Tucked away in a cosy corner of beautifully developed Greater Noida in NCR is VD Signages Pvt Ltd, a signage major whose presence in the north Indian market is relatively young but robustly tapping business across the region. Remoteness doesn’t deter corporate players rushing to this company because it attracts clients by considerably offering the finest ever outputs. And, a visit to VD Signages would surely be impressed with greet from its well-designed colossal set up housing an unbeatable state-of-the-art ‘green’ production facility.

Quality and efficiency is the mainstay of business at VD Signages where ‘green’ finds its room to plunge the company into the eco-friendly trend developing all over the world. “We adopt green concept in our infrastructure to minimise adverse impacts on human health and its negative effects on environment,” says Pankaj Yadav of VD Signages. He further mentions that VD Signages has an objective to promote degradability, reusability and recyclability of materials. Environment-friendly UV portfolio of the company consists of Matan Barak 5, Matan Barak 3, NUR Tempo and others installed in its spaciously designed 35,000 sq ft colossal facility staffing around 40 professionals to churn out 2,00,000 sq ft of prints per day.

Leading corporate giants from sectors like telecommunication, automobile, white goods manufacturing, garment, etc form the company’s long list of clients. “We constantly go to tap new clients from other sectors,” tells Pankaj adding that the company’s next step incursion will be in the retail sector.

Over the years since its inception, VD Signages has been sharpening its professional attitude to extract maximum mileage for clients at minimum possible cost. Of course, tremendous growth achieved by the wide-format digital printing industry in north India over the last 3-4 years surprises many outdoor signage veterans and media pundits.

“Our single focus is to continually understand the customers’ needs and gradual value-addition in our infrastructure to address the clients’ requirements,” remarks Pankaj who believes in collective encapsulation of experience, reliability and real commitment to the quality.

Newest line of products and technologies from a multitude of 1,400 international and domestic exhibitors took the centre stage by casting an overall spell of attraction during the recent APPPEXPO 2010 (18th Shanghai International Ad & Sign Technology & Equipment Exhibition) held successfully from July 07-10 at Shanghai New International Expo Center, China. Among the other events held concurrently with the mega expo was China (Shanghai) International LED Industrial Technology Expo & LED Luminary and City Lighting Exhibition.

Exhibitors during the four-day APPPEXPO 2010 promoted their ideas, products and services to end-users and buyers with the establishment of new business relationship with them. In order to enhance the professional degree of the expo, the exhibition floor was reasonably and scientifically divided into different halls, categorically naming as international, printing and engraving, sign and printing materials, LED lighting, printing and packaging machinery, etc. The adjustment was designed with an attempt to provide more convenience and directions to the professional buyers.

There was a record of numerous overseas and local buyers and visitors attending the expo. Vigorous visitors’ traffic made the expo rather dynamic and most of them indicated that the fair this year is more professional than before. APPPEXPO crafted more of a splendid stage for the exhibitors in a way that it could impressively present machineries and materials to international buyers. Major overseas players whose innovative showcases enthralled visitors at the expo included Hewlett Packard (HP), 3M, Mimaki, Agfa Jeti, INX Digital, Spectra, Dimatix Fujifilm, Mutoh, Vutek, AT Inks, Epson, MacTac, etc.

APPPEXPO 2010 comparatively caught on a new stance this year, positioning better than the past editions. This exhibition nudged the Chinese signage industry to leap towards broader internationalisation, by letting the country surge to compete with global giant enterprises.

China (Shanghai) International LED Industrial Technology Expo & LED Luminary and City Lighting Exhibition showcasing current capacity of China’s lighting industry was executed under the theme of ‘building green lighting and low-carbon life’. Highlighting the responsibility of future saving and reduction of power consumption, the expo showcased a future vision of a whole chain of LED lights, display screen and the upstream LED chips manufactured in the country.

Every exhibitor’s expectation at the end of the explicated APPPEXPO bringing more excitement and progress in its 2011 edition was fulfilled.

Being one among the first players competent with direct print capabilities on glass, acrylic, polycarbonates, ACP, etc with a five-year warranty, Hyderabad-based Macromedia Digital Imaging Private Limited eventually happened to be the first ‘UVi Glass Printing Solution Provider’ in India. The company is equipped with a line of high-end printers like HP FB 6100 and HP FB 2750, mirroring a tremendous provision of innovative signage.

Tying up with UVi Glass Pte Ltd, a Malaysian company known widely for a range of decorative glass over the last 30 years, Macromedia Digital achieves an opportunity to innovatively utilise UVi glasses and other rigid materials to design unique interior graphics. UVi materials have developed special treatment/coating for glass where fastening of inks is much better and products are warranted for five years. “We have personally evaluated and tested the UVi products where results are quite satisfactory,” proclaims Ramakrishna P Musunur, director, Macromedia Digital.

