Rakesh Sodhi – Sodhisons Mechanical Works speaks about their Printpack participation.

Sodhisons Mechanical Works manufactures Crosograph brand Die Cutting Platens and Hot Foil Stampers. With a long experience extending over half a century in the industry (established in 1967) today the company also provides brand new Print Finishing, Packaging, Paper Converting, Bindery and Corrugation machines in addition to used Offset Printing Machines.

Printpack is one of its kind show covering all areas of Graphic Arts industry – pre-press, press, post press, corrugation, signage, label, digital all under one roof. Sodhisons is a regular participant at Printpack shows and they have marked this edition’s presence with yet again increased fervor and range of solutions. “All exhibitors had put up a large display of machines on live running which attracts visitor the most. We are regular exhibitors at this show and it’s growing in each edition,” says an excited looking Rakesh Sodhi, CEO, Sodhisons MW.

“We have witnessed large number of visitors, surpassing all previous editions. And despite such extreme weather conditions, visitor from all across India attended to it especially with positive market sentiments,” he continues.

Presenting their range of products in a 392 sqmtr of space, Sodhisons was among the top 6 big stands at this Printpack India. They had on display their latest Fully Automatic Die Cutting & 3D Deep Embossing Machine with heated platen & Stripping and Hot Foil attachment; KDX High Configuration Dry Laminating machine with Hot Knife Cutting; High Speed Automatic Flute Laminator; Die Cutting machine with Foil, Heidelberg cylinder converted foil stamper and Special Heavy duty Die cutting for Puzzle cutting.

“Our main objective was to display complete array of products we can offer. Special focus was on high configuration high speed machines. All our machines were on live demo and customers were very impressed with quality of display and range of products we offered,” shares Rakesh Sodhi.

On the very first day of the show Sodhisons opened its accounts with the sale of two Auto platen die-cutting machine with 600 tonnes of cutting pressure with heated platen to cut plastic. The machines were purchased by Dimple Packaging of Ludhiana and Manesar-based Sharda Graphics.

Quite excited about their latest procurement, Pankaj Kalra of Dimple Packaging, comments, “We already have an auto die-cutter with hot-foil stamping & 2 KDX Laminations from Sodhisons. We decided to invest in a second machine owing to Sodhisons’s service and the technical strength of the machine to exert 600 tonnes of pressure for deep embossing. I think we made the right choice.”

In addition to the Auto platen die-cutting machine, Sharda Graphics also purchased a Heidelberg cylinder with hot-foil stamping and 3 Ply flute laminator to enhance its productivity. The company had been running five platen die-cutters with hot-foil stamping machines for the last 16 years.

On the second day of the show, Sodhisons inked deals for two sets of fully automatic rigid box machines for two different customers. The company also grabbed deals for two sets of 3-ply flute laminators. The machines were sold to Chandni and SB Printo Pack.

“We sold a KDX high configuration dry Lamination machine under the Shenso brand (a joint venture between Daya and Sodhisons) to Sahibabad-based Khosla Printers. This machine is equipped with five servos, high-pile feeder and stacker and auto tension controller for film unwinding,” informs Rakesh Sodhi.

After studying all the options available in the market, Khosla Printers decided to invest in the sixth generation KDX lamination machine with hot-knife, which is a future-ready kit.

On the third day, the company signed a deal with Meerut-based Nageen Print Pack for a high-speed auto flute laminator which runs at the speed of 12000-sph. According to Mohit Jain of Nageen, the company decided to invest in the high-speed flute laminator to match its production capacity.

In other deals, Hari Har Press purchased a 5-ply fully automatic flute laminator, and Frank Education got a special manual heavy-duty die-cutting machine to cut puzzles with air clutch. Meanwhile, Archies picked up their 3rd die-cutter with hot-foil stamper.

“We provide all solutions to our customers under one roof. We are looking forward to cracking at least 10 more deals after the show,” Rakesh Sodhi declares.

“Leads generated during the show were very positive for which we expect to close within one month’s time,” he adds.

Rakesh Sodhi terms the quality of visitors to their stall as very good business visitors. “Visitor turnaround was good and we connected to many new and existing customers,” he says.

He sees the industry as having come out of the Covid effect and being in revival mode. “We see lot of investment taking place by printers,” he reasons.

Speaking on recent economic conditions, he says, “The Demand Supply mismatch, volatile price, and to top it all, Covid related issues were continuous nuisance for this industry. But, simultaneously, Covid has also opened new avenues for packaging.”

He is satisfied with the Noida venue of Printpack and the organization. “It’s a great venue in terms of exhibit, halls, layout. Greater Noida is definitely a better place to hold such a massive show with large halls, spread out layouts as well as facilities,” he summarizes.

“Though it was challenging to invite customers in the month of May but God supported us with good weather during show dates,” adds Rakesh Sodhi.

“Exhibition was very well organized. Layouts were spread out for comfort of visitors to move round. Information was displayed everywhere. Special care was taken for exhibitor with free water bottles, lunch coupons, online forms and preprinted exhibitor passes,” he concludes.

Short run Digital printing with enhancement and Packaging – Duplex and Corrugation both – were the key attractions of the Printpack India 2022, according to Rakesh Sodhi.