Miracle at Jaipur!!!

 Miracle at Jaipur!!!

Pawandeep Sahni, Lokesh Agarwal, Harveer Sahni and K D Sahni

A miraculous story has unfolded in Jaipur. Three visionary brothers, Hemendra Agarwal, Lokesh Agarwal, and Amit Agarwal set up a corrugated box manufacturing unit in 2009. Spinning out a rapid growth story, in the next 17 years, their MIRACLE GROUP have become an organisation to watch. They are now multi location and diversified packaging group, providing Flexible Packaging & Pouches | Corrugated Boxes | Mono Cartons | Labels | HDPE Jar | Advertising Material and aiming to set up India’s first packaging park. With over 1,500 dedicated employees, the group continues to enhance the glow and vibrancy of having created this “Miracle at Jaipur!”

Last week leading industry suppliers and media started receiving cordial personal and repeated invites from the brothers to attend the opening of Miracle group’s new office on 22nd July 2026. Such was the warmth of their invitations that we saw leading names in materials, consumables and machine suppliers travelling from far to mark their attendance at this august event.

Following a religious ceremony seeking the almighty’s blessings for more and continued success. The Miracle group family and team made efforts to showcase their new office to all the visitors. The new four-story building has scintillating décor. Everything has been created with precision, whether it is a dedicated floor for accounts and finance team with a boutique pantry or the sales and marketing team’s floor with multiple small conference rooms with an interesting soundproof phone booth where the sales persons could exchange pleasantries with cordial customer friends or finally the directors’ area. The facility also has an interesting podcast room. Images of the facility are produced below.

The lunch for all visitors was sit-down affair with a lavish spread. After traditional Savouries Gol Gappas, Chat etc. an amazing dal Moradabadi, the pizzas, Indian cuisine, Chinese, Korean a lot more was there. Followed by a large rollout of sweet dishes. The hospitality was

 par excellence with staff attending personally to each guest. Congratulations miracle group, you really created a “Miracle at Jaipur!"

The author will later cover the complete journey and success story of Miracle Group on this blog.

Written and collated by Harveer Sahni Chairman Weldon Celloplast Ltd. New Delhi July 2026

The Impact of Moisture in Paper, for Printing and Converting

Introduction

For over four decades the author worked with paper as labelstock manufacturer. Reels of paper received fresh from the mill were often cool to the touch, a sign of higher moisture content, since evaporation causes cooling. Paper is hygroscopic: made of cellulose fibres with a natural affinity for water, every sheet, reel, or board continues to exchange moisture with the surrounding air throughout its life. This never-ending "breathing" lies behind more printing and converting problems than almost any other variable—curl, cockle, misregistration, static, brittleness, poor lamination bonds, weak corrugated boxes, and inconsistent print quality all trace back to moisture, directly or indirectly.

This article covers why moisture content (MC) matters, ideal levels for different papers and boards, and its effects on costing, printing, converting, storage, and incoming QC.

 1. What "Moisture Content" Means and Why Paper Holds Water

Moisture content is expressed as a percentage of total paper weight:

Cellulose fibres have hydroxyl (–OH) groups that hydrogen-bond with water in the air. As relative humidity (RH) and temperature change, paper absorbs or releases moisture until it reaches its equilibrium moisture content (EMC); where it neither gains nor loses water relative to its environment. Due to hysteresis, paper drying down settles at a slightly higher EMC than paper wetting up to the same RH, so the sheet's moisture history matters, not just current room conditions.

Equilibration moisture content time scales with thickness: thin sheets typically take 30 minutes, typical offset sheets 2–4 hours, thick boards considerably longer—which is why acclimatisation matters before running paper.

 2. Ideal Moisture Content by Paper and Board Type

There is no single "correct" level; it depends on grade, coating, and process. General benchmarks:

Paper / Board Type	Typical Ideal Moisture Content
Digital printing papers	4.5% (minimises curl, aids toner adhesion)
Offset (sheetfed) papers	5.5–6%
Coated woodfree / art paper & board	4.5–5.5% (higher risks heatset blistering)
Uncoated woodfree	5–6.5%
Newsprint	7–8%
Tissue	2–7%
Corrugated medium/liner	7%
Kraft paper (sack/wrapping)	6–8%
General stock before conversion	4–6%

Most commercial papers are made to 4–6% absolute MC and expected to stay stable in a 45–55% RH environment. The right number should ultimately come from the mill's technical data sheet and your own experience, these are starting benchmarks, not universal law.

