At All in Print China, Trelleborg showcased its range of innovative blanket solutions, garnering enthusiastic response from visitors and potential customers alike, according to Maniraju Bora, sales and technical director – South-West Asia, Trelleborg Industrial Products India.
As a blanket manufacturer, the chief focus of the company is on UV and packaging along with the newspaper industry at the moment. Trelleborg, although having a significant presence in the Indian soil, did not have the necessary products for the market earlier. “The Indian market needs a lot of attention and focus considering its size, complexities and potential. We have recently re-focused on the market and are now back with full intensity. Our participation in the Wan-Ifra conference in Kolkata this year also got us a good response.”
Bora continues, “The Indian market is quite complex and supplying to the length and breadth of the country is a challenge in itself. Adding to this challenge are the requirements of the four ends of the country, which are quite diverse and very difficult to cater to. However, the market is huge and there is still a lot of potential. The newspaper industry is certainly the one we are focused on at the moment. We believe that there are huge possibilities and options which we can explore with the Indian newspaper industry. Our products, such as the Vulcan 202, Vulcan Royal Web and Rollin Graffity Plus, have found good acceptance with the Indian publishers.”
The other key growth areas for the company in the long term is in UV and packaging, believes Bora. “Packaging is the next big story in India and this is a segment which has got everybody excited. ‘Global growth initiatives’ is another aspect of our thrust in the market, which centers on 2-piece can printing—a segment expected to boom in the coming few years. We have also introduced a dedicated blanket with polyester base, which is recommended for coating. The new technology can be used for both conventional and UV inks and can be stripped very easily. This is not only easy to handle but can also be reused. So for us, newspaper, packaging and UV along with can-printing are the prime segments. UV, however, is one segment which could do well only if the cost of UV inks reduce further.”
Trelleborg has a factory near Shanghai and it is one of the leading blanket brands in China at the moment. Trelleborg’s Axcyl sleeves for the flexo market, produced at the group’s French production site, were showcased at the exhibition and will be shown again at Printpack 2017 in India, Bora confirmed. Some of its Indian dealers and customers were taken to its production site in Shanghai.
