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Lucknow printers look at new opportunities, diversification, investments

Last year, Indian Printer & Publisher visited Lucknow to get a first-hand account of trends and issues in Lucknow's printing landscape. In a follow-up visit to the UP capital this June, we explored if the roadblocks to growth had been removed. We found that the conventional printing landscape was more or less similar to last year, with less volume and shorter margins. However, printers and converters seemed more confident than before.

After drupa 2024, the printers made investments in new and used machinery and companies are exploring new markets to transition and grow. The situation last year was somewhat gloomy as many small and medium-sized printers shut operations since the Covid pandemic. Only veterans or those who could manage operations between short runs and low volume printing remained with jobs from the government, banks, schools, and corporations.

Off late, there has been some relief as Lucknow is growing toward becoming a startup hub with new emerging businesses. A major transition came with the emergence of folding carton jobs that helped printers to sustain, along with demand for advertising material from real estate and startups.

New opportunities

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Despite the diminishing volumes, demand for visiting cards, leaflets, customized menus, material for internal and external decor, and point of sale (POS) is increasing because of the rising small and medium businesses.

While in comparison to Kanpur, Lucknow may lack a robust industrial infrastructure, it is still gearing up and exploring what more can be done to not just sustain but also thrive.

Diversifications and expansions

Printers that shut operations took up entirely new businesses such as LED decor, spare parts and equipment, and restaurants for survival. Those who kept their presses running also diversified their offerings. Digital printers expanded with offset, while offset printers expanded with signage and digital. Signage printers bought more multi-function printers (MFPs) and cutting tables.

In all, because of the diversification, a positive impact could be seen in many businesses as the shopfloors were more bustling in comparison to last year.

The demand for advertising material came as a blessing in disguise. As the city expanded, hoardings along Shaheed Path were all utilized with ads for new properties. Shaheed Path in Lucknow is a 23-kilometer, four-lane road forming part of the East-West Corridor, connecting major highways around the city. New operation units have been set up in Aliganj, Alambagh, and Kapoorthala areas.

New investments

No printer said the printing landscape is improving. There has been, however, an increased inflow of machines into the region despite the short volumes. Almost all printers we met this time had either installed or invested in technology — old or new. Some purchased new offset machines during drupa 2024 and others announced the purchase during the show.

When we were trying to schedule interviews for the visit, several printers said they were traveling to Japan, Singapore, and Germany for business purposes. This could hint at two things — either more capex is taking place or there will be an increased generation of import and export of raw materials and solutions.

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Rachit Prints gets in-principle nod for IPO

Rachit Prints (RPL), a manufacturer of high-quality specialty knitted and printed fabrics for the mattress industry, has announced that it has received in-principle approval from the BSE SME Exchange for its initial public offering (IPO). The company had filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with BSE SME in December 2024 and is now in the process of submitting the Red Herring Prospectus (RHP) with updated financials. 

The IPO comprises a fresh issue of up to 13,08,000 equity shares with a face value of ₹10 each, aiming to raise approximately ₹19.50 crore through the book-building route. The net proceeds will be utilized with ₹9.50 crore allocated for working capital requirements, ₹4.40 crore for business expansion (including capital expenditure for plant and machinery), ₹1.32 crore for partial prepayment of term loans, and the remaining funds for general corporate purposes. 

Headquartered in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Rachit Prints specializes in manufacturing knitted fabric, printed fabric, warp knit, pillow fabric, blinding tape, and trades in comforters and bedsheets. The company sources yarn and chemicals to produce high-performance textiles, catering primarily to the mattress industry under a B2B model.

The company has secured long-term supply agreements with Sheela Foam Limited (Sleepwell) and Kurlon Enterprise (via an MoU signed in February 2024 for 19 lakh meters of fabric) and also supplies to Prime Comfort Products. Its 30,625 square feet manufacturing facility in Meerut is equipped with advanced machinery from India, Germany, Turkey, and China, and benefits from government subsidies under the amended technology upgradation fund scheme (ATUFS). 

Founded in 2003 by Anupam Kansal, a textile industry veteran with over three decades of experience, Rachit Prints is focused on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. Kansal oversees strategic decision-making, business development, and expansion initiatives. 

The company reported ₹9.8 crore in revenue from operations with a profit after tax (PAT) of ₹1.03 crore in Q1 FY25. The company reported ₹37.08 crore in revenue and a PAT of ₹2.03 crore in FY24. 

Khambatta Securities is the Book Running Lead Manager, and Maashitla Securities is the Registrar to the Offer.

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Tale of three cities — Demand spurs growth of digital printers

As part of its series on small and micro-printers and prominent printing districts in different cities, Indian Printer & Publisher took note of Waka Digital from Ludhiana, Snap Kosh from Varanasi, and Upadhyay Colour Copier from Lucknow. Operating from different cities, one factor binds them — all three started by trading printed commodities and then invested in a digital press, running the business as a sole proprietor, and later on expanded as per market demands and trends.

Waka Digital Ludhiana

We met Paramveer Singh and his father, Haridayal Singh of Waka Digital, in April 2025. Established in 1988, Waka Digital offers a variety of products, including photo albums, photo frames, pamphlets, and more. Waka Digital also works extensively for the apparel industry, providing DtF printing on textiles and labels and tags for packaging.

Haridayal Singh explained how he started the business as a photo color lab for wedding photography and albums, which has been revolutionized by digital printing.

“We kept adding value to our wedding album products over the years with technology and premium finishing. However, photographic services, which have been our core, saw more opportunities with sample booklet printing for the garment industry. We have many hosiery manufacturers as our regular customers. They demand printed samples of how the clothing will look when worn. We do the photography and printing, which they distribute to their customers.”

The company, using an AccurioPress C4080 from Konica Minolta, integrated calendar-making into its production as an advertising sub-division, where they include photographs of hired models wearing garments of its hosiery clients. This gave the business an additional push as the quality of its products attracted nearby schools for printing prospectuses and annual magazines. The company plans to add an embellishment machine to better market its products.

