Young turks at Ipex 2010

Nikhil Mittal
Sona Printers
Number of Ipex attended: Twice

Your reasons for visiting Ipex?
It is the second largest exhibition in the print industry, you get to see the latest technology, developments and trends in the print industry.

What have you gained from Ipex?
For me, it will be more of hardcase lines and digital printing and post-press machinery. I believe this year a lot more will be seen on the digital printing side.

Your best experience at Ipex...
The previous Ipex when there was a freak snow spell during the summer.

What technology are you eyeing at Ipex 2010?
Digital printing.

What's the big challenge these days with trade shows and visitors?
The expense and time for visiting and participating in trade shows. There's been a huge spurt of trade shows all over the world, and specifically in India.

What clothing are you carrying?
I like to be comfortable at the shows as there is a lot of walking around. Therefore nice jeans, shirt, semi-formal jacket and comfortable shoes.

After a full-day at Ipex - how do you unwind?
Walk in the city and eat at a first-rate restaurant with friends or other business partners.

Your favourite mode of transport at Ipex 2010?
Distances in Birmingham are not that great, so I prefer walking or taxi.

If you were gifted 10 million pounds, what would you do with it at Ipex 2010?
I will return with the money back to India. With half of it, I will set up a new book printing or stationery unit. With the other half I will fund this new unit for free books and paper stationery, so that it can supply to various NGOs who are empowering children below the poverty line.

Jinesh Mehta
Utility Printpack
Number of Ipex attended: Four

Why do you go to Ipex?
To update myself about the latest technologies which could be interesting to our business

What are your gains from Ipex?
Gaining knowledge on how one can improve productivity and earn better NAV from latest technology

Your best experience at Ipex...
Photograph with Marilyn Monroe's lookalike at one of the booths.

If you plan to attend, what will be your game-plan at Ipex 2010?
No games. And plans are ambitious!

What technology are you eyeing at Ipex 2010?
Offset, flexography, converting, as well as innovative applications

What preparations will you do to get the most out of your visit to Ipex 2010?
Walk extra minutes on my treadmill to cover more during the day.

What clothing are you planning to carry?
A smile, freshness and knowledge of what I should know.

After a full-day at Ipex - how do you unwind?
Drive to Lullworth Cove and have a barbeque on the beach!

Your preferred mode of transport?
Depends where I stay

If you were gifted 10 million pounds, what would you do with it at Ipex 2010?
Do you think I would stay an extra minute at the show...

One person with whom you would like to spend an hour with at Ipex 2010?
Guenther Thomas.

Vasant Goel
Gopsons Papers
Number of Ipex attended: Since 1992, every Ipex

Your reasons for visiting Ipex?
New technology and trends.

What have you gained from Ipex?
Relevant and useful information about new technology. Also to establish new contacts.

Your best experience at Ipex...
Champagne after signing a deal. Also spend an evening at a club with friends.

What are you planning to do at Ipex 2010?
Study digital printing as well as workflow efficiency by investing into automation.

What preparations have you done to make the most of participating at Ipex 2010?
We have made a time-table. Also, we have spoken to various manufac-turers about what they are exhibiting at Ipex. We are getting all the relevant information,so we are well- informed before the show. We have also outlined and started negotiations for our next investment plan.

What technology are you eyeing at Ipex 2010?
Automation for every process of book manufacturing as well as large format.

What clothing are you carrying?
Which pair of shoes will you wear at Ipex 2010? Three business suits, two casual set, one formal shoes, one pair of sports shoes.

After a full-day at Ipex - how do you unwind?
Sleep.

Which type of restaurant / pub do you intend you visit?
General, local cuisine, any good recommendation by friends.

Your favourite mode of transport at Ipex 2010?
Taxi.

If you were gifted 10 million pounds, what would you do with it at Ipex 2010?
Our investment plan is ready.

Rupesh Sawant
Superlekha
Number of Ipex attended: Once, in 2006

Why do you go to Ipex?
To have a look at the new technology. This time it will be post-press for me. Also, it has been my observation that Indians follow the Europeans more in terms of print technology and shopfloor working. There is synergy between the two.

 If you plan to attend, what will be your game-plan at Ipex 2010?
The game plan would be to find a good European manufacturer for PUR binding in post-press. There are big names like Muller Martini and Kolbus whose machines are very expensive. Other than the big two, there are manufacturers whose machines are good and affordable.

