LABELEXPO India 2012: interesting and fruitful

-concludes on a happy note for all, brisking up business

With participation of over 200 exhibitors covering around 14,000 sq m of gross exhibition area, Labelexpo India 2012 was buoyed by visitors. The four-day show concluded on November 01, 2012 with a happy note for all, brisking up their business. Showcasing their latest developments in technologies and materials, launching new products and giving live demonstrations to visitors during the show, the exhibitors were happy with the response of their offerings. A good number of orders were received by most of the exhibitors, apart from generating quality leads from the prospects. The overwhelming response at the show indicates that packaging and label industry in India is growing exponentially. A report by Ajeet Singh from Print & Publishing. Held during Oct 29-Nov 01 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, spanning over 14,000 sq m of gross area, the sixth edition of the show attracted 8,049 visitors increasing by 33 percent than that of the previous edition (6,054 visitors). Up from over 150 exhibitors in the last edition of the show in the year 2010, this year there were 200 local and international exhibitors including 49 first time participants. Again playing host to the LMAI Avery Dennison Label Awards, Labelexpo India was also supported by the Label Manufacturers Association of India (LMAI), All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP), Hologram Manufacturers Association of India (HOMAI) and Delhi Printers’ Association (DPA).

There had also been a huge increase in international exhibitors, among these around seventy exhibitors came from China, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States, etc. Obviously, the largest number of overseas exhibitors was from China. “The Indian label industry has made substantial advances in adopting new technology and investing in innovation, training and sustainable growth. With label and package printing converters spending wisely on top quality machines, materials and ancillaries, the future of India’s label industry is undeniably strong with so many opportunities to benefit from. With new prospects emerging for label and packaging printers as the retail sector opening up through FDI and a growing interest in digital technologies, we look forward to returning in 2014 to see much more to this exciting market place,” said Jade Grace, event director, Labelexpo India in conversation with P&P. The show organizers reported that 53 percent of exhibitors have already confirmed their participation for the next edition of the show.

Thrilled participants…

Apsom Infotex, the partner of Roland DG Corporation of Hamamatsu (Japan), introduced, VersaUV LEJ-640, a UV LED printer for sample makers, apart from showcasing CAMM-1 Pro GX-300, and VersaCAMM VS-300 print & cut system. As per Alok Seth of the company, “Our new UV system which provides exceptional printing and embossing effects on both roll media and rigid substrates was one of the star attractions at our stand.”

One of the leaders in labeling and packaging materials and solutions, Avery Dennison India was thrilled with the response. As per Kapil Anand, marketing manager of the company, “It was a very good show, generating lot of leads.”

Offering the most comprehensive range of finishing solutions covering the entire spectrum of printing, packaging, digital, mailing and addressing fields Capital Graphic Supplies / AS Print Aids Pvt Ltd was promoting the products of their Denmark-based principal TRESU – the world leaders in coating technology specially chamber doctor blade systems for offset, flexo & gravure fields. As per Arun Gandhi of Capital Graphic Supplies, “Overall, we are happy with the response at the show.” Henrik Kristensen, sales director of TRESU group was also present during the show to interact with the visitors and expressed his happiness with the response.

Edale exhibited alongwith their Indian representative Printers Supply Co. As per Chris Chappel, sales engineer, Edale, “Visits to the Edale stand exceeded prior expectations; the level of enquiries were up by 37 percent compared to the last edition of the show. There was particular interest in Edale’s core products; the FL-3 printing press for labels and flexible packaging, the Gamma printing and converting system for single pass telecom recharge production and the Gamma and FDC-510, flatbed die cutter, for inline short run folding carton production.” Amithabh Luthra of Printers Supply Co added, “The Edale & Printers Supply association is a strong partnership in India and we hope to reap the reward of the show in due course.” Esko Graphics India introduced their Suite 12 print production and management software. As per Piyush Mehta, market development director Asia Pacific and Japan, “We received strong leads.”