 3. Moisture, Weight, and Costing

• Paper is sold by weight, so moisture is sold too. A reel at 6% MC holds more water-weight than the same reel at 4%, despite identical fibre content—buyers effectively pay paper prices for water.
• Paper gains or loses weight after leaving the mill depending on warehouse, transport, or pressroom RH relative to its EMC (picking up moisture in humid monsoon transit, losing it in dry heated winter storage). This is why mills use moisture-barrier packaging and why unwrapping paper to sit unconditioned is risky.
• Wrong moisture is a hidden cost centre even at correct invoiced weight: it surfaces later as makeready waste, wash-ups, misfeeds, static downtime, rejects, and rework—costs that hit the job sheet, not the paper invoice.
• Conditioning (45–55% RH air handling) costs energy, but unconditioned press halls usually cost far more in spoilage.

Worked example: A modest labelstock maker converting a million m² uses approximately 70 tons of face paper. At 6% moisture that's 4.2 tons of water versus 2.8 tons at 4%, a 1.40-ton difference. At Rs. 75/kg, that's a loss of Rs. 1,05,000 per month (Rs. 12.60 lakhs per year). The bigger the consumption, the bigger the loss when paper is supplied above EMC.

 

4. Expansion, Shrinkage, and Effect on the End Product

Paper is hygroexpansive—it expands when it gains moisture and shrinks when it dries. Critically, this is non-uniform: expansion is far greater across the width (cross-direction, CD) than along the length (machine-direction, MD), because fibres align predominantly in the MD during manufacture.

In labelstock siliconizing, paper passes through a hot tunnel up to 160°C; width visibly reduces from 1020 mm to 1010 mm from moisture loss, though it substantially regains width after rehumidification.

• A 10% RH change shifts width by roughly 0.1–0.2%—tiny, but on a large sheet or long run enough to throw off image size, panel fit, and diecut register.
• Paper that swells (from pressroom, water-based ink/coating, or ambient humidity) then shrinks when dried, but rarely back to original dimensions and rarely evenly.
• Consequences: labels/cartons that no longer fit their container; folding cartons whose panels misalign; laminates that curl or blister as paper shrinks against dimensionally stable film; and text/image creep front-to-back in a bound book block.
• This is why the same sheet behaves differently on a humid morning than a dry afternoon—operators aren't imagining it.

 

5. Moisture's Effect on Edges: Cutting and Slitting

Edges are the most moisture-sensitive part of a sheet or web, exchanging moisture faster than the interior.

• Wavy ("cockled"/loose) edges: edges picking up more moisture than the centre expand and become baggy, causing uneven feeding, slitting drift, and telescoping rolls.
• Tight edges: dry edges relative to a moist centre pull tight, creating a dished "tight-edge" curl that jams sheetfed gear and causes web breaks.
• Cut quality: overly dry paper turns brittle at the edge, micro-cracking, dust/fibre "fluff," and ragged feathered cuts that contaminate blades and downstream units, showing as pinholes in solid-ground printing.
• Dimensional creep: cross-width moisture variation makes slit widths vary edge-to-centre, failing width tolerances in narrow-web converting.

Edge trimming and re-conditioning, or simply acclimatising wrapped paper in the pressroom before opening, is standard best practice.

 6. Overdried Paper: Brittleness and Static

Too-low moisture brings two linked problems:

• Brittleness: dry fibres lose flexibility, giving hard papers that break on the web, lack print cushion, and crack when folded, showing up as cracked folds, split scores, and web breaks on high-speed presses.
• Static: dry air and paper are poor conductors, so friction from feeding and separation builds static rather than dissipating it. Below 40% RH, sheets can build electrostatic charge, sticking together and attracting dust.

Combined converting impact: double-feeds/misfeeds, dust-attracted print defects and coating pinholes, poor stack squaring, brittle cracking at creases, and increased scrap and downtime for static-bar adjustment.

 

7. Dimensional Stability, Curl, and Strength

These three properties are tightly linked to moisture and each other:

• Dimensional stability—holding size and shape as conditions change, is governed by fibre orientation, moisture variation, and any bonded coatings/films.
• Curl occurs when moisture differs between a sheet's two faces, common with coated papers (one-side barrier coating) or one-side-printed sheets (ink/press water wetting one face). The wetter side expands more, curling the sheet toward the drier side. Uneven face/liner movement in a laminate can cause tubing, rendering product unusable.
• Strength (tensile, tear, burst, fold endurance, edge crush) peaks within a specific moisture band: too little makes fibres brittle and fracture-prone; too much softens fibre-to-fibre hydrogen bonds, cutting stiffness and compressive strength, that is why corrugated loses stacking strength in humid warehouses.

