This closed-door knowledge sharing initiative has been possible due to Nagsundar and A Balachandra of Karnataka Offset Printer's Association (KOPA).

A Balachandra of Rajhans, who was elected unanimously as president for the period 2013-15 spoke to PrintWeek India on the eve of the occasion.

He said: "I am firming up the plans for the period 2013-15. This includes making TOPTEC fully operational by building inventory of equipment. This will enable us provide hands on training to operators of member printers and aspiring printers and setting a library and data bank."

His advise to printers was: "Training as you know is a very important aspect. And for that we intend to identify four students each from printing technology, polytechnics and degree colleges as well as personnel from printing press. KOPA wants to train them for at least three months in our own workshop plus we want to give them a stipend as well.  Thereafter we will assign them to printers who require trained personnel. This would be ongoing process and be beneficial to all."

He admitted, "the slowdown of the economy has affected all spheres of activities including printing industry and will definitely pick up once the rupee stabilises."

But he felt, "the growth is visible, even today." He said, "the packaging sector is doing good. The label growth in South India is stable as there are many pharma manufacturers, liquor manufacturers and MNCs. The trend in newspapers is becoming fewer pages due to fewer advertisements on account of cost cutting. It is expected to improve."

Analysing the vexed issue of the rupee, he said, "the stabilising of the rupee in the coming weeks, will accelerate the growth and there shall be new installations of presses in the coming weeks." He added, "This view of mine is based on the fact that printing is here to stay."

He said, "My only advice to my fellow printers is to work as a team leader and not as owners who has control over purchases. Do become more thrifty in matters of deployment of personnel. Also have a close check on production which will also be instrumental in giving quality jobs." Balachandra's mantra, "One must maintain good relationship with the customers and manage finances effectively; specially on interest, rent and installment."

Speaking about the role of KOPA as a print association he said, "The need of the Association is to motivate our members to educate themselves in the latest trend in industry. KOPA must also enable them to watch the trends which could be adopted. This is the only association which is doing good for the printers in the country."

Balachandra has been president of Karnataka Offset Printers Association (KOPA), once before from 2003-07. Today, Rajhans It's one of the success stories of India. The print firm that produces 45 titles for monthly magazines, six weekly titles and seven newspaper titles. The firm has nine units in Rajajinagar, Bengaluru covering 90,000 sq/ft areas plus additional units in Devangere in central Karnataka and Coimbatore.

Balachandra, who is known for his acumen, grit and approach is also the chairman of The Offset Printers Technology Trust.