“We do not offer machines. We offer services,” says Mahesh Parkar, managing director of Mumbai-based Parkar Communications (PCPL). Since its inception in 1995, the company has evolved into a dynamic communications service provider, what Parkar calls 360-degree communication. PCPL now has a full-fledged design department with 42 designers, a printing department with state-of-the-art machines, a film division, an event management department and a digital communication department which is based in Bengaluru.
The company is working directly with leading consumer brands such as P&G, Gillette, Cadbury, Onida, Mahanagar Gas, to name a few. With P&G PCPL has a global contract.
With employee strength of close to 150, the company has a turnover of about Rs 50 crore. Parkar’s state-of-the-art printing press is located in the suburb of Andheri East and is spread across 8,000 square feet. The press is utilized for printing danglers, posters, cartons, brochures, booklets and signage.
Scodix deal at an eventful drupa
Early last year, PCPL invested in a Heidelberg 4-color SM 74 and Esko Kongsberg XN cutting table. Parkar has planned for further investments in the printing department and with that in mind visited drupa this year. It turned out to be an eventful one as PCPL signed a deal to buy a Scodix S75. Discussions were also held with two companies for an 8-color roll to labelling machine with the option of screen printing, foil printing, diecutting and finishing. Parkar did not disclose the names of the companies he is in talks with for commercial reasons. Moreover, on the purchase list is a metallic screen printing machine.
“During my visit to Dusseldorf this year I was focussing mainly on solutions for value addition. As our philosophy is value addition these technologies were needed. We have signed the Scodix deal and the machine will be installed in a few weeks. For the other two we are still in talks with manufacturers,” says Parkar.
Not only will the 2016-17 financial year see the installation of some state-of-the-art machines, the fiscal will also see construction of a brand new facility. PCPL will be moving into a much bigger space which will house all its verticals.
Open to stake sale
PCPL has come a long way in the last two decades to become a Rs 50 crore company. Parkar now wants to take PCPL on a faster growth path. He says it is the right time to open the company for investors, a move that will facilitate the next phase of growth. “We are open to the idea of a joint venture as well as stake sale. In fact, we are in talks with few private equity players. Nothing has been decided yet as everything is in a very preliminary stage but we have made our intentions clear,” concludes Parkar.
