In October 2013, Bangalore-based Geekay Imaging & Print installed an Iwasaki mini-intermittent 4-colourletterpress machine with inline UV flexo varnish, rotary and flat bed diecutting, rewind and sheet cutter. Govind K Deshpande started the commercial printing business in 1993 and in the past year it entered labels with the Iwasaki installation in its 3,000 square feet premises.
Geekay now has three business divisions – digital printing, offset printing and labelprinting. For digital printing the company has a Canon Image Press, a Konika Minolta 115 ppm monochrome press and a Riso 2-colour digital printer. For wide format inkjet signage and engineering applications there is a HP6200 8-colour plotter, a KIP multi-function plotter, and a scanner from Colour Track. The offset side of the business is equipped with a 20 x 28-inchSakurai 4-colour offset press, a Fuji CtP and a cutter from Proteck.
The new label printing division has the Iwasaki intermittent label press with four UV letterpress print stations, a UV flexo station, rotary and flatbed diecutting stations and sheeting. As litter rewinder is also installed. Explaining the reason for getting into the label printing business after so many years in commercial printing, Deshpande says that the company always wanted to get into the segment and was looking forthe appropriate time to venture into this new segment. “The label printing business is still not as competitive as digital and offset. Plus, the label segment is seeing rapid growth,” Deshpande says.
According to Deshpande, the move to install Iwasaki intermittent label press was driven by the fact that the machine fit into what the company was looking for. “We studied all types of label presses and different technologies. We found that flexo presses require more space, more tooling investment, bigger job size. Intermittent label press technology suited us. Also, Iwasaki is a well-established brand,” he adds.
Another factors that led Deshpande to buy an intermittent label press was that the machine size was right for it to fit into the current factory and smaller print runs can be undertaken with better economy, without the need peripherals such as a plate mounter and an anilox cleaner. “This press is ideal for new entrants in the label printing business as itis value for money. We can compete with digital label printers for short run jobs,” adds Deshpande.
Deshpande has been very satisfied with the results of the press and Geekay has been mainly supplying to the pharmaceutical industry. Deshpande says that with growth in consumerism in the country, the demand for attractive packaging and labels has exploded. “I see the industry easily attaining growth rates of even 20% in the long run if India becomes a manufacturing hub and a big market for organized retail,” Deshpande says.
Deshpande is bullish about the new venture and says his aim is to make Geekay’s label printing division as successful as its commercial printing division. “For us it is another revenue model. My dream is to establish it on same model one day like what we have been running in the past 10 years. It may take two to three years. Further investment decision in this segment will depend on how the business progresses,” Deshpande concluded.
