Shashank Neralla: With the evolution of CTP, film-based plate exposure in a passe

What is your idea of a perfect print firm in India?
A firm that strives hard to contribute to the circular economy, where sustainable practices are followed in all possible ways. 

What is the trickiest colour that you have had to print?
We use a variety of gravure coated colour boards, which already have colours on its surface. Printing three or four impressions of screen colours on those surfaces becomes challenging. Dark shades of blue and green are really tricky. 

When and which print job or project made you the happiest?
After we commercialised digital printing on seed paper invitations, it gave us immense satisfaction because products like these contribute towards green printing, sustainability and customisation. 

What is your most ‘wow’ moment?
A job with digital foil on a specially made perfume board without any kind of coating or lamination. 

Which print technology would you prefer and why?
Digital is preferred for jobs involving customisation and screen printing is preferred for jobs involving different substrates and sizes. 

If you were to die and come back as a printing press or software or ink, what would it be?
A software like Esko Artios CAD. 

If you could change one thing about your printing plant, what would it be?
Continuous improvement using lean management and to implement Industry 4.0. 

A technology or a thought process you think is a passé for a 21st century press...
I have seen many presses that still use filmbased plate exposure for book printing. I think with the evolution of CTP-based plates, the former process is a passé.