TP Jain of Monotech Systems along side Scodix Ultra digital enhancement press at Pamex 2020. Photo IPP
At the recently concluded Pamex show, Monotech displayed its Scodix Ultra digital enhancement press, Memjet inkjet based JETSCI ColorAqua Hybrid for short-run label printing and some equipment from Canon at its stand. “The show was extremely good for us. In fact, our expectation was not high, keeping the current economic situation in mind. We got a good number of leads and people showed interest in investing in the right technology,” says TP Jain, managing director of Monotech Systems. The company sold two Xerox units at the event and received decent leads for Scodix and the short-run label press.
“The distinct feature of this edition of Pamex was that people wanted to do something different. Digital print enhancement is becoming a prominent subject of discussion for various companies in the printing industry. People realize that it provides a good business opportunity now. We also feel that over a period of time, embossing and foiling will predominantly become digital. This transformation will give a new set of opportunities for people,” Jain adds.
For most of the commercial printers across the country, a huge opportunity for growth lies either in digital or in the packaging industry. Jain says that despite a slowdown in the economy, both digital printing and packaging are witnessing growth. He also feels that now is the right time for commercial printers to diversify and explore the digital and packaging segments in order to survive and grow.
Monotech achieved modest growth this year mainly because of the economic slowdown in the country. However, the company may register a better turnaround in Q4, which usually is the highest-grossing quarter. “Our participation at Pamex just before the last quarter would really help us to register good numbers,” says Jain.
Concluding the discussion, Jain says, “This edition of Pamex was much better. Our stand remained crowded on all days of the show. It was unlike the previous edition in terms of footfall. I must say Pamex 2020 was quite successful for us.”
2023 promises an interesting ride for print in India
Indian Printer and Publisher founded in 1979 is the oldest B2B trade publication in the multi-platform and
multi-channel IPPGroup. While the print and packaging industries have been resilient in the past 33 months since the pandemic lockdown of 25 March 2020, the commercial printing and newspaper industries have yet to recover their pre-Covid trajectory.
The fragmented commercial printing industry faces substantial challenges as does the newspaper industry.
While digital short-run printing and the signage industry seem to be recovering a bit faster, ultimately
their growth will also be moderated by the progress of the overall economy. On the other hand book
printing exports are doing well but they too face several supply-chain and logistics challenges.
The price of publication papers including newsprint has been high in the past year while availability is diminished by several mills shutting down their publication paper and newsprint machines in the past four years. Indian paper mills are also exporting many types of paper and have raised prices for Indian printers. To some extent, this has helped in the recovery of the digital printing industry with its on-demand short-run and low-wastage paradigm.
Ultimately digital print and other digital channels will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future. For instance, there is no alternative to a rise in textbook consumption but this segment will only reach normality in the next financial year beginning on 1 April 2023.
Thus while the new normal is a moving target and many commercial printers look to diversification, we believe that our target audiences may shift and change. Like them, we will also have to adapt with agility to keep up with their business and technical information needs.
Our 2023 media kit is ready, and it is the right time to take stock and reconnect with your potential markets and customers. Print is the glue for the growth of liberal education, new industry, and an emerging economy. We seek your participation in what promises to be an interesting ride.
