Niket Pandit: Our industry should lay more emphasis on education

The print industry urgently needs new approaches. One suggestion you have about what is needed next?
Nowadays, we see that the operators or assistant operators, due to the lack of education, produce a job much slower as compared to skilled professionals. This affects the production cycle and the value chain. I feel a new approach is vital.  Either we hire people with at least six months or one-year print background or educate existing operators.

Is there a limit to the technological “fixes”. Should machine manufacturers have a broader approach?
The industry always requires something new in terms of quality. This helps a company gain profit. Herein I would once again stress on the point that machine manufacturers should have 100% knowledge about technology and how he is manufacturing his product. Much more importantly, the manufacturer should inculcate the knowledge in his entire unit. I feel this is the technological fix which is most necessary.

A packaging launch which made you go, WOW!
Webtech’s label on the saline bottle which provides additional strength while it's hung.

A software trick or a tech app everyone in our industry should know about.
Esko’s ArtiosCAD which helps you design the package. It provides the operator with a view of what the final print or package is going to be.

A print or packaging factory you visited which blew your brain! Why so?
Navi Mumbai-based Acuprint Systems has installed an inline gravure cylinder making unit that facilitates the entire process cylinder engraving. This really enthralled me.

One book about print or packaging which is a must-read according to you?
Handbook of Print Media by Helmut Kipphan and Structural Package Designs Paperback by Pepin Van Roojen

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Ranjeet Gharge: Every company should have basic quality control tools

The print industry urgently needs new approaches. Your view?
Improvement in print quality.

One suggestion you have about what is needed next?
About seven to eight years ago there were just a few printing companies working on 150-200% profit margins. Now, the printing industry has taken huge strides. Buyers have more options for selecting a partner and the profit margins have reduced to 25-30%. Since the buyer is just getting + or - 2% difference in the profit margin from a packaging partner printer, he selects, he seeks for quality print at that price range.

How can quality be achieved?
Every company should have some basic quality control tools.

Such as?
For one, they should host educational workshops about pre-press, press and post-press that teach rudimentary things like how to reduce wastage, reduce job makeready time, and machine breakdown time.

Is there a limit to the technological “fixes”. Should machine manufacturers have a broader approach?
Machine manufacturers should keep on upgrading their machines as much as possible. More than 50% of the printers in India run the machine with different kind of jobs without any sort of technological advancements. Therefore small upgradations and investments will increase the life of the machine plus it will boost production speed.

A packaging launch which made you go, WOW!
The concept of sugarcane juice in Tetra Pak and Bisleri’s new bottle pack.

A software trick or a tech app everyone in our industry should know about
ITC's Papyra application, that helps in calculating the tonnages for various papers, with categories and sub-categories.

A print or packaging factory you visited which blew your brain! Why so?
Globe Print n Pack– as they are doing 95% of their printing is on nonporous substrates on an offset machine.

One book about print or packaging that is a must read according to you?
The All New Print Production Handbook Book by David Bann and 3D Printing: Science, Technology, and Engineering Book by Steve Otfinoski