Nice Prints up capacity after installation of Easymatrix 106 C die-cutting machine

The company specialises in packaging cartons and leaflets for major pharmaceutical brands across India.

Heidelberg India has deepened its relationship with its major stakeholder Masterwork Group, the manufacturer of a range of Easymatrix die-cutter, Diana folder-gluers and packaging converting kit, through a new joint venture for the production of parts in China. This played a key role in installing the Easymatrix 106 C die-cutter at Nice Prints.

In 2014, Nice Prints invested in a Bobst die-cutter and folder-gluer and a Heidelberg Suprasetter. In 2016, the company added a Heidelberg CD 102 five-colour. In 2020, it added Heidelberg MK Easymatrix 106 C die-cutter and a Bobst folder-gluer. Besides, the company has two Heidelberg SM 74 two-colour perfector presses and five Pratham leaflet-making machines.

RD Nayak, director of Nice Prints had ordered the kit at the beginning of 2020 to meet the growing demand for packaging. The company was already converting 110 tonnes of paperboard with the existing machines, and had hoped to add more capacity with the new kit.

Nayak is upbeat about his decision to stay with the booking and not cancel it.

“There was a period of uncertainty in the print industry. The lockdown meant everything would be shut. But packaging had to be kept out of the lockdown ambit, as it was an essential requirement for anything that required transportation, particularly for the FMCG products,” said Nayak.

The company specialises in cartons and leaflets for the pharma segments. The company today converts 120 tonnes of paperboard and 20-25 tonnes of paper per month, a 10-15% growth in its output. “I can say 100% of our jobs are pharma-related.”

Nice Prints produces cartons, 90% of which are special colours and 10% with embellishments and print runs of anything between 5,000 to 15,000 cartons. The company prints around eight to 10 jobs per day. “The jobs range from special colours to foil decoration on cartons with a material thickness of up to 450 microns,” said Nayak. “The Easymatrix 106 C helped us process the different jobs easily. Additionally, the features such as quick-lock frames, test sheet removal, centre line adjustment register at all the stations, as well as the user-friendly touchscreen, ensured that the makeready times are really short.”

The Easymatrix 106 C performs die-cutting and embossing operations at a speed of 7,700 sph with thickness ranging from 0.1mm to 2mm and corrugated board up to 4mm without any changes in the feeder, and features a motorised cutting pressure adjustment up to 260 tonnes.

Established in 2001, Nice Prints has been a key client of Heidelberg India, running one Speedmaster CD 102 five-colour plus coater UV press, SM 74 four-colour and three SM 74 two-colour presses on its press floor.

The company operates in a 32,000 sqft factory and has an employee strength of 100.