Saluja Graphix installs Chhattisgarh’s first Mark Andy

Chhattisgarh India-based Saluja Graphix has installed the first Mark Andy 2200 8-color flexo press in the state. The used press was provided by Flexo Image Graphics, distributor of Mark Andy in India.  

Established in 1980, Saluja Graphix started in the commercial printing segment and provided products such as greeting cards, wedding cards and stationery products. With the rise of the internet from 1998-1999, the commercial printing industry saw a decline which led the company to pivot in design. 

‘We were the first in the state who started designing and made everything in-house. We also upgraded our printing equipment. We started with a single color offset and upgraded to multicolor offset,’ Kirat Saluja of Saluja Graphix says.   

The company’s current set up includes four offset presses and a digital press along with its latest Mark Andy.  

The company also has in-house post-press equipment. Since the pandemic, the company has been looking to target new market segments.  

‘In Chhattisgarh, there are not many players in label segment. Same goes for packaging segment as well. Gravure printing is evident in the market for quality rigid packaging. These are established industries with few players, and we prefer not to enter markets where competition already is high, and customers have multiple options.’ 

He adds: ‘We have a strong expertise in design, allowing us to understand the market's demands and where it's headed. We are unique in that we handle everything from the initial design phase to printing and delivering the product.’ 

For the past 20 years, the converter’s design efforts were primarily directed towards stationery products. However, over the last five to seven years, Saluja has witnessed a significant increase in label production, which he used to outsource.  Now, with the installation of a flexographic machine from Mark Andy, the company is transitioning to specializing in label production, recognizing the substantial market demand in this area. 

In today's market, the concept of small water bottles has become predominant. Previously, serving water in glasses was common in hotels. Especially since the early days of the pandemic, consumers have been highly focused on hygiene and avoiding unnecessary contact, leading to a surge in demand for bottled water. In addition to water, there's also a significant demand for bottled agricultural chemicals in this agricultural state.  

Every bottle, regardless of its contents, requires labeling, often with metallic finishes such as silver or gold foil or transparent labels. These specialized labeling needs are best fulfilled through flexographic printing. 

Over the past two years, Saluja has extensively explored printing machinery. ‘I have attended numerous exhibitions and studied various processes being utilized. By observing the market outcomes and comparing them to my own expectations, I have gained valuable insights into aspects such as pigments, DPI, and color combinations, leveraging my existing knowledge in the printing industry.’ 

After assessing multiple options, he found the Mark Andy machine to be a promising choice. However, budget constraints played a significant role in his decision-making process. Investing in a brand-new machine wasn't feasible, especially as he ventured into a new market. Therefore, Saluja Graphix opted to start with a used machine within its budget and plans to upgrade gradually as it grows. 

The label production on the Mark Andy press began seven months ago and the company has already produced close to 250,000 labels on it.  

Saluja Graphix is providing labels to brands in the state including a pharma company with a challenging label size of 20-25mm. FIG assisted the converter in hiring trained staff to operate the machine and also trained the converter’s current employees on the technology.  

The machine is equipped with four UV and four UV LED curing units.