Snap Kosh Varanasi

A printer advised Kapoor to set up his press to save him the trouble of traveling long distances at fairly regular intervals. Over time, his son Deepak Kapoor joined him in his business. Deepak Kapoor manages the day-to-day affairs at Snap Kosh along with his son Vinamra Kapoor, a third-gen director whom Indian Printer & Publisher spoke with.

Vinamra Kapoor joined his family business in the year 2012 after quitting his job at a media house in Delhi. Till that time, it was a traditional printing press with standard machines and equipment. The plant underwent modernization and shifted to digital printing after he joined the family printing press. The digital portfolio began with a Xerox press, and then a Canon production machine. An AccurioPress C7090 was the latest addition in December 2024.

The business, which began with the need for self-publishing, moved toward printing religious books with Deepak Kapoor at the helm. After Vinamra Kapoor’s joining and its digital adoption, the company began to be recognized as a one-stop solution for all printing requirements. The add-ons are short-run printed literature, ID cards, visiting cards, specialized sticker printing, and more. With Vinamra’s expertise in photography, photo and album production became a heavily demanded commodity in the pilgrimage city.

Upadhyay Colour Copier Lucknow

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“If printers have a growth mindset, they will know that new technologies with automated features and cloud computing are the way ahead. Traditional printers seldom change their operational machines. Older businesses are reluctant to revamp their infrastructure if a machine runs smoothly. Adoption and open-mindedness are necessary; unwillingness to advance technologically could be fatal as customers only desire what’s latest,” he said.

Established in 2009, the business is located in Lucknow’s Haiderganj area. Upadhyay, who started as a photocopier, noticed the growing customer demand for more printed products. The commercial printer initially invested in a 4-color machine. Visiting cards, leaflets, letterheads, wedding cards, greeting cards, and projects for school and college students are some of its products.

Students living near Haiderganj are repeat customers. “The students told us that their faculty was quite impressed with the projects that had embellishments or foiling and even set that as a minimum standard for any submission,” he said.

Digital embellishments made him stand out as a premium provider of projects and reports. The printer also serves Firozabad, Lakhimpur, Kanpur, Gonda, Varanasi and other nearby cities. In February 2025, the company invested in another MGI embellishment machine.

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Konica Minolta’s digital solutions at Print4All in Milan

Konica Minolta showcased its latest advancements in digital printing technology at Print4All 2025, held from 27 to 30 May at Fiera Milano Rho in Italy. Occupying Pavilion 11, Stand H22-K30, the company presented a range of solutions aimed at enhancing efficiency and sustainability in the printing industry.

Key exhibits and technologies

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The AccurioShine 3600, a B3-format embellishment solution, enables inline spot UV coating and hot foiling, adding tactile and visual enhancements to printed materials. For label production, the AccurioLabel 400 offers high-speed digital printing capabilities, ensuring efficiency and quality. Additionally, the AccurioPro Flux suite provides scalable workflow automation to streamline print production processes.

Focus on digital transformation

Konica Minolta says its participation underscored its commitment to supporting the digital transformation of the printing sector. By integrating advanced hardware with intelligent software solutions, the company aims to optimize printing operations, enhance productivity, and meet evolving market demands.

Engagement and demonstrations

Visitors experienced live demonstrations and received personalized consultations, gaining insights into how Konica Minolta's technologies can be tailored to specific operational requirements. The company's experts were available to discuss solutions that align with the industry's shift towards digitalization and sustainability.

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Ahmedabad's Scan Press installs its fourth Kodak CTP

Ahmedabad-based Scan Press, a plate-making solutions provider, has installed its fourth Kodak computer-to-plate machine, partnering with Insight Print Communications.

Founded in 1986 by Kantibhai Hirpara and Kantibhai Ladhani, Scan Press began with manual plate-making and prepress positives. In 2008, it transitioned to digital CTP technology with its first Kodak Trendsetter 3.

Today, with four Kodak CTPs in operation, Scan Press is one of the most reputed plate bureaus in Gujarat. Known for its quality output, consistency, and reliability, the team provides plate-making solutions to printers across the region.

"Our relationship with Kodak and Insight has been there for the last 20 years, and the foundations of this relationship are trust and performance. Every Kodak machine we’ve installed has delivered exactly what we required—reliability, quality, and low maintenance. That’s why we didn’t think twice about adding a fourth,” said Kantibhai Hirpara, partner of Scan Press.

According to a company release, the Kodak Trendsetter Q400 Platesetter has been designed to meet the challenges of every business environment. Based on the same technology that printers have depended on for over 20 years, the Trendsetter has evolved to help printers adapt and grow.

Eco-friendly and energy-efficient

Fully compatible with Sonora Process Free Plates, it eliminates the need for processing chemicals and cuts power consumption by up to 30%, using just 770 watts while imaging. The compact MCU also reduces waste and space by up to 65%, the release said.

Users can stay connected with the Kodak Mobile CTP Control App, available for Android and iOS. The CTP system can be monitored from anywhere and users can receive real-time alerts to minimize downtime and keep production running smoothly. Equipped with Kodak Squarespot technology, the Trendsetter delivers consistent imaging, minimizing remakes, reducing waste, and ensuring print quality, the release said.

"Team Insight has truly been the backbone of our business, Raja, its national sales head, has been instrumental in Scan Press’s growth journey. His guidance and expertise have helped us adopt the right technology and stay ahead of the curve. With Insight’s dependable service support, we consistently deliver high-quality plates to our customers, on time and with confidence," says Ladhani.

“Kodak CTP solutions have consistently delivered the best return on investment for our customers. The addition of Sonora process-free plates not only enhances operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness but also supports sustainability by reducing environmental impact. We truly value the trust Scan Press has placed in us and remain committed to supporting their continued growth,” said Ajay Aggarwal, MD and CEO, Insight Print Communications.

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Fujifilm's Revoria XMF PressReady Lite

Fujifilm Europe has announced the launch of Revoria XMF PressReady Lite. Fujifilm’s original XMF PressReady workflow solution, launched in 2023 boasts a wide range of features, including the ability to integrate with MIS and web-to-print systems and more.

