Focus should be on digital printing: Head of Indigo Prints

Indigo Prints Smart Pvt Ltd as the name suggests has always been at the forefront in providing smart innovations in digital inks. Founded in 2008, Indigo Prints has been one of the leading manufacturers, exporters, importers and traders of laser and toner cartridges, printer inks, industrial inkjet printing products, and large format inks and cartridges.

While speaking to Karthik Muthuveeran, ITJ Senior Sub Editor, Shashank Ruiwale, President, Indigo Prints Smart Pvt Ltd, said, “We are focusing on sublimation inks for digital textiles. We also offer direct-to-garment (DTG) inks and printer inks, along with papers. Most of our products are imported from renowned and well established large manufacturers of China & Korea.”

On the competition front, Ruiwale had this to say: “Basically, we bring in more than 20 years of experience in inkjet technology, while none of the other players have more than even five to six years of experience. We understand printhead engineering very well. Inks are like blood. We have to match the printhead technology – its speed, viscosity, jetting frequency, etc. All these parameters are required to match with the printer and then only the inks work well. This is our expertise.”

Speaking on the eco-friendly products for the market, he said that our products are completely sustainable. “We have more than 400 machines, which we have converted from competitors into our segment. They are using our products for the last three to four years and are very much satisfied. Our machines have not given them any problems. All sublimation inks are eco-friendly inks. They bring in great relief for the fabric printing industry by cutting heavily on effluents. Most important point is now the printing costs are affordable in comparison with conventional processes.” he added.

Speaking on the challenges faced in the textile industry, Ruiwale said that there a quite a few companies that don’t have proper business values. He added, “There are payment issues and cheating issues and frauds. This has to stop. Some association or platform can be very useful in this regard.”

“The market size is growing continuously. Though competition is there, but the kind of volumes that are coming out is phenomenal. Indian geniuses are looking to convert it into production now. They are all thinking to change the conventional production methods into digital. That is going to add more and more volumes and I enjoy this kind of development,” added Ruiwale.

Said Ruiwale: “We are covering entire Mumbai and a bit of South, including Bengaluru, Tirrupur, Hyderabad, Indore, etc. Entire Maharashtra is a big market for us. In eastern part, Kolkata has a good share. In Surat and Ahmedabad, there are few customers. We are planning to enter the north Indian market also.”

Digital market: The future industry

Digital printing inks market is growing mainly because the industry offers a lot of advantages. Adds Ruiwale, “The kind of designs and the colour you can play with , is unmatched. The processes are simple, and the batch size can be very small. It has advantages. Costs have dropped down now to nuts and bits.”

“In 1990s, there were dot matrix printers, which used to make a lot of noise. Can you hear that now?” asks Ruiwale. Absolutely no!, he says. “There has been a technological change. I personally feel that in the next five years or so, it will happen to the textile industry also. Most of them will go digital,” adds Ruiwale.

Government wish-list

Ruiwale thinks that the current government has been very active in supporting the entire textile industry. “They are taking a lot of initiatives. I presume it might be helping some exporters. It will help the industry to consolidate the business worldwide.”

Ruiwale wishes that there is supportive mechanism for growth. “If the policy makers can come together, it would be great. Focus should be on digital printing and innovation. There has to be some additional budget or R&D expenditure in development of new technology in digital printing. This will help the industry grow faster. Turkey, Mexico, China are very much ahead of India in digital printing. It is the right time for India to catch up with them,” thinks Ruiwale.

He concludes: “The technology awareness has to grow. When this happens, more and more players will come into the segment, and the business will grow automatically.”