“I feel that offset will move to something else only if there is some “advantage” and right now no one is sure what that advantage is,” says Pradeep Shah of Manugraph India

We had two machines on display, the M360, a new machine designed in the US built in India for the world market. It’s a machine that runs at 36,000cph meant for newspaper applications and post-Drupa, in another six months we will launch the same machine geared for book work.

We also showcased the Hiline Express. The specific highlight of the machine was that it has three forme rollers in differing diameters, allowing customers to speed and quality. For example, if a customer considers running UV applications, the third forme rollers is an exciting options. These are the two Manugraph products displayed for the first time at Drupa.

At Drupa, we also represented MasterWorks Machinery, the China-based post-press machine for packaging products. The company had on display a new die-cutter and inspection machine for folding cartons. The important thing is that all machines from MasterWorks will be available for the Indian market.

Several visitors visited the MasterWorks stand and were pleased with what they saw. To me, MasterWorks is not a so-called “Chinese-manufacturer” but a manufacturer in China with world-class quality. If you have to assume in terms of what Manugraph is to India, MasterWorks is for China. It has the same reputation and respect in the Chinese print industry.

In my opinion, MasterWorks will give some of the big boys in packaging post-press equipment manufacturing a run-for-money.

In terms of business at Drupa, we have done business worth $4-5mn selling quite a few machines to six customers. Though we did not have a single order from Indian customer at Drupa, we have been selling machines to the Indian customers regardless of Drupa. As I said, the products showcased at Drupa were for the world market.

The greatest challenge was “how would digital affect newspaper printing?”, “what value can digital printing being to newspaper application?”, “what should be done to bring in local content which a newspaper would like to bring to its customers?

There are answers in the digital technology that are being launched, but the applications needs to be verified or tested. Manugraph is working with a digital player towards providing a digital option for newspaper applications to be fitted on its machine, a digital inkjet option that is suited for high-speed web operations. We will announce the tie-up soon.

Manugraph has always focused on markets Africa, Latin America, etc. Our company in US, DGM is also doing quite well. So most of our visitors knew us, were in dialogue with us and also knew what they want. All we had to do was offer that kind of solutions. For example, the customer who bought the M360 press was finding the CityLine too large for his operation. So when he said the M360 press, he said it perfectly suited his requirement of 50,000cph.

This is my fifth Drupa and I think this has been one of the most radical Drupa in terms of technological change. In the good old days we had letterpress and then letterpress moved to offset. I feel that offset will move to something else only if there is some “advantage”. 

My takeaway: Digital technology has thrown up new options like nano technology and the likes. Inspite of all the new digital options no one is still sure of what that “advantage” will be. The jury is out and we shall get answers in the next few months.