At LOUPE India 2026, SG Edge showcased a range of post-print converting equipment, led by PVC shrink sleeve seaming and cutting machines, as it looks to address the growing demand from flexo and label converters.
The shift towards wider-web flexographic presses is creating fresh opportunities for manufacturers of post-print converting equipment. As more printing companies enter the pressure-sensitive label and shrink sleeve segments, the need for high-speed, reliable finishing solutions is becoming increasingly important.
For SG Edge, this changing market presents an opportunity to expand its presence in the converting machinery segment. At LOUPE India 2026, the company showcased its PVC shrink sleeve converting solutions alongside web cleaning systems and inspection rewinders, targeting converters looking for domestically manufactured alternatives to imported equipment.
“The market is moving towards wider-web flexo presses, with machines operating at widths of 450, 550 and 670 mm. As these installations increase, converters also need suitable downstream equipment. We identified a gap in the availability of reliable domestic converting machinery and developed solutions to address that requirement,” said Santosh Kumar Gaur, CEO of SG Edge.
The company’s principal focus is currently on PVC shrink sleeve converting, with two machines forming the core of its offering: a sleeve seaming machine and a sleeve cutting machine.
The PVC sleeve seaming machine operates at speeds of up to 400 m/min, while the cutting machine can process up to 450 pieces/min when handling labels of 50 mm length. Together, the machines are designed to support high-volume shrink sleeve production, particularly among converters investing in wider-web printing capabilities.
Early market response
Although the PVC converting machines were introduced only six to seven months before the exhibition, Kumar said the company had already received encouraging market acceptance.
The company has supplied six machines, equivalent to three sets, to converters including Stark Packaging in Naraina, Delhi; Diyan India in Sonipat; and Royal Prime Labels (RPL). Viraj Packaging of Firozabad, which serves the glass bottle and liquor packaging industry, also acquired two demonstration machines displayed at the exhibition. The company has additional installations at Genetics.
The response at LOUPE India was equally encouraging. According to Kumar, three complete machine sets were finalized during the exhibition, with discussions for another five to six individual machines nearing closure towards the end of the event.
“Within three months of putting these machines on commercial display, we had supplied six machines. The response has been encouraging, and we see considerable potential as more converters move into shrink sleeve production,” he said.
Web cleaning and inspection solutions
Beyond shrink sleeve converting, SG Edge is also targeting the narrow-web label printing segment with its web cleaning systems. The equipment is designed to remove dust and other contaminants from the substrate before it enters the printing process.
Positioned as a domestic alternative to imported systems from global manufacturers, the web cleaners offer a cost advantage, with Kumar indicating that they are available at approximately half the price of comparable imported solutions.
The availability of consumables, spare parts and local technical support is another part of the company’s proposition. Orient Press is among the printing companies that have installed the equipment.
SG Edge also showcased its table-top inspection rewinders, designed for label inspection, slitting, die-cutting and rewinding applications. The compact machines are intended to provide converters with flexibility in their finishing operations. Kumar said the company secured multiple orders for these machines during the exhibition, including supplies to converters in Pune.
Strengthening manufacturing and service capabilities
With its customer base extending across India and neighbouring markets such as Nepal, SG Edge is expanding its manufacturing capacity to support growing demand.
The company’s headquarters and primary manufacturing facility are located in Noida. It has also commissioned a new 450-sq-metre facility in Bhojpur, near the Amritpur-Hapur road, to increase its machine assembly capacity.
Alongside manufacturing, the company is building its field service capabilities to support installations and after-sales requirements. Its service engineers provide installation, maintenance and technical assistance, with regional coverage extending to major markets such as Bengaluru and Mumbai.
A changing investment landscape
Kumar sees the growing interest in flexographic printing as part of a wider shift in the Indian packaging and printing industry. Commercial sheetfed printers and gravure packaging companies are increasingly exploring investments in narrow- and mid-web flexo technology, including machines in the 670-mm width segment.
These investments allow printers to diversify into pressure-sensitive labels and shrink sleeve applications, creating additional demand for compatible converting equipment.
However, the business environment is not without challenges. Higher ocean freight costs, shipping delays and exchange-rate fluctuations are putting pressure on manufacturers that depend on imported components.
For domestic machinery manufacturers, these conditions can create an opportunity. Local manufacturing can help reduce dependence on imported finished equipment while offering converters shorter supply chains and access to local technical support.
For SG Edge, the immediate priority is to build on the early response to its shrink sleeve converting range while expanding its portfolio of equipment for label and flexible packaging converters.