Revealed at Fujifilm’s POD partner conference in Madrid, taking place 19-21 May, the new lower cost, lower specification workflow solution is designed for businesses where production is focused on a very small number of POD presses.

Able to manage print production to multiple POD presses, whether they are Fujifilm devices or other vendor presses driven by a Fiery DFE, it’s said to be an ideal solution for large, busy print houses operating multiple presses. For smaller companies however, especially those using just one or two presses for production, it’s often much more than they need. In response to this market need, Fujifilm has developed PressReady Lite, a version of the software designed specifically to add value to smaller companies.

“We see PressReady Lite as a ‘productivity pack’ for our Fujifilm Revoria Flow DFE,” explains John Davies, workflow product group manager, Fujifilm EMEA. “It’s a software add-on to Revoria Flow, and it’s a workflow system carefully targeted at smaller businesses, providing the ability to check and fix PDF files, and to create automated workflows to intelligently group jobs for printing, a task that can otherwise be very time consuming. For instance, jobs that include the use of pink toner, or jobs that all print on the same media, with the same set of toners, can be automatically grouped together for printing to minimise unnecessary changing of toners, or loading and unloading of media.”

A software only solution, PressReady Lite can be installed on any Revoria Flow server. Available for use with Fujifilm’s Revoria SC285, EC2100 and PC1120 models, it contains automation and time saving features targeted at single press solutions, making it an accessible and easy way to add automation even when one of these presses is the only production device. 

Davies concludes, “We’re committed to helping all our customers, from the largest to the smallest, and in PressReady Lite, we’re proud to be bringing to market a tailored automation solution that allows even the smallest print businesses to benefit from enhanced productivity and reduced human error.”

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Digital supports small printers in Noida

Moving away from book printing and publishing heavyweights, Indian Printer & Publisher visited small and medium printers in the nooks and crannies of Noida. These are print service providers relying mostly on a single digital press paired with a couple of multifunction printers — providing letterheads, pamphlets, visiting cards, and short-run book printing to nearby clinics, schools, and other small businesses. Some of these own auxiliary businesses to support their finances, or have shifted from conventional printing to produce related products with a different value proposition.

Noida Sector 10 is one such hub of digital service providers. Some of them have managed to retain direct customers, while a majority rely on third-party orders. Sector 10 is one of the most preferred markets for short-run jobs, ranging from visiting cards to book printing and binding. Most printers there own at least one machine from Konica Minolta. If not a digital press, at least one KM multifunction printer can be seen at every production unit.

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With the hope of becoming a one-stop printing solution provider, Rashid got into training right after his graduation. After learning the intricacies of handling a digital press and managing day-to-day operations, he started his business one and a half years ago. He started as an agent, getting outsourced orders, and eventually buying a press.

“Direct customers are more profitable, and we try to retain them. Third-party clients offer low margins. Sometimes we work on credit. Our quality keeps us in the good books of our customers. As our orders are growing, we plan to add another digital production press to enter the premium labels segment,” Rashid said. He plans to enter the mid-format vinyl business as well.

Established in 2005, Bhagwati Printers provides services such as color printouts, photo albums and frames, ID card printing, photostat, drawing maps, lamination, spiral binding, hard binding, project binding, thermal binding, and spico binding.

However, printing is his secondary business. His primary source of income is school uniforms. Printing complements the hosiery part as the majority of his printing orders come from schools.

Rohit Singh, partner at a printer in Sector 22, says low demand for printed commodities is a concern. Lamination, binding, and small orders keep the press running. “Orders are as unpredictable. We get both direct and third-party print jobs, and as such, the margins keep fluctuating. Having two related businesses helps us stay afloat when the market is down.”

Repeat business includes some large-format printing on a Mutoh printer, he says, “We have serviced happy clients such as Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Ayesa Ingenieria Y Arquitectura SA, Yfc Project Noida, Aplinka Solutions & Technologies, Sterling and Wilson, Sterling and Willson Powergen, NKG Infra Structure (FDR), REPL Rudrabhishek Enterprises, ISGEC Heavy Engineering, NTPC Limited, Kalpataru Power Transmission SAM (India), Built Well, DGLL (ministry of shipping), Central Bank of India, Employees Provident Fund Organization, and more.”

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Sakshi Jain, owner of the company established in 2019, told Indian Printer & Publisher that she started Poster N Frames with her husband, Manish Jain. The majority of the sales are online. Poster N Frames has an online mode of delivery through Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra, and its own website. “Our printed products are for interior decoration. We provide posters and signage for homes and businesses alike with beautiful framing.”

Along with the Konica Minolta press, Poster N Frames owns two mid-web eco-solvent printers from Grando and a PixelJet wide-format printer from Monotech Systems. For customers with bulk orders, the company outsources offset capabilities.

Jain said incorporating the digital press to increase profitability and retain customers is a priority. “Any capacity building in the future will be digital only as the market is highly competitive in the bulk segment and digital allows more scope,” Jain said.

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The UAE’s significance for the Indian book industry

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ADIBF, directed at both industry professionals and the larger public, brought together some 1,400 exhibitors and more than 220,000 visitors on the 10 days from 26 April to 5 May, 2025. The largest exhibitor cluster from outside the UAE was again that of the Chinese book industry with around 80 booths, followed by companies from India and, for the first time, Caribbean publishers from 20 island states who represented this year’s focal theme. According to the organizers, the Arabic Language Centre, the fair featured 87 government entities, 15 universities and 28 national collective booths. Mention was also made of the 25 literary agents participating in the event, as the region has long been without a consistent presence of such agents.

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During the festival, Sharjah Book Authority chairperson Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi announced what is said to be the region’s first inclusive book series for young readers, in collaboration with her publishing house Kalimat. The concept of creating an inclusive series, she said, is based on, “The mission to make knowledge accessible to every child, regardless of her or his ability, and to create more inclusive, sustainable learning environments.” At the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, her Kalimat Foundation also announced the donation of books to Palestinian children residing at the Emirates Humanitarian City in Abu Dhabi, carried out under the ‘Pledge a Library’ initiative and launched in conjunction with the UAE’s ‘Month of Reading’ program.

