LMAI hosts first regional technical workshop in Kolkata

Label Manufacturers’ Association of India (LMAI) has organized its first workshop in the historic city of Kolkata.

40 printers and suppliers attended the technical workshop organized by LMAI in Kolkata
The event was sponsored by Inkstream, Numex Blocks, SMI Coated Products and Intergraphic. Even with very thin association membership in the eastern region, 40 people attended the event, including: Debashish Sarkar, Classic Image Offset; Amit Kataruka, Spec Labels; Ashish Shah, Insight Graphics; Dushyant Parekh, NAP Printers. Suppliers also attended the workshop, such as Amitabh Luthra from Printers Supply Company, Kamalakannan.T from Dhana Impex, Mona Desai from SPGPrints and delegates from Avery Dennison.
 
Anurag Mohan, director at Interact Tex Labels welcomed the audience and invited Chinmay Samanta from Inkstream to talk about different kinds of ink. Samanta started with explaining the differences between water-based, solvent-based and UV inks. He went on to explain the properties and uses of these inks in various industries. However, Samanta concluded, ‘UV LED is the future technology for various advantages over existing technologies such as reducing energy costs, increased life of lamps, non-usage of mercury, and instant switching on and off of the UV LED lamps thus saving the time on the job.’
 
Talking to Labels & Labeling after his presentation, Samanta said: ‘I don’t yet see the demand of UV LED inks in India but like all other technologies, this shall also enter the market soon. For instance, the growth of water-based inks has slowed down and UV ink technology is fast replacing water based technology. Unless it is commercially attractive and support system is robust, printers will not invest.’ 
 
Sudhir Samant, representing Numex Blocks, a packaging pre-press and platemaking firm from Mumbai, then explained the steps involved in digital flexo plate making process. Numex is looking at investing in a digital continuous round photopolymer and elastomer sleeve, and Samant said: ‘This technology offers continuous print, perfect register and fast press changeovers.’
 
After the presentation, Ajay Mehta of SMI Coated Products and Amit Sheth of Label Planet thanked printers and suppliers for supporting the LMAI workshop in Kolakata and urged the printers to participate in the LMAI Awards. ‘Put your best foot forward,’ stated Mehta. ‘The kind of work we are doing is second to none in the world. Participate and enhance the stature of the Indian label industry.’ 
 
Past president of LMAI, Vivek Kapoor, added: ‘We always get 250 to 300 entries but from limited companies. The number of companies participating in the awards must increase.’ He assured that the secrecy of the jobs is always maintained. 
 
Current LMAI president Sandeep Zaveri concluded the workshop by requesting the audience to attend the session on cost restructuring to be held in Mumbai on August 19. ‘Figures are both alarming and exciting. We need to jointly work on costs and finish reverse auctioning.’ 
 
The Kolkata event was the fifth regional technical workshop organized by the association under the leadership of Zaveri.