Chennai-based printing solutions provider Monotech recently marked its 25th anniversary, celebrating a journey that began in 1999. From its humble beginnings, the company has grown into a leading supplier of a diverse range of equipment and solutions for the printing and packaging industry. Today, Monotech offers comprehensive solutions for pre-press, digital printing, digital enhancement, wide-format printing, engineering systems, labels and packaging, and printing software.
“Our journey started with a team of seven people. We faced many challenges but overcame them, and built a great team. Monotech has developed a product line that has facilitated the industry’s digital transformation over the years,” says TP Jain, owner of Monotech.
Initially focused on the South Indian market, Monotech harbored ambitions of expanding across the country. The company began by importing refurbished imagesetters and scanners, supplying them to Indian customers. This strategic move helped Monotech establish a national presence. “This strategy paid off well, allowing us to supply value-for-money products from a variety of brands to customers across India,” Jain notes.
Key milestones in Monotech’s Journey
A significant milestone was Monotech’s venture into computer-to-plate (CtP) technology through a partnership with basysPrint. This collaboration proved to be highly successful. “In terms of new equipment, basysPrint was our big success. We sold a good number of units in India,” Jain says.
In 2007, Monotech partnered with Konica Minolta, a major turning point for the company in the production printing segment. After a successful run, in 2015, Konica Minolta Business Solutions India acquired Monotech’s production printing business. “This was a major decision for us as it was a profitable business. We decided to unlock its value and move into manufacturing in a big way. Our Jetsci line of inkjet solutions has since become a global brand,” Jain explains.
In 2012-13, Monotech introduced Scodix to the Indian market, which became a significant success in the upper end of the print embellishment market. To cater to the entry-level market for embellishment, Monotech launched its own Pixelglow line. “Pixelglow has gained good traction despite initial challenges. We have managed a significant number of installations,” Jain says.
Monotech’s second foray into the production printing market with Ricoh has also been fruitful. “This is our second inning in the production printing market, and we have had good success with this venture. Ricoh has a solid lineup of products. We see a lot of promise in this space,” Jain states.
Pioneering inkjet technology
Jain highlights the growing importance of inkjet technology in the printing industry, especially for book printing. “Monotech was an early entrant in this segment. Our Jetsci knowzzleJet inkjet web press for the book printing market has gained significant traction. At the industry level, a lot of book printers are keen to embrace this technology,” he says. Monotech’s in-house research and development department is dedicated to developing advanced inkjet products, including label embellishment, on-demand book printing in both monochrome and color, large format printers for signage applications, industrial printing applications, and their own enhancement engine.
“This year’s drupa showcased the dominance of inkjet technology, and it gives us immense satisfaction to see that Monotech was one of the early advocates of this technology,” Jain adds. “Our journey with inkjet has become almost mainstream, and we continue to innovate with our dedicated R&D units.”
Future prospects for the Indian print market
With India experiencing robust economic growth, Jain believes the Indian print market has a bright future. “If you ask me about the short term, I think FY2024-25 is going to be a great year. The first quarter was a little slow because of elections. Also, industry players wanted to wait for drupa to make any big decision. Now that the first quarter is over, I am of the view that the rest of the year will see strong growth,” he says.
Monotech‘s journey over the past 25 years has been marked by relentless innovation, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to advancing the printing industry through cutting-edge technology. As Monotech looks to the future, it aims to continue its legacy of excellence, driving growth and transformation in the printing industry.
“From the long-term point of view, I see a great time ahead for Monotech as we continue to innovate. At the Indian industry level too, I am very optimistic,” Jain concludes.
