The event, besides delivering knowledge, provided opportunities to printers to join the mainstream association with a platform to interact and network with their peers in the industry.

LMAI was established 15 years ago by a small group of printers and the association has thereafter grown to over 350 members. LMAI is recognized by global entities like Tarsus, FINAT and TLMI. It’s also a part of L9, a global alliance of world’s leading nine label associations.

LMAI organises technical and networking sessions across various geographical zones of India. These include programmes on cost restructuring, GST training and other important issues. The LMAI annual conference has become a must attend event for the label industry.

The evening’s first presentation was made by Ankur Joshi, product manager, Provin Technos. He explained in detail about the Miyakoshi presses offered by them.

This was followed by a thought-provoking session by Bhupinder Singh of Avery Dennison. He explained how Avery partnered with printers to offer the PS Label solutions engineered to their specific needs. He then spoke on ground realities and effects of competition in the label industry with emphasis on the imperative need to innovate and decorate their product adding value to the end product such that even if the margin in terms of percentage wise remains the same the quantum of profit gets bigger due to higher value of the end product. He also gave a comparison of PS labels to wet glue and suggested ways to motivate wet glue customers to switch over to PS labels.

Shamim Alam of HP Indigo impressed upon the need for change in the label industry to achieve growth. He presented case studies in personalisation with digital to achieve success and dwelled on possibilities by going digital.

Harshal Mahajan of SMI Coated Products made a presentation to educate printers on the right selection of face paper, adhesive and liner. He also spoke on the effects of weather, ambient temperature, storage condition and service temperature on labels and label materials.

Sailesh Sharma of Flint informed the gathering about upcoming trends in inks. He also explained the negative effects of migration and Flint’s support to customers for low migration printing and converting. He also spoke of Good Manufacturing Practices and benefits of LED UV inks offered by them.

Finally, Nitin Garg and Kishore of NBG Printographics presented details of the new indigenous full servo flexo press developed and offered by them.

LMAI President Kuldip Goel, in his short speech impressed upon printers to invest in capabilities to innovate and create value in their products to attain continued growth.

Harveer Sahni, on behalf of LMAI, spoke on the path traversed by LMAI, benefits of its membership and the programmes conducted by it.

In conclusion Rajesh Nema, honorary secretary, LMAI, thanked the delegates for their presence and also acknowledged the hard work put in and support given by local printer members Aditya Kashyap and Vishal Vohra in organising this successful event. 

Meanwhile, LMAI has partnered with Tarsus and extended its support to Labelexpo India. On the sidelines of the next Labelexpo, LMAI will be hosting the LMAI Label Awards gala evening and the L9 meet where printer members from these global associations are expected to attend and network with Indian printers.