Good register, flat delivery, and consistent folding all depend on keeping moisture and moisture uniformity in a tight band.

 8. Moisture Effects Across Paper & Board Types

Substrate	Moisture-Related Behaviour	Applications Affected
Uncoated woodfree	Forgiving; absorbs press moisture, prints predictably, curls if imbalanced	Stationery, books, forms
Coated paper/board	Surface-sensitive; excess moisture blisters in heatset drying, too little cracks on creases	Labels, cartons, magazines
Kraft paper	Strong, tolerant of swings, but wets and expands significantly	Bags, sacks, wrapping
Corrugated board	Very sensitive; flute geometry and adhesive bond weaken as MC rises	Shipping cartons
Label stock	Multi-layer—each layer moves differently, causing curl, edge lifting, register drift	Pressure-sensitive labels
Tissue/lightweight	Very fast equilibration; needs tight humidity control	Hygiene products

 9. Moisture and Printing Processes / Inks

Sensitivity varies by process:

• Offset (litho): most moisture-sensitive, since the process adds water via fountain solution. Too-dry sheets absorb solution unevenly and pick less ink; too-moist sheets upset ink-water balance and slow drying. Run at 40–60% RH (optimum ~50–55%) to avoid curl, creasing, and dot doubling.
• Letterpress: no fountain solution, but fully subject to dimensional, curl, brittleness, and static effects.
• Flexography: water-based inks make substrate moisture affect absorption/drying directly, especially on absorbent papers and kraft.
• Rotogravure: less humidity-sensitive (fast-drying inks in engraved cells), but web tension and register on long runs still shift with moisture.
• Digital laser (toner): sensitive via the heat-fuse step, excess moisture flashes to steam causing curl/blistering/poor adhesion; too dry, static disrupts feeding. Needs 50–55% RH.
• Digital inkjet: absorbency and moisture affect dot gain and drying; prefers 45–55% RH to prevent ink spreading.

Ink type matters: oxidative/absorption-drying inks (litho, letterpress) depend on paper absorbency and fountain-pH interactions; water-based flexo inks depend on absorbency; solvent inks resist sheet moisture but not dimensional movement; UV inks are least sensitive during cure, though the substrate still moves and curls.

 10. Does Moisture Impact UV Printing?

UV inks cure by photoinitiated polymerisation, not evaporation or absorption, so moisture doesn't interfere with the curing chemistry—a key UV advantage. But moisture still matters indirectly:

• The substrate still expands, shrinks, curls, and builds static exactly as for any process.
• Poor ink holdout on moist, absorbent sheets can cause uneven gloss or mottle.
• Static from dry/brittle stock still causes feeding and stacking problems.
• Intense lamp heat can flash off surface moisture unevenly, occasionally causing localised curl.

 11. Moisture, Registration, and pH

Registration: Multi-colour jobs need the sheet to hold a precise, repeatable size pass-to-pass. Since moisture-driven change is mainly cross-direction, uneven moisture between passes—or drying over a long run—shifts dot position. Tolerances are often ±0.1%, yet a 15°C temperature change at constant humidity can shift EMC by ~0.5%, enough to cause visible misregistration or ghosting. Sheetfed printers therefore often run paper slightly above final EMC, letting the press's own heat and fountain solution move it toward equilibrium predictably.

pH: Water is the medium through which acidic/alkaline components become chemically active.

• Paper pH ranges ~4.0–8.0; most modern (alkaline-process) paper falls at 6.0–8.0.
• Acidic paper slows ink drying—below pH 5 drying can nearly stop, worsened at high RH as extra water drives hydrolysis. Strongly acidic paper can emulsify ink and cause scumming.
• In offset, control temperature (20–23°C) and RH (50–60%) to manage acidity/moisture drying issues.
• Highly alkaline paper (pH >9) neutralises the fountain solution's acidity, causing its own press-control problems.
• For archival work, neutral-to-slightly-alkaline (pH ~7) is preferred, since acidic paper yellows and embrittles over time.

 12. Moisture and Coatings (Water-based, Solvent, Hotmelt, UV)

Each system interacts with substrate moisture differently:

• Water-based: rely on the substrate absorbing water to set, a near-saturated (high-MC) sheet accepts it slowly, extending drying, risking blocking, and increasing curl; an overly dry sheet absorbs too aggressively, causing mottle.
• Solvent-based: less affected during drying (solvent evaporates, not water), but residual water pickup and solvent-driven fibre swelling still cause curl/register shift.
• Hotmelt: set by cooling, but application heat flashes surface moisture unevenly and trapped moisture can steam-blister the bond.
• UV-curable: most moisture-tolerant at cure, but substrate moisture still governs wetting/holdout and dimensional stability.