With 2,200 exhibitors, last year’s 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair was attended by 1.8 million visitors on 12 days. Participants from India included FICCI, Capexil, NBT and 52 individual exhibitors. As in previous years, the event was preceded by a three-day Publishers Conference attended by 1,150 publishers and literary agents from 108 countries, facilitating matchmaking for the buying and selling of publishing and translation rights, and organizing roundtable discussions and workshops on topics such as freedom of expression, artificial intelligence, and audio books.

The Sharjah Book Authority not only organizes the book fair but is also responsible for one of the UAE’s many tax-free zones, the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, a 100,000 square meter facility dedicated to the book printing and publishing industries.

Qatar, in the meantime, is developing its own Doha International Book Fair, which in its 34th edition this year is running from 8 to 17 May with 522 exhibitors from 43 countries, including 11 from Palestine, this year’s Guest of Honour.

This year’s Sharjah International Book Fair will take place from 5 to 16 November, 2025. The next Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, with Indonesia as its Guest of Honour, will be held from 25 April to 4 May 2026.

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Heidelberg holds its ground in FY 2024-25 with stable adjusted EBITDA of 7.1%

Heidelberg held its own in a difficult market environment in financial year 2024/25 and achieved the targets it had set itself. According to preliminary calculations, the adjusted EBITDA margin remained stable at 7.1%, bringing the financial year to a successful close. The slightly lower sales volume compared to the previous year, rising wage costs and expenses for the drupa trade fair were successfully offset by the cost-cutting and efficiency measures initiated. In the fourth quarter alone, the adjusted EBITDA margin doubled to around 10% compared to the previous year. 

At around 2,280 million Euros, sales were slightly below the previous year's level (2,395 million Euros). After a weak first quarter due to a reluctance to buy in the run-up to the drupa trade fair, sales increased quarter by quarter in the financial year and closed with a particularly strong fourth quarter. At around 50 million Euros, free cash flow was once again clearly positive (previous year: 56 million Euros), which did not include any special items in the reporting year, such as from the sale of non-operating assets.

“We were able to achieve our financial year targets in a difficult economic environment and uncertain geopolitical conditions,” said Jürgen Otto, CEO of Heidelberg. “With a clearly positive free cash flow for the second year in a row, we have confirmed our financially solid development. The measures initiated to reduce personnel costs will help us to further strengthen our profitability in the new financial year.” The adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to improve further to around 8% in the next financial year 2025/26.

Rising incoming Q4 EMEA orders lays foundation for good start  

Heidelberg closed the past financial year with a high order intake. At over 600 million Euros, incoming orders in the fourth quarter were up on the previous quarters of the financial year. The basis for this is also the global and diversified positioning of the company, which allows Heidelberg to benefit from the different growth dynamics in the individual regions. The significant increase in incoming orders in the EMEA region in the fourth quarter deserves special mention, while the Americas region showed a slight improvement at a still subdued level. After several previous quarters of strong growth, the Asia/Pacific region was below the previous year's level, mainly to the reluctance to invest ahead of the China Print trade fair.

Both segments in the core business achieved an increase in orders thanks to strong development in the Sheetfed product area, with the Packaging Solutions segment accounting for the higher growth. Preliminary order intake for the year as a whole therefore totaled around 2.430 billion Euros, which was around 6% higher than the previous year’s figure of 2.288 billion Euros. Overall, the improvement can be seen across both segments, with Packaging Solutions accounting for around 52% of order intake for the year as a whole. Compared to the previous year, order intake in this strategically important segment recorded absolute growth of around 7%.

“Our global presence in over 170 countries around the world is paying off, especially in economically uncertain times,” said David Schmedding, chief technology & sales officer at Heidelberg. “Thanks to the rising order situation, we expect a better start to the new financial year compared to the previous year. The China Print trade fair in May should provide further impetus for orders. We are also keeping a close eye on the development of customs duties worldwide. However, there is no comparable manufacturer in the USA in our core business. In the global market environment, our competitors are likely to be affected by the US tariffs to the same extent, meaning that we will continue to maintain our leading position. Overall, we are therefore confident about the new financial year.”

China Print trade fair in May

From 15 to 19 May, China Print, the largest trade fair in the Chinese printing industry, will take place in Beijing this year with over 100,000 visitors. Customer groups from overseas are also expected to attend. In terms of sales, China is one of the top three markets for Heidelberg. At the booth, the company will showcase its latest innovations aimed at increasing efficiency and productivity, integrated hybrid production with offset and digital printing, developing new business opportunities and digital transformation. 

Heidelberg intends to gradually expand its business and portfolio to offer customers integrated end-to-end solutions for the entire production process through automation, robotics and software. As a system provider, the aim is to tap into the huge potential in the growing packaging segment. In China, the annual printing volume in the packaging sector is growing by around 4%. Heidelberg is thus also creating competitive advantages for its customers in China and intends to grow further in this market segment.

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Materialise updates Magics 3D additive manufacturing software

Materialise has released the latest version of its Magics software for the additive manufacturing market. The Magics 2025 release is said to make it possible to print parts that were previously beyond 3D printing.

This claim is based upon a new ability for seamless processing of nTop implicit geometries without the need for mesh conversion in order to reduce the preparation time for complex parts. Thus nTop is an American software company that develops design software specifically for creating parts that will only be produced using additive manufacturing.

This fits with the Design For Additive Manufacturing movement, or DfAM, which differs from the more common approach of using CAD design to create parts that can be produced by both conventional and digital manufacturing. The DfAM approach allows designers to take advantage of the specific characteristics of additive manufacturing, such as latticing to create lightweight parts without sacrificing strength.

nTop engine

The nTop engine is based on computational design, which allows users to iterate rapidly through different variations, and to assess quickly how any changes will affect the final performance. The downside is that this requires substantial data and memory requirements. But now Materialise has improved the slicing capabilities of its new build processors to work with these designs. The build processor is essentially RIP’ing those designs to create the print instructions for a specific 3D printer.

