Based in the Northern Mumbai suburb of Kandivali, Viraj Prints last year installed a Komori Lithrone LS 429 with coater with HUV technology. The machine was set up in May 2013 and was supplied by Insight Communications.
Incorporated in 1982 by Asvin Shah as a letterpress shop, Viraj Prints soon got into offset printing. Involved in the Mumbai entertainment industry, it began printing materials for music and film companies such as CD and DVD inlays. It now also produces specialized rigid board packaging and point-of-purchase materials such as floor-standing units, display units and countertops.
The company prefers to call itself a service provider and innovator rather than merely a printer. It has developed a patented reusable package for CDs and DVDs known as the Viji Pack. “Our tilt towards this press, a 4-color plus coater in the 29-inch format was because of the space limitations that we have in Mumbai and also because 80% of our jobs require the coater,” says Saurin Shah, one of the partners in the firm.
Other features that attracted Viraj Prints to the Komori press were its quick turnaround time, and its energy saving features, minimal ozone emission and reduced carbon footprint, as well as its flexibility in printing A4 format work and its high quality print quality. Shah points that since this machine has new features and technology, it took his company six months to absorb its capabilities and working.
“Since the last two to three months we have utilized this machine fully after learning its complete know-hows,” says Shah. He explains that while he first saw the machine at PrintChina, the deal was finally closed at IGAS 2011. Working interactions with Komori and its Indian distributor have been excellent with stellar service being provided.
Speaking of the state of the Indian printing industry, Shah says current players have to integrate themselves with new technology in order to survive and flourish. “Gone are the days when a printer was just a printer. He has to think out of the box and add value to his services and products,” he says.
He further adds that due to integration of India economy with the global one, Indian print industry has also got linked to the global market. According to Shah, with more and more printers aiming at the exports markets in the developed world, many Indian players are enhancing their technological capabilities.
“A larger number of printers are embracing global technology which is an encouraging development. However, many small and inflexible players are also being left behind. At the end of the day, this is a natural process,” Shah concludes.
