Pune-based Kadam Digital Transprints has always believed that the mantra for success is for companies to keep reinventing themselves from time to time. The print house itself is a great example of this as it came into existence in 1990 as a prepress bureau. After nearly two decades of success and innovation in its original avatar, it was time for Kadam Digital to branch out and diversify into a new direction. And in 2010, it installed Kodak’s Nexpress SE 3000 5-color press to meet the demands of the photo album as well as general commercial printing segment. The print house is now contemplating its next forward leap forward with substantial investment planned in 2016.
Venturing into the B2 segment
“Five years ago when we got a Kodak Nexpress, it was a step in a new direction. We feel it is now time for Kadam Digital to turn another corner,” says Sanjay Kadam, founder and director of Kadam Digital Transprints. “We are planning to venture into the B2 size segment and want to be a trailblazer in the Pune market. The aim is to go beyond CMYK, A3 and paper. We also want to explore short-run packaging sample printing jobs.”
In the last six months, Kadam has been in talks with HP regarding the project while options such as the Konica Minolta KM1 and the Fuji Jet Press 720 are also on the radar. Kadam Digital is aiming at the premium products in print segments such as stationary, personalized posters, personalized calendars, photo albums and some others. According to Kadam the quality currently available in these niche segments in the Pune market leaves a huge potential in the city and its surrounding urban areas for premium products.
As much as the pressroom, the investment focus this year will also be equally sharp in enhancing postpress capabilities at Kadam Digital. Talks are in final stages for the installation of a Morgana PUR and Kadam will visit Dubai in April to attend a demonstration. Specialized postpress is always a key to digital print success.
Another aspect of the plan is to go in for a Scodix Ultra Pro with Scodix Foil digital enhancement system and a sample making and cutting table from either Esko or Zund. Moreover, the postpress department will see the addition of diecutting equipment and a saddle stitching machine. Currently the finishing section has a cutting machine, a back-to-back pasting machine, a creasing machine, and wiro binding and thermal lamination machines.
“I would like to emphasize that the huge investment plan that we have chalked out for this year will not only benefit our company but will also benefit Pune’s printing industry. We will be open to alliances and partnerships with other printers in the city who do not have such capabilities to help them serve customers on their own,” says Kadam.
Elaborate drupa and pre-drupa plans
With an investment plan for the year, Kadam Digital has made an elaborate 8-day drupa plan. Sanjay Kadam and his son Kunal who is also a director in the firm, will visit the fair. The junior Kadam will also HP’s pre-drupa event. “I will be visiting Israel at the end of March for the HP pre-drupa event to see all the developments and improvements that have happened in the Indigo 10000 over the past two years. I will get to see the actual running of the machine as during Pamex I could not devote much time to the HP Indigo 10000 although it was being displayed at the HP stand,” says Kunal Kadam.
On the same trip Kunal Kadam will also visit Scodix. At drupa, the Kadams will be looking at the Konica Minolta KM1, the Fuji Jet Press 720 and the new Landa Komori S40 press. Visits to Heidelberg and manroland are also planned. “Given our investment plans for 2016, we are pretty excited about our drupa visit,” they say.
