Screen Print India is back to its home base
Screen Print India (SPI) prepares for its Mumbai edition at the BSE Exhibition ground. The organisers, Adita Expositions expect to touch 100 plus exhibitors. The managing director, Devang Sheth speaks to Krishna Naidu about what will happen from 6 to 8 May 2016., Business
29 Apr 2016 | 4558 Views | By Krishna Naidu
Krishna Naidu (KN): Tell us about last year’s show and the exhibitor feedback? What kind of footfalls are you expecting this year? How many exhibitors have registered for the expo?
Devang Sheth (DS): The Screen Print India (SPI) 2014 was held from 18 to 21 September at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Goa. The show had 60 exhibitors and 4,000 plus visitors from all over India. Interestngly enough, during SPI 2012 in Mumbai, one of the key attractions was the pavilion on sublimation. This year, the sublimation concept will have its own special space along with Sublimation Ideas Expo (SIE) making its debut. Since SPI and ASGA India return to its traditional venue, we expect more quality visitors over the three-days show. We are expecting over 100 exhibitors and 8,000 plus visitors from all over the globe.
KN: What are the highlights of SPI 2016?
DS: SPI and Asia Screen Printing and Graphic Imaging Association (ASGA) 2016 will be having brands participating from across the globe, Asia and India participating either directly or through their associates and authorised representatives. The exhibitors include raw materials, inks, substrates, machines related to the screen, textile, digital and sublimation printing industry.
KN: Which are the star products at the show?
DS: Grafica Flextronica and Union Inks & Graphics will showcase a glass printing machine and a compact UV curing unit. Meanwhile Sky Screen will enthrall visitors by showcasing the product range of GroupeStahl, the US-based manufacturer. There is a lot more. As I see it, visitors will get an opportunity to browse through multiple international brands under one roof.
KN: How do you see the growth of the screen printing segment in India?
DS: There is a visible shift towards quality, value addition and offering a wide portfolio of services to clients. Leading print firms are exploring opportunities beyond borders and they are getting the results. Their calibre and creativity are regularly recognised at international competitions like SGIA (USA), ASGA, and Fespa. We see a good scope for the segment to grow further.
KN: What are the new trends in the screen printing industry? How does the exhibition plan to highlight these trends?
DS: The screen printing industry has tremendous potential for expansion and diversification. The need of the hour is to tap the potential and grow in tandem with the industry. Networking, joining hands with new business partners, and attending knowledge seminars are crucial steps.
KN: How many Expos have you participated in?
DS: We have organised 12 editions of SPI exhibitions in India and Screen Print Vietnam (SPV) 2015 in Vietnam. Plus we have hosted three editions of Print Tex India in Tamil Nadu. This show was related to the textile and garment industry.
KN: In 2015, the show was held in Vietnam. This year, it is happening in Mumbai. Was it a conscious decision to make it a travelling show?
DS: Based on the demand from visitors and exhibitors, the SPI event concept was extended to the Far East Asia region. The inaugural edition of SPV was held from 30 July to 1 August 2015 at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC). The show attracted 1,616 visitors from more than 14 countries of the ASEAN region. This event was an extension of the SPI exhibition.
In fact, Vietnam is an attractive business proposition, even small firms joined hands and shared a stall with the aim to tap the Vietnam market.
KN: What is the main purpose of organising the ASGA board meeting which will be held in Mumbai, post SPI 2016?
DS: ASGA is an officially supported exhibitions in China, is supporting SPI in 2016. The international factor in the forthcoming exhibition has become even stronger with the ASGA board meeting.
The SPI and ASGA India will be a convergence point and association delegations from across Asia. For the second time since 2012, ASGA has come on board. The purpose for the board meet is to boost the screen printing industry with more participation and a have one to one knowledge sharing.
KN: How will you meet the needs of visitors?
DS: We have conceptualised as a one-stop online resource, SPI has a portal that has gained acceptance and coverage relating to screen, textile and digital industry. SPI has been providing an in-depth market overview to manufacturers and printers.
