Xerox India launched the wide format IJP 2000 inkjet printer and the Xerox 570 digital press at Print Expo 2014, held in Chennai from 18 to 20 April 2014. The new IJP 2000 is meant as a high speed output device for printing large indoor posters, signage, point-of- purchase graphics and banners.
Vipin Tuteja, executive director, technology, channels and international business, Xerox India, said at the launch, “We knew there was a market for wide format equipment and therefore took a conscious decision to launch wide format IJP 2000 as well as the Xerox 570 digital color press at Print Expo 2014 in Chennai. The IJP 2000 breaks the mould in terms of speed and brings a huge competitive advantage to our customers. Increased speed means printers can accept and produce more wide format jobs – even last-minute requests. I am happy that our partners and customers at the Print Expo 2014 have given positive feedback to the IJP 2000 and the Xerox 570, and we will soon see installations across the country.”
“2013 was a year of uncertain economic conditions and was slow for the printing industry. However, Q1 of calendar year 2014 has shown some positive signs. Our digital printing business is growing by 20% and the South continues to be a key market for us,” Tuteja added.
Pankaj Kalra, head of Xerox India’s production systems group, said the digital printing market in India continued to show impressive growth even under last year’s challenging conditions including fledgling
economic growth, a weak Rupee and customers deferring their purchases. Xerox has always been a supporter of the Print Expo exhibition, taking part in all six editions of the show. This is mostly because, as Kalra said, “This show encompasses all the southern states and helps in bringing them together. The southern India region has always been special in terms of growth for Xerox,” said Kalra.
Customers in the South have traditionally been the early and first adopters whereas consumers in the northern parts of the country seem to prefer tried and tested models.
Customers in smaller cities are now more aware of the latest trends in printing and thus it is difficult to differentiate in terms of their demands compared to their counterparts in metro cities. As tier-2 and tier-3 cities continue to stake their
claim in the digital printing map, faster presses such as the Xerox iGen 150 and the iGen 4 have been installed in Coimbatore and Trichy.
Xerox India has already installed two iGens this year in a good first quarter. Kalra expects the mid-range and the top-end of the market to perform well in this fiancial year with hopes of achieving strong double digit growth. With the markets recovering a bit and the Rupee appreciating over the last few months, Kalra is optimistic about GDP growth. He thinks, elections have helped in the overall boost of print and have certainly helped the printers generate short run jobs. Although general book printing and other forms of traditional printing have taken a hit, several new short run job options have emerged for a modern printer and print again looks to be healthy and safe.