Materialise and nTop set up an Early Access Program in 2024 to persuade users to try this technology. One of the participating companies was DMG Mori Technium Europe, which specialises in precision machining and additive manufacturing. Martin Blanke, a Project engineer with this company, explained, “Before joining the Materialise and nTop Early Access Program, meshing complex geometries consumed days of work. Now, with the new integration into Magics, it takes seconds. This integration hasn’t just streamlined our workflow – it fundamentally enhances our ability to design for additive manufacturing. Collaborations like this are exactly what our industry needs to overcome technical barriers and push additive manufacturing toward its full potential.”

BREP processing

Besides this, Magics 2025 also features extended BREP processing, which refers to Boundary REPresentation as used to define the volume of a 3D part. Here, Magics aims to help users work with native CAD geometry, by offering higher part quality, faster performance, and a reduced need for manual fixes. It’s suitable for CNC workflows as well as SLS, MJF, and Metal LPBF users. It supports advanced functionalities such as measurements, wall thickness analysis, nesting, and STEP file export for integration into CAM or CAD software.

Materialise has also sought to reduce costs associated with additive manufacturing, particularly around post-print finishing which can account for up to 60% of total costs. The latest Magics brings further optimizations for build preparation workflows and support generation, reducing material use and post-processing requirements while maintaining high-quality output.

Amongst the new features is ‘Replace Part & Transfer Support’ – which is used for series production and prototyping, and can reduce repetitive work, human error, and lead times. There is also ‘Self-Supporting Shell & Honeycomb’ – which minimizes the supports used in complex areas through self-supporting volumes, which reduces the post-printing processing.

The new release also includes several functional updates to simplify the user experience and to optimize rendering and memory usage for more efficient workflows. This includes up to 40% less video memory usage for marked mesh parts.

Enabling the next generation of additive manufacturing

In addition, Materialise has partnered with two other companies, Raplas and One Click Metal, to integrate the Materialise build processor into their systems. Bryan Crutchfield, vice president and general manager of Materialise North America, explained, “Materialise’s strategy is to enable the next generation of additive manufacturing by combining advanced software with diverse hardware platforms. Collaborations with Raplas and One Click Metal and the launch of the 2025 Magics release reflect our commitment to supporting the full spectrum of AM production. These solutions empower customers to save time, reduce risks, and lower costs, supporting successful AM builds from start to finish.”

One Click Metal has integrated the Materialise Build Processor into its ecosystem to give users improved control over their production processes and to streamline operations as it seeks further growth in the mid-market 3D printing sector.

Raplas focusses on resin-based additive manufacturing using the SLA or Stereolithography approach. Richard Wooldridge, CEO of Raplas, commented, “By combining Raplas’ tailor-made SLA 3D printing technology with Materialise’s advanced Build Processor, we are addressing inefficiencies of legacy systems. This partnership has already demonstrated remarkable results, including a 30-40% increase in printing speed, enhanced part quality, and minimum post-processing requirements.”

Udo Eberlein, vice president of software at Materialise, noted, “We are listening closely to the demands of the market and evolving our software portfolio into an integrated range of solutions that work together with other manufacturing tools. By addressing challenges such as cost, scalability, and precision, we are laying the foundation for seamless workflows that connect additive manufacturing to broader production ecosystems.”

Materialise mainly works in the aerospace, healthcare, and automotive, and as well as the software it also offers an extensive portfolio of 3D printing hardware. You can find further details on this from materialise.com.

First published in the Printing and Manufacturing Journal on 28th April 2025. Republished by permission.

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Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems launches IPC 3.1

Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems (PCS) launched the latest version of its table operating software IPC 3.1. Available immediately across Kongsberg PCS’s latest models, the cloud enabled operating system delivers a host of enhancements to increase productivity – from a simpler, more intuitive user interface, to new ‘one click’ features and automated set-up and operational steps.

The redesigned user interface provides a touch-friendly experience with real-time feedback, reducing the learning curve for new operators and allowing customers to better leverage the features and precision of their existing cutting tables, enhancing overall productivity.

Key features found within the operating system include:

New dynamic nicks- simplify material handling by ensuring that cut parts and waste remain connected during unloading. This feature allows users to add or change the size and placements of nicks without the need for third-party software, or without altering the original file path.

Redesigned user interface- intuitive, touch-friendly navigation, with real-time feedback including push notifications aimed at reducing downtime when intervention is needed

Automated features for simplified set-up include-

Simplified V-notch set-up, allowing users to achieve perfect folds with automatic calculations

Automatic edge detection and file orientation that rotates and mirrors files without manual intervention for faster set-up

Improved job estimation, which delivers more accurate production timelines and reduced downtime for a smoother workflow.

John Wilson, product manager at Kongsberg PCS says, “The new features and upgrades included in the IPC 3.1 software have been designed in response to customer feedback and represent a major leap in capabilities from the widely available previous IPC operating system. The new upgrades reduce downtime and set-up time with such as dynamic nicks, make an already powerful operating system more dynamic and intuitive, allowing customers to make more of their investment in their Kongsberg table and to achieve more efficient operations.”

The latest version of IPC 3.1 software is available for all Kongsberg PCS recent platforms, including Kongsberg Ultimate, C-series, X-series, and select earlier generation models.

Available immediately across Kongsberg PCS’s latest models, the cloud enabled operating system delivers a host of enhancements to increase productivity – from a simpler, more intuitive user interface, to new ‘one click’ features and automated set-up and operational steps.

The redesigned user interface provides a touch-friendly experience with real-time feedback, reducing the learning curve for new operators and allowing customers to better leverage the features and precision of their existing cutting tables, enhancing overall productivity.

Key features found within the operating system include:

New dynamic nicks- simplify material handling by ensuring that cut parts and waste remain connected during unloading. This feature allows users to add or change the size and placements of nicks without the need for third-party software, or without altering the original file path.

Redesigned user interface- intuitive, touch-friendly navigation, with real-time feedback including push notifications aimed at reducing downtime when intervention is needed

Automated features for simplified set-up include-

Simplified V-notch set-up, allowing users to achieve perfect folds with automatic calculations

Automatic edge detection and file orientation that rotates and mirrors files without manual intervention for faster set-up

Improved job estimation, which delivers more accurate production timelines and reduced downtime for a smoother workflow.

