Ahmedabad-based Print Pack Solutions saw its packaging division generate record business in June. The company’s managing director Gopal Vachheta credits this to his decision to buy a Bobst Ambition 106 A2 folder-gluer late last year. Print Pack Solutions prints and finishes cartons used to pack medical devices, ceramics, and masks.
“During the lockdown, we have been able to do record business in our cartons packaging division because of the Bobst folder gluer that we bought last year. Before the Bobst Ambition, we were outsourcing our folding gluing work to third parties. If we did not have the Bobst Ambition in-house, we would not have been able to fulfill record orders,” says Vachheta.
For the company, the initial two months of the lockdown, April and May, were slow, but orders picked up in June, and the trend has continued in July as well. Vachheta expects the July business to be even better than that seen in June.
“As mentioned, our June business was at a record high, but given the way July has unfolded, we expected the turnover to be even better than last month. With the Bobst Ambition, we have been able to process 4 and 6 corner cartons efficiently. Apart from the financial angle, by fulfilling orders efficiently and in a timely way during the pandemic, we have also strengthened the relationship with our customers,” Vachheta added.
The Bobst Ambition 106 A2 can process an open width of 76-1060mm for straight line and 146-1060mm for crash lock bottom cartons at speeds of up to 300 meters a minute. In addition to the Bobst Ambition, the company has two punching and two laminating machines. For printing, it uses two offset presses from Komori – one 28X40-inch 4-color and another a 28X40-inch 5-color with coater.
In addition to the packaging division, Print Pack Solutions has a book, stationery, and wedding card, printing division. The company also offers printing services to companies that are involved in finishing corrugated boxes. While the packaging business contributes 30% to the total turnover, the book and stationery division contributes about 20%; the wedding card printing business contributes 30%; and, printing for litho-laminated corrugated boxes provides 20%.
Looking ahead
According to Vachheta, the focus of the company going forward will be on its carton packaging business. Having increased the share of packaging print in its overall turnover from 15% to 30%, it wants to raise the packaging print share even higher.
“We are very optimistic about our packaging business. Soon we will aim to increase the share of the packaging business to 50% of the overall business. We have already seen robust business in June and July, and the full-year performance for FY 2020-21 will also be very good,” he says.
Vachheta asserts that with the Indian government’s focus on promoting the local manufacturing and food processing industry, the demand for cartons will increase in the years ahead. “We are especially bullish about the demand for cartons in the food processing industry. Many small companies are entering the food processing sector, and these processed items will require packaging. We see a good potential in this area,” he says.
Gopal Vachheta credits the record production this June to his decision to buy a Bobst Ambition 106 A2 folder-gluer late last year.Investment in machinery
With the expectation of significant growth in its packaging division, Print Pack Solutions may need to add capacity with capital expenditure. While declining to spell out the details, Vachheta says that the company may invest in a new four or 5-color press and more converting machines. “We have n’t yet decided on anything, but we may think about it sometime next year if our volumes keep increasing as per our expectations,” he concludes.
