Ramya Reprographic’s diversification to cartons with MK Easymatrix auto-platen

MK Easymatrix installed at Ramya Reprographic's plant in Bengaluru. Photo PSA

Bengaluru-based Ramya Reprographic, a commercial printer for the first 22 of its 25 years. A major component of its client base was the real estate sector. With demonetization, real estate collapsed and the printing work from realtors came to a standstill.

" Commercial printing never picked upwards later on demonetization. Commercial print involves numerous middlemen, including agencies and freelancers. All these small-timers were filtered out before long after demonetization. GST, a yr after demonetization, further corroded the commercial press segment. The middlemen couldn't pay 18% upfront and, every bit a consequence, they got completely wiped out from the market. This left a abrupt dent in commercial print demand," explains R Narendra, manager of Ramya Reprographic.

Ramya's new Masterworks MK Easymatrix

Shortly after the collapse of commercial printing in Bengaluru, Ramya began its hunt for diversification to relevant business areas. Afterward the conscientious evaluation of 3 possible options – paper bags, paper cups, and rigid boxes – Narendra decided to start off his diversification with rigid box manufacturing. He is at present taking calculated steps to grow this business and is headed in the direction of litho-laminated and monocartons. Toward this cease, he recently installed his first autoplaten diecutter, a Masterworks MK Easymatrix, sold and serviced by Heidelberg.

" Currently, with the ban on single-use plastics in many states, paper cups and paper numberless have gained market place share. That was non the instance when we thought well-nigh diversification. Nosotros were uncertain nigh bags and cups. But rigid box was in need because of the entry of smartphone manufacturers, especially from Communist china. Nevertheless, I'd say that we've just entered packaging by producing and supplying rigid boxes to some of the biggest multinationals in the country. We want to grow in the mobile industry and the electronics market. Fifty-fifty though the market for paper numberless and cups looks tempting right now, they are not on our agenda," shares Narendra.

The company runs 3 multicolor sheetfed first presses with coaters that it purchased brand new, when information technology was a robust commercial printer. Two of these are Heidelberg SM 74 iv-color plus coater presses and the third is a Komori Lithrone 4-color press with coater. For its vi-color printing work, Ramya does a 2d laissez passer on its iv-color presses. As a robust and reliable commercial printer, the visitor purchased like sized and configured presses to maximize productivity and speed of commitment.

Packaging profitable but downturn in Q3 of FY 19-20

" So far, the move to packaging has paid dividends. Information technology'due south profitable and at the same fourth dimension, a neat learning experience. Revenues in Q1 and Q2 of 2022 compared to last year were 25% to thirty% higher. Even though there is a slowdown in the market, our Q1 and Q2 reports take remained unaffected. However, nosotros are experiencing a tough time in Q3. I have discussed this with various bigger packaging and printing companies across Republic of india and they experience information technology will accept another yr for the situation to amend. All of them told me that this is the time to just keep floating and not be over-ambitious," says Narendra.

R Narendra, managing director of Ramya Reprographic. Photo PSA

Nevertheless, Ramya recently brought in a new Masterworks MK Easymatrix autoplaten, a change from its manual converting on a dozen mitt-fed diecutters.

" Since the Masterworks machine is just a month old, it'due south too early for the states to let go of the transmission machines. Likewise, since there is a slowdown in the market, nosotros're hesitant to discard them," Narendra says. With the manual diecutters, and reliance on outsourcing, converting quality and timely delivery became issues. Outsourcing in this case likewise striking profit margins.

Ramya has Fujifilm CtPs – a 4-upwardly and a 8-upward CtP – while the postpress section has the dozen hand-fed diecutters, the new MK Easymatrix autoplaten and an automatic laminator.

Investment plans for time to come

Currently, the company operates from leased premises and will look to motion to its ain property in the next three years. Next, the company will also await to beginning micro-fluting for it to move to litho-laminated corrugated carton and then to monocartons. "All these electronics appurtenances require E, F, and G-flute litho-laminated cartons," says Narendra. Since the company has entered packaging, it is planning to replace ane of its 4-color plus coater presses with a larger format printing. "We've had a good experience with Heidelberg so far and will look for a larger-format press from them," Narendra concludes.

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