Labelexpo India 2024 showcases transformation.

Opening Ceremony

This was the first Labelexpo India after the holding company Tarsus PLC, the erstwhile owners of Labelexpos were acquired by Informa markets, a global organizer of events in various global verticals. Since the new owners decided to retain the same team of labelexpo,  the smooth transition and continuation was evident. 

It was the largest show until now. The show was held at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida with a 30% higher floorspace than the 2022 edition. The largest ever number 13724 visitors came to show from, besides India,  many countries including those in Middle East, Russia and Africa. Normally we see only label printers and non-exhibiting suppliers as visitors to the show, this time it was a welcome change to see quite a few brand owners/Print buyers as visitors studying the nuances of label manufacturing. It is felt that with the growing need for customized runs and increasing number of startups, some label buyers may be considering captive label production as well. 

Rajesh Chadha President LMAI

Inaugurating the Labelexpo India 2024, Jade Grace Managing Director welcomed the visitors to this important event. In his welcome address, Rajesh Chadha President LMAI assured LMAI's continued support  and delivering value to the label fraternity.  After consultations with LMAI and other stakeholders, Informa Markets have decided to hold the next edition of this important event at the same venue in 2026.

For the past two consecutive editions of Labelexpo India we have witnessed the absence of European and American flexo label presses running live at the event, though some made their presence felt through their local agents or Indian subsidiaries. However still, there were many flexo label presses displayed, and most of them were Indian made ones followed by a few from China. It is an indication of a transformation that one can expect Indian and Chinese manufacturers of flexo presses, tooling and consumables will have increasing number of exhibitors at Labelexpo Europe. The transformation is happening by the evolution of technologies taking place in these Asian neighbours. Fewer Chinese companies came as exhibitors due to Visa restrictions, which may change with thaw in the relations between the countries. Of course, we cannot write off the western manufacturers who lead the way to evolution by creating equipment that transforms from production of only labels to produce multiple products like Flexible packaging, Lami tubes and Folding Cartons. Their focus is now moving to wider presses, which are hybrid, incorporating diverse printing and converting technologies resulting in lesser wastages, quick changeovers, increased embellishments, sustainable production and processes. The presses now being offered integrate flexo, offset, screen, gravure and digital inline in a single pass.

Pulisi stand

Digital label printing has also continued to grow in India. Most prominent companies including HP, Domino, Durst, Xeikon, Konica Minolta, Pulisi, etc. displayed their digital presses and label printers’ interest was seen in with serious intent. Indian label industry being mostly dominated in numbers by family managed middle and lower end companies find the high-end digital presses being beyond their immediate reach even though their desire to acquire digital printing capabilities was seen in substantial measure. Printers exhibited a lot of interest in entry level tabletop digital printing equipment. These digital printers though are priced lower, but their higher printing cost confuses converters. Those who understood the power of digital making its necessity felt in label manufacturing, did make purchase decisions at the show. Given the trend of the middle level label companies looking at entry level equipment, it indicates that it is just some more time before they graduate to the bigger digital label and package printing equipment. The transformation has begun. The industry is and firmly marching towards digital label printing and converting.

On the material side while the global leaders Avery Dennison displayed their innovations and advances especially in the RFID label technologies and linerless labels. UPM too exhibited their new and sustainable product offerings. A substantial number of Indian labelstock manufacturers put their best in front rubbing shoulders with the multinational material producers. Prominent amongst them were SMI, MLJ, Capri, Stic-on, Dubble, Desmat and many others. Silicone liners specialist Loparex exhibited their diverse range of backing papers, films and linerless materials. Sustainability seems to be catching up the attention of all in the self-adhesive label’s ecosystem. From equipment suppliers to material suppliers are now talking of sustainability endeavours and the imperative need for the 4R’s, reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover. Indeed, this is a welcome transformation. Yet, there is a lot more needed, and the onus is also on brand owners and print buyers to impress suppliers to implement sustainable manufacturing practices and to use FSC certified products and to conserve energy.

Harveer Sahni's book launch

In the second half of 14^th of November, the opening day of Labelexpo India 2024, the author’s book titled “Untold stories of Indian label industry” was launched at the HP stand in presence of Industry leaders and media. Prominent were Yoav Lotan, Appadurai and team from HP, Anil Sharma, Pankaj Bhardwaj and Saurabh Agarwal from Avery Dennison, Rajesh Chadha president and his leadership team of LMAI, Media presence included Labels & Labeling, Printweek, Packaging South Asia, Packman, Press Ideas along with a host of industry friends and supporters of the author. The Hp team hosted the event supported by Avery Dennison, LMAI (Label Manufacturers Association  of India and Pragati Pack. 

