"From the previous year, we are seeing a trend in the south of India where packaging companies of all sizes are looking at automating their post-press processes. This has worked really well in our favour," said B Vijay Kumar, senior manager – marketing support of Autoprint.

The company in the previous year has 14 installations of both the die-punching and UV coating machines in the south.

"I think the lesson learnt from some of the bigger players up north on the benefits of deploying automated technology has been an eye-opener for many of the printers here and this has seen a spurt of sales in automated post-press equipment in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai," said Kumar.

The Repetto 65 can handle papers from 60 gsm to 450 gsm board and registers a maximum speed of 4500 sheets per hour. It incorporates servo-controlled gripper assembly for precise registration and its applications are die cutting of mono cartons, boards for pharmaceutical packaging, FMCG packaging and envelopes die cutting for mail handling solution providers apart from use for labels sticker half cut, kiss cutting, perforation, creasing, embossing etc.

"Our previous participation at PrintExpo in 2015 was a grand success where we displayed the same product (Repetto 65). We sold the machine in the exhibition and were able to convert a few more post-show netting a total sale of nearly Rs 1.5 crores," said Kumar

"The show attracts visitors from all southern states and this is one of the key factors for our return this year," he added.