The company bears the name of the Irish-American entrepreneur and inventor David McConnell Smyth, who filed the Smyth Sewing patent, established the company, and championed the shift from labour-intensive hand binding to industrial-scale production. The company has two manufacturing facilities in Italy—a 6,000 sqm headquarters on a 10,000 sqm area in Northern Italy (100 km from Milan). The second facility, situated in Turin, is responsible for the manufacturing of all the mechanical components.

“The decision to enter India comes as part of Smyth's strategic expansion plan, aiming to tap into the country's unparalleled growth potential. India, with its robust economic and demographic factors, presents a compelling opportunity for Smyth to establish a significant presence in the region,” said Sabrina Pronotto, managing director at Smyth.

As the company prepares to make its mark in India, Smyth is gearing up to participate in Drupa 2024 (Hall 6/C25). Drupa will see Smyth launch the new FF-380 4D automatic book sewing machine. “This is our top-of-the-range solution for those who need to produce high-quality sewn books. Its proven reliability results from the company experience gained over decades combined with its long-standing tradition in bookbinding. Unique design features allow the FF-380 4D book sewing machine to process all types of signatures and paper, and the latest technology helps to make it simple to use and operator-friendly,” explained Pronotto. 

In addition, the company will launch its new range of folding and sewing systems for digital printing, fitting any customer's unique production needs and budgets. In particular, at the Canon booth (Hall 8A/B41), Smyth will showcase the new DX-80 Plus sheetfed, the new folding and sewing system connected in-line with the Canon VP 6000 Titan printer to make sewn book blocks digitally printed in line.

At its stand, Smyth will also display the new DX-80 webfed connected in line with the Tecnau cutter TC7000 HS and unwinder U50i. “It’s a smart integration line and cost-effective solution able to fit any production requirements of digitally printed sewn book blocks on the reel,” said Pronotto.

Smyth has an active customer base of 600 in over 65 countries across five continents, and 95% of Smyth’s turnover originates from exports. Smyth's presence at Drupa will provide a prime opportunity to introduce its high-quality products and tailor-made solutions to a diverse audience of industry professionals and potential partners. With a focus on market penetration and building a strong network of distributors and agents, Smyth is set to leverage its expertise and experience to cater to the specific needs of the Indian market. “We have finalised a list of potential Indian distributors that we plan to meet at Drupa to establish an exclusive regional distribution channel,” said Pronotto.

Smyth's market penetration strategy in India is expanding its business footprint and contributing to its growth by offering superior alternatives to inexpensive Chinese machines and costly European counterparts. “The company's commitment to delivering high-quality products at competitive prices positions it as a compelling choice for customers in India,” concluded  Pronotto.