General rule: coatings interact with a substrate actively gaining/losing water, so substrate moisture control before coating is as important as coating chemistry.

 

13. Impact on Corrugated Box Compression Strength

One of the most commercially important and measurable effects:

• Stacking strength depends on edgewise compressive strength of liner and fluting (ECT), and high humidity softens fibres and directly reduces that strength.
• Corrugated fibres gain/lose moisture rapidly in warehouse climates, and even minor RH shifts change flute stiffness and liner compression strength, which is why ECT (Edge Crush Test) standards condition specimens at 23°C and 50% RH for at least 24 hours before testing.
• The scale is large: at 50% RH a box retains rated strength, but at 80% RH it typically falls 30–40%, and at 90% RH by 50% or more, because moisture breaks the hydrogen bonds giving corrugated its stiffness.
• Kraftliner and fluting are less moisture-sensitive than recycled-fibre materials, and recycled liners absorb moisture faster, accelerating short-term strength loss.

Implication: a box rated in the lab may be far weaker in a humid warehouse or ocean freight—hence building in safety margin and keeping pallets off damp floors.

 14. Storage Conditions

Storage is a first line of defence, not an afterthought:

• Store at 20–24°C and 45–55% RH; most papers are designed to be stable in a 45–55% RH environment at 72°F, close to the 23°C/50% RH conditioning atmosphere used for testing.
• Keep reels/reams wrapped until use—mill wrapping is a moisture barrier; once broken, paper moves toward room EMC immediately.
• Avoid storing directly on concrete floors or against exterior walls (cooler/damper, risk condensation).
• Stack away from doors, docks, HVAC vents, and sunlight.
• Acclimatise paper in the run environment before unwrapping (hours for sheets, longer for boards), especially when moving between different-RH environments.
• Rotate stock (FIFO) to avoid seasonal humidity pickup.

 

15. Does Moisture Impact Caliper (Thickness)?

Yes. Absorbing water swells fibres in the Z-direction (Basically referring to the thickness) too, so the same board reads higher caliper at high MC than when conditioned drier—independent of basis weight. This affects:

• Spec compliance—caliper checks on receipt should be done at (or corrected to) standard conditioning.
• Bulk and rigidity—moisture-swollen caliper is less stiff per unit thickness, so a "thicker" wet sheet can feel limper than a thinner conditioned one.
• Feed and register—off-spec caliper (from moisture, not fibre) affects nip pressures, gripper settings, and die-cut depth.

 16. Environment on Printing and Converting — Summary

Ambient temperature and RH influence every stage:

• Feeding/handling: static (too dry) or blocking (too humid).
• Printing: ink/water balance (offset), dot gain (inkjet), toner adhesion (laser), colour registration.
• Drying: blistering on coated stock (too-high MC into heatset ovens); poor drying on moist or acidic sheets.
• Finishing: cracked folds/scores (too dry), curl (imbalance), bond failures, die-cut defects.
• Packaging/shipping: reduced box compression and dimensional creep.

Common thread: stability matters as much as the exact number. A plant steady at 50% RH out-performs one swinging 30–70% even at the same average—because change, not a static condition, drives dimensional and strength shifts.

 17. Tests on Receipt of Paper and Board

A structured incoming-QC routine catches problems before press-time:

Physical checks

• Basis weight (grammage): confirms ordered weight/thickness.
• Caliper: checked for uniformity across the lot (ideally under standard conditioning).
• Moisture content: verified against the mill's target (commonly 4.5–7% by grade).

Structural/strength tests

• Bursting strength (Mullen): rupture pressure, key for packaging.
• Tensile and tear: predicts high-speed, high-tension performance.
• Ring Crush / Edge Crush (RCT/ECT): edgewise compression for box stacking, read alongside moisture state.

Surface/print-quality tests

• Smoothness (Sheffield, Bekk, Bendtsen): surface uniformity.
• Cobb test: surface water absorption over time.
• Wax pick: surface fibre bond strength.

pH check: a low-cost surface test flagging slow-drying, scumming, or fountain problems before the press.

 18. Packing and Storing Converted Products

Finished products are still hygroscopic:

• Re-wrap or shrink-wrap promptly to slow moisture exchange, especially before long storage.
• Palletise off the floor and away from walls using slip sheets/pallets.
• Maintain the same 45–55% RH, moderate-temperature storage—finished goods are as vulnerable to curl, shift, and compression loss as raw stock.
• Keep products away from transport temperature extremes (unheated trucks, non-climate containers).
• For corrugated cartons, avoid prolonged high-humidity exposure (outdoor storage, humid ports)—compression can drop 30–50% at high RH.
• Store label/pressure-sensitive stock flat, away from heat—uneven laminate pickup causes curling and adhesive failure.

