Foyer exhibition
Over 25 manufacturers and suppliers from India and abroad participated in the foyer expo, displaying array of products, technologies and services for the newspaper printing and publishing industry. Manugraph at its booth announced a new 4×1 web offset press to be manufactured in collaboration with Seiken. According to Sanjay Shah, VC & MD, Manugraph India Ltd, said the new machine is a Japanese technology at the price level of Manugraph’s existing 4×1 press, which is new double width press, a game changer.
Trelleborg introduced new Vulcan Metal Times (Version 1.71 mm) blanket, presenting alongside its popular Vulcan Royal Web and Rollin Avenir blankets at the foyer exhibition. “Designed for newspaper, Vulcan Metal Times is compatible with all newspaper presses,” informed Sandeep Gupta, Dy Manager – Sales & Technical (India & Nepal) and Kalyan MS, Technical Manager, Trelleborg India Pvt Ltd. They say the new metal-back blanket is perfect for the Indian market. Poddar Global presented information of wide varieties of newsprint and the company’s achievement. Dinesh Kumar, Sr Manager-Business Development, Poddar Global Private Limited, said the expo on the sidelines of the conference is best for connecting with their customers, both old and new.
In their booth, manroland Goss India presented a complete eco-system of newspaper printing and production. “We see expansion in the regional domain as newspaper houses using single-width machines are going for double-width presses. Even our used presses, such as M600, are installing in the Indian market,” mentioned Sudeep Bhattacharjee, Managing Director, manroland Goss web systems India. Roland Web Offset showcased its web presses as well as a new auto reel splicer. “Our portfolio is designed to offer most cost-effective newspaper printing solutions,” said Aditya Gupta, Director, Roland Web Offset Pvt Ltd.
Leading publishing solution provider ppi Media serves a chunk of publishers and media groups throughout India. Matthias Fischer, SVP Sales, ppi Media, who has recently become new local contact for all publishing solutions in India, said India is an important market and they had good conversations with new and existing customers during the conference. Wellprint, a leading web offset ink manufacturer, which supplies inks to more than 1000 news publishers in India, showcased its range of inks and consumables. “We had a vision of being the best quality newspaper ink supplier. The vision is visible in our ink today,” shared Dr Ravindra Gandhi, Managing Director, Bombay Wellprint Inks Pvt Ltd.
4Cplus and DOT1 Solutions presented end-to-end technology solutions comprising Enterprise Solutions (ERP), Internet/Applications, Technology Solutions and Newsroom Automation. Ashish Aron, Vice President, Four C Plus (Internet) Co Limited, said they offer choice on the platforms that adds value to business of news media companies. Wrh Global…India shared information of its mailroom solutions comprising products such as Skyfall, a unique conveyer system; EasySert, a newspaper and magazine inserting system; and high performance HPC/HPS conveyer systems. “We are thriving in the Indian market and WAN-IFRA India Conference is turned out to be a good networking point for us,” said Kawal Arora, Managing Director, Wrl Global…India.
“We continue to thrive in the Indian market with constant installations of mRC 3D colour register systems in leading newspaper houses. It’s a great opportunity for us to get such a connecting platform at WAN-IFRA India Conference,” mentioned Rakesh Dave, Managing Director of QIPC-EAE India. Highlighted at the booth of Newstech (India) were advanced solutions and services for business models that new journalism requires. Roy Alex, managing director, Newstech (India) mentioned that their solutions like ProtecMedia Editorial CMS reinvent the world of news media.
Cadgraf presented two key products—MWM CopyTrack and Editorial Workflow. “MWM CopyTrack is tracking software which simplifies entire newspaper enterprise in tracking production speed, schedule, materials (ink, newsprint, etc), mailroom waste, while NewsWrap streamlines editorial workflows of a newspaper, helping editors and reporters,” explained E Anand Jeeth, Director, Cadgraf. He added that MWM reduces up to 35 percent of newsprint waste. Seiken Graphics, which has geared up for collaborative production of a 4×1 press, is looking for further exploration of the Indian market. Shota Namita, President, Sieken Graphics Inc, said they are aggressively moving into mailroom segment as big newspaper houses like The Hindu are their key customers.
