Pune-based Kadam Digital Transprints and Kodak organized an open house with the theme of ‘CtP Tantra-Mantra’ on 19 April 2014 in Pune to announce the addition of a Kodak Trendsetter Quantum 800 platesetter to Kadam’s offset. The event had about 140 attendees from the printing fraternity in Pune. Kodak took the opportunity to conduct a knowledge-sharing session on select Kodak products such as the Kodak CtPs, Kodak Sonora Process-Free plates and Kodak Unified Workflow Solutions.
Kadam Digital Transprints, started in 1990, initially began with black and white desktop publishing (DTP) jobs. Today, Kadam Digital is recognised as one of the most technologically advanced printing houses in Pune, employing over 45 people, with an annual turnover of about Rs 5 crores.
In 2005, the company introduced the CtP system, the first printing house to do so in Pune. Three years later in 2008 it opted for an advanced CtP system. In 2010, the company installed its second unit of CtP and the Kodak Nexpress digital press and launched its postpress activities. In 2012, the company acquired its digital photo lab. Kadam Digital also has a high-end Kodak Prinergy Workflow software system.
Kadam Digital Transprints has introduced its new web-to-print facility on their improved website, which is an automated process to upload the file and print order. This
facility helps track information on job cost and timelines, while also monitoring the progress of the job from the customer’s location, thus saving time and being cost-effective for the customer. Nilesh Dandige from Kruti Infomedia, Pune, has developed this unique, easy-to-use solution for Kadam Digital’s customers.
“This open house is an endeavour towards educating the industry people about the latest technology and happenings in the new generation CtP. We have conducted similar events before and have got amazing feedback. This event has also been very satisfying,” says Sanjay Kadam, director, Kadam Digital Transprints.
Kodak Trendsetter Quantum 800 Platesetter was added to the arsenal a month back and Kadam says his company has a great relationship with Kodak. “Our relationship with Kodak
goes back some years now and we are very satisfied. We have been greatly benefited by Nexpress and other Kodak prodcuts.”
Talking about the Trendsetter Quantum 800, Kadam says, “The Kodak Trendsetter Q800 is our second Kodak installation, after the Nexpress SE 3000 Digital Production color press. The Q800 along with Kodak Prinergy Workflow bolsters our offset solutions and adds value to our customer offerings.”
While expressing his view on the digital printing industry Kadam feels that in the next two to three years digital printing will move towards inkjet printing. He adds that lot of short-run jobs in packaging will go towards digital. “Market for packaging samples will be a segment done more and more by digital.”
An issue raised at the event was that of shrinking margins in the printing industry. On this issue Kadam says unhealthy competition is bad for the industry and players should avoid undercutting.
On the current slowdown and its impact on the industry and how printers need to tackle it, Kadam points out that there is a definite decline in business activity but the printers need to look for opportunity during this period. He adds that family-owned businesses need to move towards a professionally run setup and also need to regularly invest in technology.
“If you look at Kadam Digital, we have always believed in staying a step ahead of others and we invest in technology on a regular basis. That is the reason for Kadam Digital’s
success,” he concludes.