Demonstrating their digital SurePress – L4033AW Epson India was present for the first time at Labelexpo India 2012, “The high point for us was the sale of our first SurePress – L 4033AW to Sai Packaging for its Bengaluru unit. Making our first sale to one of the most respected pioneers, who are considered the benchmark for quality in the packaging industry, was extremely gratifying for us. Labelexpo India helped us to introduce the future of label printing to the industry with the requisite impact,” commented Ram Prasad SM, deputy general manager, Epson India Pvt Ltd. Offering wide range of ‘Uvivid’ branded UV flexo inks for narrow web label industry Fujifilm Sericol India showcase including Supernova white, high opacity colours, shrink sleeve white, flexo, rotary screen & flat screen inks, varnishes & adhesives, cleaning products and additives.

As per Samir Patkar of Gallus, “The quality of the show is getting better every edition. The show gave Gallus a good platform to reinforce our commitment to the Indian markets especially with our newly formed Gallus India team. Yes, we did finalize a few orders and have a challenging task ahead of us to follow up on new projects.”

Sandeep Nahata, marketing director, Khushboo Scientific Pvt Ltd said, “Enough leads were generated through visitors from different industries like label, sticker, graphic printing, etc. We hope to receive worthy response and do good business. For Kodak India, the show provided a very good footprint, serious enquiries and order closure with a pretty good ROI. As per Abraham S Prabhakar, Kodak India,” Relevant and key packaging customers were targeted and invited, and this made a huge difference to the trade show’s performance.”

“Being a label printer, we couldn’t imagine making a machine ourselves, but the response at the show encouraged us. Our hassle free technologies NB-330 Intermittent (semi-rotary) die-cutting machine was center of attention at the show,” commented Anuj Bhargava, CEO, Kumar Labels, who participated for the very first time at Labelexpo India as an exhibitor.

Maxcess India also participated for the first time with their new web guiding system FIFE 500. According to Nilesh Mehta, director of the company, “We have enquiries directly from end users, instead of OEM. Quality and services are main attractions regardless of price.”

Monotech Systems Limited demonstrated its own JETSCI Y UV (High Speed UV inkjet printing press), high quality variable QR Codes, barcodes, numbering, text and many other applications. JETSCI Y Series prints variable data information at high quality and speeds with lowest operating costs which makes it the most affordable inkjet printing solution. During the show, another two models were also introduced in same series as JETSCI YAQ (high speed aqueous inkjet) and JETSCI YMCR (Cheque personalisation and MICR printing). “We participated for the first time at Labelexpo India 2012 and overall it has been very successful launch of the JETSCI Y UV,” said TP Jain, MD, Monotech Systems.

Promoting the VSOP web offset press, with stepless, variable size offset printing and its applications, Muller Martini (India) was present with their technical experts from press division factory in Germany for technical discussions related to VSOP technology and package printing applications. There are many benefits of electron-beam hardening (EB drying) for package printing, especially well suited to foodstuff packaging, since the ink film is immediately hardened all the way through. The result is a high-quality, low-odor and low-migration print product, manufactured under reliable production conditions, without the use of photo initiators or the emission of pollutants. As per Gaurav Bandlish of the company, “The show was OK for us to explore the market. However, real decision-makers from major printing establishments were almost missing.”

As per Jakob Landberg, sales & marketing director, Nilpeter, “The many visitors at the Nilpeter stall were impressed with the locally built 10-colour FB-3300S press. The FB-3300S is recognized in the industry as a robust workhorse designed to produce labels of superior quality. Nilpeter experienced excellent business with the sale of two machines.” Nuova GIDUE could also sell two presses at the show, with further dozens of really interested leads to follow.

As per Ajay Mehta of SMI Coated Products Pvt Ltd, “The show is improving every time and it was bigger, better and very well organized. Our friends from the Industry were clear in their requirements and confident in the discussions. With the clearance of FDI in retail segment by the Indian Government, the industry’s future is indeed very bright and Labelexpo has been a key motivator towards the growth of this sector.”

Rajesh Gandhi, AGM (marketing), Uflex Ltd (Flexo/Cylinder Division) termed it as a ‘focused and well organized show’. “We are happy receiving lot of decent prospects.” As per Nicolai Bisgaard, sales manager, Vetaphone, “We received a great response for the launch of the Technology Bar with Weldon Celloplast. We closed several orders for new equipment and received a lot of interesting leads.”

