PAMEX 2024 records massive turnout and onsite sales

We saw this coming,” says Anil Arora, President, Print-Packaging.com Private Limited. “The large number of visitors registering online, days ahead of the show had already portended a highly successful event,” he continued exuding confidence.

The statistics…

PAMEX, India’s most valuable printing exhibition, was held from February 6-9, 2024 at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The show featured more than 500 exhibitors that included the seasoned players as well as the newbies exploring opportunities in the print, label, flexible packaging, corrugation, textile printing and signage industry.

Drawing in a diverse crowd from all across India and neighbouring countries, the event recorded a footfall of more than 38,000 visitors. “The exhibition shaped up in a marvellous way with many new technologies on display. The exhibitors and visitors were found busy interacting all throughout the show. We witnessed a mini drupa here!” exclaimed Tushar Dhote, Chairman, PAMEX- AIFMP.

The inauguration…

The opening event kicked off with the lighting of the lamp. The dignitaries at the inaugural included N. Dutta Baruah, President, All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP); Umesh Neema, Hon. General Secretary, AIFMP; Anil Kariyawasam, Sri Lanka Association of Printers (SLAP); Manoj Mehta, Chairman GPEA Awards and President FAGPA; Raveendra Joshi, Past President AIFMP and President WPCF; Anil Arora, President, Print-Packaging.com Private Limited; Tushar Dhote, Chairman, Pamex 2024, AIFMP; Prakash Canser, Vice-President (West), AIFMP; Amit Shah, President, BMPA; Sanjay Patel, BMPA; Jaiveer Singh, President, IPAMA; Dilip Bhise, President, SPAI; Ravindra Reddy, AIFMP; Rahul Kulkarni – Co Chairman NAEP; Saubhagya Sakseria; Virendra Malik, Past President, AIFMP; and Shashi Sharma, Past President, AIFMP.

“We have developed an amazing exhibition in a very little time, considering last PAMEX was held only eleven months ago. The show has met the expectations of the exhibitors as well as the visitors and we hope that the industry can find something new and something ground-breaking at the show,” said a visibly elated N. Dutta Baruah, President, AIFMP.

FUJIFILM India launches five multifunction printers in India

FUJIFILM India has launched five new models of A3 colour (Apeos C3570 / C4570 / C5570) and monochrome (Apeos 4570 / 5570) multifunction printers at PAMEX 2024 in Mumbai. These five multifunction printers under the “Apeos series” focus on addressing diverse printing requirements with their high speed and excellent print output capabilities. They fulfil various customer printing requirements such as the paper size of SRA3, the paper weight of 52-300 gsm and banner printing of up to 320 x 1200mm. Furthermore, to support remote work styles in the large enterprises and corporates, the products allow seamless integration promoting cloud connectivity and operational efficiency regardless of time and location. Users can print from anywhere with Universal Print, the Microsoft cloud-based printing solution, eliminating print servers and the need to install printer drivers.

“After the initial launch of the Apeos printers on 27 September 2023, the Office Printer business of FUJIFILM India has further cemented its position as a leading partner providing value to a wide range of customers,” said Koji Wada, Managing Director, FUJIFILM India. “By adding new multifunction printers from the Apeos series to our office printer product portfolio allows our customers to have more choices to meet their different needs. India is very adaptable and fast in adopting new technologies to gain growth and as the key partner to our customers, we want to help them to be at the forefront of their industry by providing new products and solutions quickly.”

“With the robust network of sales and service partners developed across the country, we are extremely excited, confident and committed to provide an enhanced experience to our customers,” said Priyatosh Kumar, Associate Director & Head, Graphic Communications & Device Technology Business, FUJIFILM India. “These versatile products can provide excellent value to various industries such as corporates, enterprise companies, and jobbers. Customers who are looking for cost effective, yet well-balanced printer equipped with top-notch security capabilities will definitely benefit from increased work productivity and efficiency, and high quality vivid printouts.”

The experience…

Now when the industry is returning to fundamentals of getting the touch and feel of the machines, PAMEX was the biggest showcase of LIVE running technologies. “On the very first day of the event we closed deal for seven machines and in total sold 21 machines at the Show. PAMEX is improving and growing continuously over the years and we have been a part of this progress, ” said Stanley Decastro, Asst. General Manager, Komori India Private Limited.

