At Labelexpo India 2024, Shayak Mukherjee, general manager, sales, Orient Digital Division, shared insights on the company’s innovative approach and its objectives at the event. The company, a part of The Printers House – a 76-year-old legacy in manufacturing high-quality web offset presses – is now diversifying into the labels and packaging sector.
At the exhibition, Orient showcased its advanced 10-color flexo machine, manufactured in India and backed by patents in its design. Additionally, Orient introduced a digital inkjet press, a 6-color system that features a patented ink delivery system, making it stand out in the competitive landscape.
“What sets us apart is our ability to offer custom-built machines tailored to customer needs,” Mukherjee explained. Customers can choose machines that can be upgraded in terms of color count, from five colors to seven or eight, and even add flexo printing options. The flexibility extends to machine width, enabling upgrades from 330 mm to 450 mm width, ensuring that customers can adapt to evolving business needs.
Focus on inkjet technology
Inkjet technology is a major focus in the industry, and Mukherjee shared his insights into the rapid advancements in this space. “In the last five years, inkjet technology has seen significant growth and R&D,” he said. Orient Group has collaborated with industry leaders like Kyocera, providing premium print heads for its inkjet systems. Orient is one of the few manufacturers to design its own web delivery and transport systems, a crucial aspect for ensuring print stability, especially in UV inkjet systems where precision is key.
With years of experience in the newspaper and web offset printing sectors, Orient’s engineers ensure that their machines can maintain a stable web path, crucial for the longevity of print heads. “Our web transport system is incredibly stable, ensuring the print heads last longer and the final output remains pristine,” Mukherjee said.
Competing in a crowded market
When asked about the challenges in the highly competitive inkjet and labels market, Mukherjee highlighted Orient’s distinct edge. “We have a legacy of 76 years in the industry. Our founder, KD Kohli, instilled a strong ethos of quality, and this philosophy continues under the leadership of Rishab Kohli,” he said. “This strong commitment to quality is what has kept Orient Group thriving, even in a market full of competitors.”
A key differentiator for Orient is its custom machine manufacturing approach. Unlike other companies that offer machines with fixed specifications, Orient works directly with customers to create machines that fit their specific needs and budget. This ability to offer tailored solutions has made Orient a preferred choice for many in the packaging industry.
Mukherjee also noted that Orient’s operational expenditure (OpEx) is among the lowest in the industry, which helps customers reduce overall costs. It offers inks from Kao Collins, Japan which is both cost-effective and high-quality, further bolstering its competitive advantage.
Trends in the label industry
According to Mukherjee, the label and packaging market has experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% over the past five years. A significant shift is occurring from long-run jobs to short-run jobs, driven by the demand for faster delivery and turn-around times. Digital printing technologies, particularly in inkjet, are now able to meet these demands by allowing for quicker setup and faster production times.
Mukherjee also highlighted the trend of smaller businesses and startups requiring shorter print runs. “Previously, even small orders would require large quantities, but now customers are opting for just-in-time production, which digital printing can accommodate,” he explained. In addition, security features like QR codes are becoming increasingly popular in labels, as brands aim to leverage their label space for marketing purposes.
Experience at Labelexpo India 2024
Labelexpo India 2024 marks the first participation of Orient Group in the event since diversifying their product line. Mukherjee expressed satisfaction with the exhibition’s success so far, noting that the company received a great response from distributors across Europe and the Russian market. The company has also secured a stand for Labelexpo Barcelona 2025, aiming to expand its global presence and establish itself as a leading manufacturer of quality label printing solutions.
“The feedback from international markets has been very positive, and we are eager to grow our footprint in the global label printing industry,” Mukherjee concluded.