Retrofit solutions from ABB give newspaper press 10 years of life. In this respect, Damian Staedeli, Head of Printing, ABB Switzerland Ltd, said the solutions (retrofit) not only improve the life of press but also enhance print quality, reduce waste and improve efficiency. Baldwin unlocked the potential with which news media world is set to escalate to another level. “Our Vision Systems are designed for print quality perfection eliminating defect, delivering perfect colour and automating workflow,” mentioned Hemant Desai, Director, Vision Systems – India, Baldwin.
Chemo Graphic International in association with Continental showed some print to perfection solutions. “We offer perfect Conti-Air line of blankets for diverse range of machines,” mentioned Prashant T Patil, GM-Newspaper & Web, Chemo Graphic International. PG Paper Company, a paper manufacturing company, demonstrated its diverse grades of papers including newsprint. Charles Peter, International Business Development Manager from PG Paper, said the newspaper industry is one of their core areas.
Reprographic System & Supplies demonstrated string of machine parts and accessories including paper cutting knives, trimming knives, digi blankets, etc. “Our portfolio consists of vast range of machine parts and accessories for all machines,” mentioned KJ Paul from Reprographic System & Supplies. Innovation that revealed at the booth of Summit Information Technologies was all about new wave sweeping into the mobile-first world. Akshay Bindra, Manager Sales, Summit Information Technologies Pvt Ltd, explained that the company’s Smart Paper app is compatibly designed for responsive to all formats in terms of ads and contents.
Expo booth of PRAKASH Web Offset portrayed its versatile presses, service and clients with a spotlight on News Light 40, which is a single width, single circumference press, capable to run at a maximum speed of 40,000 iph. Saurabh Gupta, Director, Prakash Web Offset, said the conference provided them an opportunity to get in touch with potential visitors. A debutant in the Foyer Expo, Red Bull Contents introduced gallery full of file pictures which newspapers and magazines can use as presentational purposes. Pourushasp Mehta, Communication Specialist, Red Bull India Pvt Ltd, mentioned that they have stocks of pictures of all purposes.
Delegates speak
“The conference reminds us of saving the print media through innovations. Innovations discussed here include all aspects of printing and print production as well as requirement for timely upgrades like retrofitting of old machines. The conference is fruitful indeed this year.”
–Ajay Madan, Business Head, Commercial Printing, HT Media Ltd, Noida, UP
“This year the conference is focusing on new innovations in printing and enrichment of content. When we say content it includes both print and digital, such as online news, social media—all are well discussed during the two days of the conference for taking them to another level.”
–Bhausaheb Patil, Director (Director & Technology), Sakal Media Group, Pune
“The sessions on newsprint and consumables in the Printing Summit of the conference are quite impressive. The sessions provide us the knowledge and perspective of the current market. In addition, the overall conference highlights what is ‘next’ in the news media industry.”
–Dinesh Sharma, AVP Production, Dainik Bhaskar Group, Noida, UP
“As always in every year this conference is a great networking place where we can interact with the industry stalwarts. This is the right event to know and witness what is going on or trending in the current news media industry. It is worth attending to catch the innovations in terms of machines and technologies.”
–Dr Rajendra Kumar Pillewar, Sr General Manager (Production), Lokmat Media Pvt Ltd, Nagpur
“A good thing about the conference is that there are sessions on all parameters, be it pre-press, press or post press. Discussions about new technologies such as automation and future aspects of the market and innovations are quite good and motivating.”
–Surinder Kumar, Senior General Manager, Production, The Indian Express, Noida, UP
“We can sense the latest developments in the industry in this conference. Every session is unique with discussion over innovations and new products. Such conference helps us check we are at par with the latest trends and technologies in the industry.”
–Sudhir Wadhwa, General Manager, Pre-Press-CtP, HT Media Ltd, Noida, UP
“All the sessions in the Printing Summit this year are informative and inspiring. The conference is gaining new stature year after year in terms of sessions and speakers. This is a perfect event in the industry where we get to know what is trending new and future of the industry.”
–Pradeep A Unny, Vice President – Production (Newspapers & Commercial), Amar Ujala Publications Ltd