John Wilson, product manager at Kongsberg PCS says, “The new features and upgrades included in the IPC 3.1 software have been designed in response to customer feedback and represent a major leap in capabilities from the widely available previous IPC operating system. The new upgrades reduce downtime and set-up time with such as dynamic nicks, make an already powerful operating system more dynamic and intuitive, allowing customers to make more of their investment in their Kongsberg table and to achieve more efficient operations.”

The latest version of IPC 3.1 software is available for all Kongsberg PCS recent platforms, including Kongsberg Ultimate, C-series, X-series, and select earlier generation models.

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Koenig and Bauer reveals €70 million loss in 2024

Koenig and Bauer has released its audited financial results for 2024, alongside the claim that it has met its financial expectations, though this really isn’t the full picture despite the company having revised those expectations back in November.

The upbeat tone of the accompanying press release is based on the revenue of €1,274.4 million, though this was slightly down on the previous year’s revenue of €1,326.8 million. Inexplicably, the gross profit fell from €347.5 million in 2023 to €295 million in 2024. The operating Earning Before Interest and Taxes was a loss of €35.1 million, though Koenig and Bauer lists this as a profit of €25.8 million once adjusted for extraordinary items, also down on the previous year’s €29.9 million. This translated into Earnings Before Taxes of a loss of €59.2 million, compared with a profit of €13 million in 2023. The final net figure is a significant loss of €69.9 million, especially when considered against the profit of €2.8 million from the previous year.

Koenig and Bauer has blamed most of this loss on relatively weak order intake in Q3 2023 in the Sheetfed segment and issues in the Banknote Solutions business around a lower percentage of completed orders compared to the previous year for delivery-related reasons, adding that this also caused negative volume and product mix effects of €4.2 million. The group also noted that interest rates were higher than the previous year, leading to its interest payments leaping from €16.9 million to €24.1 million.

The adjustments to the operating EBIT include costs of €10.5 million for Drupa and €50.4 million for the ‘Spotlight’ restructuring program. The Spotlight program exceeded its €45 million budget, partly because of the decision to discontinue the CS MetalCan project for two-piece beverage can printing, which had a roughly €5.4 million effect on earnings. Instead, the MetalPrint business will now focus on digital print opportunities.

All the main divisions saw a drop in their profits. The sheetfed division recorded revenues of €734.8 million, down from €779.8 million in 2023, with a drop in the sale of presses but an increase in parts and services. The gross profit fell slightly from €185.7 million to €184 million but the EBIT dropped significantly from €29.8 million to €17.1 million. The figures did improve in the fourth quarter. The sheetfed division in particular saw orders for €220.8 million, up 45.5% year on year.

The Digital and Webfed division recorded revenue of €157.6 million, down from €172.3 million. But the gross profit fell off a cliff, from €21.8 million in 2023 to €1.4 million in 2024, while the EBIT fell from a loss of €23.9 million to a greater loss of €53.3 million. The Digital and Webfed segment struggled from a temporary weakness afflicting the market for corrugated board, though orders more than doubled in the second half of the year.

The Special division recorded revenue of €407.4 million, down from €413.7 million, with a small drop in both presses and servicing but a small increase in spare parts. The gross profit fell from €138.1 milliion in 2023 to €107.4 million in 2024, with the EBIT dropping from a profit of €23 million to a loss of €5.2 million.

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The group also realised improved cash flow from its operating activities at €73.4 million, up from a loss of €31.8 million in 2023. This was mainly due to active net working capital management, under which inventories were run off and receivables and other assets reduced. The group ended the year with a net financial debt of €-128.1 million, an improvement on the previous year’s €-147.6 million. The Group has access to syndicated credit facilities of €500 million from a consortium of banks. In addition to a revolving cash facility of €300 million, the syndicated finance includes a guarantee facility of €200 million.

Restructuring program

At the end of 2023 Koenig and Bauer established its ‘Spotlight’ program to focus on specific business areas within the group, in order to optimize their structure and costs to increase their profitability. This program is now examining how to optimize the group’s overall organizational structure.

Koenig and Bauer has a decentralised structure, made up of a holding company with 37 subsidiary companies. Up until the end of 2024, these companies were split across three main divisions: Sheetfed, Digital and Webfed, and Special.

The new structure that has emerged at the end of 2024 will see this cut to two main divisions. Thus the Sheetfed division was folded into a new Paper & Packaging Sheetfed Systems (P&P) segment. This includes the joint venture with Durst as well as moving the Celmacch Chroma series from Digital & Webfed. The rest of the Digital & Webfed portfolio will be combined with the Special segment to form a new Special & New Technologies (S&T) segment. This also includes all the newspaper printing as well as the partnership with the Volkswagen subsidiary PowerCo for the development of dry coating for battery cell production.

At the same time, the New applications unit, which includes inspection systems and product safety, will be spun off from security printing into an independent Vision & Protection business unit. Also, the Digital Unit, which was previously organized as a cross-sectional function within the holding company, will operate as an independent business unit called Kyana inside the S&T segment. This business unit will thus be home to the digital solutions of the two former Digital & Webfed and Special segments including the Kyana portal.

CEO Dr Andreas Pleßke commented, “For Koenig & Bauer, 2024 was a year of change and opportunities – and this transition is currently continuing. For over 200 years, Koenig & Bauer has been combining innovativeness with a strong market position to tackle new challenges, drive innovation and seize opportunities continuously.”

Future outlook

Sales in most regions were down in 2024, particularly in Europe, China and the rest of Asia, with only North America bucking the trend. In 2024, Koenig & Bauer generated around 29% of its revenue in North America, up from 23% in 2023. According to the financial report, the group continues to view the North American market as strategically important. The report points out that although the US tariffs will affect it, most of its competitors are also based in Europe and subject to the same tariffs.

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Koenig and Bauer is now concentrating on exploiting AI technology to optimise its operations, as well as on opening up new markets, including converting more analog markets to digital. The main focus continues to be on packaging printing. The report notes, “On average, global packaging printing is growing at an annual rate of around 4% according to various industry studies, with higher growth rates being registered for flexible packing and boxes.”

