Domino and Multitec seal hybrid press partnership

Commented Ajay RaoRane, assistant vice president, Digital Printing Solutions, Domino: ‘We chose to work with Multitec because they have a good technology know-how, a good penetration in the Indian market with excellent relationships with customers, and a hunger to do more. We complement each other.’ 

Amit Ahuja, director of Multitec, added: ‘Domino is the perfect partner not only because of its advanced UV inkjet technology, but also because its N610i digital print engine is easy to integrate. And the company has a great roadmap into the future.’

Ahuja said he did not expect the Indian market to support mass adoption of hybrid press configurations for the next five years. ‘But it is important for Multitec to be ahead of the game when this happens.’ The press configuration will be fully customizable in terms of number and positioning of UV flexo, cold foil and converting units.  

Domino now has hybrid integration agreements with MPS, Lombardi, CEI US and Spande in China as well as selling its N610i press in both stand-alone and in-line configurations, the latter in partnership with AB Graphic. 

‘We are happy to sell any configuration of UV inkjet engine,’ said RoaRane. ‘Generally if a printer already has a hybrid press we will be selling them a stand-alone to complement it. If they are first-time digital press users they will generally look at the hybrid solution. Additionally, if there are lots of short run jobs with multiple changes of substrates then stand-alone is the best. Hybrid works best where there are multiple SKUs and no major changes of die and substrate. Most of our hybrids are in the US for these kinds of jobs.’

RaoRane sees market trends in India lining up to support the growth of digital printing.

‘This is a very young market demographic, and gone are the days of brand loyalty. So it will need attractive packaging and multiple SKUs to attract these buyers and this will require digital printing because it will all be short run labels. Another trend is the move from Mom&Pop shop to hypermarket where you select products yourselves.’ 

Domino was also promoting its K600i single color digital module at the show, with a unit installed on a Vinsak USAR slitter rewinder.