Mumbai-based SAP Print Solutions, a leading name in the book printing industry, recently invested in a digital full-color inkjet web-fed press from Japan’s Miyakoshi. The new press, a Miyakoshi MJP20EXG, supplied by Provin Technos, is expected to enhance the company’s ability to print short-run jobs significantly. Indian Printer and Publisher recently met Saurabh and Shekhar Bihani of SAP Print Solutions to learn more about the investment and how the company plans to utilize the new technology to add value to its services.
“We observed growing customer demand for short-run print jobs, such as 20, 30, or 40 copies of pre-marketing books. Over the past year, we conducted extensive research to identify how we could address this gap in our services and determine the best technology to adopt. After evaluating multiple companies, we chose Miyakoshi, primarily because it is a reputable Japanese brand. We have used Japanese sheetfed offset machines for the last seven to eight years and have established a strong relationship with Provin, the supplier. These factors gave us the confidence to go with Miyakoshi,” says Shekhar Bihani.
The Miyakoshi web-fed inkjet press has been installed at a new facility in Bhiwandi, exclusively dedicated to the digital segment of the business. Shekhar Bihani says there are plans to strengthen this unit by adding more equipment. Currently, the company produces approximately 800,000 A4-sized prints daily on the recently installed Miyakoshi inkjet.
Web-fed inkjet technology has a great future in Indian book printing
Saurabh Bihani and Shekhar Bihani are extremely bullish about the future of web-fed inkjet technology in the Indian book printing industry. “In the book printing segment, it is very difficult to predict demand. Publishers do not have much idea about how many books will be sold. In such a scenario, digital technology comes into play. Until now, digital printing was not cost-effective but with the advent of the new web-fed inkjet technology, things have changed significantly. I see a steady growth in demand in this space,” says Saurabh Bihani.
Shekhar Bihani too is extremely optimistic about web-fed inkjet presses. He said SAP Print Solutions will keep investing in its digital printing division to serve its customers.
“With the new Miyakoshi press, we have filled a big gap in our capabilities. Now we can offer all services to our customers when it comes to book printing. As already mentioned, we will gradually keep investing in this division to make it stronger and more efficient. We are confident of great success in this vertical,” Shekhar Bihani says.
Book printing in India is thriving
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Saurabh Bihani, who looks after business development at SAP Print Solutions, says the book printing industry in India is experiencing significant growth, especially in the education sector, where physical books remain dominant despite the increasing integration of digital tools. This is particularly evident in the K-12 education segment, where demand for printed textbooks remains robust. Self-publishing and kit-based models are emerging as two of the most influential trends shaping the future of the industry.
“Concerns over excessive screen time, especially post-Covid, have heightened the importance of printed books for younger students,” says Saurabh Bihani.
Both parents and educators are increasingly cautious about digital media’s impact on focus and learning, which has reinforced the role of physical books in education. State governments are major buyers of printed textbooks, helping to maintain stable demand, particularly through the provision of free textbooks to students, he adds.
Textbooks and kit-based educational models
A notable shift is the growing popularity of kit-based models, where publishers offer comprehensive packages for students that include books and supplementary materials such as folders and badges tailored to different grades. Teacher kits, providing classroom resources, are also gaining traction, especially among new-age publishers and those connected to edutech platforms.
Saurabh Bihani says while technology continues to develop tools like automatic assessment generation and parental monitoring apps, these are used to complement rather than replace printed books. Self-publishing is another rapidly growing sector, he says, with affordable and accessible options that make it easier for authors, including influencers and professionals, to bring their work to market.
Despite a shift toward digital formats such as Kindle, the demand for high-quality, well-produced physical trade books remains strong.
