In a bid to meet its growing volume demands and enhance efficiency in carton manufacturing, Techografix, a carton printer and converter based in Ahmedabad, has upgraded its production capabilities with the installation of a Bobst Novafold 80 folder gluer. The company, which plans to diversify its customer base and eyes the developed markets, is upbeat about the carton industry’s growth trajectory.
“As our business expanded over the past four years, we faced challenges in managing the rising volumes with our existing equipment. The decision to acquire the Bobst Novafold was driven by its superior performance and ability to handle complex jobs, streamlining our production processes,” Anshu Agarwal, director of Techografix, said explaining the rationale behind the investment.
Specializing in supplying cartons primarily to the pharmaceutical industry, Techografix serves clients in the confectionary and undergarments sectors, predominantly in Gujarat. With a fully owned plant spanning 30,000 square feet, equipped with a Komori five-color offset press in the printing department, the company converts approximately 200 tons of board each month.
Techografix says it has witnessed a notable improvement in productivity and quality since the installation of the Bobst Novafold just a month ago.
“While our Indian folder gluers maintained acceptable quality levels, they struggled to meet our requirements at higher speeds. The Bobst Novafold addressed these quality concerns and surpassed our expectations, aligning with our commitment to delivering top-quality cartons.”
Diversification and growth plans
Looking ahead, Techografix aims to diversify its customer base beyond the pharmaceutical sector, targeting the food, FMCG, and export markets, particularly in the US and the European Union. Agarwal highlighted the attractive margins in these developed markets and the growing preference for sourcing from India and Vietnam over China.
Techografix plans to venture into the corrugation segment, intending to establish a corrugation unit within the next couple of years.
“Yes, most of our business now depends on the pharma customers. We want to diversify towards food and FMCG. We want to directly service overseas customers. We plan to export to markets such as the US and the EU as the margins are attractive in the developed markets. We have noticed that customers in the US and the EU want to avoid sourcing from China and are looking at India and Vietnam. We are also eyeing the corrugation segment and plan to set up a corrugation unit in the next couple of years,” Agarwal said.
Agarwal was confident about the growth prospects of the Indian carton industry, citing factors such as a burgeoning economy, increasing disposable income, and a shift towards paper-based packaging solutions.
In line with its optimistic outlook, Techografix will continue to invest in technology. It plans to add a printing line and more equipment in the converting department within the next year.
“Our growth in the last four years has been strong. We are poised for growth in the coming years amidst the growing Indian economy. Our focus remains on innovation, quality, and meeting the evolving needs of our customers,” Agarwal concluded.
