At Bharat Print Expo 2025 in Bengaluru, Zhongke India conducted a live show of its machinery and smart automation solutions for the printing and packaging industries – demonstrating its automatic rigid box-making machine, and automatic grooving machine, and showcasing the newly launched automatic 3D embossing machine, the GS AT450.
According to Pooja Rajpal, director of Zhongke India, the GS AT450 is a significant leap in post-press finishing. Making its first-ever appearance at any trade show, the machine was already booked by a Mumbai-based company. The embossing machine can create intricate 3D textures on ready boxes, enhancing the appeal of premium packaging products.
The company showcased how Machnika, a smart factory solution introduced at drupa 2024, plays a pivotal role in transforming traditional production setups into intelligent, adaptive, and data-driven environments aligned with the Industry 4.0 vision.
“With the machines on display and Machnika, we are emphasizing our commitment to integrating AI and automation across the packaging workflow,” she said. “The exhibition, apart from the live demos, focused more on AI integration and workflow automation, which is the need of the hour. Shifting to automation is no longer optional—it’s essential for staying competitive.”
Smart Factory 4.0 integrates advanced automation, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and connectivity to create intelligent and adaptive shop floor environments. By leveraging real-time data insights and seamless communication between machines, processes, and systems, Smart Factory 4.0 enables high efficiency, productivity, and agility in operations.
“We can track the health of each machine, allowing us to alert our customers about upcoming maintenance needs or part replacements before a breakdown occurs,” she explained. “This minimizes unexpected downtime and enhances productivity.”
According to Rajpal, customer interest in automation has grown significantly over the past year. Businesses across the print and packaging sectors are increasingly seeking solutions that reduce dependence on manual labor, minimize human error, and streamline operations. “We see a strong shift towards hands-free, seamless production lines,” she said.
She referred to a recent machine delivered to Replica, which features fully automated, hands-free production. “From board feeding to final box assembly and clothing, every step is automated,” Rajpal said.
