These include Dion 450+ four-colour offset printing press, Fine Coat 80+ UV and aqueous coating machine, automatic die-punching machine Repetto 65 V2 and variable data printer Reckoner VDP 65.The company will also launch its print inspection machine Checkmate 65 during the show. 

B Vijay Kumar, senior manager – marketing support of Autoprint, feels that PrintPack has always been a great forum for Indian machinery manufacturers. “We expect a positive impact this year too. As a manufacturer, we are focusing on providing innovative products at affordable prices. With increasing costs of all raw materials, this is a big challenge. From the point of view of the customer, there is a delay in taking decisions, mainly because the risk of obsolescence with changing technologies is very high,” he said. 

To counter the rising raw material and input costs, he suggests the company to incorporate efficient and smart production planning, scientific management of press with periodic costing and estimates and profit and loss analysis, waste elimination in all areas of operations, and good HR practices to retain experienced manpower which is in gross short supply.

Kumar feels that several companies in India have been investing in systems and processes which form part of a good global business practices. “ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), lean manufacturing and disciplines such as the 5S are helping several companies to improve efficiency and create an effective management policy,” he said. He also shared that in 2013, Autoprint plans to invest more in print inspection, affordable four-colour presses and post-press machine segments.

The company aims to clinch the title of Asia’s number one printing machine manufacturer in the next five years, before diversifying into other areas. Kumar agrees that the venue change has increased the cost of operations, especially with regard to logistics, bearing in mind the distance to the nearest commercial centre. We also expect last minute surprises as this is the first year at the new venue, and familiarity will be missed by both exhibitors and participants.