Univacco highlights cold foil advances

Attended by about 40 printers, the 10-color Nilpeter FB full servo press printed clear-on-clear and in-mold labels using Univacco foils and in-line die-cutting. The event was organized by Dhana Impex, the Indian distributor of Taiwan-based Univacco’s foils.

The demonstration was followed by networking where Kamalakannan.T, Dhana Impex CEO, welcomed the printers, and said: ‘The industry is confronted with challenging times and we are introducing new products to address the needs of customers.’

Colin Thompson, marketing and sales product manager at Univacco, introduced the company to the audience and said: ‘To address the industry demands, we have new materials and films coming out to cater to clear-on-clear labels. We are committed to constant innovation with new formulas and techniques which we think would benefit the Indian print industry too.’

Manish Kapoor, country head for sales at Nilpeter, urged the printers to look at opportunities beyond pressure-sensitive labels. ‘The Indian label printing industry is growing at a moderate rate of 15 percent,’ he said. ‘45 percent of this growth is contributed by increasing volume, 25 percent each is contributed by value growth and shift from wet glue and four percent by expanding footprint. To be able to grow at 15 percent, label printers will have to address all these areas.’

He said that it is important to think out of the box, to retain and get new businesses, and to increase capacity and productivity. ‘Don’t carry dead weight which is non-profitable jobs. Work hard towards adding relevant and profitable business,’ he added.

Kapoor also suggested that printers invest wisely in what they need and not in what is available in the market when adding capacity. ‘Buy something that will give you edge over competition and will differentiate you. Innovate and increase capability. Work closely with your suppliers and don’t wait for others to develop new markets. It’s equally important to educate wet glue label printers about the advantages of shifting to pressure-sensitive printing. There are opportunities galore.

‘The growth graph continues to hold an upwards trend. Undercutting of prices has been brought to a level where it cannot be cut anymore. It is thus time to graduate from being a label printer to a packaging provider. Unleash the power of the Indian label printing industry and invest in a combination press.’

Praveen Gupta, country manager for South Asia at UPM Raflatac, reiterated Kapoor’s suggestion of a shifting focus to value addition and not run after volume alone.

Alan Baretto, managing director of Nilpeter India, concluded the event by delivering a vote of thanks to the printers and suppliers.

Some prominent printers at the demonstration were Classic Image Offset, Kolkata; Seljegat Printers, Sivakasi; Wintex Flexo Prints, Bengaluru; Nitai Press, Ahmedabad; Ajanta Packaging; Venkateswara Packaging, Bengaluru; Shriram Veritech, Noida; Impact Packaging, Delhi; Super Labels, Chennai; Best Labels, Chennai, amongst others. Some offset printers looking at diversifying to label printing were also present at the Open House.

Amongst other suppliers who partnered at the open house were Flint Group, UPM Raflatac, Biessse tapes, Kodak, Veepee Arts from Bangalore; Rotometrics and Swedcut.