Letra Graphix hosts Label Yatra

PrintWeek/WhatPackaging? organised the panel of creative designers present at the event.

During the event, the packaging designer group visited Letra's label production area and spoke with experts, getting insights into label manufacturing and the printing process. The attendees received printed samples produced by Letra Graphix to have a first-hand experience at the event.

Shah discussing the print elements, including value additions done, for the benefit of the delegates

Nirav Shah, founder of Letra Graphix and his team also shared information on label production and how Gallus flexo and Labelfire hybrid press add value to overall print production.

Last year, Letra became the first company in India to install the Gallus Labelfire hybrid press, which combines UV inkjet printing quality with the inline productivity of flexo printing and has the benefits of screen printing. The Gallus team, led by Samir Patkar, president of Heidelberg India, was also present. Narendra Kulkarni, regional product manager of Gallus, discussed label print technology, the transformation from flexo to hybrid printing, and the Prinect digital frontend.

Patkar shared insights on the latest Heidelberg Gallus product offerings to help the agencies and highlighted the advantages of Gallus Labelfire hybrid technology. “The event was to get a grasp on the concerns of designers so that we, Letra, Gallus and Avery Dennison, could offer tailored solutions, particularly in the realms of colour management and new design possibilities.”

Avery Dennison's KM Manoj, director of sales and tech services, LPM South Asia and Vipin Garg, marketing and product manager, represented the company. Vladimir Tyulpin, who connected from the Netherlands, discussed the trends shaping Avery's portfolio and what brands are doing to enhance the packaging. According to Tyulpin, factors such as paper structures, felts, finishes, tactile properties, colour, and thickness are important. He presented examples of labels to illustrate his points.

The event aimed to foster collaboration across diverse substrates and print embellishments. Letra invited creative and design agencies to share designs that it could print and present during the Label Yatra. Four creative and design agencies sent four label artworks, which Letra produced. The labels were produced on Avery's label stock and printed on Gallus Labelfire.

Letra team – (l-r) Avakar Raval, Manasi Nishant and Shah during one of the label’s show-and-tell

Shah and his team at Letra – Anushree Agrawal, Hetu Hor, Avakar Raval and Manasi Nishant discussed the print elements, including value additions done, for the benefit of the delegates.

The event was a unique experience for the creative designers who attended. The delegates learned about the latest trends in printing labels and got insights into the possibilities of applications. Toral Kabra of Beyondesign said, "This event really helped to understand where the technology is changing and how we can adapt this in even small ways in our design. This, in a way, helps designers and our client get unique solutions."

Kabra cited examples of her learning. “We saw that there are alternative ways of avoiding counterfeiting, techniques to ensure vignettes are smoother, and how to find cost-effective alternatives to foiling.  Small elements like these make a difference.”

One group of delegates at the G1 unit which runs the Gallus EM280 press

Sumit Chaurasia of Famous India said he had a truly incredible time with all the knowledge and inspiration he gained. "Every minute spent at the factory was valuable and eye-opening. I learned so much about the latest trends in printing in labels."

Chaurasia added Nirav ji’s passion for the industry and his insights into Letra’s cutting-edge technology were truly contagious. “The Galatea label was brilliant. It was produced using different techniques but still had seamless execution. I enjoyed the live demonstration of the design software Prinect machines like Gallus EM 340S and EM280s, the tour of the production floor, and the Q&A session.”

The warm and welcoming atmosphere created by the Letra team, coupled with the idea of serving authentic Gujarathi lunch, made the experience even more special for the delegates, said Chaurasia.

One group of delegates at the G4 unit which is equipped with the latest Gallus Labelfire press