“We launched our new generation flexo printing machine Flexomaster S340. The business generated was really good and we would be looking forward for the next show,” conveyed Kishore Kumar PS, manager marketing, WEBTECH Engineering (P) Ltd. As per Filip Weymans, Xeikon, “Recent developments in the Indian market will accelerate the domestic growth and that inspired people to attend the show. We saw great interest in flexo plate making ThermoFlexX equipment and digital printing, Xeikon 3000 Series.”

Besides, some of other innovative companies such as ACT (Advanced Card Technologies), Bodhi Professional Solutions, Colour Dot (Madras) Pvt Ltd, Holoflex, Holostik India, Innovative Flexotech, IST Metz, Label Planet, Malhotra Graphics, Precise Graphic India, Primera Asia Pacific, Spinks India, Standard Printers Providers, Tesa Tapes (India), UPM Raflatac, UV Graphic Technologies, Yupo Corporation, were also the center of attraction exhibiting their products at the show.

Epson celebrates the sale of first SurePress L-4033AW to sai packaging

It’s never been easier to go digital — Epson’s new SurePress L-4033A is a short-run digital label press offered with pre-and post-press options that can be tailored to meet various needs and budgets. “The Epson digital label press capitalizes on Epson’s acclaimed MicroPiezo inkjet technology to create output with smooth gradations and incredible colour quality. Its six-colour (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Orange and Green), industrial-quality, water-based ink set produces a remarkable range of colours for impressive, professional and consistent results,” told SM Ramprasad, deputy general manager – CPG, Epson India Pvt Ltd.

“ The press is suitable for short-run quality labels. Besides, the six colours, the press also gives the option of white ink,” told Ramprasad. At Labelexpo 2012, Epson announced the sale of first SurePress L-4033AW to Sai Packaging, Bangalore.

Elaborating more about the Epson’s foray into this segment, Ramprasad briefed, “Our large format printers have been widely used for proofing in label production. It’s time we can offer a solution for printing the labels on our machines and SurePress does the needful. It is a compact, clean and environment-friendly machine with low power consumption. With this, we wish to complement the conventional press. The machine can be used very efficiently for short-run jobs, test marketing, proofing, etc.

On asking about the target installations Epson has in mind for such machines in India, Ramprasad replied, “We are not looking for numbers; rather looking for quality installations. We wish to bring confidence towards digital printing amongst convertors in a big way.”
LMAI Avery Dennison Label Awards

Label Manufacturers Association of India (LMAI), along with the support of Labelexpo presented the LMAI Avery Dennison Awards 2012 on October 31 in New Delhi during the show, honouring the leaders in the Indian label printing and converting industry, witnessing around 500 printers, suppliers and brand owners. Once again, 27 awards split into nine categories were presented at the gala dinner ceremony. There were 14 printers who won the awards which further entitle them to participate in World Label Awards. The offset category of awards was sponsored by Vinsak in association with Rotatek.
‘Kodak now focus on the commercial imaging segment’

says Nikumb Bhalchandra, head-sales & channel management, India Cluster, Graphic Communications Group, Kodak India Pvt Ltd.

Despite the financial issues under bankruptcy (Januay 2012), at Kodak India, we have been very transparent and as of now focusing on growth in the commercial imaging segment, the term we coined recently. This segment refers to the pre-press solution for commercial, newspapers, offset and flexo packaging. Kodak is also supplying consumables for all these segments. Despite competition from renowned players, we have strong market share in the commercial, newspaper and offset segments,” said Nikumb Bhalchandra on the sidelines of recently concluded Labelexpo in New Delhi. Talking about the various business verticals, he added, “In the digital printing space, there is not much traction in the electro-photocopy segment but there is traction in the NexPress installations and we hope that by the end of this year, our installation base would cross 20.”

The NexPress digital press is particularly aimed at two segments – commercial (offset printing houses diversifying into digital printing) and photographers. “The return on investment cannot be determined by the number of prints produced per month on the machine since it is an application based activity. Few of our customers are just printing 40,000-50,000 prints per month and still making good profits. While, few customers are printing upto seven lakh A3 size prints per month and are now hoping to achieve 10 lakh prints per month,” Nikumb added, informing, “Another customer in Hyderabad is utilizing the machine for printing Aadhaar cards to the tune of 10 lakh prints per month on two machines. He is now poised to install a third machine soon.” Talking about the photography segment, Nikumb informed that in the wedding season, entrepreneurs with NexPress machine print almost 100 photo-albums per day. “That’s where the machine’s true worth is seen, capable of meeting the production requirements,” he added.