The book UNTOLD STORIES OF INDIAN LABEL INDUSTRY”  Author: Harveer Sahni, chronicles history of Indian labels industry from the very beginning when the first self-adhesive label was produced manually. It covers success stories, lives of leading  label printers and coverage of important label events in India. It also dwells on the most defining moments, the young czars of label industry and the women who lend glamour to the vibrant label Industry. It is the first of its kind of endeavor anywhere in the world. It is a 320-page coffee table book with rare pictures.

Lighting the lamp before Awards evening

On the second evening of Labelexpo India the LMAI Gallus-HEIDELBERG Label Awards night was held to commemorate the finest of label printers in India. An outstanding event curated under the exacting and fine detailed planning leadership of event chairman and past president of LMAI Kuldip Goel. The virtual who is who of Indian label industry was present. The event interspaced with entertainment slots was attended by over 700 delegates from the global label industry. 

Felicitating Ferdi and his wife

A touching part of this evening was bidding farewell to Industry stalwart Ferdinand Ruesch IV, senior vice president, global key accounts at Gallus, popularly known as Ferdi who is retiring after 40 years of dedicated service to the global printing and packaging industry. It was a nostalgic moment and will remain memorable forever. 

The evening ended with music, dance and partying, looking forward to yet another vibrant LMAI event.

 More images:

LMAI BOD with event organiser Hemal

LMAI Board of Directors

With Ashima Ahuja of Multitec                                                             Pradeep Saroha of Informa 

Monotech Stand

Multi Hi-tech

 

Written and compiled by Harveer Sahni Chairman Weldon Celloplast Limited New Delhi November 2024

Coming soon! LMAI Gallus - HEIDELBERG Label Awards 2024!

LMAI, Label Manufacturers Association of India has been holding the biennial prestigious Label awards evening on the sidelines of Labelexpo India. This year’s event titled “LMAI Gallus - Heidelberg Label Awards” will be held  on November 15th, 2024, at Hall 7, India Expo Mart, Noida. The event has been growing in stature with increased participation from converter members, supplier members and label fraternity at large. At the last event in 2022, 700 delegates from India and around the world, networked, attended and celebrated the winners of India’s best known and recognized label awards. This year’s event is expected to be bigger and better.

LMAI, having its administrative office in Navi Mumbai, is the representative body of the Indian self-adhesive labels industry. It was founded to promote the interests of labels fraternity, by the initiatives of Amit Sheth, a prominent industry supplier with active participation of a few prominent label entrepreneurs. The membership strength has steadily grown. An experienced professional team on the board keeps on organising technical Seminars / Workshops from time to time.

LMAI organizes their highly acclaimed biennial Conference on alternate years. It also organises "LMAI Label Awards and Competition” a widely acclaimed international quality event where winners are not only recognized nationally but further supported to compete in World Label Competitions. 

The awards ceremony Chairman and past president Kuldip Goel says, “this year’s event will deliver enhanced value to its members, and we are sure that the LMAI family will keep on growing.” The event promises to become a platform for not just networking but also knowledge sharing.

LMAI president Rajesh Chadha has sent out a message as reproduced below; assuring a memorable event!

LMAI members can book their exclusive tables for themselves and their guests as per terms and conditions in the flyer. 

Note: Non-members can contact and join LMAI as members to avail member benefits!

For event registration contact; Mercury Integrated Marketing Services Pvt. Ltd.: +91 9137078257

For LMAI Member ship contact Manish Panchal, LMAI : +91 8097333995

More images from LMAI awards 2022

Written and collated by Harveer Sahni Chairman Weldon Celloplast Limited October 2022

Alliance Printech in Faridabad, a hub for flexo label presses!

