In the last four years new heatset presses from Goss, MAN Roland, and Komori have been bought by several Indian publishers and commercial printers. In the main these have come to the southern part of the country, two Komoris in Bangalore, one in Hyderabad and another pair in Manipal. The Goss M600D was installed by Thomson Press in its relatively new unit in Navi Mumbai. While at least one more Goss heatset press is expected to be installed in North India imminently, Jagran Prakashan will install a new full commercial double-circumference MAN Roland Euroman with 546 mm cut-off at their new Noida plant in October 2008. Meanwhile, Komori has already installed a System 38 press at International Print-0-Pac in Noida across the river from Delhi. Print House will also install a Komori System 38 at its Navi Mumbai plant in August 2008.

The installation of the System38 press at International Print-O-Pac was done in record time with the deal being finalised in December 2007 and the machine being shipped, installed, and commissioned before 31 March 2007. An inaugural event with the machine shown printing at full speed and an evening reception for suppliers, customers, fellow printers and industry leaders and supporters was held on 7 April 2008. The IPPOPL plant already contains approximately 250,000 square feet of constructed space with the possibility of doubling this within the same site.

The top management of Komori concerned with the Indian market attended both events in a strong show of commitment to the market. Komori's top management it must be said attended Kala Jyothi’s open house for its System38-578mm cut-off in Hyderabad as well, about 18 months ago. The entire Singhvi family graciously hosted both events on 7 April and Rishabh Singhvi projected the second-generation leadership of the group as it continues its path of yet more complex and structured growth by combining the packaging, commercial, and publication printing markets.

The Komori System38 running at full speed on coated stock is a benchmark commercial heatset press. It performs in public. It sings and dances. As the first brand-new and high technology heatset web in the IPPOPL fleet of three heatset presses, it will serve as a flagship of quality and productivity. IPPOPL has a strong presence in the magazine market and this press will drive them to a new level of high saturation colour on publication papers for both magazines and catalog printing.

International Print-O-Pac has been a commercial printing and stationary exporter for some years. The exports have consisted of printed trade and children’s books and stationary including quality envelopes converted on its W&D machine. On the evening of April 7, the company launched its own brand “Paperisto” premium stationary products.

The keynote speaker at the stationary launch was Dr Shyama Chona, the renowned principal of the Delhi Public School attended by both Dhriti and Rishabh Singhvi. This was the first time that we saw our industry honouring a teacher and educationist. In turn, it must be said that Dr Chona spoke not only about good stationary but also of the graciousness and good manners of both generations of the Singhvi family. The stationary industry in the country is booming and there is headroom for exports of luxury stationary in spite of stiff competition from China provided one acquires the right combination of specialised machinery. We look forward to the new generation leadership at IPPOPL taking a fresh view of both the domestic and export stationary markets.