 Key Takeaways

1. Paper never stops moving, it exchanges moisture with its environment for its whole working life.
2. Every grade has an ideal moisture band; there is no universal number.
3. Moisture costs money directly (sold by weight) and indirectly (spoilage, downtime, rework).
4. Dimensional change is uneven—more across width than length—so problems appear as curl, cockle, and register drift, not uniform stretching.
5. Too much moisture weakens bonds; too little makes fibres brittle and static-prone. Both extremes cost you.
6. Environmental stability matters as much as the exact target.
7. A disciplined incoming-QC routine—moisture, caliper, strength, surface, pH—catches problems before downtime.

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This article is a technical overview for printing and converting professionals. Confirm specific moisture targets, test methods, and tolerances against your supplier's technical data sheets and relevant standards (TAPPI, ISO) for your grade and application.

Authored by Harveer Sahni Chairman Weldon Celloplast Ltd. New Delhi July 2026

Nirav Shah, leading Letra Graphics to excellence in labels!

Enterprising entrepreneur Nirav Shah heads one of the prominent and innovative label manufacturing companies in India Letra Graphix, headquartered in Ahmedabad. 

Over the years, Letra Graphix has  established itself as a leader in Pressure Sensitive or Self-adhesive Labels for a wide range of label products, including those for food and beverage products, liquor bottles and cans, toys, plastic items,  glass items, beauty and cosmetic products, household and durable products, nutritional supplements, and a lot more. Nirav has led his company giving credit to his team who he has mentored to march ahead with collaborative efforts. He believes that to succeed we must take care of our people. Invest in their growth, celebrate their dedication, and acknowledge their quiet hard work. A loyal, empowered team is a company’s ultimate competitive advantage. It is proving right for him.

Nirav Shah

In 1965 Nirav Shah’s father Arun Shah and his brother Kamlesh Shah initiated their maiden venture dealing in electrical industrial supplies. Eight years hence in 1973 the brothers felt the need to diversify. It was the early days for self-adhesive labels and the future looked extremely bright for the segment. The brothers took a call and started their firm Arun Agencies to trade in labels, outsourced from those manufacturing at that time. While Nirav and his elder sister were growing up in a well-knit bonded business-oriented family, the brothers Arun and Kamlesh created a platform as suppliers of labels. Nirav completed his schooling at Swastik Vidyalaya Ahmedabad, followed by higher education in the city itself followed by Fine Arts at CN Vidyalaya, which helped develop his creative understanding of design and aesthetics. To further strengthen his technical knowledge, he pursued Printing Technology studies in Wisconsin, USA. Growing up in such an environment, watching elders in the family business, he grew up with a mindset towards entrepreneurship, hard work, and a wish to indulge in manufacturing from an early age. He joined the family’s electrical business in 1994 but in his heart, he had a profound wish to start manufacturing labels. In this same year he got married to Archita.

In 1995 Nirav decided to initiate his label manufacturing business starting at home with a small set-up. Before starting his entrepreneurial journey, Nirav gained hands-on experience across multiple industries. Working in his father’s electrical business gave him early exposure to business operations and customer relations. He also worked at an advertising agency as a designer; it gave him an understanding of branding and visual communication. While he studied in  the USA , he sharpened his technical capabilities and expertise by working as a machine operator at a printing firm, gaining practical exposure to advanced printing technologies and production systems. By the mid-1990s the self-adhesive label industry started evolving at a fast pace. With active support from wife Archita, Nirav’s label business found early success. They shifted the label manufacturing business, from home to a larger commercial space at New York Tower Ahmedabad and renamed the company Letra Graphix.

