Q&A: LMAI president Sandeep Zaveri

Labels & Labeling: When did you first join the label industry and why?

Sandeep Zaveri: I joined my family business that was started 23 years ago by my father, the late Jagdish M Zaveri. I completed a bachelors from London College of Printing and a management course at Birmingham University before joining the business. At that time, the company was a multiple partnership firm by the name Preeti Arts in Vadala. We shifted the premises to Navi Mumbai in 2008 and registered Total Print Solutions as a private limited company.
I have been a member of the LMAI since its inception in 2002. The idea of a label manufacturers’ association was conceptualized by Amit Sheth, CEO of Label Planet, who saw the need such an organization in India. He brought together professionals from the industry and registered the association for the industry’s progress. There has been no looking back since then. The main positive change of the LMAI has been networking in the label fraternity. People have a platform to communicate and build professional relationships with each other which was missing previously.

L&L: As president of the LMAI, what goals would you like to achieve in the next two years?

SZ: I would like to educate and create awareness in the label industry in India. We will conduct workshops on various subjects such as cost restructuring, taxation, maintenance of presses, stores management, awareness on GST, lean management among others. The first workshop will be conducted in January 2016 in Mumbai and then it will be followed in different regions as well.

We are also trying to hold panel discussions where experts on specific subjects educate and address issues of printer members of the association. Topics will range from the future of digital in the country to innovation in inks and machine operations among others.

The association will conduct road shows across the country to help local suppliers get mileage on the good work that they are doing. The road shows will give them access to regional markets and will guide them on how to sell their machines and other equipment and products in tier II and III cities.

Another concern of raw material suppliers such as Avery Dennison, UPM and SMI Coated Products is the import of stock lot material in huge quantities. We are trying to work with the government and restrict this import for benefit of local suppliers.