Prologue:

In my article titled Faridabad, a hub for label presses, I had mentioned that most of the successful brands of Indian flexo presses that have been developed, come from Faridabad, the neighboring industrial suburb of New Delhi. Faridabad is a part of NCR Delhi and a major industrial hub of the state of Haryana. These presses include Alliance, Multitec, Webtech, NBG, Orient from The Printers House, Label Flex and many other smaller ones. Even UV Graphic technologies now headquartered in NOIDA, started their manufacturing in partnership with Faridabad based Multitec. Three companies are already covered wide the following articles:

Amit Ahuja led Multitec:https://harveersahni.blogspot.com/2010/12/aspiring-for-global-attention.html

Abhay Datta led UV Graphics:https://harveersahni.blogspot.com/2021/08/abhay-datta-printers-tryst-with-machine.html

Rishab Kohli led The Printers House: https://harveersahni.blogspot.com/2024/08/faridabad-hub-for-label-presses-part-1.html

 

Alliance Printech Pvt.Ltd. also in Faridabad is led by Jatinder Julka  who started his maiden startup venture in 2007, manufacturing web offset machines for continuous computer stationery and business forms. He faced numerous challenges initially. Despite the economic slowdown of economies in 2008, evolution of market from fanfold computer stationary to sheeted media for laser and inkjet printers, with support from his partner, family and friends, Jatinder remained determined to move on until 2012 when he launched his first flexo label press and displayed it at Labelexpo India. That was the start of his journey into the world of labels.

The large extended Julka family has lived in Qadian for over 300 years, a Village in Batala Tehsil in Gurdaspur District north-east of Amritsar, situated 18 kilometers (11 miles) north-east of Batala city in the state of Punjab. Jatinder Julka comes from a family of traders working as commission agents, trading in commodities like Sugar, Jaggery and Pulses. Nine-year-old Jatinder’s father passed away in 1979 while he was still a school going child studying in DAV school in their village Qadian. His mother was a strong woman who took upon the manter to support the family. She raised her three school going children, two sons and a daughter while pursuing a profession of imparting Skill training and as a Money Lender.

Jatinder Julka’s childhood was mostly spent in his native hometown. After finishing school,he pursued his engineering diploma from Government Polytechnic College Batala, passing out in 1989. The mid-1980s for the next decade, was a time when Punjab was in turmoil due to terrorism, peace returned much later. The mother protective about her children impressed upon her younger generation in moving to neighbouring states where peace prevailed. In compliance with his mother’s wish, in 1989 Jatinder took up a trainee engineers’ job in an automobile parts manufacturing in Delhi’s Wazirpur Industrial Area. The youth in him was restless so he kept switching jobs a couple of time after which the Punjabi trait to do own business surfaced and he moved to Hyderabad and started a transport business attaching a truck acquired in partnership with his cousin to Jaipur Golden Transport. Unfortunately, this did not last more than 3 months. Jatinder moved briefly to Himachal in 1991 as it was closer to his home, to work as maintenance engineer in a pharma company Fermenta Biotech Limited (Earlier known as DIL Limited) in their Kullu facility. Later in the same year1991, he landed a job that shaped his future in a company called Sud & Warren in Faridabad where he joined as a sales engineer slowly working his way up. 

Jatinder Julka worked in Sud and Warren for the next 9 years. The company led by Baldev Sud and KL Arora was manufacturing Business Forms Presses and Slitting machines. This was his grooming ground, and he gives all credit to his family values and to those who mentored him, they included Director in the company K L Arora. He stays indebted to them for mentoring him so that he can now build state-of-the-art machines for the world. “K L Arora’s guidance shaped my career” says Julka. He further adds “He brought me to work in in sales while designing the perfect training schedule, spending 15 days in each department to understand the intricacies.” In 2001, moving on, Jatinder joined Multitec owned by Shanti Pal Ahuja.

Jatinder Julka came from a middle-class family where most relatives were running their own successful industry or business, in his heart he too aspired to have his own business one day. Having worked for different employers for almost 18 years, in 2007 he initiated his startup venture Alliance Printech Pvt. Ltd. He decided to pursue the business of building business forms presses and offset machinery, an industry in which he had acquired substantial knowledge and experience. Since the foundation of printing industry was established with vendors and other suppliers located within the city by his predecessors in the business, The Printers House, Sud and Warren and Multitec, Alliance was also set up in Faridabad which eventually became a hub for Printing and packaging Machinery – Web Offset Machines, Forms Presses, Sheet fed Offset Machines etc. It was thus easy for such companies or their people to try recent technologies like Flexo Label Presses or other converting machinery.

The global economic slowdown of 2007-2008 impacted countries including India. Coupled with the normal issues of a startup, the first couple of years were challenging for Alliance but with sheer hard work, support from family, partner, team and collective indulgence they were able to sustain and overcome the initial market resistance to their equipment. Persistent development enabled them to produce their first flexo label press in 2012 launching it at Labelexpo 2012. It was difficult and took time but with concentrated efforts, they managed to achieve  acceptance for the Alliance brand. Thereafter it was no looking back and their participation in exhibitions enabled them to maintain a steady flow of orders to keep growing and upgrading their equipment to global standards.

