Mumbai-based pre-press and digital print specialist JD Graphics recently installed a brand new MGI JETvarnish 3D One and Accurioshine 101 to cater to the growing demand for digital embellishment. The MGI press was commissioned in early January and is running at JD Graphics’ plant in the Shah and Nahar Industrial Estate in Lower Parel.
“By installing the MGI machine we have made sure we adapt to the digital transition that is taking place in the market. The demand for post-print value addition is steadily growing,” says Jeevan Mohandas of JD Graphics. “The MGI press has also helped us in boosting productivity and reducing wastage in the post-print operations.”
JD Graphics is using the MGI press to add extra decorative value to items such as booklets, brochures, business cards, invitation cards, wedding cards, wedding card envelopes, book covers, cartons, labels, and posters, among others. It prints on a variety of special substrates. “We print on substrates such as MetPET, plastic, and color paper using our Indigo 5600. All these substrates are very easily processed by the MGI,” says Druman Mohandas.
The company which is managed by Jeevan Mohandas and Druman Mohandas has been operating from the Shah and Nahar Industrial Estate since 1985. Omkar Mohandas, the son of Druman Mohandas has also joined the family’s printing business.
In its pre-press section, the company operates a Kodak CtP and processor for supplying plates to offset printers while in its pressroom it has only digital presses – an HP Indigo 5600 and a Konica Minolta 3080. And in the post-print section, it has just added the newly installed MGI JETvarnish 3D One.
Support from Konica Minolta team
Konica Minolta’s Navdeep Dadwal says that JD Graphics was looking for a digital embellishment solution for more than two years but the purchase of the MGI for this purpose was delayed due to Covid. “In addition to the state-of-the-art technology of the MGI, it was the solid support of the Konica Minolta India team that was a major deciding factor. They were also looking at our competition but the technology and our service clinched the deal in favor of MGI,” says Dadwal.
The Konica Minolta team is also helping JD Graphics to meet customers who require embellishment solutions. “Konica Minolta India acts as a facilitator and brings printers and print buyers together and after that, the parties mutually take the business forward,” he adds. “Whether it’s the KM1 press or the MGI press or the label presses, Konica Minolta is always there to help printers grow their business.”
Recovery in full swing in February
The recent surge in Covid cases because of the Omicron variant impacted JD Graphics’ business in January. However, as the latest pandemic wave has receded in the first half of February, the print demand has picked up again.
“We had a very good November and December. But due to the surge in cases around Christmas, the print volumes were hit. The whole of January was much slower than the previous two months. The volumes have picked up again since the start of February but they are still below December levels. I think the business should be back to November-December levels by the end of February,” concludes Jeevan Mohandas.
