Eat healthy and stay safe, say the Millennial – Part I

Akhil Sai Konda, student, pursuing Master’s in packaging science from Michigan State University, USA

A favourite webinar that you attended in the lockdown
Flexible Palletising Solutions with Collaborative Robots by Universal Robots.

One maintenance tip you are following
Utilise your time for something constructive and try not to eat more than necessary.

Your advice during lockdown to your team
This is just a phase. Be strong, everything will be alright.

Your healthcare mantra for Covid-19
Stay indoors and stay healthy. I have gone outside only thrice since mid-March, that too for essential needs.

One skill you have acquired during the lockdown
There is a basketball hoop at my aunt’s place where I am currently staying, and I have improved my basketball skills for sure.

One print technology which could be revolutionary in the post-Covid world
3D printing could be revolutionary in the future due to its flexibility in production. It can help meet the consumer demands, locally, as trade activities might take time to get back to normalcy.

One packaging innovation that could be the new normal
Antiviral and antibacterial coatings on packaging. Customers will emphasise on hygiene and demand for sterile and safe packaging post-Covid phase.

One lesson from the pandemic for the industry
Always be ready for the unexpected. Keep additional resources for at least the next three months as a backup.

One tip on man-management
Be positive and make your team feel the same way. Negative thoughts can affect the whole system but if the leader is optimistic, the team will be productive and constructive.

Will you purchase Chinese products, for example, raw material and machines post-lockdown?
In my personal opinion, I will try to resist buying Chinese products, but as the majority of industries are dependent on the country for raw materials, it will be difficult for them not to rely on China unless they find a better alternative.

One assistance you seek on behalf of the industry from the government
I would request the government to decrease taxes on the import and export of goods for a year or at least till the economy improves.

One headline you want to see by the end of 2020
2020 – All’s well that ends well.

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Kishor Kale, product development executive, R-Pac India

A favourite webinar that you attended in the lockdown
Messe Duesseldorf India’s webinar on unlocking the Covid-19 impact on the processing and packaging industry.

One maintenance tip you are following
Exercise and follow a healthy eating routine.

Your advice during lockdown to your team
Utilise your time to develop new skills.

Your healthcare mantra for Covid-19
Stay home and stay safe. Do not go outside without wearing a mask and follow social distancing.

One skill you are acquiring during the lockdown
I am learning Systems Applications and Products (SAP).

One print technology which could be revolutionary in the post-Covid world
Digital printing will be revolutionary in the post-Covid world.

One packaging innovation that could be the new normal
I think anti-pathogenic packaging will drive the future.

One lesson from the pandemic for the industry
Try to source all raw materials locally. The need to shift to local supplies became quite evident when China was locked down. Moreover, if we can procure the materials locally, it will help boost our economy and also make our industrial sectors independent.

One tip on man-management
All employees should have basic knowledge of all major operations. This will help the organisations to minimise the one-man dependency structure.

Will you purchase Chinese products, for example, raw material and machines post-lockdown?
I would rather search for alternatives, we need more players in the market.

One assistance you seek on behalf of the industry from the government
The government should help MSMEs and raw material manufacturers to become self-sufficient.

One headline you want to see by the end of 2020
Indian economy is back on its feet.

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Mihir Rita, managing director, Perfect Digital

A favourite webinar that you attended in the lockdown
Roota Mittal’s webinar on marketing. It has helped me to improve my marketing skills for sure.

One maintenance tip you are following
Have a fitness routine. I am following a regular fitness routine backed by bodyweight exercises.

Your advice during lockdown to your team
Stay at home, stay safe and be healthy.

Your healthcare mantra for Covid-19
Exercise regularly or do yoga. Follow Ayurveda and home remedies to increase your immunity. 

One skill you have acquired during the lockdown
I am exploring new designing softwares, besides that, I help with household chores too.

One print technology which could be revolutionary in the post-Covid world
Digital printing.

One packaging innovation that could be the new normal
The 3Rs of sustainability: reduce, recycle and reuse.

One lesson from the pandemic for the industry
How to handle economic losses and get back on track with newer ideas.

One tip on man-management
Focus on strengthening relationships with clients.

Will you purchase Chinese products, for example, raw material and machines post-lockdown?
Most probably no. Currently, China dominates a major part of the global market when it comes to raw materials. I would want to see new players.

One assistance you seek on behalf of the industry from the government
The government should help pharma printers smoothen its operations. It should also permit the printing of newspapers and other essential publications during this lockdown period.

One headline you want to see by the end of 2020
India has found a vaccine for Covid-19.

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Mitali Sawant, design development executive, Tetra Pak

A favourite webinar that you attended in the lockdown
Jay Shetty’s webinar on a purpose-filled year fulfilling five A’s- attention, accountability, awake, attitude and attraction.

