Hannu Marketing, a complete signage and branding solution provider in Northwest Delhi’s Udyog Nagar, recently installed an Epson SureColor S8130 64-inch wide solvent-based inkjet signage printer. The company provides a variety of printed commodities such as shop boards, in-shop branding and POP, display units, standalone dispensing units, and large-format posters, which it supplies across India. The company also handles printed banner installations in North India, complemented by a fabrication unit dealing with metal frames.
During Indian Printer and Publisher’s visit to the plant, we met Shalu Gupta, marketing head and daughter of Vinod Kumar Gupta and Seema Gupta, founders of Hannu Marketing, which was established in 1998. Shalu Gupta joined the family business in 2019, right after her MBA, and she has been a part of key operations such as production, supervising, and marketing. “I was born and brought up in this business, so it was a natural decision for me to join it. That was when we expanded into rigid signage and decoration applications with the installation of an Esko table.”
Hannu Marketing’s decision to get an Epson SureColor S8130 stems from Epson’s reputation in wide-format signage printing. “Whoever we talked to gave positive feedback on its technology and after-sales servicing. The best part about Epson’s technology is its print quality and consistency. We are using the printer for high-end jobs in multiple segments, and so we see a positive return on investment (ROI),” Gupta said.
The SureColor S8130 features Epson’s latest PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead — designed for reliability and long-term performance, and a new 6-color UltraChrome GS3 ink set, including CMYK, and light cyan and light magenta for smooth gradations, vibrant colors, and sharp details. For uninterrupted high-volume production, the printer features dual ink slots for each color, enabling hot swapping – ink pack replacement without pausing print jobs.
As a print service provider (PSP), Gupta juggles many ideas, and the client expects these to be executed with exceptional visual communication. “For instance, a paint company would ask us to highlight its paints. But as a PSP, we have to decide how it is executed, what substrate will be used, what print technology would fit the requirement, and its target market. A retail store would have different requirements than an FMCG or a telecom company. It’s a new challenge every day,” she said.
Gupta felt that the print industry was under the assumption that with the growth of digital and LED signage, printed volumes are affected. “However, I think print has evolved to be more on-point in recent years. Especially in tier 2,3, and 4 cities, print has grown with better capabilities. Sustainable solutions, too, have grown in demand, which shows a shift in mindset. Earlier, only cost-sensitive products were in demand.”
Emphasizing this shift in customer thinking, Gupta explained that advertising is often a cost with no tangible ROI, and for this reason it was previously easier to opt for cheaper products. But now the customer demands are more sophisticated, with brands willing to pay for the necessity and value of more sustainable solutions.
“Nowadays, brands do not compromise on sustainability or the quality of billboards, posters, banners, or point of sale (POS) items or even the inks. It is for this reason we purchase our inks only from OEM channels that are Greenguard Gold-certified,” she said.
Along with the new Epson SureColor, Hannu uses EFI’s Vutek 5R, HP Latex R2000 Plus, HP Latex 3200, HP Latex 570, Mutoh ValueJet 1638X printers, and Esko and Summa S2 T160 cutting tables, among the other equipment for its printing and cutting operations. Its repeat customers include Apple, Vivo, Oppo, Times OOH, Tanishq, Havells, Paytm, and Delhi Metro.
