SRK Technologies is a capital equipment solutions provider to both commercial printers and packaging converters. SRK sells laminators and post-press equipment for print finishing and for converting of board packaging.
Switzerland based Steinemann used to sell UV coaters initially and SRK took up the sales of its lamination machines in 2006. At the time, Steinemann was among the first manufacturers to launch a hi-speed PUR (polyurethane) based adhesive lamination machine in India.
Apart from Steinemann, SRK sells machines from other European manufacturers such as pile turners from Albo Systems. Parksons Packaging and TCPL are a couple of well-known customers who use these machines. SRK used to sell automatic flute laminators from Lamina but ceased sales in India due to extremely stiff competition from Chinese manufacturers.
In the past several years, SRK took over Yoco and started selling its die cutting and foil stamping machines in India. More than 60 Yoco’s precision die cutters that are relatively competitive in price have been sold in the country since SRK took over its sales.
“We receive huge demand from Western India – Mumbai to be precise where many of our customers have plants across the country. Considering some of the giants such as Parksons Packaging and TCPL, the benefit is that if we provide one successful machine to one of their factories we are likely to receive an order for a second machine within no time. This is how we try to build our market and extend our reach,” says Rajesh Agarwal, proprietor of SRK Technologies.
Registered lamination
“We are now targeting customers of registered lamination machines. Earlier lamination was limited to simple metpet (metallized polyester) lamination but now we are working towards registered lamination for security applications and product enhancement. The machines have been developed and the trials are in the beta testing phase right now and should be ready for sale in India in a full-fledged manner by mid-2019.
“As far as the current state of the packaging industry, it isn’t good. First of all, there is overcapacity in the industry, as supply has surpassed the demand in such huge numbers that its almost unreal. Commercial printers have started entering the packaging segment looking at its massive potential but that has led to squeezed margins. Earlier, this was the scenario in the printing industry and it is now slowly invading the packaging industry as well,” Agarwal adds.
Agarwal feels that GST has come as a blessing to the industry as it has eliminated the variety of taxes that it has replaced. Speaking about the Make in India initiative, Agarwal said that though the initiative is a path-breaking one, it has failed to bring any change as it has not been implemented in a proper manner.