One maintenance tip you are following
Ensuring I regularly disinfect commonly used objects.

Your advice during lockdown to your team
This too shall pass, stay home, stay safe.

Your healthcare mantra for Covid-19
Drink a minimum of three litres of water daily. Keep a bottle near your working desk. It is important to stay hydrated.

One skill you have acquired during the lockdown
I have developed more patience and have stopped doing things that aren’t important at that very moment.

One print technology which could be revolutionary in the post-Covid world.
3D printing for personal protective equipment kits. It will enhance further. Also, there seems to be a great market ahead for tamper-proof labels, stickers for package and product safety.

One packaging innovation that could be the new normal
Currently, people are considerate of sustainability factors, I believe biodegradable packages would be the new normal in the future.

One lesson from the pandemic for the industry
Having digital access to tools and technology is a priority.

One tip on man-management
People are our biggest assets. In such difficult times, support your employees as much as you can.

Will you purchase Chinese products, for example, raw material and machines post-lockdown?
I would say, Make in India should be our priority now, more than ever.

One assistance you seek on behalf of the industry from the government
During this pandemic, SMEs have been the most affected. Thus, naturally crumbling the economy. Even we own a small enterprise in Lower Parel, Mumbai, which carries out post-press operations. The government should make some provisions in loan repayments, interest payments and taxation to help such SMEs.

One headline you want to see by the end of 2020
It is safe and sound to not wear masks anymore.

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Namita Preman, design specialist

A favorite webinar that you attended in the lockdown.
A webinar on sparking changes across your organisation. It helped me gain a better perspective on organisational behavior, leadership and manpower management.

One maintenance tip you are following
Eat healthy and exercise daily.

Your advice during lockdown to your team
Kindly stay indoors and be a responsible citizen. Avoid overthinking and try not to panic even in the worst situations.

Your healthcare mantra for Covid-19
Do Pranayama and meditation. It is an absolute necessity to boost your immunity and it also helps you to remain calm amid chaos.

One skill you have acquired during the lockdown
Painting and sketching.

One print technology which could be revolutionary in the post-Covid world
3D printing has definitely etched a mark during this pandemic and will remain revolutionary post-Covid as well. Companies are exploring more on-demand manufacturing and 3D printing can provide more agility to this purpose.

One packaging innovation that could be the new normal
Companies will have to work harder to make the packages sterile rather than making them aesthetically pleasing.

One lesson from the pandemic for the industry
Be proactive and have a better sensory perspective system. One can prevent large scale damages by considering worst-case scenarios and taking faster precautionary methods.

One tip on man-management
Be a good leader. Many employees might feel a bit vulnerable due to the current scenarios, therefore be empathetic and support each other.

Will you purchase Chinese products, for example, raw material and machines post-lockdown?
Undoubtedly, I would be very reluctant to buy Chinese products. However, the fact that Indian industries will be vastly affected if we suddenly boycott Chinese goods cannot be unseen, since we are one of its biggest importers.

One assistance you seek on behalf of the industry from the government
The government should announce cash transfers, tax reliefs and wage subsidies to the industries that have been confronted to a sudden production stoppage amid the pandemic.

One headline you want to see by the end of 2020
World finally wins the battle against Covid-19.

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Prutha Kedar, trainee engineer - marketing, Kodak India

A favourite webinar that you attended in the lockdown
Offset Printers Association and Pressman Solutions’ webinar on women entrepreneurs and post-lockdown challenges was insightful.

One maintenance tip you are following
Disinfecting frequently used objects and washing all packages before opening them.

Your advice during lockdown to your team
Be patient and communicate with each other.

Your healthcare mantra for Covid-19
Stay home.

One skill you have acquired during the lockdown
My cooking skills have substantially improved.

One print technology which could be revolutionary in the post-Covid world
Automation in pre-press – reduction in number of steps and supplies to ensure a faster turnaround.

One packaging innovation that could be the new normal
Bulk packaging models as it will help reduce commuting to markets. The demand for sustainable materials should also increase.

One lesson from the pandemic for the industry
Re-emphasising how important the printing, packaging and supply chain industry is.

One tip on man-management
Stop the chain of forwarding unnecessary messages on Whatsapp.

Will you purchase Chinese products, for example, raw material and machines post-lockdown?
As long as there is an assurance that the products are safe, I am okay with it.

One assistance you seek on behalf of the industry from the government
An initiative to control the unemployment rate that may arise due to the current crisis.

One headline you want to see by the end of 2020
The only headline relating to Corona should be that of the beer brand.

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Part II: Eat healthy and stay safe, say the Millennial