Once again, Koenig and Bauer is not planning on paying a share dividend for 2024, citing the earnings performance and persistent market weakness. In order to reassure nervous investors, the company has promised to pay dividends in future of around 15 to 35% of consolidated earnings. However, this is the same promise that was made when the 2023 figures were published, when the company also opted against paying a share dividend.

For 2025, the group is forecasting a slight increase in revenue to €1.3 billion with a higher operating EBIT between €35 million and €50 million but with the caveat that this depends on the geopolitical situation, which is anything but stable at the moment. Nonetheless, Koenig and Bauer continues to believe that it can reach revenues of roughly €1.5 billion in 2026, with an operating EBIT margin of around 6%.

Overall the report comes across as trying a little bit too hard to reassure investors for it to really succeed in this. Nonetheless, Koenig and Bauer is in a reasonably strong position thanks to its high order backlog and diversified portfolio, though it is also carrying a large amount of debt. You can find more information on this company from the investors page at koenig-bauer.com.

First posted by the Printing and Manufacturing Journal on 17th April 2025. Republished by permission.

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Book printing exports and Trump tariffs

It is no secret that the printing industry is one of the most vibrant in the country, although it is fragmented and has many small and medium players, and a few that are large. By large commercial print businesses, I mean those with turnovers greater than Rs 500 crore (US$ 60 million).

Nevertheless, a few of our substantial book printers and book print exporters have reached the large category – at least a couple are listed on the stock exchange. Apart from the large printers, there are several book printing exporters in the medium category (above Rs 100 crore or US$ 12 million). They attend international book fairs, manage to bring back good orders, and have grown their businesses. Many smaller book printers have also become exporters.   

An obvious reflection of their continued growth is the number of new 8-color perfecting presses purchased in the past three or four years. One book printing exporter installed his third new 8-color perfector before the end of March and another is replacing his used 8-color presses with new and highly automated 8-color presses.

As for the looming trade war or the tariffs, although there can be no mid or long-term clarity in the Trump era, the information received by book printers from the recent London Book Fair is that the imports of children's books and textbooks into the United States will be exempt from any special tariffs. Perhaps only the 10% general 'reciprocal' customs duty against all countries may be applied. Apparently, in the case of children’s books and school textbooks, even China is exempt from any of the punitive ‘reciprocal’ tariffs.

We have learned that this exemption concerning book exports brought considerable relief to publishers, book producers, and importers at the recent London Book Fair. It also meant that they did not feel immediately compelled to shift their production from China to suppliers in other countries. Some publishers or importers may be seeking new suppliers; however, this is out of choice and perhaps as a future safeguard, and not out of immediate compulsion.

Thus, Indian book exporters cannot rely on any differential or ‘reciprocal’ Trump tariff against Chinese suppliers to drive US publishers or book importers to avail of their services. Some exporters may seize the opportunity, but more likely, they will not be able to avail of the opportunity to improve their price performance. Or their execution capabilities to dramatically increase their market share in US book printing imports.

Thus, the opportunity remains the same as before Trump, as do the challenges of not being the lowest-cost and most reliable producer. Leading book printers and exporters admit that we are not the lowest-cost producers. No industry segment in India is the lowest-cost producer of anything. Our inefficiencies stemming from poor and erratic skills, logistics, energy, and most of all our culture and attitudes, are not aligned with performance, commitment, and accountability.

In terms of quality and reliability, the challenges start from the raw material and consumables suppliers. Paper mills increase prices at the slightest hint of an opportunity. In some categories, there are a few local suppliers who, in times of crisis, can behave like monopolies in terms of prices, product quality, and timeliness of delivery, forcing the book exporter to cut a sorry figure in front of his customer.

Lastly, the printer’s associations have neither facts nor ideas of how to lobby the government, unlike the auto industry or the software industry, which can get huge tracts of free land to set up their businesses. Instead of coming up with real research and estimates of export prospects and employment, our printing industry associations are busy splintering themselves for the immediate gains of hollow positions and personal benefits. We can neither build a reliable supply chain nor a community of exporters.

Thus, for book printers and exporters, whether the other side bids trumps or no trumps, they will have to expand within the same speculative constraints that they have thus far managed to carve out a respectable niche. This is creditable but a somewhat smaller market share than they deserve.

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Bombay Enterprise powers productivity with Ricoh

Mumbai printer Bombay Enterprise provides both small and industrial-level print jobs using a fleet of high-end presses and machines. To scale print productivity, the company invested in a new Ricoh Pro C9500, a high-speed digital color production press, supplied and installed by Monotech Systems.

In the offset and commercial printing market over the last two decades, serving customers in print contracting and consultancy businesses as well as others from different sectors, Bombay Enterprise provides an array of bespoke end-products such as business cards, invitation cards, brochures, cloth & garment tags, etc. The company is backed by a team of 12 skilled and experienced printing and production professionals.

On the company’s establishment, Dipu Devda, operational director, Bombay Enterprise, says, “In the beginning, we were into offset printing, then gradually expanded to digital production printing with a focus on print embellishment using an AccurioShine 3600. Nevertheless, we felt the shortage of a digital color production press. Then we found the Ricoh Pro C9500. We are now empowered to enhance productivity with this digital press from Monotech Systems.”

Devda says that before the Ricoh Pro C9500, they barely used to manage digital printing jobs with multifunction printers (MFPs). “It hampered our productivity and couldn’t generate appropriate volume and print quality, which we needed to meet the demand of quality-conscious clients in both the domestic and international markets.”

“Over the years, we kept on expanding our client base as a result of our team’s commitment and constant upgrades of our machine portfolio and many new developments on various fronts. We have been working for some offshore clients in cities such as New Jersey and Dubai. Our investment in the new Ricoh Pro C9500 has given us the advantage of producing higher print volume and textured graphics. Media flexibility of this Ricoh press is magnificent.”

