart from that, Nitin also shared that they work for local market primes like Shiv Edibles, YMS Mobitech and Shiv Health. Besides, the company is also engaged in product promotional jobs.

Backed by a team of 15 adept professionals and built over a 8000 square feet facility, Chambal Graphics has a widespread presence extending not only in Rajasthan but also in cities of Madhya Pradesh like Shivpuri, Indore, Nimuch and Sapore.

Nitin also runs First Impression, which is a pre-press house, with CtP and proofing machine. They also offer designing facilities for labels, stickers, books, etc. Their facility houses Konica Minolta bizhub press c6000 for proofing application.

Talking about their future plans, Nitin shared that they are looking at adding 4-colour printing machines in their facility. Besides, they have already ordered BasysPrint UV-Setter 860x, an ideal solution for applications like commercial, book printing and packaging job works.

Alka Art printers
–More than three decades into printing

TahirAlka Art Printers was established by Tahir 32 years back, with the installation of manual printing press in 1984. “Since then, a lot has changed in the market with the diversification of market needs and emergence of educational institutes in Kota,” shares Tahir.

Currently, Tahir has four multicolour offset presses in their printing facility in a 3000 sq feet facility at industrial area of Kota’s Shripura. They have an in-house post press facility, which houses a lamination machine, wash unit and all forms of binding machines ranging from spiral, wire pasting and stitching.

Backed by a team of four workers and one designer, Tahir has been a consistent printing vendor for biggies like NTPC, Allen, Resonance and others. As a next expansion move, Tahir feels that digital printing is the way forward.

Kamla Printers
–Specialising into screen and digital printing

SP JainKamla Printers is ably run by SP Jain, who is the president of Hadoti Offset Printers’ Association for many years. Established in 1984, Kamla Printers has been serving general market printing demands like screen printing and color printing. They have installed digital presses from Konica Minolta and Xerox. As the president of the Hadoti Offset Printers’ Association, SP Jain wants to add more and more Kota-based local offset printers to the association so that they can attain their combined objectives.

Kanchan Offset Printers
–One stop solution for all printing needs

Vimal Kumar SharmaUnder the leadership of Vimal Kumar Sharma, Kanchan Offset printers has been making their presence in the list of high end ‘one stop solution’ PSPs. Spread over an area of 3000 sq ft, the company has a team of 40 employees.

Well satisfied with the current business outcome, Vimal Kumar Sharma, who also happens to be the secretary of the Hadoti Offset Printers’ Association, has been running the printing firm since 1999. Currently, the facility houses four Heidelberg and four Dominant presses. While, their post print section houses Polar cutting machine and Welbound machines.

Talking about the printing industry in Kota, Vimal shares that there is a dearth of skilled labour in the market. Vimal is also looking at diversifying into digital printing.

Vijayvergiya Printers
–Specialising in school stationery

Harish VijayvergiyaA graphic designer by profession, Harish Vijayvergiya started his printing firm Vijayvergiya Printers with a single machine in the year 1999. Today, he is a well-established offset printer and has recently installed Dominant 715 press. He proudly added that they were the very first printers to install foreign press – Dominant 712, way back in 2001.

Vijayvergiya caters to several schools, offering them stationery materials like registers, bill books, leaflets, school diaries and others. Some of his reputed clients include Mahabharti Group, Central School and other prime Kota based schools.

Vijayvergiya has presence in other cities like Jammu, Chennai, Sagar (MP) and Jaipur. Spread over an area of 1200 sq ft, the firm is facilitated by 11 adept workers and 2 graphic designers.

Talking about his future plans, Vijay revealed that he is impressed with the creativity in wall papers and wish to do that in future.

Ad-Print
–Catering to printing job works

JitendraEstablished in 1997 by Jitendra, Ad-Print started with a single 16”x20” offset printer. Today, the PSP is well facilitated with two high end printers, viz Dominant and Autoprint.

The firm is well-known for producing good quality visiting cards and others stationeries. Jitendra is quite happy with his present set-up and feels that there’s still a lot to do in offset printing. As such, he doesn’t have any plans to go for digital printing in near future.

Times Printers
–A decade in printing!

