Smyth SRL represented in India by their exclusive distributor Provin Technos experienced a consequential drupa 2024 with participation exceeding highest expectations.
Smyth s.r.l. found their drupa 2024 participation immersed in a whirlwind of activities with their team meeting with guests, attending to them and doing a lot of business dealings including requests and sales. The 11 days at drupa were consequential for the Italian printing solutions provider. “Our primary focus at drupa was on digital printing finishing solutions and our participation at the show truly exceeded our highest expectations,” says Sabrina Pronotto, CEO of Smyth SRL.
“The response we received from Drupa was fantastic. We experienced intense and beautiful moments, sharing the same passion as our customers, visitors, suppliers, partners, and friends who came from all corners of the world – reuniting after an eight-year hiatus since the last event. The palpable desire of everyone to attend the venue to reconnect, engage in conversations, and exchange ideas, visions, and values was unmistakable.
We also sensed a celebratory atmosphere that provided an incredible stimulus and energized all of us. The ambiance was unique, dynamic, fervent, and passionate – exactly as it should be at Drupa and as we like it. For us this has been the best Drupa for a long time,” adds Sabrina.
Smyth’s primary focus was on digital printing finishing solutions, a rapidly growing field. The company showcased its extensive range of book sewing machines and finishing solutions tailored to meet each customer’s specific digital production requirements, regardless of size or budget. “As the market shifts toward digital, print runs have become shorter. Customers now demand highly competitive TTM (Time To Market) that not only ensures fast turnaround but also maintains top-quality finishing, regardless of the job, while also providing a quicker return on investment,” observes Sabrina.
From their automatic finishing solutions range for digital printing, Smyth presented three distinct models of automatic folding and sewing systems for digitally printed books. These models vary based on the size of signatures they can handle and the associated budget. Notably, the newly introduced Smyth DX-E is one of the most cost-effective solutions on the market for producing high-quality digitally printed books composed of 4-page signatures. “This solution strikes an ideal balance, ensuring a quicker return on investment without compromising quality,” declares Sabrina.
Additionally, Smyth showcased DX-80, their regular solution for producing sewn book blocks composed of 4-page signatures. It features top-quality components, including a Heidelberg suction head, Techni-fold creasing device, Omron automation, and Pepper & Fuchs industrial sensors. “We demonstrated its seamless integration with the Tecnau unwinder U50i and cutter TC7000 HS, allowing for efficient production of sewn books from the reel,” enlightens Sabrina.
Furthermore, Smyth DX-80 Plus folding and sewing system, positioned as Smyth’s top-of-the-range solution, enables the production of digitally printed books composed of 8-page signatures. This feature reduces sewn book production costs compared to conventional 4-page production. “At the Canon booth, we showcased this system, integrated with the Canon Vario Print 6630 Titan, emphasizing streamlined finishing from printing to book sewing,” shares Sabrina.
Other key drupa 2024 highlights included the FX-30 and FX-50 hand-fed book sewing machines. These simplified, pneumatically driven machines excel at producing micro runs, on-demand books, samples, and oversized books. With a mere two-minute setup time, they require no installation, no training, no operator expertise, or ongoing maintenance costs, making them an easy-to-use solution for top-quality sewn books.
“We kept an eye on the offset printing market and introduced our latest state-of-the-art FF-380 4D automatic book sewing machine. This machine boasts unique technical features, setting it apart and ensuring exceptional durability and reliability,” says Sabrina.
All the products and solutions on display or presented by Smyth received excellent response at drupa. The central theme of Smyth at drupa was ‘integration’. “We successfully showcased new, cost-effective, and integrated solutions for producing sewn books from both sheet, reel, and printer sources. Smyth DX-80 folding and sewing line, connected to the Tecnau unwinder U50i and cutter TC7000 HS, along with the Smyth DX-80 Plus folding and sewing system connected to the Canon Vario Print 6630 Titan, played a pivotal role during drupa,” explains Sabrina.
“We strongly believe that integrated and streamlined processes represent the future. Through our partnership with Canon and Tecnau, we have successfully introduced genuine in-line integrations, all while being mindful of investment costs. That is because we understand that not every production budget can accommodate significant investments.
Furthermore, our new entry-level automatic folding and sewing system, Smyth DX-E, specifically designed for digitally printed books, garnered significant attention at the exhibition. The market response was exceptionally positive. This cost-effective solution empowers customers to control investment expenses while simultaneously enhancing process efficiency and book sewing quality,” she adds.
Besides, the new FF-380 4D automatic book sewing machine, designed for offset printing, consistently produced tightly bound, high-quality books was the centre of attraction for visitors.
Visitors from numerous countries across the world stepped into the Smyth stand at drupa. Attendees spanned from Nordic countries to South Africa, and from Brazil and Argentina to Japan. Additionally, visitors from Asian nations such as India, Bangladesh, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia graced the showcase with their presence. “Drupa, as a fully-fledged international fair, remains a must-attend event for professionals worldwide, offering valuable insights into cutting-edge technologies and emerging trends,” recommends Sabrina.
Smyth successfully sold all the machines showcased at drupa and a few more during the event itself. “The negotiations sparked by drupa have been numerous, and the fantastic response continues. We are happy to see that this response validates our hard work, passion, and commitment in everything we do,” declares Sabrina.
With Smyth unveiling numerous new solutions at drupa 2024, as well as integrated solutions (that enabled customers to interact with and experience the quality of Smyth machines), the sales, leads and interest show that they have made a strong impression in the market. This positive impact positions them well to foster growth in terms of market share and turnover. Additionally, the recent appointment of new distributors at drupa will help them penetrate new markets in Asia. Especially, the recent appointment of Provin Technos as Smyth’s exclusive distributor in India. Speaking on the Provin partnership, Sabrina says, “Forming a partnership with Provin was an easy decision. Both organizations strive to deliver customer focused, top quality finishing solutions that truly add value. Together, working as a team, we aim to make our offer and our know-how available to all those companies that need to speed up and simplify their finishing processes both in the digital and offset printing markets.”
Sabrina truly enjoyed their drupa 2024 participation. What she regrets is lack of time to visit other booths, which got curbed by the number of meetings and the number of visitors at their own stand. She misses the opportunity to attend the event as simple visitors.
