Manugraph India has entered into an agreement with Seiken Graphics Japan, to promote the Seiken 85 press model, in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Middle East. Seiken 85 is a 4 x 1 press with a speed of 80,000 copies an hour. In addition, Seiken Graphics will market the 2 x 1 machine of MIL in Japan, thus effectively providing the Japanese market with the Manugraph brand. “This agreement is expected to complement the growth of both our companies and enhance market capabilities by dual sharing of technology,” said Shah. Besides the Seiken 85, MIL will also promote other Seiken products such as the Single Gripper Conveyor system, plate punching and bending device and the Super Panorama System.
Announcing the partnership, Pradeep Shah, managing director MIL said, “The Seiken 85, will now be one more product option available to the Indian market. Besides the Smartline and Dreamline which run at speeds of 70,000 and 50,000 copies an hour respectively, we can now offer our customers world-class Japanese technology with a speed of 80,000 copies an hour, providing great versatility to customers with higher print runs.” He went on to say that, “The Seiken brand with its advanced technology and continuous innovation is a global name which is also well-known in India, with the Seiken 65, another 4 x 1 press, already installed at Daily Thanthi in the South. India, being a nation with the largest paid circulation of newspapers in the world and growing, we felt it was necessary to support this segment of larger print runs by adding the Seiken 85 to our portfolio.”
Our view
This is good news for both the Indian and global newspaper and book press markets. With eight manufacturers fighting for the stagnant global market for high speed web offset presses with speeds above 65,000 copies an hour, it is a matter of concern to newspaper publishers as to where the consolidation will come from and which manufacturers and press designs will survive and evolve.
The Indian market especially which has shown its preference for 4 x 1 presses in centres with high circulations, will look forward to the increased viability of the Seiken 85,000 technology combined with the lower cost of Manugraph’s sales, installation and service. The Seiken postpress mailroom conveyer and other key ancillary equipment are another attraction that presents a viable solution to newspaper publishers with large circulations. The tie up with Seiken can also leverage Manugraph’s highly reputed sales and engineering strength in the Middle East and other emerging markets.
