The Kodak NX certification involves adhering to platemaking procedures based on parameters, which are standard global specifications, benchmarking quality and efficiency.

Kwality is the second among the 23 Kodak Flexcel NX customers in India to be certified by Kodak. The first was Ahmedabad’s Pinmark Blocks, who incidentally was also the first in the Asia-Pacific Region to achieve the landmark.

Two other firms with the Kodak NX certification are Akshar NX from Ahmedabad and Anupama Printing Solutions from New Delhi.

Kwality specialises in folding carton, wet glue and self-adhesive labels. In the packaging and label segment it produces products on foil, film, paper and mono cartons. “The Flexcel NX certificate has helped enhance our print quality and consistency, which is so important in the high-risk label segment,” said Rajeev Chhatwal, director at Kwality.

The procedure involved Kwality sending plate samples that was based on Kodak specified parameter, fill up all details required along with two letter of recommendation from customers that focused on the benefits achieved because of the use of Kodak plates.

“We are delighted to receive the formal certification, though we have been certified a year ago, and it has benefitted us as a labeller,” said Chhatwal.

He added that prior to the Kodak Flexcel NX installation, the company used to get complaints about quality and consistency, but after the installation, it has received good feedbacks from its customers. “We had customers for whom we did few jobs on offset, but after seeing the Flexcel quality, they asked us to shift the work on flexo,” Chhatwal said.

He cited an example of a job he did for an MNC. “We recently did a job from an MNC, the design for which came from the UK. Proofs were produced and after initially corrections, the samples were okayed. But the agency was not sure about the final print. When we informed that we are a Kodak-certified partner, no further questions were asked,” said Chhatwal. “That reflects the high standards of our operations and the product being produced.”

Kwality’s shopfloor includes Kodak pre-press system, a Heidelberg and Manroland multi-colour presses and three Mark Andy flexo presses, converting around six-lakh sq/m of labels and around 80 tonnes of paperboards per month.

The company will soon be adding digital to its portfolio of presses. The Xeikon 3030Plus four-colour plus white dry toner-based press on the Xeikon stand at Labelexpo India 2016 will be installed at Kwality soon after the show is over.