A company working on ethics, transparency and focusing on providing the best solution to customer requirement, today Provin is known for these principles and has created a strong bond with its customers. An interview with Pradeep Nandagopal and Vinay Kaushal.

Provin Technos is completing 10 successful years in a few days. “In a career spanning 35 years, last 10 years have been most different from the first 25 years,” says Pradeep Nandagopal. For Provin, formation of Ryobi MHI Graphic Technology and their recognition/ appointment as the sole representative in India was a real game changer. And there is no looking back since then. The first two years had a virtually zero outcome. “In a decade of operation, if first two and last two years were virtually zero and still the company survived, it shows that we did well so far,” says Pradeep Nandagopal.

“Our focus at the time of inception was to create a company working on ethics, transparency and focus on providing the best solution to customer requirement. We are very happy that right from beginning, we were able to follow the same. Today Provin is known for these principles. Our working transparency has won us our customers’ confidence for which they have this strong bond with Provin,” adds Vinay Kaushal.

Provin’s ethical and transparent working makes them different and constant customer-centric focus on providing innovative solutions to their customers makes them successful with the customer, according to Pradeep Nandagopal. Moreover, their strategic placement of support team across India provides almost instant support to the customers.

Provin Techos has an extensive lineup of products ranging from sheet-fed offset presses from RMGT to narrow-web offset and digital presses from Miyakoshi Japan, state-of-the-art LED systems from GEW, U.K & UV Energy, world’s best & only system retrofittable on any machine make and in-line Colour Control system from Lithec Germany. While the presses offer efficient and cost effective printing solutions, the LED UV system and In-line color control system offer customers to improve productivity, reduce wastages and consequently improve their bottom line.

“While there are many changes happening in market due to Covid-19, our focus presently is on helping our customers to rebound from the aftereffects of the Covid-19,” says Pradeep Nandagopal.

The last two years had just a few installations for most of the industry. The same holds true for Provin. “This year is going to be excellent in terms of key installations happening. The main attraction of this year will be the installation of two nos 8 colour Perfector presses in 36-inch segment with lot of automation which will be the first in Indian Printing industry,” announces Vinay Kaushal who says that these two installations would be the best thing happening this year. In addition, there will be a number of installations of different machines from their stable.

Provin operation is very lean and there are key peoples looking after different area of work like Sales, Service, Finance, Customer Support. Each vertical team is handled by the General Managers who are supported by the Executive Directors and the Directors and each person having defined responsibilities.

While the Covid effects are going away, Provin’s present focus is on rebounding from those effects. “We have state-of-the-art products like In-line Colour Control system and now we represent GEW for the entire range on UV and LED solutions for Sheet-fed offset presses (GEW happens to be the biggest UV equipment manufacturer in world). These products need to be strengthened as these will offer considerable value addition to the customers and it is going to be very important in these times,” asserts Pradeep Nandagopal.

Last two years have changed the way the whole world works, so has the Printing Industry. “While Offset will continue to dominate, technologies like Digital presses will also grow,” observes Vinay Kaushal. “Another important area of growth which is generally overlooked is to become more efficient in operations and value addition capabilities. We do have solutions and we will continue to work with our customers on these,” he adds.

Focusing their efforts towards their customers, they have decided not to participate at the upcoming Printpack. “Printpack was and is our prime focus in terms of exhibitions but this time, we are not participating in this Printpack,” reveals Pradeep Nandagopal.

“The whole world is reeling under the effects caused and being caused by Covid. Logistic and price increase in raw material is creating lot of difficulties. This will be continued for next 6 months to one year at-least. Positive thing is that we are learning to live with Covid and in fact moving on strongly. Another positive is that the approach towards life and how everyone works has changed,” he sums up the post pandemic scene.

Growing at a stable rate of 8 to 10 percent, Provin had to suffer this growth during almost two years of Covid period. They were, however, able to maintain Pre-Covid turnover in the last two years and expect to achieve pre-Covid growth figures from this year.

Last year revenue turnover for Provin stood at 13 cr and they aim to get it around 25 cr in the next 5 years.

We all know that service & spares support is Provin’s USP. “We continue to build on these in coming years,” assures Vinay Kaushal. Sales, Service, and customer support verticals and managed by respective team leaders with long experience in field.

“Quick turnround for the problems and constant monitoring of issues faced in field makes our service different from others. Backed by innovative annual maintenance contracts for machine service, we have a very large number of machines under our AMC. For Spares supply, Provin offers some very innovative options which are beneficial to the customers,” Vinal Kaushal shares.

RMGT is the favorite brand with Provin customers. “RMGT’s ergonomic machine design coupled with unique features on the machine for productivity and quality enhancement makes them very popular,” admires Pradeep Nandagopal. Success of RMGT 9 series press (36 inch) speaks for itself in this direction; the machine boasts 130 plus installations of this size across India.

He concludes with this call to customers as well as colleagues: “We human beings are fighters and the worst is over. We all have learnt our lessons on micro-managing the businesses in last two years and now is the time to bounce back and grow in future. Focus on technology and the benefits which can be realized with it should be considered instead of only capital cost (which is also very important though)!”