Their new admin office with factory

In his first big move to enter the narrow web label manufacturing, Letra Graphix installed their first Mark Andy 4-colour label printing machine on 30th June 1997, and officially registered Letra Graphix Pvt. Ltd. as a company. It was a natural progression from trading to manufacturing after gaining deep exposure to commercial printing and label trading. There was no looking back thereafter, even though finding skilled manpower, sourcing premium materials, and convincing brands to shift from conventional sheet-fed labels to premium self-adhesive labels were major challenges. Over the years Ahmedabad has become one of India’s largest hubs for industrial packaging and label manufacturing, having everything from high-tech corporate flexographic printing plants to localized barcode sticker suppliers. The city serves massive pharmaceutical, FMCG, textile, and chemical industrial clusters across Gujarat. Inspired by situation, Letra Graphix invested in manufacturing labels for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, food, and international markets followed by continuous investments in technology, infrastructure, and innovation. What started as labels and printing gradually became a family business. The business started as trading through Arun Agencies eventually evolved into a full-fledged manufacturing setup. Expanding further in 2021 they began construction of a new building which was completed and began operational in 2022. According to Nirav, “The decision to keep expanding was driven by the rapid modernization of packaging in India, where brands increasingly required international-quality self-adhesive labeling solutions.” Growing up in a business-oriented family and watching the dedication, discipline, and adaptability of family, influenced him to navigate through changing business environments and evolving printing technologies maintaining commitment to quality.

Archita, Anushka, Nirav and Sahil

The entire Shah family is a support system for their label venture. While the elders laid the foundation with their trading company Arun Agencies, Nirav’s mother was a teacher and played a very important role in shaping their values and discipline at home that carved their character in industrial operation. His wife Archita actively supports him in business and manages the company’s CSR initiatives and social welfare activities. Nirav and Archita are blessed with two children, daughter Anushka, who holds a degree in B.Design. With her design background, she contributes creatively to branding, aesthetics, packaging innovation, and the visual identity of the company. While Son, Sahil, after completing his MBA  has undergone extensive on-ground training across all departments from production and operations to client servicing and business development. Today, as a key director at Letra Graphix, he plays a leading role in driving modern marketing strategies, digital growth, new client acquisitions, and the company’s participation at major national and international exhibitions. Both siblings are now actively involved in the business and being groomed to be the next generation of leadership at Letra Graphix.

Nirav with Hybrid Gallus Labelfire

They have a fully owned factory on a land area over 5000 Square Meters and employ over 100 workforce. The facility houses advanced multi-color narrow-web flexographic and combination printing presses equipped with inline embellishment technologies including cold foiling, silk-screen printing, die-cutting, and booklet label manufacturing capabilities. In 2015 they further enhanced their capabilities by installing an IML converting machine in 2016. In 2023, a Gallus Labelfire 340 hybrid flexo and digital press was added. Letra Graphix has integrated digital proofing and short-run printing capabilities to cater to the growing D2C and custom branding market. Nirav states, “The future of digital label manufacturing is extremely promising because it enables personalization, minimal setup waste, and faster turnaround times alongside traditional flexographic production.” They also maintain dust-free production environments and 100% automated camera inspection systems to ensure zero-defect quality standards.

Achievements and awards.

Over the years, Letra Graphix has won numerous prestigious national and international awards for print excellence and innovation. In 2006  they won their first AFTA award. Followed by two more Gold AFTA awards in 2007. Two years later in 2009 they were recipients of 13 consecutive awards in a single year and gained global recognition for “excellence in technical achievement in printing by “World Label Awards Association” at Chicago USA. The award winning continued when in 2011 they won 14 awards, the highest in their journey till then. In 2019  they received the “Innovative Label Printer of the Year” award by Printweek for hanger labels.

Letra Graphix actively exports premium labels to international markets and works with brands that require strict adherence to global packaging and compliance standards. As for sustainability Nirav states, “We are committed to environmentally responsible manufacturing practices. This includes waste optimization, adoption of UV-curable and low-emission inks and offering sustainable substrates such as PCR materials and FSC-certified papers. For their contribution towards corporate social responsibility 

(CSR), they regularly contribute toward educational initiatives, healthcare support for underprivileged communities, and local environmental sustainability drives around our industrial areas. Their vision for the next five years is; Letra Graphix aims to become a fully integrated smart-factory manufacturing unit, recognized globally for sustainable and intelligent labeling solutions, while continuing to uphold family-driven values of trust, precision, and quality.

 In his final words of communication Nirav says, 

“My message to the next generation of entrepreneurs and brand builders: never compromise on your product’s first impression. A label is not just packaging — it is the silent salesman of your brand. Investing in quality packaging is investing directly in your brand’s future.”

Interviewed & written in June 2026 by:

Harveer Sahni, Chairman, Weldon Celloplast Ltd. New Delhi

@labelsandpackagingworld.com 

Future of Pack, Brainstorming Retreat May 2026

India's geniuses in packaging development, initiated a thought process to define the roadmap to "Future of Pack", providing amazing inputs. Recently 40 to 45 heads of packaging or senior managers of leading brands in India across a diverse range of segments, came together at a unique event, "Future of Pack, Brainstorming Retreat". The event was conceptualised, curated and amazingly moderated by Pawandeep Sahni Managing Director, Omet India Pvt. Ltd., subsidiary of OMET Srl Italy. I have supported the event and am overwhelmed by the huge response of brands to my invite.

