Premedia trade shop JBM is expanding into the growing flexo printing market in the Jammu region of northern India with an investment in Flexcel NX Technology from Miraclon. Headquartered in Paonta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, JBM has installed a Flexcel NX Wide 4260 System at a new production site in Jammu, adding dedicated Flexcel NX plate production capability closer to the flexo market in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Flexo is flourishing in Jammu and Kashmir,” says JBM founder Mukesh Choudhary, “supported in part by government initiatives to encourage industry and investment in the region. As the only trade shop in the Jammu region with a Flexcel NX System, we are in a strong position to support printers as the market grows. For jobs where quality, predictability and trouble-free printing are essential – including work where printers need to achieve strong, consistent ink densities – Flexcel NX Plates are our go-to solution. As a busy, growing business, we need technology we can depend on, and with Flexcel NX Technology we know there will be less troubleshooting, fewer remakes, strong on-press performance, and more satisfied clients all around.”

The new Jammu site places JBM closer to a growing base of flexo printers in northern India, where new industrial areas and increasing demand for printed packaging are creating opportunities for converters and trade shops alike. For Choudhary, the investment also reflects the changing role of flexo in the packaging market. “Printers are looking for plates that make production easier, more predictable and more efficient on press,” he explains. “We had been hearing good things about Flexcel NX Technology from printers for some time, and when we visited customers, we could see the difference on press. They talked about predictable results, fewer press stops and fewer on-press issues. It became clear that if we wanted to grow our flexo business, this was the right technology to invest in.”

He adds that support from Miraclon was also important to JBM’s progress. “The support we received during commissioning and training was very valuable,” Choudhary says. “It was not only about installing the Flexcel NX System but also helping our team understand the process and how to get the best from Flexcel NX Plates on press. We are confident that in Miraclon we have the right partner for our progress – a genuine collaborator as well as a technology supplier.”

JBM’s journey

The Flexcel NX Wide 4260 System investment is the latest stage in JBM’s journey, which began over 20 years ago when Choudhary started out on the shop floor of a printing company. “My first encounter with plate technology was wipe-on/wipe-off plates,” he recalls, “and that got me interested in premedia as a discipline.”

Before acquiring the Flexcel NX System, JBM built its business through a series of incremental technology investments, from filmsetting and offset computer-to-plate to hybrid technology and flexo plate production. The installation in Jammu marks a significant milestone for the company: its first all-new prepress system after years of growth through refurbished equipment and step-by-step investment.

Flexo as the future focus

With the Flexcel NX System on board, Choudhary sees JBM’s future as firmly focused on flexo. The opportunity in flexo is growing, and we want to be ready for it,” he says. “With the right technology and support, we can help printers in the region improve performance on press while building the foundation for our own future growth.”