Navi Mumbai-based carton specialist Jagatguru Printing has been able to substantially reduce the bottleneck in its converting department since it commissioned a brand new Bobst Novafold 80 A1 folder gluer last September. The Novafold 80 A1 has the capability to process straight line and crash lock bottom cartons, as well as micro flute and corrugated cartons.
“Bobst is a well-known brand in India and we always wanted to have a brand new Bobst machine in our factory. Their presence in India is very strong with a huge team that ensures great after-sales service. This is a big plus,” said BP Tekavade, managing director of Jagatguru Printing.
“We have been able to refine our post-printing operation since we installed the Bobst Novafold folder gluer last year. At the moment, we are mainly processing mono cartons on the Novafold, but gradually we will also increase the share of corrugated cartons,” Tekavade added.
Jagatguru Printing prints and converts cartons for customers in the consumer goods segment, mainly the spice segment. In the press department, the company operates four Heidelberg offset presses: two 4-color presses, one 2-color press, and one 8-color press.
Jagatguru Printing converts about 175 metric tons of paper board every month while maintaining an inventory of about 300 metric tons. It operates from a 100,000-square-foot built-up space, of which only about half is currently being utilized.
The main reason for choosing a Novafold folder gluer was Bobst’s local process and service support and the machine being manufactured in India for the worldwide market. “Bobst India has a world-class manufacturing facility in Pune and this was a big confidence booster for the client,” mentions Suraj Sharma of Bobst India.
Strong growth visibility in the cartons segment
Ketan Sukhadia, director of Jagatguru Printing, sees strong growth visibility in the Indian carton packaging segment in the years ahead. He expects Jagatguru Printing to notch high double-digit growth in fiscal 2023-2024.
Asked if the company will invest in more machinery, Sukhadia said that at the moment the company is fully focused on utilizing the installed capacity. “We are trying to fully utilize our installed capacity before thinking of expanding further by adding more machinery,” he said. “Yes, as we grow, we will add more capacity. That is natural. Also, whenever we plan to expand, we will not have to think about space. We are using only about 50,000 square feet out of the 100,000 square feet area of our plant. There is enough space to add a number of machinery and equipment.”
“We have a strong team, state-of-the-art machinery, and ample space for expansion,” Sukhadia said. “We are well-positioned to capitalize on the strong growth in the Indian carton packaging segment.”
