The company has been awarded the Fogra Process Standard Offset (PSO) certification, making it the first printing company in India to receive this under the new FOGRA51 conditions.
Pragati has added another milestone by becoming the first Fogra PSO certified printer in India. “For all of us at Pragati, it’s an endorsement to the quality standards we always maintained,” says Mr. Narendra Parchuri, MD, Pragati, proudly announcing their latest achievement. “I must also admit that Fogra PSO standard is much higher than any other standards in terms of Process standardization and we are quite happy to be the first one in India to achieve this,” he adds.
Pragati Offset, one of the top quality printers of India, has achieved yet another landmark in its journey of excellence. The company has been awarded the Fogra Process Standard Offset (PSO) certification, making it the first printing company in India to receive this globally acclaimed accreditation.
“We expect better standardisation in the pre-press and the printing departments. It is with these certifications and constant monitoring we expect to be in the top class. We want our system and results to be more predictable,” says Narendra sharing his expectations after the FOGRA achievement.
Awarded by Fogra Forschungsinstitut für Medientechnologien e. V, globally leading institute for print technology from Germany, the PSO certification represents the gold standard in printing process control and quality consistency. There were multiple rounds of trials and audits for Pragati, ably led by Future Schoolz team. “Pradeep was very resourceful, and our team were also delighted to take up that step by step. Harsha was hands-on to every aspect of it. Being first in India, we had to face many challenges. Every standard pose challenge, but overcoming it was a real joy,” continues Narendra, sharing his experience.
The Fogra standardization is a series of inspections and evaluations. The key areas to be followed for a typical printing set-up would be: it starts from print ready file preparation, every step in the pre-press is being covered, proofing and plate preparation and controlling every parameter in printing is the key. It is about following standards in each step, understanding profiles to deep level and proofing in its finesse. “The point is, you treat standards with utmost respect and don’t attempt to cut corners anywhere!” underlines Narendra.
The Fogra certification benefits a certified organization in many ways. Its process becomes more mature, its predictability becomes certain and print quality & productivity goes several notches up. On the ground level, wastages are minimized, time lapses are reduced and Process standardization is achieved. Similarly, the customers of a FOGRA certified printer like Pragati can expect much better quality output, consistency compliant with global best standards. The FOGRA is granted only after a stringent evaluation of colour management, proof creation, platemaking, and offset printing production processes as per the latest ISO 12647 standards.
Calling his experience with the Fogra people and Future Schoolz during the certification, ‘Nothing short of excellent’, Narendra. The certification process was conducted by Fogra PSO Partner Future Schoolz, and rigorously evaluated by Fogra.
Like every other standard and certification FOGRA PSO too needs to be sustained. Pragati is going to renew it after two years, informs Narendra. “Every year there is a test by the PSO partner Future Schoolz to ensure the standards are intact. That is part of certification process,” he says.
Pragati employs the best training and guidance to its team to sharpen its vision for the time to come. “It is our attitude and willingness to change that has made the FOGRA possible for us,” asserts Narendra, who believes FOGRA is the best. “But each have to see and take what is best suited to them if we compare different standards pertaining to the printing industry,” he advises.
As regards other challenges like certify paper, chemistry and print consumables etc. in accordance with the Fogra standards, Pragati took the challenges one by one and conquered them with the single goal ‘HUM HONGE KAAMYAAB’, says Narendra.
Globally the brand owners and print buyers are more and more stringent about the print quality, colour standardization and sustainability as the new generation is for it. They are all the more vigilant and mindful of these. And printers globally are responding to these increased challenges.
“In today’s world where many international companies are coming to India, it is important that we speak the same language and standards. Fogra is a standard that most would accept,” says Narendra.
For an average business set-up to standardize as per FOGRA guidelines, it depends on a number of factors especially where it stands in terms of knowledge and standards. It can take time – varying from press to press. The very first step is, understanding FOGRA PSO and respect for these standards. As a FOGRA PSO partner, Future Schoolz can guide them through each step.
“This certification is a testimony to Pragati’s unrelenting pursuit of perfection in print. We’ve always been at the forefront of quality and innovation, and now with the Fogra PSO certification, we align our practices with the best in the world,” concludes Mr. Narendra Paruchuri.
The FOGRA PSO certification assures Pragati clients of unmatched colour accuracy, predictable results, and international-level production consistency, reinforcing the company’s reputation as the most trusted partner for premium print solutions.
Corrigendum/Addendum
There was a protest by Repro India about FOGRA proclaiming PRAGATI as the FIRST to attain FOGRA certification in India for which FOGRA gave a clarification as under:
“Repro India passed a Fogra PSO certification in 2011 through a Fogra PSO partner from Malaysia, it is not renewed after that and the same is no longer valid. At that time, the currently valid PSO had not yet been published. In 2016 the PSO was completely revised to take into account the UV content of printing paper and standard light conditions. Accordingly, new viewing conditions (ISO 3664), new measurement conditions (M1), new printing conditions (FOGRA51) and a new classification of printing substrates were established. We consider these adaptions to be fundamental changes and therefore speak internally of a “new PSO”. Pragati Offset is the first Indian printing company to be certified according to this new PSO.”
So the title of the article has been changed from “Pragati becomes the 1st FOGRA PSO Certified Printer in India” to “Pragati becomes the 1st FOGRA PSO (FOGRA51) Certified Printer in India“
