Webtech, Rmoss and Print House invest big

The label specialist Webtech has added capacity with the installation of two new Gidue M3 and M5 presses in the last one year. With this investment, the tally of narrow-web presses at Webtech now stands at 15, six of which are Gidue.

Last year, Webtech Labels was in the news because of its merger with the Finland-based Huhtamaki Oyj's subsidiary - Paper Products-Huhtamaki (PPL Huhtamaki). Managing director Amar Chhajed informs that the plan is to go multi-locational with a new plant in Hyderabad, and is all set to become operational by next month.

Its sister concern Webtech Industries, which houses Heidelberg and Komori presses, is focusing on pharma cartons. The company also has a Vijuk folding machine, which is capable of producing over 238 panel outserts.

A new and emerging entrant in Navi Mumbai’s print sector is Rmoss Prints. The company has installed two pre-owned web presses – a six-colour Mitsubishi heatset and a Manugraph coldset press, and a pre-owned Komori six-colour sheetfed press.

The two year old company, established by four young partners, Anurag Dwivedi, Bhavin Bhalavat, Sunil Khanduri and Rakesh Dharavat, targets magazines, education publication and corporate space.

We then met Nandu Hendre of Print House, housed in a sprawling two-lakh sq/ft plant and a fleet of four heatset web presses and five sheetfed presses. Print House prints 53 magazines.

Hendre says, due to digitisation, the print runs are constantly decreasing plus there is tough competition even from smaller players. “We are, therefore, exploring packaging as an avenue to diversify.”

The update is that Print House has invested in a packaging set-up with pre-owned Bobst kit – folder-gluer and die-cutter.

Further, more print firms are making investments. We learn that Canpack Trends in Ahmedabad has invested in a brand new Heidelberg press, Borkar Packaging has invested in a secondhand Roland 900 press, Parth Offset has made an investment in a secondhand Roland 300. Down South, JC Graphics based in Vijaywada has installed a four-colour Heidlberg press

There is an interesting development at Friends Color Press in Delhi, which has recently installed a SM 74 four-colour press. We understand that the company has crossed 40 million impressions within a year after installation.

These are a few updates among many other installations taking place in Indian print industry.

Will these investments be a catalyst for the success of these print firms? We will wait and see.