“Our first experience at PAMEX has been delightful and we are thrilled to have been a part of the show. We showcased our 8 Colors Flexo Rotary Flexo Label Press and the newly launched Thermal Roll Slitting Rewinding Machine with Online 2 ColorsFlexo Printing. Excitingly, we booked eight orders for Thermal Slitter and three orders for our Flexo Label Presses during the expo. The response has been overwhelming, with more than 100 promising prospects. We anticipate closing a minimum of ten more orders within the next 15-20 days. A big thumbs up to team PAMEX for making this exhibition a success for us,” shared the first-time exhibitor Shivnandan Singh, Director, Webtech International Machineries.

Innovation Pavilion…

Innovation Pavilion was one of the new additions and special highlight of the show. It was a showcase of futuristic technologies, aligned with informative discussions around the emerging trends in the printing industry. The speakers who shared their insight on future of printing included Tushar Dhote, Chairman, PAMEX-AIFMP, Immediate Past President, Mumbai Mudrak Sangh; Venkat Janardanan, General Manager, Redington Limited; Vikash Marodia, Director -Solution And Business Development, Intellibuddies Software; Dharam Mentor, Seasoned Brand Strategist And Designer, Design Horse LLP; Dr. Ashutosh Tripathi, R&D Group Leader, National Centre For Flexible Electronics, IIT Kanpur; Prof. (Dr.) Anjan Kumar Baral, Chairman, MSD6, BIS, India, Guru Jambheshwar University Of Science & Technology; Shailesh Deshpande, Managing Director, IDMS Infotech Private Limited; Rekha Shah, Founder & Business Head, Design Horse LLP; Ashish Anand, Technical Director, Linksmart; Hemanshu Desai, Managing Director, Venus Infotech; Prasanta Sarkar, General Manager, Technical, Hubergroup India; Ranesh Bajaj, Co-Founder And Director, Vinsak India Private Limited; Niyazuddin S, Senior Manager Sales & Marketing, Epson India; Prashant Atre, Managing Director, Toyo Ink Arets India Private Limited and Ashish V Urewar, Scientist-C/Deputy Director, Bureau Of Indian Standards.

“PAMEX is one of the best shows in the country. It is the best place to get exposure of the new technologies in the industry,” said Abhay Dutta, Director, UV Graphic Technologies Private Limited.

While, Tony Miller, Executive Officer- Global Sales & Marketing Division, Roland DG Corporation, Japan, who visited India for the first time, expressed his excitement about his maiden visit, popularity of Roland in the vibrant Indian market and all excitement at the stall of Apsom Infotex in PAMEX 2024. “Ever since I joined the Roland DG Headquarters in 2004, I heard about the vibrancy of the Indian market,” shared Tony. He continued, “However, it is quite interesting to see India first hand through our partner Apsom Infotex here.”

Konica Minolta unveiled transformative print solutions

At PAMEX, Konica Minolta showcased an extensive lineup of innovative print solutions, including their revolutionary AccurioPress C12000, equipped with inbuilt automated print technologies and IQ 501, delivers unparalleled productivity and consistent print quality. Boasting Perfect Image and durable performance, this print engine ensures efficiency with automated engine linearization, duplex registration, profiling, real-time adjustments.

The company also showcased AccurioLabel 400, AccurioShine 3600 with iFoil, AccurioPress C7100, AccurioPress C4080, AccurioPress C4065, AccurioPrint 6136, DPR SCORPIO SCR35PL Digital Label FinishersndAccurio Shine 101.

Commenting on the exhibition, Katsuhisa Asari, Managing Director, Konica Minolta Business Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Beyond showcasing our advanced print solutions, PAMEX 2024 presented a unique opportunity to forge collaborations with key industry players. We look forward to converting the partnerships that align with our vision of democratizing cutting-edge print technology. Our goal is to extend the reach of our innovative solutions to small and medium businesses, empowering them with the tools they need to compete effectively. PAMEX 2024 served as a crucial platform for knowledge sharing and industry engagement, allowing us to directly connect with businesses and understand their specific needs.”