Printing in a resolution of 2400 x 4800 dpi on lightweight as well as heavyweight media to produce dazzling textured graphics, the Ricoh Pro C9500 takes in stocks right from 40 gsm up to 470 gsm. “The press’ media-handling capability and speed are some of its attributes that impressed us,” Dipu says, adding, “Its upgradable speed of 135ppm meets everything we require on time. Currently, we are producing around 30,000 sheets in eight hours with this Ricoh digital press.”

Moreover, the Ricoh Pro C9500 is bundled with EFI Fiery Digital Print Servers, a crucial tool to optimize efficiency and quality in print operations. The servers’ intuitive Fiery Command WorkStation is designed to facilitate precise job management and color control, enabling quick production of personalized products with the press’ variable data printing capabilities in exceptional RIP speeds and smooth PDF workflows. “We further look ahead to getting more such capable machines, doubtlessly from Monotech Systems,” emphasizes Dipu.

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Durst Group acquires callas software

The Durst Group, a global enterprise in digital printing and production technologies, recently announced the acquisition of callas software. callas is one of the leading providers of prepress automation and PDF technologies and plays an essential role in many print workflows – either directly or as an OEM component in prepress products.

With this acquisition, the Durst Group strengthens its software strategy and focuses on openness and connectivity within the printing industry. The objective: intelligent, seamless automation between machines, software, and print processes. At the same time, callas software will remain autonomous in its management and product development.

For callas customers and OEM partners, the acquisition brings maximum stability and new technological opportunities:

Long-term security: callas continues to operate as an independent company.

Guaranteed advancement: With the resources of the Durst Group, callas can continuously improve its technology.

Unchanged OEM contracts: Existing customer relationships remain unaffected.

New opportunities: Expanded integration options through access to Durst Group’s software technologies.

With the acquisition, the Durst Group intensifies its strategy to build an open and connected software platform for the printing industry. callas will play a key role in connecting isolated solutions and enabling print service providers worldwide to achieve greater efficiency, scalability, and flexibility.

In the coming months, the collaboration between callas software and the Durst Group will deepen. The goal: to leverage synergies and accelerate the development of an open, vendor-independent software platform for the print industry.

"This is not just another step towards digitalization – we are actively shaping the future of digital printing. With callas at our side, we are making print software smarter, more connected, and more powerful. The best solutions arise when strong partners work together toward a shared vision," says Christoph Gamper, CEO and co-owner of the Durst Group.

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Epson redesigns SureColor S9170 solvent printer

Epson recently announced the SureColor S9170 is now available through Epson Authorized Professional Imaging Resellers. As Epson’s latest SureColor S-Series printer, the 64-inch printer touts an all-new design and advanced 11-color ink set to reproduce virtually any color, delivering up to 99.5% PMS Formula Guide Solid Coated (2022 edition).

Coupled with the user-replaceable printhead in its class, the SureColor S9170 ensures output is consistent – job to job, panel to panel. Integrated maintenance features allow print shops to keep production running smoothly, warranting fast, high-quality output with maximum efficiency.

“In a high-productivity sign shop, efficiency is critical,” said Matt McCausland, group product manager, Industrial Printing, Epson America, “The modern SureColor S9170 offers an extreme color gamut coupled with same-day lamination3 capabilities to help print shops meet tight deadlines without sacrificing output. It takes production a step further with easy upkeep and automatic maintenance, along with powerful management tools designed to simplify workflow for small and medium sign shops, print franchisees, and eCommerce printers.”

The SureColor S9170 showcases the latest generation of innovative Epson technology, encompassed in a new, modern, and sleek footprint. It leverages an UltraChrome GS3 ink set including Red, Orange, and all-new Green ink, that provides stunning image quality and fast dry times, allowing for same-day lamination. With the user-replaceable PrecisionCore Micro TFP printhead in its class, featuring an integrated temperature sensor control, the SureColor S9170 delivers reliable image quality and consistent color so print shops can confidently produce high-impact signage that meets customer expectations every time.

Designed for reliability and productivity, the solvent printer performs automatic daily printhead maintenance and seamlessly integrates with powerful management tools, including Epson Edge Print Pro RIP software and Epson Cloud Solution PORT4 for production monitoring and fleet management.

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NIICE Creative Media upgrades print quality with Canon

A creative designing agency working for clients from diverse market segments, businesses, and different walks of life, Chennai-based NIICE Creative Media is known for its bespoke designs and quality print solutions. The quality of its graphic prints has been redefined following the installation of a Canon imagePRESS V700, bought from Canon India. 

Established in the year 2009, NIICE Creative Media has been a one-stop corner for complete designing and printing solutions. Narrating the company’s phases of development, Rajkumar, director of NIICE Creative Media, says, “After a brief run of a Canon press till 2011, we abruptly stopped our printing activity which we outsourced for some time.”

“Now, we have the imagePRESS V700, a machine with compact footprint and outsized performance, clicking all the boxes of our requirement,” adds Rajkumar. Certainly, imagePRESS V700 is packed with advanced features and capabilities that make the machine best among those in its class. It is designed and engineered to cater superior graphic prints in outstanding textures. 

Talking about their expansive client base, Rajkumar says, “We have been a creative partner for many corporate biggies at pan-India level. Our client list consists of many businesses engaging in manufacture of home-made food and herbal products in Chennai city for which we provide complete labels and packaging prints. We design and print end products like labels, stickers, packaging boxes, cartons, etc. In this, imagePRESS V700 has been the key to overall printing of high-quality graphics.”

Capable of operating at the speed of 71 ppm (pages per minute), imagePRESS V700 is a marvel in delivering stunning graphic prints in resolution of 2400x2400 dpi, using the R-VCSEL imaging technology. Yet another advancement of this digital color production press is its flexible media handling capacity. It takes in a broad array of lightweight as well as heavyweight media ranging from 52 gsm up to 350 gsm. So efficiently, it adheres to special media such as covers, envelopes, synthetics, and long sheets. 

Rajkumar mentions that they are now progressively expanding the client base which had been drastically squeezed during the Covid-19, like many in the market. “Before the pandemic, we had expanded our client base in the offshore markets too. What we are gearing up is to revive our pre-pandemic client base sooner or later. That’s why we are boosting our activities and reopened our production facility with the installation of the imagePRESS V700,” he concludes.