At PlastIndia 2026, Kohli Graphic Systems with Germany-based Hell Gravure Systems, showcased the HelioKlischograph K5 Smart – the next-generation electromechanical engraving system designed for high-definition quality and productivity, using scalable automation.
Hell Gravure Systems, in Kiel, Germany, is widely regarded as the inventor of electromechanical engraving. At the exhibition, Ulrich Busche, the company’s vice president of sales, emphasized its global legacy and technological leadership. “Hell Gravure Systems is an old company in Germany, almost 100 years old, and we are the inventor of electromechanical engraving.”
The versatile K5 Smart is engineered for a wide range of engraving solutions. Its comprehensive hardware and software enables fast processing speeds and consistent HD engraving quality. One of its defining features is scalability, wherein it can be field upgraded from a convenient one-button engraving system to a fully automatic K5 auto engraver, allowing customers to future-proof their investment.
On the machine’s built-in automation, Busche explained, “This machine is automatic inside. It’s a one-button machine. The operator just has to load a cylinder and press start.” By minimizing operator intervention, the K5 Smart reduces dependence on highly specialized skill sets and enables repeatable quality output.
According to Busche, this is particularly important in maintaining consistency. “You don’t depend on different operators having different education levels. It makes it easier to reproduce the same quality in the future. The system is particularly attractive to markets transitioning from traditional chemical etching processes as electromechanical engraving, offers a far more sustainable and productive alternative.”
Hell Gravure in India
Arjun Kohli of Kohli Graphic Systems highlighted the company’s steady expansion in India since entering the gravure cylinder solutions space in the late 1990s. “Having grown from strength to strength, we have hundreds of these machines installed across the Indian market—from north to south to east to west.”
Kohli attributed this success to strong local service support combined with Hell Gravure’s technological edge. Kohli Graphic Systems has built a robust team of engineers across the country, ensuring prompt service and technical assistance. “We are able to support our customers well, help them grow their business, and give them a competitive edge, not only in technology but also in quality,” he added.
According to Kohli, the Indian market is at a pivotal point. “The need of the hour is the highest quality and more productivity,” he observed. With India’s packaging sector expanding rapidly and government-led growth initiatives driving industrial momentum, Kohli sees immense opportunity ahead.
Hell Gravure’s comprehensive product portfolio, from electromechanical engraving to laser engraving systems positions it strongly to meet this demand. According to Kohli, laser solutions, in particular, are gaining popularity as converters look to diversify capabilities and increase operational flexibility.
Automation
In our interaction with Kohli and Busche, automation came around as a central theme of the discussion at the booth. While developed markets have aggressively adopted fully automated production lines due to high labor costs, India’s approach remains more gradual. Kohli acknowledged the traditional reliance on manual processes in evolving economies. “Historically, manual processes have been important because of low labour costs,” he said. However, the scenario is shifting. “More and more companies are adopting automation because they want higher quality and higher productivity. They don’t want to be dependent on manual processes.”
He pointed out that Heliograph Holding, the parent company of Hell Gravure Systems, can offer complete automation solutions, potentially enabling a single operator to manage an entire facility producing hundreds of cylinders per day. “We can offer automation from zero to one hundred.”
Busche, however, offered his perspective on the pace of automation adoption in India. While acknowledging that fully automated lines represent the future, he noted that widespread implementation may take time. “In Europe, high labor costs create strong pressure for automation. In India, automation is more about achieving consistent quality rather than cost reduction,” Busche said. He believes that while some customers will invest in fully automated lines, the broader shift will be gradual.
Kohli added that Hell Gravure, “is a technology-driven organization that is always innovating and never sleeping.” Significant investments in research and development enable it to continually refine its electromechanical, laser, and flexo product lines.
According to him, PlastIndia 2026 demonstrated that the gravure cylinder industry is entering a new phase marked by smarter automation, sustainability, and high-definition precision. With the K5 Smart and its scalable automation capabilities, Kohli Graphic Systems and Hell Gravure Systems are positioning themselves at the front of this transformation by offering Indian converters a pathway to enhanced productivity, consistent quality, and long-term growth.