Major sales…

More than 200 machines were sold during the four days of the exhibition!

Few sales, as reported, are listed below:

Alpana Visual Packaging Aids sold its Rhino DexaTwindeck Coater to MP based Atharva Packaging.

Ample Graphics sold three of its newly launched Automatic High-speed Dry Lamination Machine with Hot Knife.

New Delhi-based Avantika, which is recognised for using a line of highend machines and engaged in wholesome high-end digital printing, has booked the new-generation Canon imagePRESS V1350 during PAMEX 2024. On the new investment, Himanshu Pandey, Director, Avantika Printers Private Limited, says, “We choose this newly launched Canon imagePRESSV1350 for its media versatility as it can print seamlessly on varied range of media,other than paper, such as PVC stickers boards and many other textures.” He adds that this new Canon digital workhorse is capable to run at the speed of 135 A4ppm (pages per minute).

Himanshu mentions that the new Canon imagePRESS V1350 will be installed at Avantika Printers’ Greater Noida unit which is for packaging printing. “We were looking for a digital production press which can handle high-end packaging print graphics. Our current capacity is to produce 300gsm graphics, which will be upgraded to 500gsm using the new Canon imagePRESSV1350,” he adds. Versatility of the new Canon digital production press is that it takes up a broad range of lightweight and heavyweight stocks up to 500gsm.

Bhogle Engineering sold two of its Laminating Machines at the Show.

Canon sold seven of its imagePRESS V1350 printing press at the Show, one of the buyers being the Greater Noida based Avantika Printers.

DGM Automation sold eight of its machines at the show including Himdhara in Greater-Noida that booked Technocut 1050S die cutter & Smartfold 1100SL folder gluer; Agra-based Perfect Packers booked Technocut 1050S die cutter; Royal Arts in Kundali invested in a folder gluer, Smartfold 800PC. Pack Systems in Noida opted for a TechnoFold 1100SL folder gluer, Vasai-based OK Paper bought a TechnoFold 1100 SL, and Sheth Impressions opted for Smartfold 800 PC which was displayed in exhibition. Pariman Enterprises invested in a Smartfold 800 PC; Ahmedabad-based Canpac Trends booked TechnoFoil 1050FC, Technocut 1050S, Smartfold 1100SL and Technofold 1100PC went to Agarwal MatPack.

Monotech Systems celebrates half a century of order bookings

Monotech Systems has marked a significant milestone at Pamex 2024 by achieving an exceptional half-century of order bookings. This remarkable achievement underscores the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in the printing industry.

A majority of the orders secured by Monotech Systems revolved around its cutting-edge digital production presses, with the RICOH PRO C7500 – 11 Colors Digital Production Press taking centre stage. Renowned for its unparalleled quality and versatility, the RICOH PRO C7500 captured the attention of attendees with its advanced features and superior performance.

In addition to the RICOH PRO C7500 two other groundbreaking showstopper products that elevated the printing standards: PixelGlow and PixelFoil. PixelGlow, India’s first digital UV and foiling system, captivated visitors with its innovative capabilities and stunning results and mesmerized visitors with its enchanting print effects. Meanwhile, PixelFoil, another standout product from Monotech Systems, showcased the company’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of print technology.

The overwhelming response to Monotech Systems’ offerings at Pamex 2024 highlights a significant shift in the industry’s preferences, moving beyond traditional CMYK trends towards embracing innovation and cutting-edge solutions. As print professionals and businesses seek new ways to stand out in a competitive market, Monotech Systems continues to lead the charge by delivering unmatched quality and innovation.

Commenting on the success at Pamex 2024, Tej Prakash Jain, Managing Director at Monotech Systems, expressed his gratitude to the attendees and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to driving innovation in the printing industry. He stated, “We are thrilled to have achieved such a remarkable milestone at Pamex 2024. The overwhelming response to our products underscores the industry’s growing appetite for innovation and excellence. We remain dedicated to pushing the boundaries of digital print technology and delivering solutions that exceed our customers’ expectations.”

