GRAFIMPEX: A one-stop solution for complete newspaper printing and production

GRAFIMPEX was established in 2008 with a mission to provide innovative and value for money auxiliary equipment and tailor-made solutions to the web offset press users in the newspaper and book printing industry. The company’s product portfolio includes an array of equipment and solutions viz. web offset presses, reel track systems, auto splicers, auto registration systems, ink pumping and supply systems, mailroom solutions consisting of conveyors, stackers and strapping systems and a line of accessories such as online-sheeters, online glue applicators, online three side trimmers and others.

“We represent a number of reputed international manufacturers of pre-press, press and post-press machines and technologies in India,” says Yogesh, adding that their mission is to fulfil the complete need of their Indian and overseas customers. Over the last five years, GRAFIMPEX has sold 22 web offset press lines, which included new, specially engineered and reconditioned equipment, in more than 20 countries.“In India, we have mostly supplied auxiliary equipment to over 50 customers comprising big names in the newspaper and book printing industry,” mentions Yogesh.

Customer base

When asked about GRAFIMPEX’s customer base in India, Yogesh says the list is long.“To name a few, some of our long-standing customers include Dainik Bhaskar, Amar Ujala, Hindustan Times, The Times of India, Lokmat, Andhra Jyothi, Murasu Publications, Magic International, Rajasthan Patrika, The Sandesh, Navbharat, Nagaland Post as well as several renowned newspaper and book printers in the overseas markets.
Mailroom solutions

A number of newspaper houses in India have adopted mailroom solutions from GRAFIMPEX. In 2015, GRAFIMPEX and MM Technologies joined hands to manufacture and sell a versatile range of stackers under the brand ‘Stallion’ for the newspaper industry. “We are proud to share that we have completed 60 projects in last four years. Every installation is tailor-made to the need of customer as the system consists of vertical stream lifting conveyors, horizontal conveyors, 90 degree flow turns, online and offline strapping systems as part of these projects,” shares Yogesh.

Some of the newspapers using Stallion stackers in their mailrooms include Sandesh, Navbharat, Hindustan Times, Eenadu, Andhra Jyothi, Lokmat, Nagaland Post, Amar Ujala, Dainik Bhaskar, Rajasthan Patrika, among others.

UV curing

“UV Curing is the most viable alternate to heat set dryers owing to zero emissions, cost effectiveness of printing for short and medium run jobs, small space requirements, less power and manpower requirements. It allows a newspaper and book printer an easy and affordable transition to commercial printing with shortest possible gestation period as compared to traditional heat-set dryer set up,” explains Yogesh. Prime UVIR in the portfolio of GRAFIMPEX has been a global market leader in UV curing. The product has been popularly used in web offset presses worldwide over the last 20 years. There have been more than 200 tower installations with the UV curing systems of single and double-wide capabilities. “We have been installing Prime UV curing systems for over the eight years now and our list consists of some esteemed customers like The Times of India, Andhra Jyothi, Murasu Publications, Dinamalar, Lokmat and others,” says Yogesh.

Quality control

When it comes to maintaining quality in their products and technologies, GRAFIMPEX follows the DMIAC approach. “DMIAC is a simple approach, which means: D: Define the present status of the product; M: Measure and record the defects on regular basis. I: Improve – Do the improvement on a chosen defect. A: Analyse how the improvement affected the quality. C: Control & record the improvement,” explains Yogesh.

Future prospect

Circulations of printed newspapers in the overseas are decelerating and journalists have been laid off. In fact, it’s an onslaught of digital media on printed newspapers. “Though the scenario has not yet occurred in India, certain change is here already. When we were in our twenties, we knew who the editor of a newspaper was. It’s not anymore! Social media is changing the whole landscape of gathering and sharing information. Social media and direct marketing tools allow an advertiser to directly be in touch with consumers and measure responses in real time,” shares Yogesh.

He further opines that printed newspapers will face bigger challenges like managing distribution system, sustaining cover prices, controlling printing costs besides competing for advertisements. “It will also be hard to retain the young generation of readers, who care little or nothing about printed newspapers these days,” he explains, adding that the next 5 to 10 years are certainly going to be a challenge for the industry.

Latest developments

GRAFIMPEX is gearing up for new innovations to be unveiled in near future. In this respect, Yogesh informs, “We are constantly brainstorming as to how we can help our customers stay profitable. We listen to their problems, helping them reduce inefficiencies, wastages and cut costs. We have already developed some very cost effective equipment in mailroom applications, online gluing and log stacking.” He conclusively says their current focus is to build different auxiliary equipment which will allow a web offset press user to print variety of jobs enabling them to serve diverse markets, besides newspapers.