
Chennai-based commercial printing firm Ultimate Print Process is looking to invest in a post-print embellishment solution from MGI in the next three to six months, S. Ekambaram, proprietor of the company, told Indian Printer and Publisher.
“We have been planning this investment for some time now, but it has been getting delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We are hoping to wrap up this investment in another three to six months. With the MGI, we hope to provide more value-added post-print services like UV and foiling,” Ekambaram says.
Ultimate Print Process shares its experience of Konica Minolta AccurioPress
Ultimate Print Process bought a Konica Minolta AccurioPress C6100 digital production press two years ago. The intention to go for an MGI solution is largely driven by the company’s solid experience dealing with Konica Minolta.
“We installed the Konica Minolta AccurioPress C6100 press in June of 2019, and in almost two years, we have not seen any serious shutdowns. Even if there is an issue, the Konica Minolta team makes sure the machine is up and ready in a day. Konica Minolta’s after-sales service is excellent,” he adds.
The Konica Minolta C6100 can print at a speed of 100 pages per minute. The AccurioPress C6100 press uses a fully automated, closed-loop quality management system, as well as accurate front-to-back registration. It offers 1200 x 1200 dpi (dots per inch) resolution with 8-bit processing. In addition, the press can handle up to 400 gsm stock weights – simplex or duplex.
Konica Minolta launched the AccurioPress C6100 / C6085 color digital press series in September 2017. In addition, Konica Minolta India showcased the AccurioPress C6085 for the first time at Pamex 2017, which was held in Mumbai.
Ultimate Print Process print items like brochures, pamphlets, stickers, and flyers, for customers in the food industry.
The second COVID wave dulls sentiment
The print industry was in a sort of weak recovery phase before the second COVID wave hit the country. Ultimate Print Process had witnessed some recovery in the second half of the last financial year. Still, the resurgence in COVID cases since April has severely impacted the business in Tamil Nadu, which has been badly affected by the pandemic.
Since Ultimate Print Process works for customers in the food industry, which has been categorized as an essential industry, its operations have not been that badly hit, but the business is down.
“Although we have been functioning throughout the lockdown that has been placed in Tamil Nadu, our business has nonetheless taken a hit. Our volumes are down 20-30% since the second wave hit us. Even our workforce has been impacted because we have had a few cases in our company,” he says.