“With its innovative and unique full-colour printing technology, UVi glass has an exciting platform for clarity with any image of the customer’s choice or imagination that allows freedom to express one’s individuality, personality and lifestyle at their offices, home surroundings or others,” says Ramakrishna.

UVi Glass tiles and panels are strong, durable and impervious to harmful substances. As such glass tiles can be substituted for ceramic and natural stone products, UVi products cannot be breached by any liquid so that they are ideal for places that get wet often such as kitchen and bathroom. UVi Glass tiles and panels can withstand normal fluctuations in temperature and humidity as it may be used even in heated areas like saunas and steam rooms.

Now that the presence of UVi products in India is only through Macromedia Digital, UVi Glass however plans to have two more UVi Glass Printer Solution Providers in the country.

And for Macromedia, its business with UVi Glass is going to be taking it to pan India level soon.

Doubtlessly, efficient machinery, skilled manpower and adequate working space to operate conveniently are three major prerequisites to ensure the long-run growth of overall output in the graphic art industry without compromising on quality and services. For those stake holders in the industry who are operating with small or medium size capital investment like most of the printers in India, it becomes rather important to think several times in this regard before taking any steps further so that very risk in business may be minimised.

In India, it is generally observed that many printers keep on investing in high-end machines to boost their business without estimating the actual potentials. Resultantly, despite having been poured huge resources on these machines, they are sometime not able to utilise full capacity in the lack of adequate workflow; even many printers keep their machines idle when they don’t have sufficient jobs to execute at manageable prices. Ultimately, to gain return on investment (ROI) becomes difficult in the due time tending problems in repaying installments as machines are mostly acquired through financing. While installing high-end machines, printers also presume that they would be able to cater overseas customers with such initiative but it is not quite feasible to achieve export business overnight in a big way. 

In this scenario, the printers who are pondering over procuring high-end machines should essentially endeavour to firstly explore the market for ensuring smooth workflow to utilise the machine at optimum level as new investment strategies remain ineffective without availability of jobs. However, it could perhaps be safer if they can initially install entry level machines to meet their emerging requirements which would not only help them in creating effective clientele but also enable to take the risk of huge capital investment at a later date more confidently.

For better performance, skilled manpower and adequate space to operate efficient machineries are also equally important. The overall output with quality standard is of higher level at those printing facilities where staff is intensively trained in different activities of business and enough space for operating various production processes is available with scientifically arranged equipments. So, it would be rather beneficial for printers if they also invest on manpower and have individuals of high caliber for taking responsibilities of marketing, HR and production.

Taking expansion initiatives in such a balanced way would not only increase their production efficiency and facilitate handling lot of jobs at a time from those valued customers who are not just much quality-conscious, but also result prompt ROI making every investment worthwhile to go ahead winningly!

JJust over a year since opening a new manufacturing plant in Delhi, MGE Graphic Systems India, the designer and manufacturer of ancillary cooling and filtration equipment for the graphic arts industry has received accreditation to the internationally recognised quality management system standard, ISO 9001: 2008. The award covers MGE India’s full range of services including design and underlines MGE India’s commitment to offering high quality services at competitive prices both in the Indian and global markets.

“It has been a great experience for the MGE team to acquire this accolade at our very first attempt. In working for this award, we have analysed and assessed every aspect of MGE’s operations, involving all of our employees and a selection of our customers. And this has resulted in the implementation of an efficient and dynamic system capable of offering the high levels of service that our customers quite rightly expect,” commented Satish Chandna, managing director of MGE India.

Taking advantage of the prepress automation trend in Asia, NELA has sold several fully automated punchbending systems in the region during the past six months. Newspapers in India, China, Thailand and Malaysia have purchased a total of 12 NELA inline punchbenders in combination with extensive plate sortation systems. Notably, in the past ten years, NELA has sold more than 200 benders in Asia.

One of the leading newspaper groups in India, Dainik Jagran Prakashan Private Limited, with more than 55 million daily readers has chosen five additional NELA Vision inline punchbenders to operate in five different printing facilities throughout India. Dainik Jagran has recently purchased additional printing presses to increase capacity and uses NELA equipment to further modernize their prepress operations. Including these newest investments, they now have a total of 23 NELA plate lines.

Nanfang Daily in Guangdong, China, bought three fully-automated NELA Vision PunchBenders Flexx model which are capable of vision registration handling up to 300 plates per hour (each). Additionally the ‘Flexx’ model can punch and bend plates for three different printing presses with different bend radii and bend angles. The bender detects different plates automatically and then applies the correct bend and punch configuration.

