Pune-based Pratham Technologies, manufacturer of paper folding machines, showcased its foray into carton inspection systems during PrintPack India 2015 by displaying its carton sorting system, where it announced its collaboration with Vision Experts of Germany. At IndiaCorr Expo, Pratham announced that it has already installed three of its Supersort inspection systems. The offline inspection system was launched during PrintPack India 2015.
Pratham has manufactured the Supersort carton inspection system in collaboration with Vision Experts, wherein the software and illumination system is developed in Germany while feeder, inspections conveyor, ejector and the other transport system is manufactured at Pratham Technologies. The speed of the machine is around 200 metres a minute while the maximum size that it can inspect is 500 x 500 mm. The system is available in various models starting from a single camera up to three cameras and from both front and back side.
Pratham has already installed three Supersort inspection systems of which one has been installed at Mumbai-based Kalapi Printers and the other two at Bhiladbased Rich Prints where the upgraded Supersort 5003 equipped with three cameras has been installed, according to Yogeshwar Kumawat, marketing manager, print inspection of Pratham Technologies.
Pratham is originally in the insert folding business but in the last few years it realized the great potential in the print inspection market, especially in the pharmaceutical segment, says Kumawat. “Once pills and liquid medications are developed and designed, they must be produced and packaged before they can reach patients. Packaging labels for pharmaceuticals must be precisely accurate, but processing issues can lead to poorly printed labels and bar codes. That is why print inspection is an absolute must in pharma. However, our system is not only relevant for pharma printers but for commercial printers as well who are quality conscious,” says Kumawat.
Although there are a few Chinese suppliers in the market, Pratham is not worried about the competition, says Kumawat. “Pratham Technologies not only provides the equipment, but the entire service and after-sales package. Actually, Pratham is well-known for its service. So we are not at all concerned about the Chinese competition that can hardly provide the overall package we are providing. And the best part is our product is economically viable as well,” he says.
Inspection is now the demand of the pharma industry feels Sham Desai, marketing manager of Pratham Technologies. “Our software, our inspection unit which is a fluorescent illuminating system and the ejection system are most suitable for the Indian industry at the moment. And we can work with Met-Pet cartons also. So we are optimistic about our possibilities and hopeful of installing 7 to 8 machines by the end of the year,” Desai concludes.