KN: Why did you decide to invite Charlie Taublieb for the show? What insight do you think he will be able to provide to the Indian screen printers?
DS: When you visit an exhibition, don’t you wish there was a way to have a closer look. Well, that's why the unique ‘Charlie’s Corner’ concept is known all over the world. It will be a key attraction at the show. The visitors will have an opportunity to see a renowned personality in action.
KN: What initiatives has Aditya Publications taken to make this year show a success?
DS: SPI has been making the audience aware about of what to expect from the exhibitors. The emailers have been one of the key features that have constantly kept the audience on the run to opt for latest products and technologies. The technical seminars, award competitions, associations and theme-based pavilions, will add to the glory this year.
Plus, there will be opportunities to get the expert insights on processes and techniques during the knowledge seminars by Mike Young and Charlie Taublieb. The technical seminars and interactive sessions will add value to the visitors. It will be like visiting three shows under one roof.
Abhikruti Digisoft, Bharat Inks, Blue Coat India, Chola Industries, Dhaval Color Chem, Fujifilm Sericol, J N Arora, Negi Sign Systems and Shree Union Inks are some of the Indian exhibitors, who have confirmed their participation at the show.
Charlie Taublieb at Screen Print India
One of the key attractions at SPI will be the Charlie Corner, a concept which is popular in the screen printing world. Charlie’s Corner will be an informative experience, and it will be curated by Charlie, who has been in the screen print industry since 1976. During the demonstrations, visitors will be having an opportunity to join Charlie who will demonstrate key printing tips and tricks.
Over the years, Charlie has conducted workshops and seminars at screen printing shows and is a member of the Academy of Screen Printing Technology and has also judged the SGIA Golden Image Awards. The visitors will have a first-hand experience and knowledge of screen printing from Charlie.
Charlie Taublieb, president at Taublieb Consulting, says, “India, like many other countries has some very good printers and some that are not. As an industry, I think India is getting there but there are several shops that are some of the best in the world.
The strengths are the good number of labour market and low cost. The weakness is the lack of complex work that is coming out of India with the exception of the top companies. The screen printing on the graphic side has a lot of challenges because of digital printing. The cost of long runs is where there is an advantage on the screen side. The digital printing on the textile side has become bigger, but makes up a very small percentage of the textile printing market. Digital printing on textiles is very expensive as compared to the screen and really cannot compete on large print runs. Screen printing is much faster than the fastest of the digital printers available today. Screen printing is capable of a large variety of special effects where digital has very few. Screen printers are also able to do colour matching where digital have process printing and expanded process but is not able to hit certain Pantone colours.”
“My last trip to India was in 2007. This time, I expect to see more accomplished printers doing some very complex work. The screen printing is a very small industry compared to offset printing and that's what I love about it. A printer in the USA is friends with a printer in India, Turkey, and Russia and offset printers hardly know the printers in their state. Technology hasn't completely taken over our industry and it will probably be a very long time before it does,” Taublieb added.
“Buying the right kit puts you in a position to do quality work and allows you to grow without excuses. If you can't buy the best, buy the least expensive that will still allow you to produce good work until you can afford the best. Then, sell off the inexpensive kit. The high performance isn't necessarily an application but is printing at high speed and high quality no matter what the medium, plastisol, water-based or the newer environmentally friendly inks. Being able to do four-colour process, simulated process or special effect printing is part of it, but also being able to duplicate a job month or even years later are part of the task. I am a huge advocate of education in screen printing. For this industry to grow, we need talented and educated individuals that know how to handle whatever is given to them. Education is the answer,” added Taublieb.
Sharing a message for the industry, Taublieb says, “Read all you can about this industry. In the shop, do as much experimental work as possible to develop new procedures and improve quality and productivity and get creative and dare to take on the challenging work.”
To register for Charlie Corner visit spi2016.screenprintindia.com