Newspaper group Sakal's packaging move gets KBA, Bobst boost

The Rs 15-crore investment tops the group's Rs 10 crore investment in land and infrastructure in Nashik, where the plant will be located.

 

Pratap Pawar, chairman of the Rs 750 crore group, said, “We have been running a successful newspaper and commercial printing business, and diversification into packaging segment, though a new one for us, is only a natural progression."

 

The Group aims to target the pharma, liquor, and FMCG segments.

 

“We have done our own survey, and found that there is tremendous potential in the packaging segment. The per capita consumption of packaging in India is less than 5 kg compared to over 65 kg and 42 kg in US and Germany, respectively. Given the trend, this per capita number is bound to grow, which will give the packaging industry a boost. We hope to serve and benefit from it,” said Pawar.

 

Setting up the plant in Nashik is the stage one of the diversification. “Sakal has 12 printing units across Maharashtra and with our learning from this packaging plant in Nashik, we hope to extend each of the 12 units with a packaging arm.”

 

Sakal has a battery of Heidelberg presses as well as post-press equipments like Muller Martini and Welbound. While most of the presses have been brand new, the group had initially intended on buying pre-owned machinery before deciding to pick new ones. “Packaging demands quality work, plus we wanted to build the plant with future in mind,” said Pawar.

 

The plant is expected to be up and running by the end of October 2016.