As the Pamex printing and packaging event opened at the BEC in Mumbai on 27 March 2023 it spoke quietly about our publishing, printing, and packaging industry. It didn’t need to speak loudly or boastfully because it was all there to see and in action. The peaceful and modest tone of both global and Indian manufacturers and their chief executives reflect their reasonable expectations.
The persistent hard work of the exhibitors in past years and especially the past few hectic months of getting products ready for the show is visible in the world-class finish of the equipment. The good work of the organizers is apparent in their visitor processes and exhibition promotion work despite the severe constraints of a facility that with great effort becomes serviceable – but cannot any longer in its present state, serve the interests of the leading port city and business center of a growing industry and a growing nation.
The shift to digital is visible with the global players present with some of their latest products for both commercial and packaging and label production. Within digital, the shift to inkjet is also visible, for book printing, packaging, and labels with interesting equipment running live. Locally manufactured inkjet presses such as a duplex printing book press and an inkjet device that can print on bottles and cylindrical shapes are being shown.

The other visible shift in my first-morning look is the shift to packaging. Apart from the deals announced for software and hardware, the locally manufactured packaging equipment includes several die-cutters, folder gluers, and label presses. One hesitates to call any product outstanding when there are several possibilities at the show.
However, I will take a risk and reveal only that there is a very interesting machine at the show which is a drip-off coating press that will come in very handy, even for carton converters who already have long presses with extra units for drip-off coatings on them. Of course, the converters are smarter and richer than me, but it would make sense to have an Indian-manufactured, reliable, and efficient drip-off coating press that can add value to several multicolor presses. Please don’t buy this machine on my recommendation but find out and go have a look and tell me what you think – since I am often wrong about what I think is good for you.
Lastly a shameless plug for our work. Meet up with our young journalists and marketing and subscription team at Pamex 23. Meet them if you are a visitor and tell them your story. Invite them to your plant and show them your work in the coming months.

Go to our stand in Hall 3 O14 and subscribe to our magazines and you may just win the Smart Watch or Earbuds that are being given away each evening! If you are an exhibitor meet up with our marketing guys. This is an important face-to-face opportunity – talk to us – our team is your team. Fix up a time at your stand. Give us a call, or just drop in at ours.
Note: IPPgroup team at Pamex 23 – Hall 3 Stand O14; marketing Mohit – cell 8800566737 Shubham – cell 9891671512 ; editorial Shardul – cell 9820635183 and Aayush – cell 9140355791; and, subscriptions Umesh – cell 9810562217.