Navneet adds K&B Rapida 106 press to its new business vertical plan

“We were keen to upgrade our machinery which we have been using for the last two- to three-decade. However, the Covid-19 pandemic stopped us in our bid. Since the pandemic is now seemingly behind us, we have ordered a new K&B Rapida 106 press,” said Bipin Gala of Navneet Education.

Established as a publisher in 1959, Navneet moved to print in 1966 and as a stationery publisher in 1991. Navneet is one of the first publishers to bring offset printing in-house printing back in the 80s. The company has three locations: Dantali in Gandhinagar, Silvassa and Khaniwade in Thane district, with web and offset printing as well as converting machines in Gandhinagar and Silvassa.

Navneet does not want to reveal what kind of application the press will be used for until the machine comes into production, but speaking to PrintWeek on the sidelines of BMPA’s Vision Conclave in Goa, Gala said, “We are planning to diversify into new business vertical, namely, educational games.”

According to market reports, Navneet has a 65% market share on Maharashtra and Gujarat state boards. The company has also entered into CBSE syllabus books in other states.

During the financial year ending March 2022, Navneet reported sales growth of 33.52%, recording sales of Rs 1,114.30-crore in March 2022 as against Rs 834.57-crore in March 2021, and a net profit rise of 132.42% after its profits rose to Rs 129-crore in March 2022 from Rs 55.93-crore in the previous year ended March 2021.

According to Aditya Surana, managing director of Indo Polygraph Machinery, K&B’s India representative, the K&B Rapida 106, which Navneet has opted for, is not a typical configuration publisher-printer would buy. “As Gala ji said, there is the new business vertical, plus Navneet is a big player in the stationery segment too. In addition, it can be used to print high-end covers for their stationery and book titles.”

In 2020, K&B revamped its Rapida presses and introduced new models – the Rapida 106 and 105 – which it calls the “black models” equipped with all the bells and whistles.

Surana said, ”The new Rapidas comes with a new black and grey livery and has illuminated glass side panels.” He added, "It offers commercial and packaging printers unparalleled productivity levels, besides a host of features.”

According to Surana, the host of features include high-speed makeready in genuine minutes and connectivity; a new touchscreen operating panel with display press status at the delivery end; K&B's Patented Sidelay Free Sensoric infeed system; nonstop feeder and delivery; a Job Optimiser software, which bridges a printer’s MIS and K&B Logotronic press management system. “Ink colour can be changed in less than two minutes thanks to upgraded ink ducts,” claimed Surana.