Akanksha Meena the global brands editor at Labels & Labeling, focusing on brand owner insights and design stories across international markets, has covered the event. Initial part of her story is reproduced below. The full story can be accessed at the link provided at the end of the first part of her writeup. 

Unpacking Future of Pack

The recent Future of Pack event that took place at Aravali Marriott Resort & Spa in Faridabad, Delhi NCR, on May 8 and 9 was attended by more than 40 brands. The event explored key challenges around sustainability, regulation, packaging and label technology infrastructure, consumer expectations and collaboration across the packaging value chain. 

Through discussions and workshops led by companies including Omet, Avery Dennison, UPM, Holostik, Kurz and Zircon, attendees explored packaging innovations and emerging technologies shaping the future of the industry. 

Harveer Sahni, chairman, Weldon Celloplast, commented: ‘Pawan and I wished to create a platform for “Future of Pack”, which was not a regular stage and audience event, where speeches are made from a stage, and the questions to the audience are largely met with silence. I am happy we created this very interactive platform, brainstorming at the same level in an open-mic format  with those geniuses who define the future of pack and solution providers who deliver capability in innovation, beautification, security, smart and sustainable packs. This endeavor is now recognized as the path to future. Pawandeep Sahni has been outstanding in keeping the packaging fraternity thoroughly engaged and moving within  their midst to create a collaborative session.’ 

Industry transformation 

The event began with discussion on industry’s transformation over the last two years. Attendees noted that the packaging industry has undergone significant changes, evolving from a simple protective container to an integral part of the consumer experience and brand engagement journey. Today, packaging acts as a digital touchpoint, enabling brands to connect directly with consumers through technologies such as QR codes and NFCs that enhance interaction and storytelling.  

Brand owners are increasingly adopting a consumer-centric approach, focusing not only on aesthetics but also on functionality, convenience and emotional connection. The speed to market has also accelerated, driven by new decoration technologies and the growing need for rapid product launches. At the same time, sustainability has moved to the forefront, with consumers becoming far more aware of environmental impact and pushing brands toward minimal, responsible packaging. This shift is particularly influenced by Gen Z consumers, who value sustainability, authenticity and minimalist design.  

Pawandeep Sahni, managing director of Omet India

The rise of e-commerce has further reshaped packaging requirements, making logistics efficiency, durability and the unboxing experience more important than ever. Additionally, startups are leveraging premium packaging to differentiate themselves in crowded markets and create stronger brand identities.  

The full story is available at https://www.labelsandlabeling.com/features/brand-owners-design/unpacking-future-pack

Click the link to watch the video: 

https://youtu.be/c4PwpOCGXmE

Feedback and comments of some of the participating Brands besides those mentioned in above article:

Priyanka Singh, Head Packaging Development, Lotus Herbals: Grateful to have been part of such a refreshing and meaningful industry interaction. Really appreciate Harveer Sahni ji and Pawan Sahni for creating a platform that encourages open, honest, and collaborative conversations across the packaging ecosystem. Looking forward to many more such discussions shaping the future of packaging together.

Jyotsana Tripathi, Cluster Packaging Head, SoA, Reckitt: It was an enriching experience attending the Future of Pack. Special thanks for facilitating an engaging and interactive forum between brand owners and packaging partners. The thoughtful discussions on current packaging challenges provided meaningful insights and highlighted exciting opportunities for a brighter, more sustainable packaging future. Looking forward to more such platforms like Future of Pack where packaging professionals can collaborate and shape a better future!

Geetal Mahajan Choudhari, Ph.D. (Tech.), Global Sustainable Packaging Lead, Kenvue: I am sure, like me, many of us reading here would have thought, how much effort can one do alone than doing it all together - but no one took that first step to drive collective effort to find a directional way forward for Sustainable Innovation in Packaging until Harveer Sahni ji, Pawan Sahni, and the entire team showed us how it is done! The retreat wasn't just something truly new but also meaningful, and in true sense collaborative. Building connections, crosspollinating that immense ocean of knowledge amongst industry peers and also bringing forth some aspects of what solutions may be was amazing to see! Pawan Sahni, you have set the benchmark too high and I am routing to see the great impact this needs to create and efforts continued..
This event stood out for me not because something extraordinary was discussed but basic & most common questions that we address/ are looking for solutions in our everyday and for the future unlike just the same set of QnA in conferences these days! “The power of collaboration and combined efforts can truly build value even across industry and eventually bring collective impact!”

