A tale of two millennials

Ish Rungta: Digital printing should compete with conventional printing's cost-efficiency and mass production  

The packaging industry urgently needs new approaches. One suggestion you have about what is needed next?
I agree that the packaging industry needs new approaches. For example, more options for digital printing. This should be on a larger scale that's cheaper than the existing prices. The aim is to compete with more traditional and conventional methods of printing which are better for volume.

Is there a limit to the technological “fixes”. Should machine manufacturers have a broader approach?
About technological fixes, I feel there is obviously no limit to technological fixes. You know, in the 1900s we thought we understood all the physics in the world. Now it turns out, there was an entire realm of quantum physics which is undiscovered and we're not even halfway there. I feel science and technology have an unlimited scope of growth. Machine manufacturers should have a broader approach. They must utilise this by tying up with top schools and colleges for research opportunities and develop better technology for fixes, etc.

A packaging launch which made you go wow!
A packaging launch which made me go wow was the recent paper launch by ITC of vanishing paper for biodegradable waterproof cups that vanish into compost in three weeks.

One packaging-print blunder you spotted in 2019?
One blunder I spotted was the Samsung M20 phones which were packed in boxes that are absolutely unoptimised. The thing is, they are packed in an uncoated paper box that tears while opening the box.

A software trick or a tech app everyone in our industry should know about
A software trick I know is from Photoshop and Coreldraw. Both are extremely easy to use, yet, a lot of top people in the industry can't crop an image on their own.

A packaging factory you visited which blew your brain! Why so?
A packaging factory I visited was the Hutamaki PPL Khopoli plant. I think everyone has to visit it in order to comprehend the absolute magnificence of the place. Every single thing is state of the art and it's like a trip into tech heaven.

One book about print or packaging that you have read which is a must read according to you
A book about print or packaging, The Wiley Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology, Third Edition

Yashwant Pardeshi: We must try to innovate in India and increase its’ global purchase

The packaging industry urgently needs new approaches. One suggestion you have about what is needed next?
The print industry needs unification among print houses about costing. There must be competition but it should be about quality and service. Nowadays firms are producing jobs at a very low profit margin. It seems a ploy to grab the market. It is not healthy for the market. There must be unification and a standard to be set. For example, an organisation has to monitor this. So, our industry becomes a profitable business.

Is there a limit to the technological “fixes”. Should machine manufacturers have a broader approach?
India has a good state of art types of machinery. But to be able to use it with 100% capability, we need to educate our employees and invest in innovation.

Every day, as you know, new technology is being launched in the Indian packaging market but it is from out of India. We must try to innovate in India and sell it to the world. Everyone owns a machine from Italy or some other European country. No one is aspiring for an Indian machine. Invest in innovation in India. This should be the approach of a machine manufacturer.                                 

A packaging launch which made you go wow!
A packaging launch which made me go wow was the Avery Dennison security and anti-counterfeit label solutions.

A software trick or a tech app everyone in our industry should know about
The PressMan App.

A packaging factory you visited which blew your brain! Why so?
A factory I visited which blew my brain is the Unique Photo Offset services where I work. It is an innovation house for colour matching, solid knowledge and experience in colour matching that can match the gravure colour with the flexo. Plus there is an outdoor and indoor digital printing unit with quality print and service that big FMCGs and advertising agencies rely on. A must visit.

One book about print or packaging that you have read which is a must read according to you
A book about print or packaging, The Printing Ink Manual by R Leach.