Coming to the inkjet segment, Nikumb updated that the first Kodak Prosper 1000 web press is installed at Repro India, Mumbai for printing of books. “We believe the customer has learnt the whole process from offset to digital and from sheet-fed to web. Prosper web press would help us grow in the book publishing segment significantly,” he added. “Another aspect worth-mentioning is that generally, the workflows used for digital and offset printing are different, but Kodak offers the advantage of using the same software helping both processes,” proudly added Nikumb.

With a team of a dedicated workforce, Kodak India is growing steadily. “It is more of a passion and bonding with Kodak for each one of them as a brand, which keeps all of us going. Besides, the confidence that our channel partners and end customers have shown in the ‘brand’ is overwhelming,” he said. “We generally play in the premier segment; we try to position the product and explain value proposition to the customers so that the product is well accepted in terms of its pricing equally well. The customers are happy and feel pride with the brand and the value we give and that’s what keeps us going,” concluded Nikumb.
Star attractions: the unveiling of over 20 new presses and live demos

A significant platform for new product launches, Labelexpo India 2012 saw the unveiling of over 20 new presses. Demonstrated live at the concerned jam-packed stands, the packaging and label machines, including Mark Andy Performnce series P5, Multitec Ecoflex VSi narrow web flexo press, Nuova GIDUE Combat M1 press for self-adhesive labels, Gallus ECS 340 press, OMET Xflex X4, Xeikon 3050 digital press, Nilpeter FB 3300 press, JETSCI-YNV high speed UV inkjet printing system from Monotech Inkjet Systems, VINSAK VIS 1200 Inkjet System, etc, were the star attractions at the event. Business was brisk across the show’s four days with many exhibitors reporting on-site sales including Nilpeter and Mark Andy each selling two machines and Epson also reported sale of first SurePress – L 4033AW.
Creed Engineers marks a successful LabelEXPO 2012

Displaying a variety of labeling solutions, pre-press and brand protection solutions under its brand VINSAK along with few of their partners include AB Graphic, Petrel, Rotatek, Lombardi, and EPGA, Creed Engineers marked it a successful show.

The company demonstrated live it’s much popular and advanced technology VINSAK VIS 1200 Inkjet System, which can print on a wide variety of different substrates and has a fully automated head mounting and cleaning station. The VIS 1200 Inkjet System was running with Omega HSR 330 inspection system from AB Graphic, UK. As per Ranesh Bajaj, managing director, Creed Engineers, “Label printers are looking forward to value addition and we believe that VIS 1200 should perform very well in the Indian and overseas markets. In this expo, we have shown a live demonstration of this machine that has helped us in getting more than 50 serious enquiries on the second and third day of the show. We already have installed a VIS 1200 Inkjet System in Hyderabad and hoping to install few more within the country this year.”

Besides under VINSAK brand protection solutions security inks, software, substrates, as well as track and trace solutions were displayed at the show. France-based Petrel supplies the security inks to Creed Engineers. According to Neeraj Sharma, general manager – machine sales, “Protection of the brand has been very important and is a big challenge now-a-days because of speedy growth of gray market, which is hurting the brand owner and causing loss in revenue as well as market share. Pharmaceutical, FMCG, and electronics industries have been the biggest sufferers. Our innovative suite of security software, security and special purpose inks, special purpose hot stamping dies, and printing equipment positioned the company to offer a complete solution to any brand owner to protect them against counterfeiting.”

Creed Engineers also displayed a printing unit of Synchroline Flexo Press, which is manufactured by Lombardi Converting Machinery, Italy. The unit is equipped with printing groups governed singularly by brushless motors and the electric board with a system register control governs the setting and maintenance of the printing register of the whole press.

Hot stamping die making from EPGA and sleeve engraving solutions from Lead Laser, were also on display. The solutions designed by EPGA involve personalizing the die itself. This makes the process more adaptable and quicker to produce because printers can use the existing film. These tools can be personalized by creating a physical effect, a lens flare effect, or a holographic effect. These solutions are far cheaper than actual holograms and can be used for security as well as decorative purposes. Sheet counting machine from Vacuumatic, UK was also demonstrated live during the show.