Emerging Graphics sold IEcho’s large-format sample maker to the Noida based Impact Promotions has picked. Jodhpur based Muskan Print opted for IEcho’s cutting tool- PK0705 Plus and Ahmedabad based Shreeji Cut and Bend went for IEcho’s cutting tool- BK4-1312.

Fujifilm closed multiple deals for its advanced Revoria PC 1120 and EC 1100 printing solutions.

Hariram Engineering sold two of its flagship foiling machines, one each to Kolkata based Gopal Printers and Bright Printers.

Indiacot is a leading player in the realm of embossed foil transfer machines. At PAMEX, the company displayed automatic embossed foil transfer machine,digital foiling machine 20×30 inches, Cast And Cure machine.“Primarily, we offer machines which give more value to prints, with embellishments.

And so we have displayed a machine over here, which is a screen printing machine with a complete follow-up as far as cast and cure, as well as it has all the foiling and the varnish options. This is the first time that we are showing this setup over here and till now the results have been very good. We have launched this machine in screen as well as in the digital form. We are also coming up with an individual foiler. This is our first show where we are displaying our make-in-India product,” shares Santosh of Indiacot.

“We have been able to close three deals at PAMEX for this complete line with screen printing machine,” he adds.

JK Steel Enterprises sold four machines in total, including one Laser Machine, two Bender Pro-32 A Machine and one Pertinax Rubber and Sample Maker.

NBG Printographic Machinery sold three of its machines, including the Paper Bag Machine opted by the Mumbai based Aristo EcoPack.

Mehta Hitech Industries Limited,formerly Mehta Cad Cam Systems Private Limited, introduced three key products—PrestoPR-A3-C single pass inkjet printer, Presto PR-A1-2616 and RasterJet RK 2513 with Kyocera printheads. “In addition to the announcements of the three key products, we are also announcing our first strategic partnership with Kyocera for UV printers in India,” says Diwakar Mishra, National Sales Manager, Mehta Hitech Industries Limited.

Diwakar mentions that visitors at the expo can have first-hand experience with RasterJet RK 2513 with Kyocera printheads, Presto PR-A1-2616, and PrestoPR-A3-C single pass inkjet printer. “This new single pass inkjet printer is a gamechanger in the realm of manufacturing kraft paper bags, envelops, cardboards,etc. It’s quite a suitable printer for batch printing, supporting roll-to-roll flexible material with no limits of length,” he adds. Presto machines are designed to use both pigment and dye inks.

NAEP & GPEA Awards

The National Awards for Excellence in Printing (NAEP) & Global Print Excellence Awards (GPEA) were given away by AIFMP on the third day of the event at Sahara Star Hotel, Mumbai. “As new technologies and techniques emerge, the awards reflected these advancements and celebrated those who have pushed the boundaries of what most consider – impossible,” said Tushar Dhote. The prestigious ‘Viren Chhabra Print Leadership Award’ recipient was Naresh Khanna, Editor, Indian Printer Publisher- IPP, who was felicitated by the Tennis legend Mahesh Bhupati and other AIFMP Dignitaries.

Monotech Systems booked deal of RICOH Pro C7500 Press to Ahmedabad based Diva Digital Imaging.

Pratham Technologies launched two new products – a fully automatic commercial folder and the double taping machine. Additionally, they displayed a 12 pocket outsert folder with 2 knives and a Super Inspect machine for printing QR code alongwith size and glue detection. The company is also displaying a 6 pocket insert folder with a 53mm width.

“We are specialists in pharma inserts outserts machines and it is our main strength. But, here we are showing something new which is variable data printing on the outsertsas well as a double taping system,” shares Datta Deshpande of Pratham Technologies.

Riso India sold six of its High-Speed Inkjet Printer at PAMEX 2024.

Sai Enterprises sold three of its Paper Cutting Machines on the very first two days of the Show.

SASG UV Solutions sold its Drip Master to K Joshi & Co., Pune.

SGI Dubai 2024 had a stall at PAMEX, where they were promoting their show to he be held from September 24-26, 2024 at Dubai WorldTrade Centre. It is the region’s largest and oldest trade exhibition for sign makers, print production houses, gift & promotion companies, media agencies, mall owners, car wrapping industry,real-estate developers, hospitality and tourism industries, 3D printing industry, architects, brand and image consultants among other stakeholders in the printing, signage, and imaging industries.

