Book and notebook printing in India is on an upward trajectory: Ashish Daftari

How has 2024 been for your business, and what’s your outlook for 2025?
I’d say 2024 has been our best year in recent times. Our installations of Akiyama presses, post-press machines from HXCP, and book finishing machines have grown sharply.

Which press has been your most popular in the last 12 months? Why has it been in demand?
The Akiyama tandem perfectors in 1+1 and 2+2 colour configurations have been our bestsellers. These machines are widely used for thin paper printing in religious books such as Bibles and the Korean scriptures, as well as in medical literature like inserts and outserts.

They also offer efficiency benefits. With a single gripper system, they save at least 12mm of paper per sheet. Given that paper prices have touched USD 1,600 per metric tonne, this translates to substantial cost savings. Beyond that, these presses are highly reliable for regular coated and uncoated stocks.

Are print volumes increasing? How do you see the overall demand?
We specialise in supplying equipment for book and stationery printing, and our business segments have shown strong growth. The demand remains robust.

With digital printing growing, how is your company adapting?
We believe offset and digital will continue to co-exist. Digital is not necessarily growing at the expense of conventional offset. That said, we have also entered the print-on-demand segment to stay relevant in digital printing.

Research suggests that the global offset market will reach $2.94 billion by 2030, growing at 1.8%, while digital print is expected to grow 65%, reaching $230 billion by 2029. Is the Indian market following a similar trend?
Each technology will remain relevant in its domain. If we look at recent data, the Indian book printing industry is projected to grow to Rs 9,89,200-million, up from Rs 3,06,600-million a decade ago. This shows that book and notebook printing in India is on an upward trajectory.

Sustainability is a growing concern. How are you ensuring environmentally responsible printing?
We promote equipment that minimises energy consumption and waste generation. Sustainability is an important factor in our decision-making process.

The decline of traditional print media—newspapers and magazines—has disrupted the industry. How has this shift impacted your business?
We don’t operate in newspaper and magazine printing, so this shift has had no direct impact on us.

How is your company using automation and AI to improve efficiency and product quality?
Customers now expect faster turnaround times and higher-quality output. Many third and fourth-generation CEOs are well-versed in the production cycle and plant efficiency, with certifications like ISO 9001, BRC, FSSC, PS9000, and SEDEX becoming the norm. 

Have you observed this shift? What’s driving it?
It’s a clear trend. Younger leaders understand not just production but also efficiency, compliance, and quality standards. Customers are increasingly demanding certified operations, and print businesses have adapted to meet these requirements.

In recent years, the industry has seen several mergers and acquisitions—Canpac’s acquisition of Saptagiri being a notable example. Do you expect more consolidation?
Yes, we believe consolidation will continue, which is ultimately beneficial for the industry.

Leading paper packaging companies are expanding into new segments. What’s your view on this diversification?
Innovation is key, regardless of the business segment. We are seeing offset printers diversifying into new markets and geographies.

Innovation is key, regardless of the business segment. We are seeing offset printers diversifying into new markets and geographies. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities for offset and digital printing in the next five years? How is Twirl DigiTech preparing?
We believe the next 15 to 20 years will be growth years. The Indian printing industry is poised to expand its global reach.