Mudrika Labels is set to commission India’s first fully configured Rotatek Universal 850 at its Vasai facility, marking a strategic move beyond narrow web labels into medium web flexibles, sleeves, and complex hybrid packaging applications. The installation represents a convergence of the long-term strategy and technology partnership between converter and supplier, as both sides look to position the project as a milestone in India’s evolving packaging landscape.
Moving beyond narrow web
For Mudrika’s director, Manish Desai, the decision to invest in the Universal 850 followed a period of strategic introspection. “The narrow web industry has grown very well, and we have utilized it optimally. But growth will now be steady, not exponential,” Desai said. “So, we had to think differently — where can we expand, and how can we create a new value proposition?”
Steadily expanding in labels and IML, Mudrika operates an extensive fleet of flexo and offset presses. However, Desai noted that a large share of flexible packaging continues to be dominated by gravure, where cylinder engraving costs remain high. “If you go for wider web flexo, plate costs can be around INR 50,000 per set. A set of gravure cylinders can exceed INR 100,000. This prepress cost is viable only for very large volumes,” he explained. “With this machine, we can do medium to comparatively large jobs without the recurring cylinder cost. The use of offset technology together with flexo is a big advantage for us, and also for our customers.”
The Universal 850’s seven offset units allow Mudrika to bridge the gap between short-run digital and high-volume gravure, targeting flexibles, shrink sleeves, and in-mold labels with greater cost flexibility and faster changeovers.
A fully loaded growth platform
The 850mm print width — the widest in the Universal range — significantly expands Mudrika’s production envelope. The press is engineered to handle substrates from ultra-thin 12-micron films to carton board, enabling unsupported films, sleeves, IML, and hybrid packaging applications on a single platform.
Desai described the configuration as uncompromising. “We have not left out a single high specification. Whatever automation options were available from the manufacturer, we have incorporated. This will be a lighthouse installation.”
The hybrid configuration includes seven offset and two flexo units, cold foil lamination, advanced color control, automatic registration, automated inking systems, and a 100% inspection system for real-time defect detection.
An NIR-infrared drying system using light wavelengths from 700 to 2500 nm has been installed on the press for coating applications. This reduces energy consumption by around 50% compared with conventional IR systems. The use of LED lamps further lowers power usage by 50–60% compared with mercury UV. “Energy efficiency was important for us. Sustainability is no longer optional, especially if you are looking at export markets,” Desai added.
Expected to be operational by April, Mudrika projects 30–35% utilization of the new line in the first year as processes stabilize. “When you install a completely new platform, you need patience. You cannot expect 100% utilization in year one. First we standardize, then we scale,” Desai said.
Built on a long-term partnership
According to Ranesh Bajaj, director of Vinsak, the Universal 850 journey with Mudrika evolved organically from a long-standing relationship. “This was never a transactional discussion. It evolved from years of collaboration and mutual trust,” Bajaj said.
Mudrika has been a long-time user of Lombardi presses supplied to it by Vinsak. Over time, discussions shifted from incremental upgrades to long-term strategic planning. “The early conversations were not about specifications. They were about market direction — export ambitions, substrate versatility, and investing in a future-ready press that would not require phased additions later,” Bajaj explained. “Mudrika was clear – they wanted a complete, scalable solution from day one.”
He described the installation as a strategic milestone for Vinsak Rotatek. “This deal represents confidence in the Rotatek Universal concept as a packaging growth platform. It reinforces our positioning as a technology partner, not just a machinery supplier.”
Custom-engineered for diversification
The Mudrika press has been configured specifically for diversification into IML, shrink sleeves, unsupported films, and hybrid packaging. “What stood out was their clarity of vision. They were not looking for a standard machine; they were looking for a growth platform,” Bajaj said.
Extensive customization was required. “This is not an off-the-shelf solution. The same configuration may not necessarily suit another converter. It is tailor-made to Mudrika’s application mix and roadmap.”
Automation plays a central role, with automatic inking, auto registration, and advanced color control designed to reduce makeready times and maintain consistency across long runs and repeat runs. “The Universal platform enables offset, flexo, foiling, lamination, and inspection in a single pass, while retaining its modular flexibility for future upgrades,” Bajaj added.
Export ambitions and market outlook
For Mudrika, the investment signals preparation for global expansion. “When you expand, you cannot look only at India. You must look at the wider vision, the global market,” Desai said. “In the next two to three years, we will actively pursue international customers.”
He believes Indian converters are now technologically on par with European peers. Post-pandemic, the company’s exports have grown steadily, and the Universal 850 strengthens its readiness for larger international accounts. Domestically, Desai expects India’s flexible packaging industry to maintain double-digit annual growth.
“Flexible packaging is very dynamic. There is strong demand, and many wide-web presses are being installed. The growth is real and sustainable,” he said.
The road ahead for Vinsak Rotatek
The Universal 850 has also gained global attention, including at the Open House held in January 2026 in Barcelona, which attracted converters from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. Bajaj outlined the next phase for Vinsak Rotatek. “The objective is to establish reference sites that demonstrate the full potential of hybrid offset technology in real production environments across IML, shrink sleeves, flexible packaging, and folding cartons.”
He reiterated that the Universal platform sits at the core of Rotatek’s packaging growth strategy. “This universal platform is where we want to grow into packaging. It gives converters scale, flexibility, and the ability to adapt as market demands evolve.”
