Printwell expands label business with Wanjie machines

Haridwar-based Printwell has strengthened its position in the packaging industry by adding three advanced machines from Wanjie India, a subsidiary of Hebei Wanjie Machinery Technology, China. 

Founded by Gurpreet Dilawari, Printwell has been a key player in the industry for over two decades. Originally from Amritsar, Dilawari moved to Haridwar and established his business, focusing on labels, mono cartons, and rigid boxes. His father ran a corrugation business in Amritsar under Punjab Paper Box, but Dilawari chose a different path that allowed him to blend creativity with manufacturing. 

Starting with a small barcode and single-colour label printing setup in 2005, he gradually expanded, investing in letterpress and offset printing technology. His hands-on experience at Regal in Delhi helped him understand the label printing business before setting up his full-fledged production unit in Haridwar. 

The latest investment includes a six-colour intermittent offset printing press with cold foil (350x350-mm) from Wanjie India; a die-cutting machine and a roll-to-roll thermal lamination machine.

Printwell is the first company in India to install this Wanjie machine. Dilawari visited Wanjie’s facilities in China and Gujarat to evaluate the technology before making the decision. 

Gurpreet Dilawari said, “Wanjie machines offer reliable performance at a competitive cost, making them well-suited for the Indian market.”   

Printwell serves a diverse clientele across Haridwar, Dehradun, Gurugram and Telangana, and also exports directly to Australia and Nepal. The company has structured its business into three key segments: labels (33%), mono cartons (33%) and rigid boxes (33%). 

Gurpreet Dilawari said, “The demand for short-run jobs is high, with 60-70% of orders ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 labels. However, medium and high-volume orders (above 200,000 labels) pose pricing challenges, as customers are often reluctant to bear the cost of printing plates and cylinders. 

With a turnover of Rs 24-crore, Printwell has invested nearly Rs 4-crore in its latest expansion. A significant growth area is rigid box manufacturing, which offers higher margins and strong market demand, particularly in the cosmetic and liquor industries. The company operates one of the few, if not the only, fully automated rigid box plants in Uttarakhand. 

With his brother Sarvjeet managing production and his mother Santosh playing a key role in the company, Printwell continues to push boundaries, ensuring growth, innovation, and sustainability in the competitive packaging industry. 

“Our focus is on premium and core packaging. The art and finishing involved in rigid boxes make it a lucrative segment," Sarvjeet Dilawari said. 

Looking ahead, Printwell aims to strengthen its export business, with a dedicated paper cup manufacturing unit solely for exports. While flexo printing presses require high ROI, the future, according to Dilawari, lies in digital and offset printing. 

"Investment should be smart — minimal capital, maximum profitability,” Sarvjeet Dilawari said, emphasising the need for strategic expansion rather than aggressive spending. 

Rakesh Patel from Wanjie India said, “Our machines are suited to the demands of Indian converters, enabling them to produce high-quality products at an affordable price. We are delighted to install our first machines at Printwell and to be a partner in their growth.”