Swati Gupta, Senior Manager Open Innovation and Packaging Development, Amway: Thank you Future of Pack for providing the opportunity to be part of these wonderful sessions with fellow Packaging Professionals across categories. The collective wisdom, the infectious energy and passion for packaging is worth the time and effort to brainstorm on future of packaging. Looking forward to the focused areas for Industry to initiate and ignite the wholistic collaboration between brands and Packaging Solution Industry.

Varun Bajaj,  Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Senior Manager Packaging: Had the privilege of being part of the “Future of Pack – Brainstorming Retreat” an incredible journey filled with unfiltered ideas, candid conversations, and collective thinking from some of the brightest packaging leaders in India.This wasn’t a typical conference. There were no presentations, no hierarchies — just honest, energetic dialogue  among peers passionate about reimagining packaging that is:
🔹 Sustainable – reducing impact while enhancing value
🔹 Smart – intelligent and connected through technology
🔹 Beautiful– elevating aesthetics and consumer delight
🔹 Secure – protecting brands and ensuring authenticity
What stood out for me was the depth of collaboration— brands, converters, and solution partners discussing real challenges and co-creating pathways for a better, more responsible packaging future.
A few takeaways:
✅ Innovation thrives in open conversations.
✅ The future of packaging is not built in silos — it’s built in synergy.
✅ Sustainability, technology and design must move together, not in isolation.
Grateful to Harveer Sahni for creating such a powerful platform for dialogue and to  Pawandeep Sahni for his outstanding vision and moderation that kept the energy high and ideas flowing.
Events like this reaffirm that our industry’s progress will come not from competition, but from Collaboration— where passion meets purpose.

Bhupesh Mittal, Technical Packaging Program Lead, Bayer: What happens when some of the sharpest minds in packaging sit together in one room - without hierarchy, without filters, and with complete openness?

- You don’t just get discussions.
- You get a glimpse into the real Future of Packaging.
“Future of Pack - Brainstorming Retreat” was one of the most intellectually enriching packaging forums I have attended in recent times.
What made this experience special was the quality of conversations happening inside the room?
✨ No passive audience
✨ No conventional presentations
✨ Just open brainstorming among packaging leaders, innovators, converters, and technology experts
The discussions covered critical themes shaping our industry:
🔹 Sustainable Packaging
🔹 Smart & Connected Packaging
🔹 Consumer Experience & Premiumization
🔹 Packaging Security
🔹 Print & Technology Innovation
🔹 Supply Chain Challenges
🔹 Future role of packaging in business strategy
What personally stayed with me was the depth and honesty of the discussions.
When experienced professionals openly discuss real challenges, failures, innovation bottlenecks, and future opportunities, it becomes a masterclass beyond any presentation deck.
👏 A special thanks to Harveer Sahni for creating such a meaningful platform and bringing together the right minds under one roof.
👏 Congratulations also to Pawandeep Sahni for conceptualizing and moderating the retreat with tremendous energy and clarity.

Yogesh Bambal, Regional Category Lead - R&D Packaging, Asia Pacific Region - Chocolate Category, Mondelēz International: What happens when industry leaders come together with complete openness, intellectual honesty, and a shared intent to shape the future?
You don’t just exchange ideas — you create direction for the industry; It was a privilege to participate in the Future of Pack – Brainstorming Retreat, an exceptional gathering of some of the most forward-thinking minds across the packaging ecosystem. What stood out was not only the depth of discussion, but the quality of perspectives being shared across sustainability, smart packaging, consumer experience, supply chain resilience, technology integration, and the evolving strategic role of packaging in business growth. The conversations reflected a clear reality — the future of packaging will be driven by collaboration, innovation, agility, and collective intelligence.
My sincere gratitude to Harveer Sahni for envisioning and building such a high-impact platform that encourages meaningful industry dialogue beyond conventional conferences. Special appreciation Pawan Sahni for curating and moderating the retreat with remarkable clarity, energy, and purpose. Forums like these are critical for accelerating transformation across the packaging industry and inspiring the next wave of innovation-led growth. Proud to be part of an ecosystem that continues to challenge convention and collectively shape the future of packaging.

Compiled and put together from individual messages received and Linkedin posts, by Harveer Sahni, Chairman Weldon Celloplast Ltd. New Delhi with support from Labels and Labeling UK. May 2026

 Some images from the event: 

 

Compiled and put together from individual messages received and Linkedin posts, by Harveer Sahni, Chairman Weldon Celloplast Ltd. New Delhi with support from Labels and Labeling UK. May 2026