BT’s survey shows that gen-next wants to work for companies that nurture talent, offer flexible scheduling, and above all, bestow a sense of purpose.
In a discussion with printers and converters, the reply was, “Today's converters are different. Today, the biggest challenge is: retention. Converters have to be creative in devising strategies that encompass workplace environment; welfare; investment in modern technology; company branding and reputation and most importantly, training.”
So what are the workplace practices that keep employees happy and reduce attrition?
In one of my earlier columns, I had mentioned that there are some things related to employee welfare. These are:
One is working hours and payment.
Two, overtime payments (non-payments), sickness entitlements, travel payments, shift premiums and other benefits.
And three, the reason serious high growth companies are growing and excelling because they tap fresh talent and utilise soft-skill programme which gives them access to a talent pool.
It’s easy to let cynicism and pessimism creep into the most upbeat of minds. Instead of doom-and-gloom, I have put together a list of top packaging firms to work for keeping business ethics, growth and affirmative HR policies in mind.
Top packaging firms to work for...
1. Essel Propack (Lamitube giants)
Essel Propack, part of the USD 2.4 billion Essel Group, is a global leader in specialty packaging, manufacturing laminated plastic tubes catering to the FMCG and pharma space. The company started its operation by producing 60 tubes a minute and today has the machinery capabilities of producing 500 tubes a minute.
2. Huhtamaki PPL (Positive & Webtech consolidated)
Huhtamaki Oyj, the global packaging giant with 68.8% ownership in The Paper Products, renamed as Huhtamaki Paper Products, acquired 100% equity buyout of Positive Packaging Industries Ltd, India (PPIL). Navi Mumbai’s Webtech Labels became a Huhtamaki Oyj subsidiary in 2012.
Huhtamaki PPL's plant in Thane
3. ITC-PPD
ITC's Packaging & Printing Business is the largest value added converter of paperboard packaging in South Asia. It converts over 70,000 tonnes of paper, paperboard and laminates per annum into a variety of value-added packaging solutions for the food & beverage, personal products, cigarette, liquor and consumer goods industries.
4. Manipal Technologies
Manipal Technologies (MTL), India’s largest print enabled business solutions provider. It has transformed itself from a $5 million family-run printing business in 1998 has transformed to a $1000 million well-diversified print services and business solutions organisation. It has a 4,000 strong workforce.
5. Parksons Packaging
Started as a commercial print shop, specialising in playing cards, the company diversified into high-end packaging to become a Rs 400-crore company today, converting around 50,000 tonnes of board year on year at its three production plants in Chakan (Pune), Daman and Rudrapur. It has a dream of crossing the Rs 1,000-crore turnover, and has a strong internal vision and mission, with the entire organisation aligned towards this goal.
6. Pragati
Hyderabad-based Pragati Group claims it is one of the most awarded print companies in India, and the preferred partner of many customers for all their print requirement. The company prints a full gamut of print needs, ranging from profiles to brochures and catalogues, coffee-table books to calendars, folding cartons and labels to luxury rigid cartons as well as point-of-sale material.
7. TCPL
TCPL began its commercial production in April 1990 and since then it has grown to become one of India's largest exporters of printed cartons from India. TCPL Packaging operates out of its manufacturing units – three in Silvassa, two in Haridwar, one in Goa and a plant in Guwahati.
TCPL's three units in Silvassa house gravure equipment, sheetfed offset kit and micro-fluting capabilities
8. Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak is one of three companies in the Tetra Laval Group – a private group that started in Sweden and specialises in providing processing and packaging solutions for food.Tetra Pak has a plant in Chakan, which is located 40km from the city of Pune. Tetra Pak also owns a plant at Takwe in Pune.
Top suppliers to work for...
1. Bobst
The company is one of the world’s leading suppliers of equipment and services to packaging and label manufacturers in the folding carton, corrugated board and flexible materials industries. The company has a manufacturing plant in Pirangut, Pune.
2. Cosmo Films
Established in 1981, Cosmo Films is the largest exporter of BOPP films from India and is also the largest producer of thermal laminating films in the world with plant cum distribution centres in the US, Korea and Japan and global channel partners in more than fifty countries. The company has plants in Vadodara and Aurangabad and an annual BOPP production capacity of 1,40,000 MT.
3. EFI
This US-based digital print equipment and software specialist has a 500-employee strong R&D centre in Bengaluru. The company spends 16% of its revenue on R&D.
4. Heidelberg
Heidelberg is the world’s largest maker of printing equipment. The German-based company reportedly holds a 30% market share of the its world’s offset printing presses, its core market. Heidelberg also manufactures pre-press, post-press, and digital printing equipment as well as inks and chemicals. Heidelberg India, is a 100% subsidiary of Heidelberg, headquartered in Chennai.
5. Henkel
Henkel manufactures and supplies adhesives to industrial, packaging and consumer goods industries; automotive metal industries; and general industries, which include businesses like wind turbines, agriculture, gas refineries, etc. It has a plant in Navi Mumbai and what Henkel claims will be the biggest adhesive plant in India, will come up at Kurkumbh near Pune.
Rudrapur plant: offers conventional hotmelt, PSHMA and water-based adhesives
6. ITC
The Indian conglomerate with businesses in FMCG, hotels, paperboards and packaging, agri business and IT. The Kolkata-headquartered giant has targeted a Rs 1-trillion turnover by 2020.
7. Siegwerk
Siegwerk is one of the top ten global ink manufacturer. The company has a plant in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. The company celebrates 10 years of India operation this year.
8. TechNova
The world’s only manufacturer to offer a full range of offset plates (violet, thermal, analogue PS, UV (CTCP), inkjet and laser), TechNova is also the fifth largest manufacturer of printing chemicals. TechNova has a state-of-the-art plant in Navi Mumbai and its products are available in 68 countries through overseas offices and distribution network.
NOMINATE NOW
PrintWeek India invites you to list two names of print companies which are worth working for, with an explanation as to why you feel they stand out.
Points to consider:
Credibility (in terms of accessibility, coordinating human resources, integrity in carrying out vision with consistency)
Respect (support professional development and appreciation, caring personal lives)
Fairness (balanced treatment, impartial, just)
Pride (organisation’s products and standing in the community)
Camaraderie (sense of family or team, friendly and welcoming atmosphere)