Print Services expands footprint, enters packaging printing

With only three-years in the new business, the company has managed to tap around 30 well-known biggies of the pharmaceutical and FMCG sector. Shifting from Shah and Nahar, the firm now operates from its Bhiwandi plant. The plant is well equipped with pre-press and post-press systems, all under one roof. It owns two five-colour KBAs and one single-colour Adast in its offset division.

Mugdha Gangoli speaks to its director, Devang Rawat to understand what QoT plans to offer to the packaging world, and the man himself.

Mugdha Gangoli (MG): How did you get into printing?
Devang Rawat (DR): I have worked in multiple industries across varied geographies. It helped me gain experience with regards to systems, ethics and different work cultures. I wanted to use this experience to give a different dynamic by expanding our family business to printing and packaging.

MG: What is your print mantra?
DR: “Quality is not an act, it is a habit” – Aristotle

MG: What do you think is the future of print?
DR: The Indian print Industry is growing at a rate of 12.2% annually and is expected to reach an annual turnover of USD 20 billion by the end of 2015-16. Considering the initiatives taken by the new government in areas like labour cost, machine availability, and land, the Indian print industry should continue to grow and attract print buyers from across the globe. We can see the years to come very exciting for budding print entrepreneurs.

MG: Talking about your new plant at Bhiwandi, what is its future?

DR: Bhiwandi is the upcoming Mecca of printing. Everyone, from your suppliers, clients and transporters have their presence in Bhiwandi. The recent traction has given rise to multiple mini-print hubs within the city. Considering the proximity from Mumbai and the cost of land compared to other neighbouring hubs around Mumbai, it makes it economically as well as functionally feasible for a printing press planning for the next 10 years to shift their production setup out of the city.

MG: “Print at QOT”. Explain.
DR: We shifted our manufacturing facilities from Shah & Nahar to Bhiwandi in 2012 keeping in mind the shift in focus from the commercial sector to the packaging sector and moving our complete manufacturing under one roof. We plan to continue growth in the packaging sector with our current plant and establish another BRC approved plant which will focus on food packaging since we see it as the next big sector.

MG: What are your plans for QoT for the coming years?
DR: Adding a new braille embossing line with online inspection and importing boards for better cost propositions.

MG: One print plant you admire (other than QoT)...
DR: Parksons Graphics

MG: One print person you wouldn’t mind spending time with on a 20-hour flight…
DR: Nitin Shah of Award Packaging

MG: What you do after a hard day’s work?
DR: Play football, go sailing or just watch a TV show

MG: A fun book that you have read.
DR: Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat

MG: A football club you follow.
DR: Manchester United