A company statement shared with PrintWeek said, "The expertise of Suprotik Das is poised to drive Bindwel-Stelda into a new era of innovation and growth."

Post-retirement, Das has continued to make significant contributions to India's entrepreneurial landscape, notably as a mentor at the  Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development, within the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. His leadership in nurturing start-ups and fostering technological advancements has earned him recognition across industries.

Speaking exclusively to PrintWeek, Pallippuram Sajith, the managing director of Bindwel-Stelda, said, "Bindwel-Stelda is in an exciting phase of growth across three verticals – bookbinding machines, packaging (both primary and secondary), and digital post-printing. Each vertical demands unique expertise, but our group’s customer focus ties it all together, leveraging our deep knowledge of paper, board, folding, creasing, cutting, and adhesion technologies." 

Sajith added, "Das’s vast global and local experience in precision engineering will not only mentor our leadership but also help further develop our innovation centre under Suresh Nair. This will bring measurable enhancements in our machines that will help our customers boost their product quality and cost efficiency."

Commenting on his new role, Suprotik Das said, "I have known the Bindwel-Stelda group for over a decade. Their passionate customer focus, technological adaptability, and willingness to take ecosystem-benefitting risks have always impressed me." Das added, "I am excited to work alongside their leadership and help address challenges with innovative solutions."

Bindwel Technologies, the largest manufacturer of book binding machines in India, holds a significant market share in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, continuously delivering solutions to traditional and digital print houses. Its SigLoch brand is at the forefront of digital post-printing, offering a range of automated machinery for the publishing and printing sectors.

Stelda, Bindwel-Stelda’s flagship brand for case packaging machines, is known for its advanced secondary packaging solutions that cater to industries such as food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, and FMCG. With its recent acquisition of tube filling machines and cartoning technology from Wimco, Stelda has also made a strategic move into primary packaging, broadening its product portfolio.

Readers of PrintWeek will recall that the Bindwel board has another industry stalwart, Kai Buentemeyer, ex-CEO of Kolbus and former chairman of paper and packaging machines at VDMA. Buentemeyer is based in Rhaden in Germany and guides the group in its developments in the new era of bookbinding technology plus on entry strategy into developed markets.

The addition of Das marks a pivotal moment for Bindwel-Stelda, as his expertise in harmonising global manufacturing standards with a customer-first mindset is expected to elevate the company’s operational efficiency, drive technological innovation, and expand its market presence.