Thailand’s largest newspaper The Thairath Daily in Bangkok purchased two additional NELA Vision punchbenders (VCP) in combination with an extensive plate sortation system. Thairath now has two redundant plate production lines with a total of four VCP. The sortation capacity has been extended to a total of 12 stacking bins and the two production lines are connected with a 100-feet back-up conveying systems. Additionally, all NELA punchbenders are equipped with the NELA Quality Management System PQM+. Kwong Wah (Malaysia) also installed two NELA inline punchbender earlier this year.

As part of a progressive expansion plan, People’s Daily of Beijing, the most influential and authoritative newspapers in China with current circulation of three million copies has ordered a two-around Goss Universal press from Goss International. With six four-high towers and a speed of 75,000 copies per hour, the new press will provide extra capacity to handle a rapid growth in People’s Daily’s subsidiary titles, the Global Times and International Financial Daily. A brand new printing facility is also being planned to accommodate more new presses in the future.

The new Goss Universal press will replace a Goss Metroliner installed in the early 1980s. The new press combination provides a range of webbing options, with full colour on every page for 24-page broadsheet or 48-page tabloid products. The two folders allow the full capacity of the press to be applied to a single product or to be split to deliver two products simultaneously. Fast make ready and automated job-change features will allow for efficient switching from one newspaper title to another.

Headquartered in Beijing, People’s Daily was the first newspaper publisher to buy Goss brand presses in China in the 1980s. Since its inception in 1948, the company has expanded through satellite printing centers to serve the many regions of China with localized editions of People’s Daily and other titles. Many of these sites are running Goss presses, including single-width Community SSC and Magnum 4 presses. Within the full portfolio of titles published by People’s Daily, are key newspaper titles including East China News, South China News, Market Daily, International Financial Daily, Jiangnan Times, Global Times, Securities Times, Health Times, Satire and Humor and six monthly magazines including The Earth, News Front, Listed Companies, Auto Club, Times Trend and People Forum.

- India shows its foot print in four different categories receiving nine awards
- Asian Digital Media Awards launched Aiming to promote the highest publishing standards in Asia and the Middle-East, WAN-IFRA, the world association of newspapers and news publishers, presented the winners of the 9th Asia Media Awards during Publish Asia 2010 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The number of entries competing this year for the Asia Media Awards and the outstanding quality of some winning entries demonstrated that the vibrant Asian newspaper industry is eager to achieve publishing excellence in the fields of print quality, design, infographics and photography. During the event the launch of Asian Digital Media Awards was also announced.

India showed its footprint in four different categories in 9th Asia Media Awards 2010 results, the winners included: in the category ‘Best in Print Award’ (circulation between 151,000 – 499,000 copies), Mint of HT Media Limited -Gold Award; today of Mediacorp Press Ltd, Silver and Hindustan of HT Media Limited, - Bronze Award; while in the circulation having above 500,000 copies category The Times Of India of Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd received Bronze Award.

In ‘Best in Design Award’ (Magazine Overall Design) category, India Today of Living Media India Ltd got Bronze Award, while (Magazine Cover Design) The Week of Malayala Manorama Co Ltd received Gold Award, and Business Today of Apex Press and Publishing received Silver. In ‘Best in Special Coverage Award’ (Magazine Special Issue), The Week from Malayala Manorama Co Ltd received Gold Award. In ‘Best in Photojournalism Award’ (Sports Photography), the photographer Trevor Tan associated with Mediacorp Press Ltd received Bronze Award.

During the launch of the World Press Trends 2010 at the opening of Publish Asia 2010, Christoph Riess, CEO of WAN-IFRA, announced that the Asian newspaper industry continues to enjoy significant growth. While circulation increased by one percent in 2009 and more than 13 percent over five years, the number of daily titles in Asia rose by 2.7 percent in the past year.

Asian Digital Media Awards

The launch of Asian Digital Media Awards was also announced during the show. This new WAN-IFRA competition, fully focused on digital media, will feature former Asia Media Awards categories introduced in recent years, such as Best in Online Media or Best in Cross Media, as well as new categories such as Mobile Media, Online Content, eReader/Tablet and Social Media. The call for entries will close on September 30. The Asian Digital Media Awards ceremony will take place in conjunction with the Digital Media Asia 2010 conference on November 24, in Singapore.

-underscores new slogan ‘Opening up the future together with our customers’ -establishes a new company ‘Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery Ltd’ Making another initiative to better serve printing and packaging industry, Mitsubishi established a new company, namely Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery Ltd effective from July 01 this year. The new company takes over all operations of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Paper & Printing Machinery Division and also integrates the operations of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Paper Converting Machinery Sales Co Ltd, which used to handle sales and after-sales services within Japan’s domestic market.

“We are committed to satisfying our valued customers’ expectations through products and technology offerings that advance their business growth; maintaining product delivery dates and schedules; ensuring machine performance, quality and reliability; and providing prompt and attentive sales and after-sales services. By enhancing the strength of our collective abilities, we will constantly strive to realize their hopes and dreams and as our new slogan underscores, look forward to ‘Opening up the future together with our customers’,” commented Ken Watabe, president, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery Ltd.