As per Donna Belle Reyes, Administration Manager, International Expo Consults LLC, they got good response at the show. “Many exhibitors have shown their interest to participate in the show. Next year, we will be having an Indian Pavilion and we look forward to more and more participation from India,” she shares.

Sheth Printograph Private Limited, representing Shenso Graphic Solutions, sold seven of its machines, including three Paper Cutters (with Sai Engineering), two Thermal Lamination with Foiler, one Flute Lamination Servo Machine and one Corrugation Machine.

Shreeji Corporation, a big partner of SAGA, Xerox, Multigraf, EPSON and a broad range of other digital printing & print finishing equipment in India, has confirmed the orders of eight machines during this ongoing PAMEX 2024. “We are really excited about the way PAMEX is organised in such a way that right visitors have come up and immediately take decision to invest in their choices of machines and equipments,” says Krunal C Jasani, Director, Shreeji Corporation. Some of the show stoppers from SAGA and other machines from the brands like Rongda are the key showcases at PAMEX 2024. “

Sneha Graphic Solutions sold two of its offset printing machines, one each to Jaipur based Rainbow Offset Printers and Hitech Digital Plates.

Sona Graphic Machinery sold three of its Graphic Equipments at the Exhibition.

Heidelberg wraps up PAMEX on a positive note; hints at exciting offerings for drupa

Heidelberg India concluded its participation at PAMEX on a high note, registering significant number of orders for consumables and spare parts during the show. Showcasing an array of cutting-edge solutions like Prinect workflow solutions, sheetfed offset, Saphira consumables, and labelling solutions, Heidelberg India garnered considerable attention and engagement from attendees.

Reflecting on the success of the exhibition, Samir Patkar, President of Heidelberg India, expressed satisfaction with the response received. “We had a successful PAMEX, attracting a diverse audience of packaging converters and commercial printers. Their feedback provided valuable insights into emerging trends and preferences within the printing industry, particularly in the packaging sector,” commented Samir Patkar.

Heidelberg India’s focus on Prinect workflow solutions and spare parts had enthusiasm from the attendees, with good number of commercial and packaging printers participating in one-on-one demonstrations with Prinect experts. Patkar emphasized the Heidelberg’s commitment to exceeding customer expectations by delivering high-quality print technology while ensuring cost-effective solutions tailored to evolve industry demands.

Looking ahead of drupa 2024, under the theme, “Unfold your Potential”, Heidelberg anticipates unveiling innovative solutions addressing key challenges such as rising costs, skilled labour shortages, and sustainability requirements. Heidelberg at Drupa will feature the latest generation of sheetfed presses, a comprehensive range of pre-press, postpress, labelling solutions and advancements enhancing efficiency and sustainability across the print production process.

As Heidelberg continues to drive innovation and excellence in the printing industry, the upcoming Drupa exhibition promises to showcase the Heidelberg’s dedication to delivering end-to-end solutions that empower printers to thrive in a dynamic and competitive market landscape.

At PAMEX, SP Konsultancy provided consultancy services to printing and packaging enterprises. “Enhanced by digital printing and AI, personalisation and aesthetic appeal are at the forefront. Simultaneously, environmental sustainability is becoming crucial,pushing for eco-friendly materials and practices. Business owners in this evolving sector must adapt their strategies to embrace these new trends and meet the dual demands of innovation and sustainability,” shares Kishor Surti,Principal Consultant, SP Konsultancy. “We got good number of visitors at our stand and we ask them about the current challenges they are facing in the industry and help them how to overcome those challenges.”

The company’s key verticals are Insight education program, SWOT analysis and implementation, Automated business mastery, Navigator support, Mentorship Alliance and Sustainability. The company has also recently launched Mudran Vidya for students,empowering tomorrow’s leaders in printing and packaging. “It is aimed to bridge the gap between the skills required by the industry and the educational institutes. We have received good response for this as well,” shares Kishor.