RupeshJust completed a decade into printing, Times Printers has made a name for itself. Talking to the co-owner cum designer of Times Printers, Rupesh shared that they have two units of multicolor Dominant 715 and 714 installed at his 600 sq ft facility. Their post press section includes heat lamination machine, perforating machine, creasing machine and a cutting machine.

The printing press is also an active member of Hadoti Offset Printers’ Association, and works for the enlargement of the association by adding more Hadoti based offset printers.

Shravan has no plans to add any machine in near future, as he is quite content with whatever loyal customers he has in his bag.

Guru Kripa Printers
–Experts in books and magazines

Dinesh GuptaWorking as a Screen printer and an adept designer since 2002, Guru Kripa Printers’ owner Dinesh Gupta has gained expertise in the book and magazine cover making. At present, Dinesh has Heidelberg Speedmaster and Roland machines.

The firm specialises into hard book/copies covers, registers, brochures, and pamphlets. The PSP finds it profitable to work with corporate leaders like Bhatiya and Company, Adani Power, SBBJ, etc. “We offer A to Z solution for all their printing needs, which include magazines, annual reports, journals, cards, brochures and pamphlets,” tells Dinesh. ’Our clients are quite happy with our consistent quality.’’

Focused on bigwigs, Dinesh plans to add a few heavy duty presses at his facility. Backed by a team of five workers and two designers, Dinesh has introduced a facility of ‘Gujarati typing’ and is the one and only printer offering this facility in Kota.

Mukesh Traders
–Small printer offering quality printing jobs

Mukesh TradersSpread in an area of 25 ft x 12 ft, Mukesh Traders offers multicolor printing jobs. Mukesh, the owner of this PSP, has been in the printing industry for more than 15 years. His facility includes offset printers from Sahil Graphics and one Hamada 770 CD for single color printing. Since he does not have a post press facility he outsources it to third party.

Packard Press
–Eyeing digital printing in near future

Arvind JainPackard Press has been operational since 1972. The company has two offset printers installed at the printing facility – one from Balaji Graphics and other from Fair print. Arvind Jain the owner of Packard press and the treasurer of the Hadoti Offset Printers’ Association, shares that since the beginning of the press, they have been catering to printing requirements of government banks and offices.

Currently, their team consists of five workers including designers who are usually hired on contract basis, whenever there is a need.

The firm is also facilitated with Pico Jet solvent series of wide format printer. Arvind shares that the election season is the best period for flexes and outdoor campaigns. Arvind also expressed his desire to pursue ‘digital printing’ in near future.

Vardhman Offset Printers
–Catering to book printing in Kota

Paras JainSolely concentrated to stationeries and book works, which includes registers, bill books printing, etc, Vardhman Offset Printers has been serving government colleges for last 10 to 12 years. Paras Jain, owner of the firm, is quite satisfied with his three single color offset printers and a team of 5-6 workers.

Sarwoday Printers
–Experience and creativity run hand in hand

MP and Naveen AmarwalAs the name goes with their working culture, Sarwoday printers sets an exemplary model of fresh ideas mixed with experience. Maharveer P Amarwal who has 30 years of experience in the printing industry, is ably assisted by his son Naveen Amarwal. Naveen has been responsible for diversification and innovations and has been instrumental in blending several creative and fresh ideas in their printing jobs. Their production facility has a single-colour offset printer and binding solutions.

Majorly concentrated to the single color printing jobs, MP Amarwal has SBBJ and other top notch educational institutes in his line of clientele which includes print jobs like billing forms, banks forms, single color pamphlet, and other loose single colored stationery items.

Diamond Printers
–Always striving for excellence!

Ashfak KhanAn active member of Hadoti Offset printers association, Diamond printers, was incepted in 1991 at the time of Indian globalization. Ashfak Khan started with a humble beginning with a letterpress. At present, the facility houses Dominant color and single color offset printing machines which are quite adept to meet the printing requirements of government and other clients.

Talking about the post production facility, Ashfak told that they have installed a paper cutting machine and lamination machine as well. Despite being an offset printer, Diamond printers has also diversified into flex printing with his newly installed Picojet at another facility. And in near future, there is a probable chance of adding Dominant and Konica Minolta bizhub press C6000 at their facility.

Being a member of the association, Ashfak finds it easy to get work from the market.