During ‘Operation Sindoor,’ when a blackout was ordered across northern cities after shelling in Pathankot, and Punjab was on a high alert, Packaging South Asia was in Chandigarh. Amid the war clouds looming above, we met Kaveri Satija, the second-generation director of Janvi Arts, a Chandigarh-based flexo polymer plate manufacturer that utilizes a Kodak Flexcel NX and an Esko CDI 42×60, combined with a comprehensive offset and flexo unit.
Picking up designing in software such as Corel Draw and Adobe Illustrator, training the entire team, learning to operate a press, dealing with staff and clients, and managing timely deliveries, all while preparing for her 12th boards — that’s how Satija entered the business. She also completed a first-level certification program with the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA).
When we entered the premises of Janvi Arts at Press Site, Industrial Area Phase 1 in Chandigarh, we spotted several stray dogs resting in the shade. “Whatever we have is their blessing; they are our protectors,” 23-year-old Satija remarked on the canine presence.”
“I started by assisting in the offset plate-making business early on. After my 12th boards, I spent the break learning how to go about the offset platemaking business. I learned the ropes of it before transitioning and training for flexo in 2022. Flexo machine installation happened during my college semester finals.”
Satija said her father Tilak Raj Satija established the business. From its inception in 2005 to 2012, the company was into offset printing. In 2013, it made a shift toward the offset plate manufacturing business. In 2022, with the Flexcel NX, it expanded with flexo plate manufacturing.
Apart from the Chandigarh unit, the company has a production site named Devi Graphics in Punjab’s Dera Bassi. The Dera Bassi plant has helped in upping production capacity. The company is working on refining its workflow by investing in more software-based working platforms. Satija has been hands-on ever since she was in school and kept on learning about machine operations. Her elder sister keeps the books in check.
“As young directors, we had a lot to prove. If we are not ahead in our intel, our business could suffer. I lacked experience, but made up for it by understanding the technicalities. I spend around 12-14 hours at work every day. From prepress to dispatching plates, I supervise the operations,” she says.
She says the Indian packaging industry is maturing as cost-centrism is moving towards quality-centrism. “It’s interesting to note that conservatism is diminishing and the OEMs, converters, and suppliers are talking more about innovations, circular economy, and challenges. There’s a more convenient flow of information. We, too, are planning some investments in production and R&D,” she concluded.
