Apex International is expanding its engagement with the Indian label and flexible packaging industry, focusing on helping converters improve anilox performance as printing applications become more demanding.
At LOUPE India 2026, the company presented its Apex 360 approach, which combines technical consultancy, anilox configuration, cleaning and performance optimization. The initiative addresses a gap that Mangesh Bhise of Apex International sees in the industry, particularly as label converters diversify into flexo printing and flexible packaging.
“From labels, converters are getting into flexo, and we feel there is a gap in the change in technology,” Bhise said. “Right from configuring the right anilox rolls and offering consultancy or advice to the industry, through to cleaning and optimizing anilox performance, we want to complete the whole loop.”
The company is also working on specialized screening technologies for applications such as tactile effects and surface embellishment. These include high tactile transfer (HIT) and matte screening, as well as solutions to improve gloss and matte levels in offset printing.
Bhise said the requirements vary according to the application, making it difficult to offer a single solution for every converter. “It is very specific to the application. There is no one product that can be used for all kinds of applications. We can help customers with case-specific offerings,” he said.
Addressing configuration and maintenance challenges
Anilox selection remains an area where Bhise sees considerable scope for greater technical understanding. As converters invest in larger presses and explore hybrid printing, special screening and embellishment techniques, their requirements are changing. Bhise said converters often continue to follow traditional approaches when selecting anilox rolls, despite the evolution of their applications. He also emphasised that anilox rolls should be considered a capital investment rather than a consumable.
For an 8-color flexo press, a converter might traditionally plan for around 20 sets of anilox rolls. However, Bhise said a carefully configured library of 13 or 14 sets could be sufficient to cover most applications, potentially avoiding unnecessary investment.
The company is also addressing maintenance-related concerns, including roll durability, premature clogging, streaking after cleaning and stains on anilox cells. Bhise said these problems require an assessment of the specific condition rather than a standard cleaning procedure.
Label converters move into flexible packaging
Bhise said the Indian label market is undergoing a shift, with converters increasingly exploring applications beyond traditional self-adhesive labels. Shrink sleeves, wraparound labels, pouches and in-mould labels are among the areas attracting interest, particularly in the narrow-web and mid-web segments.
The wider industry is also seeing the integration of conventional and hybrid printing technologies, while rotary screen printing is gaining renewed interest for embellishment applications. Bhise said these developments are creating new technical requirements for converters.
Localisation and changing market requirements
Bhise also pointed to localization as an important development in the printing and packaging industry. He said technology suppliers are increasingly adapting their offerings to regional requirements, with local manufacturing and assembly helping address differences in cost, demand and operating conditions. “The product from Europe cannot simply be brought here and offered in the same way. Sustainability, costing, effectiveness and local demands are different,” he said.
He cited developments in local machine assembly and ink manufacturing as examples of suppliers responding to the Indian and Asian markets. For Bhise, this shift is necessary for technology partners to remain relevant as the industry evolves.