The future of printing at Print & Beyond 2024

Louis Francis, president, KMPA, welcomed over 200 delegates, while Raju N Kutty, chairman, Print & Beyond 2024, introduced the day's knowledge-sharing proceedings. 

Kutty also remembered the late Jose Joseph of Printers Castle, whose immense contributions continue to inspire the association and the industry. He said the seminar serves as a tribute to Jose Joseph.

Dr Divya S Iyer, IAS, managing director of Vizhinjam International Seaport, delivered the inaugural address via virtual communication. During her talk, she expressed optimism for the industry's future.

Raghbendra Baruah, president of AIFMP, charted a bold vision for the print industry’s future in 2030. “The print and packaging industry's future looks bright,” he said, highlighting technological advancements and the rise of start-ups as positive indicators of progress.

Arvind Sekhar, director of Sai Packaging Co, Bengaluru, explored viability for the next generation in the industry. Sekhar outlined three critical elements: Innovation, cost, and supply chain management, stressing the importance of prioritisation for achieving excellence.

Sahil Rao, founder of Unbox Packaging, Pune, highlighted the critical role of effective branding and the seamless integration of automation into systems. “As a customer continues to evolve, embracing technology transitions from being a luxury to becoming a necessity.” Rao said, as customer needs continue to evolve, embracing technology transitions from being a luxury to becoming a necessity.

Anuj Bhargava, founder of Kumar Labels spoke about seeing a doubling of volume in the printing industry by 2032, with value following suit even sooner. "Moreover, sustainability and compliance requirements are expected to drive changes in printing methods, machinery, and substrates, urging printers to adapt to new practices. It will be crucial to maximise asset utilisation by 2030. Robust data collection and understanding your Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEEs) will be essential for achieving this goal."

During the panel discussion moderated by Prof Rajendrakumar Anayath, industry experts delved into the emerging trends influencing consumer behavior within the manufacturing sector. The panelists, included Avatar Singh of Komori, TP Jain of Monotech, and Shreerang Joshy of TechNova, who provided valuable insights into the evolving landscape of the industry.

Ramu Ramanathan of PrintWeek moderated the second panel discussion of the day, which fearured industry experts from Renil Thomas of Orange Offset, Louis Francis of Xpress Labels, KP Uthup of Colourtone, and Anoop Venugopalan of Anaswara Offset. The panelists offered valuable perspectives on the challenges, highlights, and key learnings within the industry.

During his address at the event, G Raveendra Babu, Vice President (South) of AIFMP, emphasised the excellence of the KMPA association and the remarkable contributions of printers in Kerala. He highlighted their collaborative efforts in fostering a vibrant print community, showcasing the power of unity and shared vision in driving industry growth and innovation.

Future Schoolz received recognition at the Print & Beyond event for its outstanding contributions to the industry. Future Schoolz has been instrumental in driving advancements and fostering excellence among print professionals', entrepreneurs and students.

Concluding the event, G Venugopal, general secretary of KMPA, expressed gratitude through the vote of thanks, acknowledging all participants, sponsors, and attendees for their valuable contributions and unwavering support.