Shilp Gravures becomes Esko-accredited platemaking specialist in India

Esko CDI Crystal 5080 with the XPS Crystal 5080 enabled Shilp Gravures to streamline its flexo platemaking in an efficient way

567
Shilp Gravures
The Esko CDI and XPS Crystal platemaking system at Shilp Gravures.

Gujarat-based, Shilp Gravures, the flexographic platemaking specialist, has become the first company in India to receive best in class certification under the XPS Crystal Program from Esko. Gravure cylinder makers, Shilp Gravures moved into flexographic plate manufacturing in 2008. Having worked with Esko and used the company’s integrated software and hardware solutions for more than 25 years, the company installed the industry-leading Esko CDI Crystal and XPS plate imager and exposure solution at its facility in Rakanpur, near Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

“We have worked with the team at Shilp Gravures for a number of years, since before they moved into flexo plate manufacturing,” said Murad Kalal, Esko Regional Sales manager. “Following their commitment and investment to digitize and automate their processes to ensure the best quality plates for their customers, it is only fitting that they are the first company in India to achieve this certification.

“The XPS Crystal Program was developed to recognize those businesses that consistently produce superior plates, which lead to superior flexographic print quality,” added Murad. “This certification underlines the professionalism and dedication to excellence of the Shilp Gravures flexographic team and recognizes their commitment to producing the very highest quality plates.

PrintPack Show Daily

”Gajanan Bhavsar, Marketing director with Shilp Gravures, said the company has worked hard to develop a strong relationship and reputation during its more than 30 years in business. “This has led to us being a leading supplier to the industry,” said Bhavsar. “We have a very strong, experienced workforce that understands our clients’ requirements and adapts quickly to new trends and technologies. While this makes us a preferred supplier of plates, it also means that we are under constant pressure to deliver large volumes of quality plates, as quickly as possible.

”In order to continue meeting the ever-increasing customer demand, to further improve productivity, and in turn customer satisfaction levels, Shilp Gravures sought to adopt a more efficient workflow. “We were looking to maximize output in terms of productivity while also reducing errors, waste and operator time,” said Bhavsar. He explained that the combination of the Esko CDI Crystal 5080 with the XPS Crystal 5080 enabled Shilp Gravures to streamline its flexo platemaking with a far more efficient workflow.

“The CDI Crystal 5080 XPS delivers huge benefits to us,” said Bhavsar. “We have reduced manual steps, reduced errors which means less plate waste, and reduced the amount of operator time,” he said. “Now instead of needing to send a flexo plate through as many as seven individual manual steps, a coordinated, linear process makes things incredibly simple, and fast. We can now expose six to eight color wide-web plates at a time.”

“With our complete Esko set-up, we are able to supply flexo plates even faster with unmatched relief, image consistency and perfectly formed flat-top dots,” he said.“Achieving the gold standard Crystal XPS Certification was the logical next step for us.” The XPS Crystal Certification Program is open to all users of the innovative Esko XPS Crystal exposure unit, the award-winning technology which optimally combines UV main and back exposure, using LEDs that always emit consistent UV light.

As a certified Esko partner, Shilp Gravures benefits from benchmarking and identification of best practice around quality control processes and production efficiency. Certification also enables the business to promote an extra level of quality assurance to customers, as well as providing reassurance of best practice in production processes and communicating the consistent quality of final print.

“The XPS Crystal Certification Program was developed to ensure the entire supply chain can meet the exacting needs and requirements of brands and converters in terms of predictable and accurate plate quality and the highest plate making consistency available, for any given photopolymer,” added Kalal. “Shilp Gravures is leading the way in delivering to these highest of standards, and we are thrilled to be able to recognize that through this certification program.”

The impact, resilience, and growth of responsible packaging in a wide region are daily chronicled by Packaging South Asia.

A multi-channel B2B publication and digital platform such as Packaging South Asia is always aware of the prospect of new beginnings and renewal. Its 16-year-old print monthly, based in New Delhi, India has demonstrated its commitment to progress and growth. The Indian and Asian packaging industries have shown resilience in the face of ongoing challenges over the past three years.

As we present our publishing plan for 2023, India’s real GDP growth for the financial year ending 31 March 2023 will reach 6.3%. Packaging industry growth has exceeded GDP growth even when allowing for inflation in the past three years.

The capacity for flexible film manufacturing in India increased by 33% over the past three years. With orders in place, we expect another 33% capacity addition from 2023 to 2025. Capacities in monocartons, corrugation, aseptic liquid packaging, and labels have grown similarly. The numbers are positive for most of the economies in the region – our platform increasingly reaches and influences these.

Even given the disruptions of supply chains, raw material prices, and the challenge of responsible and sustainable packaging, packaging in all its creative forms and purposes has significant headroom to grow in India and Asia. Our context and coverage engulf the entire packaging supply chain – from concept to shelf and further – to waste collection and recycling. We target brand owners, product managers, raw material suppliers, packaging designers and converters, and recyclers.

In an admittedly fragmented and textured terrain, this is the right time to plan your participation and marketing support communication – in our impactful and highly targeted business platform. Tell us what you need. Speak and write to our editorial and advertising teams! For advertisement ads1@ippgroup.in , for editorial info@ippgroup.in and for subscriptions subscription@ippgroup.in

– Naresh Khanna

Subscribe Now
unnamed 1

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our Newsletter

As 2023 begins and FY 23-24 unfolds, will you support us?

What lies in store for the packaging industry in India and South Asia this coming year? Inflation, disruption of supply chains or environmental regulation? Or the resumption of high rural demand, continued investment and industry consolidation? Whatever happens, Packaging South Asia will be there, providing clarity and independent technical and business information in India and South Asia and around the world. We are a compact Indian organization bringing a window of fair and rigorous technical and business information that the industry can access this year and beyond. Please support us with your advertising and subscriptions, to keep us going and growing.

Thank you.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here