What technology are you eyeing at Ipex 2010?
B2 sheetfed inkjet. It will be good to see Fuji's Jet Press 720  and Screen's Truepress JetSX  have to offer with the new launch.

What clothing are you planning to carry?
I will adorn to formal attire at the show. It is easier to approach the Europeans.

After a full-day at Ipex - how do you unwind?
Have a shower, glass of beer and gel with the locals. For the first-timer at Ipex, I would suggest sorting out the print literature that you have carried from the show like brochures and leaflets. Keep only what you want. The airlines have become strict with baggage weight and it might create a hassle while returning.

Your preferred mode of transport at Ipex...
Train. I will get a Britain rail-pass for the period of my stay. It is one-third the cost of travel, including Heathrow terminal (destination for landing) to Birmingham (destination for Ipex). Now, is a good time to buy your pounds. The exchange rate is Rs 68 and gets higher in May.

If you were gifted 10 million pounds, what would you do with it at Ipex 2010?
Pay the required tax to the British Government and get the rupees back to India. In India, I'll build a state-of-art college for free print education with high-end software and hardware across all forms of print like screen, offset, gravure, flexo apart from free vocational guidance.

One person with whom you would like to spend an hour with at Ipex 2010?
Any European printer whose profile and functioning is similar to mine. I want to share and understand, how he brings a solution to the bottle-necks that he faces on a daily basis.

Saubhagya Sakesaria
New Jack
Number of Ipex attended: Once

Your reasons for visiting Ipex?
Its basically for buying some equipment. Last time when we were at Ipex, we had booked the Heidelberg PM 74.

What have you gained from Ipex?
Fond memories of my first real investment decision in the printing business, at a young age.

Your best experience at Ipex...
So far it has been signing for PM74.

What are you planning to do at Ipex 2010?
Plan to do loads of window shopping and some shopping for the family.

What preparations have you done to make the most of participating at Ipex 2010?
Nothing really, except for brain-storming so that we have clarity about our needs.

What technology are you eyeing at Ipex 2010?
Value-addition technologies, software and hardware to strengthen our pre-press.

What's the big challenge these days with trade shows and visitors?
Choice of plenty and inability to zero down on technology that is good for you.

What clothing are you carrying?
Comfortable semi-formals with soft leather shoes.

After a full-day at Ipex - how do you unwind?
Catch up with friends and colleagues from the printing fraternity.

Which type of restaurant / pub do you intend you visit?
The most popular ones. It's been a long time, since I visited Birmingham so I wouldn't know what is the latest as of now.

Your favorite mode of transport at Ipex 2010?
Depends where I get my reservation.

If you were gifted 10 million pounds, what would you do with it at Ipex 2010?
It's an awful lot of money. I think I would stock it for now and plan to do something during the next Ipex.

Satish Nayak 
Bodhi Solutions
Number of Ipex attended: Three times

What have you gained from Ipex?
Most of the year, we spend in sales and support. During Ipex and Drupa we can catch-up and see in what way the technology is maturing. Also,  what are the right solutions to the issues the customers are facing presently. Ipex is the time to see the technology in action.

What are you planning to do at Ipex 2010?
Meet up with my principles and look at some of the core industry - such as digital, packaging and colour management standards. Would like to see some of the solutions that will suit the Indian business models and focus on these.

What preparations have you done to make the most of participating at Ipex 2010?
The usual things. The best thing is all the information is available on your fingertips with the internet. Plan ahead, schedule meetings before the show, via emails and try and maintain the schedules.

After a full-day at Ipex - how do you unwind?
There will be friends from all over the world. Ipex provides a chance to catch up with my old buddies and exchange ideas and solutions with print experts from all the world. It provides an opportunity to and discuss this openly.

Which type of restaurant / pub do you intend you visit?
All the fun-filled restaurants and some quiet ones when I need peace. And Indian food for sure.

Your favourite mode of transport at Ipex 2010...
Local bus.

If you were gifted 10 million pounds, what would you do with it at Ipex 2010?
Give something to the Indian print industry and develop sensible solutions for today's practical problems.

What are your holiday plans, post Ipex?
Since it is the beginning of the financial year, we have plans lined up ahead - I do not think I will take a holiday yet. I plan to holiday  for the third quarter.  So the focus will be business. I plan to get back to work, all charged up with new ideas and plan.

When you return to your print unit after Ipex, how will you catch up with work?
I'll be on-line daily. I will also try to catch up a few hours of work, daily. So that things do not pile up, I can sit down at leisure and work out my plans for the next year.