Durst India | 123First Durst Tau330 in south IndiaMahavir Impex has installed the frst Durst Tau330 in south India. Akanksha Meena reportsangalore-based Mahavir Impex began business in 2009, manufacturing of thermal paper rolls. In 2017, it expanded Binto labels, starting its journey with plain labels printed on a 5-color letterpress machine. Managing director Nilesh Jain explains: ‘I was new into label printing. I decided to invest in it because it is intermittent – you don’t have to change cylinders. You can print different sizes on it with just a change of plate. And we wanted to use less manpower. If a single person can do the job, that’s ideal.‘We did not want to invest big at the beginning. We gradually built our customer base and learned the advantages and disadvantages of the technology. There were restrictions in terms of size so we decided to add a digital press. Now size is not a problem.’A few months after venturing into labels, Mahavir Impex observed increasing demand for short runs. ‘There was a gap in the market,’ says Jain. ‘Especially post-pandemic, the demand for short Nilesh Jain, MD of Mahavir Impex, with the Durst Tau330 UV inkjet pressruns has spiked. Brands are focusing on increasing the number of SKUs and they want a local service provider for their labels and packaging. They want their products within a day or two.’ “Post-pandemic, the demand for Jain noticed high demand for digital short runs, particularly from start-up companies. He says that there are several players in the short runs has spiked”digital space but they face limitations such as the capability to print on clear or metallized substrates. They lack the capability to print white. die-cutting machine and the Durst digital press. Jain is now looking ‘White could be printed on fexo and then on digital but it adds to add fast converting equipment to complement the digital press a process and wastage which I want to reduce in my factory. We try and enhance its turnaround time. to be economical. Whatever I reduce I can pass it onto customers He emphasizes that customers want their products as fast as or add on to my margins.’ possible, preferably by the end of the day. ‘They are ready to pay a Jain explored several digital platforms while visiting Labelexpo good price for this service. As the new generation enters the market, Europe 2019 before opting for Durst’s UV inkjet press. ‘The team they want to innovate and bring a change in terms of packaging immediately responded to my query during the pandemic. They design. E-commerce is also picking up. If you want to sell your sent a few samples and I was satisfed. I then sent them my jobs for product online or in modern retail, it needs to stand out.’further confrmation.’ South India is becoming a hub for start-ups and Mahavir is seeing Jain found the quality and the fast turnaround of the press to prospects for long-term customers. India has over 61,400 startups be its best qualities. ‘We can print as per the customer sample and recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and match it in terms of colors. We can immediately print and show Internal Trade (DPIIT), with at least 14,000 recognized during 2022, samples and get it approved in a jiffy. And it is easy to operate.’ according to the Economic Survey 2021-22. The machine was installed in late January 2022. The investment The country has become the third-largest startup ecosystem has allowed the company to acquire new customers as well as bag in the world after the US and China. A record 44 Indian startups orders for short run variable data printing from existing clientele. achieved unicorn status in 2021, taking the overall tally to 83. Mahavir also provides labeling services from scratch. It has an in-house label design team, supporting brands through to the fnal Short run nicheprinted product. With the new set up, Jain is supporting large label manufacturers ‘There’s a lot of potential in the market for this service. With our with their short run jobs. ‘Every label manufacturer sees demand in-house design team, we can provide customers with everything for short run jobs once in a while. They have customers who at one point. They can get their labels designed and printed under prefer not to approach a separate label manufacturer for short one roof for quick turnaround. Customers today want one point runs; they want everything under one roof. But these converters of service; it becomes very easy for them to manage their jobs,’ have constraints in short run printing due to their conventional Jain explains. print set-up. At the same time, losing a customer for a small job This is especially convenient for brands that launch new products is also not desirable. We are becoming that other option for those frequently or target new markets and regions with multiple SKUs. manufacturers,’ Jain explains.With the increasing trend of hyper localization in India, brands Jain has never been interested in long runs. He had seen focus on customizing their products for different regions and go as enough well-established players in the market and found that far as individual personalization for better customer engagement. competing with them would be challenging. Instead, he carved This is resulting in high demand for variable data print. ‘That is a market for himself. how we are helping brands think beyond standard procedures and expand their product reach into the market,’ Jain adds.The company currently operates the 5-color letterpress, two For more about Durst in this issue, see page 77semi-rotary die-cutters, three slitter rewinders, one fatbed Apr - Jun 2022