Jatinder married in 1997 to Rajni Julka who supported him during initial days of his business by working in a school. They are blessed with two children, a son Aryaman born in2001, and a daughter Simar born in 1998. Both are unmarried, Aryaman joined father’s business in 2022 after completing his B-tech (Mechanical) from Manipal University, Jaipur. He is a very ambitious young man and passionate about taking the business forward at a rapid pace. He has been working in various departments and projects in the company, sharpening his skills and capabilities. Jatinder had set up the factory with all departments including design, tool Room, assembly line, stores, electricals and sales to become a perfect training ground to groom his son. The father-son duo now proudly state, “Our presses are comparable with any other European or American presses.”

 

Alliance Printech operates out of a 25000 sq.ft. factory situated in the industrial area, IMT- Faridabad developed by the State Govt., their shop floors and offices are fully air-conditioned and provide conducive environment to build state of art printing machines. In a short span of 12years, they state that they have sold over 125 presses with exports to 21 countries! They have ambitious plans to grow multifold in the next couple of years, build a strong, capable team and set up sales and service centers at multiple locations. Commenting on the smart and robust growth of label presses made in India and their acceptance in India and abroad, the Julkas state, “The next 10-15 years belongs to Indian machinery manufacturing companies and the whole world has great expectations from this industry.” They are already working on the digital label segment with a leading digital press manufacturing company, supplying them with Web Transport Systems.

 

Ambitious as they are, they aspire and endeavour with vigour to grow 20 times in 5 years!

 

Written by Harveer Sahni, Chairman Weldon Celloplast Limited New Delhi September 2024

 

 

Faridabad, a hub for label presses-The Printers House!

The last Labelexpo India 2022 was witness to an interesting evolution in the display of high-end label printing presses. For the first time since the inception of this show, the European and American presses running live were missing. However, the flexo presses displayed at this all-important label exhibition were made in India. This was an indicator towards the Indian press manufacturers to have come of age. These Indian manufacturers are now, not only announcing sales in India but also succeeding in the global label arena. An interesting part of this evolution is that most of the successful brands of flexo presses that have been developed come from Faridabad, the neighboring industrial suburb of New Delhi. Faridabad is a part of NCR Delhi and a major industrial hub of the state of Haryana. It is famous for henna production from the agricultural sector, while tractors, motorcycles, switch gears, refrigerators, shoes, tyres and garments constitute its primary industrial products. There is reason why most of the leading brands of Indian made flexo presses are from this city. These presses include Multitec, Webtech, Alliance, NBG, Label Flex and many other smaller ones. Even UV Graphic technologies now headquartered in NOIDA, started their manufacturing in partnership with Faridabad based Multitec. 

Kishan Das Kohli

The credit of printing equipment manufacturing industry flourishing and growing in this city goes to the establishment and transformation of a company founded by Kishan Das Kohli, a man who fought for the independence of India prior to its partitioning.

K D Kohli receiving his award

The Printers House now renamed as TPH Orient group was founded by Kohli in 1946 as an agency house bringing global printing technology to India. He was responsible for installations, commissioning, providing technical expertise and operators for the imported equipment. For the pioneering work he did for the printing industry in India, he received numerous awards that included the Kohinoor Ratna award. An enterprising businessman, he started manufacturing printing presses in India in the mid-1960s initiating his maiden startup manufacturing unit in Faridabad to build letterpress and offset printing presses there. Around this manufacturing unit, an ecosystem of mechanical engineering professionals and engineering companies was built and went on growing. Many companies now making flexo presses or any other type of presses in Faridabad first started out as their vendors. Making any type of press requires components such as frames, cylinders, etc. The Printers House helped create the infrastructure and this supply chain in Faridabad, which is what makes it ideal for printing press manufacturing hub. Later another company Sud and Warren led by Baldev Sud, Arora and Ahuja  also commenced manufacturing  slitting machines and later web-based computer stationery. The company did not grow as envisaged and some of their ex-employees are now narrow web label press manufacturers

Manmohan Kohli with father

I, the author, having had two factories in Faridabad since the 1960s, producing stationery and silicone release papers under the brand Weldon, had  heard a lot about The Printers House and the kind of work they had done. Weldon’s vendors in earlier days used to print their packaging on the old traditional treadle presses and when the Mercedes automatic presses from TPH were launched, it was a game changing moment. The author reminisces an evening during a party in connection with Printpack India in 1991, he was introduced a tall smart man who was surrounded by print industry stalwarts of that time. He was  Manmohan Kohli, heading The Printers House (TPH) and was the son of the founder K D Kohli. Manmohan was an alumnus of ETH Switzerland, a university of science and technology from where he passed out as gold medalist engineer. He pioneered the evolution of printing technology in India. Under his leadership TPH became a name to be reckoned with globally, having installations in over 60 countries. Manmohan Kohli, a legend in Indian printing equipment industry,  passed away in June 2022 at the age of 83 years passing the reigns of the company to his only young son Rishab Kohli who now aged 28 years heads TPH as Managing Director.