Stoosa sold one of its Wooden Punch Making Machine at the Show.

Watthour Systems sold ten of its VJET Spot UV Printing Systems at PAMEX 2024.

Webtech International Machineries sold eight Thermal Slitters and three Flexo Label Presses at the Show.

Zonten-S Kumar sold its full-rotary offset and flexo combination press Smart 560 to Avon FPP based at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra.

Zund India found owner of its newly launched S-3 L120 Digital Cutter and announced the deal at the Show.

Komori India bags 21 machine deals

Komori India sold 21 sheetfed offset printing presses at Pamex 2024. Yuichi Nakamura, President of Komori India, expressed gratitude to the Indian packaging and printing industries for their keen interest in their products and services. He highlighted the success of Pamex 2024, stating that beyond closing deals for 21 printing presses, they surpassed the achievements of the previous Pamex edition in just a few months. The comprehensive deal includes 13 printing presses from the Lithrone G series, designed specifically for packaging converters, seven printing presses from the Enthrone series tailored for commercial and book printers, and one printing press from the LP series (perfector), specifically for book printers with a focus on fast production. Notably, the LP series press is the first of its kind in Asia, excluding China. Out of the 13 Komori Lithrone G series presses, seven are equipped with more than six colours and UV capabilities.

Jitender Rohilla, General Manager – Sales, Komori India, shared that over 700 visitors attended the event, showcasing tremendous overall response. Visitors from diverse segments such as printing, label printing, flexible packaging converters, textile printing, and more demonstrated the versatility of Komori’s offerings. The delivery of all the machines is expected to be completed by the end of this year or the first quarter of the next.

Exhibitors’ speak…

“Pamex has always given us good business and this edition was no different. We congratulate the organisers for pulling off such an amazing show.” –Debashish Dutta, General Manager, Alpana Visual Packaging Aids.

“We see PAMEX as one of the most important exhibitions of India. It provides enormous opportunities to the printers all across.” –Naoki Kondo, Managing Director, Riso India.

“We participated in PAMEX after a long time and concentrated more on our Prinect Workflow for Packaging. We had a very good footfall and many packaging printers came to our stall for the demo.” – Samir Patkar, President, Heidelberg India.

“We are a regular participant at PAMEX. PAMEX gives us platform to network with our customers and an opportunity to showcase them our sustainable product offerings.”

–Bhavesh Bhatt, General Manager – Sales & Marketing, hubergroup India Private Limited.

“PAMEX brings in serious quality visitors. We got a chance to meet our existing customers and also form a link with the new clients.” –Rachit Gupta, Director, Associated Enterprises, Sujata.

“This was our seventh PAMEX exhibition since our company’s inception. We would like to congratulate AIFMP and Team Print-Packaging.com for organising one of the best PAMEX exhibitions till date. Infact, many exhibitors were little sceptical about the show being held after a gap of eleven months but the response shows that the industry is prospering. We closed one deal on day one of the show and two deals on day two for our paper cutters.” –S Dayakar Reddy, Director, Sai Enterprises.

Visitors’ speak…

“Meet, Connect, and Grow—this is what we see at every edition of PAMEX. Even before visiting drupa 2024, PAMEX 2024 gives us some insights into the growing segments whether it’s commercial printing or packaging sector.” – MN Pandey, Managing Director, Avatika Printers Private Limited, New Delhi

“PAMEX is indeed a good expo in India. This is a place where we observe the market trends and tradition of the sub-continent’s printing industry, UV Graphic Technologies is our partner in India and they are doing great job. It’s quite exciting to see the growing printing and packaging market of India, which is visible in this expo.” – Holger Selenka, Area Sales Manager, Vetaphone Corona & Plasma, Denmark

“It’s good to see the growing label market in India with a lot of innovations and latest technologies keep unleashing. I have had closely involved when the organisers of this show started to launch the expo. Today, this show is quite mature and I am here to support them, always and ever.” – Harveer Singh Sahni, Chairman, Weldon Celloplast Limited, New Delhi

PAMEX 2026…

Balancing technologies with sustainability would be the underlying theme for the next edition of the show that is slated for January 27-30,2026 at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.