Rajiv Kalra started Lynx Designers in 1995 by printing visiting cards, moved to hand tags for apparel, and labels for garments, and then expanded to packaging in 2005 with rigid boxes using semi-automatic machines. Currently a manufacturer of both rigid and corrugated cartons, Lynx’s executive director Naman Kalra describes the company’s expanding portfolio of enhancements that add a wow factor for its customers.
According to Naman Kalra, Lynx is one of the leading suppliers to the garment and export industries of hang tags, woven labels, printed labels, patches, and embroidery badges. End-to-end barcode ticket solutions are also provided to garment manufacturers through its webshop. Lynx provides branding authenticity to its customers together with environmental standards through its integrated ethical and sustainable production practices.
“As fashion brands increased their focus on packaging beyond just tags and labels, our clientele expected us to provide a more elaborate range of packaging solutions. In 2005, we added rigid boxes using simple machine and manual operations.
“Gradually, we introduced corrugated boxes and used separate machines and lines for the press and post-press of hand tags and the cartons and boxes. To enhance productivity and cost efficiency, we installed a Heidelberg press. This streamlined our processes and allowed us to add enhancements such as foiling and embossing at a higher speed,” Kalra said.
As rigid packaging grew and the monocarton segment took off, the company invested in automated converting equipment, adding a die-cutter, foiler, and folder-gluer from DGM.
In addition to cartons, tags, and labels for fashion and garment customers, Lynx has added new customers from other segments. Its FMCG, electronics, smartphone, watch and personal accessory customers require outstanding packaging with enhancements such as embossing, foiling, and other unusual special effects.
“In the monocarton segment, we have been experimenting with automation using various lamination styles such as velvet laminations, which are unlike the conventional matte and gloss designs. We have a hybrid UV machine where we do deep lamination on a variety of monocartons. We have been working with radium-induced packaging that glows in the dark for garments and FMCG products. The demand for these effects is increasing.”
Kalra says that increasingly, many brand owners are shifting from matte lamination to zero-lamination, especially for the export lines as the need for sustainable packaging increases. The company’s rigid boxes and monocartons are acquiring market share in exports to the US and the UK.
Lynx manufactures 500,000 small-size and 100,000 large-size monocartons. “However, sourcing raw materials is getting more expensive by the day. As brands have consistently retained their old buying prices, the profit for the carton producers has been decreasing. The slowdowns in the US and UK have also affected the export market that Lynx is connected with. We source paper locally and some of our European clients have nominated their sources for their orders, so we have been adhering to their specifications.”
