Vikram Saxena of Sapphire Digital and Vinod Jindal of Jindal Offset

Vikram Saxena, Sapphire Digital

Why pre-owned machines? Saxena lists the reasons. First, the industry is unorganised. Not many people maintain their books properly, hence, getting big loans for new machines is a challenge. Second, due to the unorganised nature of business and unpredictability in profits, no venture capitalist easily put money into the printing venture. Third, rate of interest on machinery. In India, a car loan is cheaper than a machinery loan. Fourth, not every printing house is resourceful enough to buy newer technologies that come with huge price tag.

 

Sapphire Digital sells reconditioned HP Indigo presses. “Indigo is like the Rolls Royce of digital printing, so, yes, brand matters,” says Saxena. In the last one year, the company sold five presses. “However, more than the business, we are satisfied that we were able to put across the message to the market that we are serious players and we are here to play long innings,” he added. The future looks bright, and in 2015, the company is focussing on packaging with digital printing machines, which has a huge potential.

 

“Before delivery, our presses undergo a thorough check. We request our customer to check his files on the press he has chosen. Before despatch, we print-test the machine and even give pre-delivery inspection report,” says Saxena.

 

For Sapphire Digital, every customer is a relationship. “We believe in ‘earning’ this relationship and ‘earning’ the customer. We try our best to do everything that removes pain area of our customer, whether it is bundling the trained operator with machine or providing the specialist for month or two to shorten the learning curve or any kind of hand holding support,” Saxena adds.

 

But, aren’t Indian printers in the recent time showing their willingness to invest in new machines? “This may be true for photo colour labs, where silver halide technology is dying and people are buying new digital machines, but not in the case of traditional offset printers,” says Saxena. 

 

Vinod Jindal, Jindal Offset

 Jindal Offset deals in used mini offset printing machines from Adast Dominant, Ryobi, Hamada, AB Dick, Toko and Heidelberg Tok, etc, used paper cutting machines from Polar, Seypa and Wohlenberg, used paper folding machines of Stahl and used Heidelberg die-cutting cylinders. The company also deals in new digital post-press equipments like thermal roll laminator, perfect binder and paper cutting machines.

 

Last year, the company did a good business in used offset machinery, as well as in new digital equipment. Now it looks to up the ante and do better business in 2015.