Considering the fact that the print industry in Chennai and Tamil Nadu has seen tough times the last couple of years with power cuts, stagnating demand, increasing raw material costs, the business turnout at the exhibition was impressive.

In spite of the conspicuous absence of a few major players and regular local manufacturers, the exhibitors were satisfied. Most of them concluded deals at the end of the business days.

Xerox, once again were the marquee exhibitor and occupied the biggest stall in the event displaying an array of digital devices which included the C75 and J75 digital presses for the first time. Interestingly enough, the stall had the presence of their finance partners (Intec and EFL) and offering on-spot deals for prospective clients.

A major talking point of the event was the aggressive strategy by the Chennai-based manufacturers/dealers: Monotech and Proteck with the former tripling their presence with a 120 sq/mtr space. This brought out in force all their verticals in terms of press/printing machines ranging from the newly established partnership for Oce large format printers to their own brand of Pixeljet and Jetsci industrial inkjet printers.

Proteck’s strategy for the exhibition also saw the manufacturer displaying for the first time their paper cutting system which includes the guillotine, jogger and the pile lifter.

Print Expo also saw Hitech Systems who have consistently been the busiest stall every year also up the ante with massive never-before presence and launching five new products whereas Paperbind (earlier Paper Ideas), Malhotra Graphics announcing significant partnerships as part of the expo.

The overall size of the exhibition might have seen a reduction with a total of 137 stalls and 6,000 sq/ft. of space but despite a few minor complaints the exhibition largely signalled a turn of corner for the sagging mid-segment of the Tamil Nadu and Chennai print industry.