Rishab Kohli

The first few years of Rishab’s schooling were at New Delhi based Sanskriti School and thereafter he was sent to Gordonstoun school in Scotland. Finishing school in Scotland, he joined Georgetown university in Washington DC where he studied economics and had the opportunity to go through numerous internships in Washington DC including prominent lobbyist firms and international organisations. Completing his education at university, he initiated his career in the United States in finance/investment banking in the US where he worked between the US and Europe extensively. Thereafter he returned to India and in 2020 he took over the reigns of The Printers House now renamed The TPH Orient group, as CEO. Backed by his experience and pedigree in business he envisioned to create a group of companies in India that would cater to the printing , packaging, and other industries.

Orient Jet Digital label press  from TPH

On assuming the leadership in TPH, Rishab worked with numerous partners across the globe to acquire technology and bring it to India. He saw the label segment growing rapidly and felt there is high reliance on imports on capital equipment in this segment. On his indulgence, TPH  launched their flexo and inkjet label press, extending their application to packaging as well. Given the infrastructure available at TPH, Rishab has decided to produce equipment with economy of scale to make it cost effective and such that customers feel secure with their investment and service. He felt the technical expertise to produce flexo and digital label presses of global standards was still needing upgradation, so he or his team travelled to acquire appropriate technologies.

Rishab mentions that development of the first fully digital ink delivery system made by them in India that successfully printed a full color label at high speeds is huge achievement for TPH. Being the first of its kind developed in India, it will remain as one of the most memorable moments. With the ability to print at 1200 DPI with in-house dynamic RIP (RIP stands for Raster Imaging Processor software), it is a prime competitor to the established leaders in the field of digital label printing. He gives credit for support, guidance and help to the late Ramani Vishwanathan who was a pioneer in digital printing in India. He helped Rishab create this technology. Justifying his move into Digital label printing equipment he states that Inkjet is crucial for label printing due to several macroeconomic factors and market forces. With the rise in short run jobs and customization in packaging, a roll fed digital press is crucial to meet the needs of end clients. Additionally, with the speeds of inkjet presses increasing and head technology advancing at the pace that it is, the mid to long runs may also be catered to by inkjet.

Rishab with his flexo press at Drupa

As regards the flexo press developed by them, he asserts, “It is the fastest Indian made machine of its kind at this moment. Additionally, we offer sleeve technology and narrow web along with wider width options.”

The TPH Orient group is now a diversified group of companies and a market leader in printing machinery, packaging machinery , printing consumables , engineering services for defence, aerospace, and solar. They have 800 employees spread over a 20-acre campus and 6 factories in Faridabad working in numerous segments. They also now manufacture inkjet presses, flexo presses, folder gluers, web offset presses, printing chemicals etc. They have one of the largest CNC machine shops in north India and perhaps largest in Faridabad. According to Rishab, TPH Orient group is the largest Indian exporter of printing machines with exports to 60 countries. They have service engineers and offices in 12 locations in India and presence worldwide. They are considering extending manufacturing operations in foreign locations.

Talking of challenging times in his short career, Rishab says, “Covid was a tough period, but we got through it, taking every day at a time. But a lot was learnt, and we came out of it stronger.” In his journey so far, a key member of TPH board of directors, Naveen Chahal, has been a mentor to him. Being an extremely experienced person, his guidance has helped the turnover grow to over 15 times the figure when Rishab took over. In printing and packaging Rishab acknowledges the guidance of Christoph Mueller, director Koenig and Bauer, for his guidance in quality enhancement of their products.

Rishab Kohli sums up his vision for the future as, “The key for Orient in the printing and packaging industry is to provide a holistic solution to the printing and packaging community worldwide. We have a simple goal which is to be the largest equipment supplier in our field coming out of India and ideally Asia in this segment. With our infrastructure , scale, and history this is a realistic and an important 5-year goal.”

 Written by Harveer Sahni, Chairman Weldon Celloplast Limited New Delhi August 2024