To make the Printpack India 2011 (to be held from January 16-21 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi) rather effective and comprehensive in response, the organisers (ITPO and IPAMA) of the show continue arranging promotional campaign across the country, under which the recent promotional meets were held in Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Chennai for spurring prospective participants from the region. The printing and packaging industry has a great deal of growth potential, but realizing that potential is not an easy task. So, increasing awareness is vital and there has to be more interaction within the fraternity. Organising Printpack India 2011 promotional meets in various parts of the country are opening up doors for printers and printing machinery manufacturers to come together for mutual benefits. IPAMA is emboldened by the overwhelming demand for space at the upcoming event, evidently highlighting the renewed optimism in the print, packaging, converting and signage industry. The total area booked by 111 exhibitors till August 26, 2010 has reached up to around 8000 sq m. Manufacturers desire to exhibit new innovations which are of international standards and cost-effective; while the West is looking for Indian manufacturers to collaborate or have joint manufacturing facilities in India besides outsourcing. Stalls at Printpack India 2011 will provide visitors with an exciting mix of product development and market intelligence through cutting edge technology.

At a glittering promotional meet in Ahmedabad on July 03 amongst galaxy of printing, packaging and allied machinery manufacturers of Gujarat, IPAMA president NS Manku stated that the exhibitions of Printpack India level allow for international technology adoption, thereby develop the business and outlook. He stressed that manufacturers from Gujarat are of no less importance when Gujarat is emerging as one of the fastest developing states. Encouraging the manufacturers for participating in the upcoming Printpack India show in a big way, Manku also made a call to them for being a member of Indian Printing, Packaging and Allied Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (IPAMA) which promotes small and big machinery manufacturers by enhancing their activities at par with international standard, and needs to be stronger. He also emphasized on providing full data of all activities encompassed with a view to make sound database of the industry.

IPAMA general secretary Satish Bajwa briefed the eminent attendees with a PowerPoint presentation of statistical charts depicting comparison of strength of exhibitors and visitors event wise and expected turnout in Printpack 2011 exhibition. He also highlighted segment wise percentage figures of sales and exports. Particularly, he stressed upon the fact that against many odd, our industry is growing fast and it is no where less than any other country. “If we can get proper boost and recognition, we can surpass all,” said Bajwa. He also informed that a new building of IPAMA is under final touches and there is also a proposal to encourage training programmes for the benefit of manufacturers as well as printing fraternity.

IPAMA joint secretary Manish Panchal and treasurer TR Mahajan also graced the occasion and presented vote of thanks.

The Ahmedabad promotional meet was followed by Mumbai promotional meet on July 05, attended by dedicated IPAMA members and well wishers. Despite the inclement monsoon weather and a Bandh organised by the opposition political parties, the meet went on as per schedule. On the occasion, BR Sagar, deputy general manager (regional), ITPO shared the activities of ITPO and the role of the regional offices in extending the necessary support for ensuring the success of the events organised by ITPO.

IPAMA president NS Manku gave details about the growth of Printpack India and IPAMA – how both have contributed to the growth of domestic graphic arts machine manufacturing. He further added that the forthcoming event is not only beneficial to exhibitors and buyers but simultaneously to the growth of the industry. Talking about the upgraded facilities during the Printpack India 2011 exhibition, Satish Bajwa also presented an extensive profile of Printpack India 2011 and mentioned the latest innovations in each segment of printing, packaging, converting and signage.

Bankim Mistry, IPAMA member, gave very important information about the roles of MSME & NSIC in the development of micro & small industries/entrepreneurs. The welcome address was given by JS Doshi, vice president (West), IPAMA, while IPAMA’s treasurer TR Mahajan proposed the vote of thanks.

The promotional meet in Chennai on July 09 was very well attended by the president of AIFMP Chander together with prominent printing fraternity and IPAMA members from all over South India as it was coincided with a local exhibition of printing/packaging where few IPAMA members were participating. Here NS Manku emphasised, “Printpack India has already made its impact on the graphic arts industry scene of India and Asia, but we have to bring this exhibition to international level. IPAMA in association with ITPO are going to offer all international facilities to participants and visitors both besides organizing technical seminars and conferences creating a right forum for joint ventures and technology transfer, etc.” He was very specific that early booking of the space will give participants a right choice of location. V Narayan, manager, ITPO assured all facilities and services during the event.

KS Khurana, IPMA vice president (East), compered the meet by giving introduction of the exhibition, while the welcome address was given by CN Ashok, vice president (South). Satish Bajwa general secretary also informed the gathering with lot of facts and figures on the exhibition. NA Bhojaraj, joint secretary (South) proposed a vote of thanks.