LMAI members gather to understand the nuances of flexographic printing at Bangalore event.
The young Sandeep Zaveri took over the reins of the Label Manufacturers Association of India (LMAI) in 2015 as its President. On the sidelines of Pamex that year, LMAI organized a networking event at Hotel Courtyard by Marriot, Mumbai where they announced their decision to launch their magazine “Label Legacy”. The event was attended by leading printers and suppliers. In January 2016, LMAI organized a successful and well attended Technical workshop and networking event at New Delhi’s prestigious Chelmsford Club. At the show, which was a full house and highly appreciated by the attendees, Sandeep Zaveri announced similar Technical Workshops at Bangalore and Ahmedabad.
The Bangalore event on 15th of April 2016 was a busy full day program. At the Avery Dennison Knowledge Centre, 45 LMAI members gathered to understand the nuances of flexographic printing.
A wide variety of labels were displayed with information on the user segment they were intended for and knowledge to select appropriate substrates. There were also demonstrations on the art of using graphic software to highlight, sharpen, soften or alter images before proceeding to plate making. Information was also imparted on the plate making process and the impact of plate thickness on printing. The full pre-press procedure upto plate making was explained.
In addition, the process of checking the plates and correctly mounting them on the press along with actual printing, foiling laminating, die-cutting on a running press at high speed, controlling wastages etc. were also demonstrated.
The guests then visited VeePee Graphics, a premiere pre-press service provider. Jai Prakash Peethambaram, partner VeePee, his wife and daughter took them around the facility to showcase their capabilities in prepress.
The Technical Workshop at The Paul, Bangalore was attended by 125 delegates. Speaking at the event Khushal Patel from Shailesh Kumar Sharma, senior manager-technical, Flint Group India, enlightened the delegates on the quality aspects of inks as well of the role of UV light in curing. He also mentioned that the present UV curing scenario was undergoing transformation leading to the implementation of LED UV technology as a more stable and futuristic one. Other presentations were made by Arun HS of Esko Graphics and Vikas Sharma of Yes Bank.
BST explained the importance of 100% defect detection in label printing and how it improves customer confidence in label suppliers. He explained in detail the defect detection process, its technology and dwelled on the choices available.
Sanjeev Atre of PGI technologies Aurangabad nostalgically narrated the path traversed in the last 14 years from being a narrow web label printers to becoming the only internationally recognized tooling manufacturer from India. He spoke about the usage and requirements of good toolings in label conversion and the pitfalls if care is not taken in selecting the toolings like magnetic cylinders and print cylinders. Laxminarayanan of Rotometrics spoke on the Precision in Rotary Die cutting Clearance. He explained in depth the importance of the clearance which is the difference between the height of the blade and the height of the bearers and its importance in controlling the depth of the cut. To determine the proper clearance the exact thickness or caliper of the liner is required.
He also explained how die cutting takes place dwelling on blade height, blade angle and the impact of liner thickness on a perfect die-cut or a through cut.
The event was also graced by the presence of Labelexpo Managing Director Lisa Milburn and show director Jade Grace.
LMAI facilitates Anil Sharma
On 23rd of April LMAI organized yet another event, this time to felicitate Anil Sharma, Managing Director, South Asia & Sub Saharan Africa, Avery Dennison Materials Group who is shifting to Avery, Singapore from New Delhi to handle bigger responsibilities, at Hotel Courtyard Marriot, Mumbai. The event was attended by leading printers from across the country. Speaking at the event, Sandeep Zaveri reminisced about the support that Anil Sharma had extended to LMAI during his six year tenure in India. He remarked about the LMAI-Avery partnership for various events for the benefit of the Indian label industry and thanked him for his endeavours in growth of labels in the country. Pankaj Bhardwaj, director for South Asia, labels & packaging materials at Avery who will be taking Sharma’s place at Avery’s India operation assured LMAI, continued support.
LMAI used the occasion to launch the maiden issue of their magazine ‘Label Legacy’ that has been compiled by joint efforts of many members and the editorial board. The quality of the magazine and its content were appreciated by all. The magazine’s design and printing has been carried out at Anygraphics.
The latest Technical Workshop LMAI took place on the 14th of May 2016 at Hotel Novotel, Ahmedabad.
(The article is written by Mr.Harveer Singh Sahni, Managing Director, Weldon Celloplast Limited)
