Jiya Somaiya

The Indian print, packaging and publishing industry gathered at The Westin Mumbai Garden City in Mumbai on 9 June for PrintWeek’s Leaders & Legends event. The day-long forum brought together top executives, innovators, and brand experts to discuss the future of the sector, celebrate achievements, and network.

Moving the needle for women in 2026 in the Indian printing, publishing, and packaging sectors requires systemic corporate support, structured pathways back from career breaks, and deeper technical and financial literacy.

The highly anticipated, special Power 100 issue of PrintWeek was officially unveiled on 9 June at the exclusive Leaders & Legends 2026, held at the Westin in Mumbai.

The second Show and Tell session at PrintWeek’s Leaders & Legends featured five of India’s top print and packaging pioneers, demonstrating how structural design solves retail, logistical, and anti-counterfeiting crises.

Speaking at the opening of PrintWeek’s Leaders & Legends 2026 on 9 June, Kevin Costello, chief executive officer of Haymarket Media Group, highlighted the unprecedented momentum and resilience driving the Indian market

A breakdown of technical configurations and real-world retail applications from the latest PrintWeek-HP webinar on how next-generation liquid electrophotography is enabling sustainable and hyper-personalised packaging at scale.

At the Corru Pack and Print India expo, the USP was innovation and sustainability. PrintWeek team reports about single-pass automation and how to boost production

Women to Watch Awards is back in 2026. The packaging industry is transforming, with women in influential leadership positions driving both sustainability and gender inclusivity. Jiya Somaiya speaks to four industry leaders

PrintWeek’s Women to Watch jury converged in Mumbai for an intensive day of deliberation, reviewing a roster of entries that highlight the shifting leadership landscape taking hold in Indian print and packaging

Awarded by the OPA, the award highlights Anna University’s leadership in fostering excellence in specialised technical education.

The history of the Indian printed word is often told through the lens of missionary presses and nationalist newspapers. Let’s look back at milestones that redefined who gets to hold the pen and run the press.

The regional qualifying rounds for the 7th edition of the Print Olympiad 2026 have officially concluded, identifying the elite students in printing technology from across India.

At the NAEP and GPEA Awards ceremony held at the Chennai Trade Centre on 28 April, industry leaders were recognised for excellence in print quality and innovation.

Noida-based Folding Factory India showcased its high-precision German polyurethane (PU) rollers at Bharat Print Expo, offering double the lifespan and faster refurbishment than traditional rubber rollers.

Epson has showcased its latest colour labelling solutions at Bharat Print Expo 2026, introducing high-resolution, pigment-ink technology designed for harsh industrial environments.

Simmac has introduced its latest roll-to-roll printing technology at Bharat Print Expo 2026, targeting the surging demand for non-woven packaging across South India.

Everest Holovisions has showcased its new LithoFire technology at Bharat Print Expo 2026, introducing advanced overt and covert security features to the Southern market.

AV Anoop highlighted the transformation of the printing industry into a technology-driven sector powered by automation, AI and sustainability

The All India Federation of Master Printers hosted the 28th National Awards for Excellence in Printing and the Global Print Excellence Awards on Day 2 of Bharat Print Expo 2026

Riso showcased its ultra-high-speed Valezus T2200 and GL series at Bharat Print Expo, emphasising heatless technology, low operational costs, and a dominant 85% domestic market share.

Coimbatore-based Suba Solutions showcased its locally manufactured ink agitators and newly launched automatic pile lifters at Bharat Print Expo, focusing on reducing manpower and enhancing print consistency.

Fujifilm India emphasised its unique click-to-print technology at Bharat Print Expo, showcasing the Aqueous Pro alongside digital imaging solutions to provide an integrated workflow.

Mumbai-based Shreeji Corporation highlighted its Finitura and Saga post-press portfolios at Bharat Print Expo, emphasising 24/7 technical support and budget-friendly automation for digital finishing.

At Bharat Print Expo, Faridabad-based Monu Graphics is showcasing its journey from importing equipment to exporting automatic corrugation lines to more than thirty countries worldwide.

Shivani Agarwal, founder of CoziKat, creates environmentally friendly cat furniture using corrugated and Kraft paper

At PrintWeek, we take our books seriously. Conversations during lunch in the office pantry often revolve around the books we're reading, the authors and characters we most like. Books are indeed serious business.

Several Indian printing and packaging companies represented India at the World Expo of Packaging Industry (WEPACK) in Shenzhen, China, which took place from 15-17 April.

The redesigned platform offers faster navigation, dedicated technology spotlights, and exclusive access for registered professionals

Mumbai’s Western Railway has terminated the five-year contract for all 55 AH Wheeler stalls, marking the disappearance of a colonial-era institution from city platforms. Read FAQs below.

The OPA has announced a price revision for printing and packaging services following a 30-40% surge in raw material costs.

The Integrated Printing, Photography and Multimedia Technologists’ Association (IPPAMTA) was officially launched on 24 March 2026 at the All-India Symposium held at Government Polytechnic, Gulzarbagh in Patna.

Scheduled for June 2026 at the HITEX Exhibition Centre, All in Print Asia will showcase innovations in commercial printing, packaging, and digital converting technologies.

Business consultant Nirav Trivedi challenged corrugation manufacturers at CorruPack to prioritise standardised processes and waste elimination over customisation to reverse shrinking industrial profit margins.

The humble brown box, the silent workhorse of the global supply chain, is at a breaking point in India, and battle lines are drawn between old-guard manufacturers, nimble innovators, and a flood of Chinese machinery.

NMC Engineers showcased their advanced E-flute fingerless corrugation machine at CorruPack 2026, featuring automation and a specialised online collector system for continuous production.

Kalka Industries displayed high-efficiency steam generators and flameless LPG systems at CorruPack 2026, enabling manufacturers to double corrugation speeds through advanced thermal engineering and solar-compatible technology.

The Mumbai-based partnership between Virdi Brothers Machinery and New Darshana Engineering showcased a comprehensive range of Indian and Chinese corrugation machinery at CorruPack 2026, offering tailored solutions for every stage of box production.

Bhiwandi-based Sun-Up India showcased its 52-inch fingerless corrugation machine at CorruPack 2026, featuring EN19 rollers designed for continuous high-volume production.

Amarjeet Industries showcased PLC-automated die-cutting and corrugation machinery at CorruPack 2026, combining 40 years of heavy-duty engineering with advanced production-tracking data analytics.

At CorruPack 2026, Jalna-based MEPL displayed the world’s first integrated stitching and glueing machine, offering automation that exceeds the current technical capabilities of international manufacturers.

Shree Krishna Engineering Works showcased a suite of vacuum-suction corrugation and digital cutting machines at CorruPack 2026, offering Chinese-grade technology at competitive Indian price points.

The global eCommerce packaging market is undergoing a significant structural shift. The new research by Smithers Market Intelligence confirms strong growth in 2025 and forecasts expansion at a 4.8% CAGR over the next five years. The market, valued at USD 78.4-billion in 2025, is being shaped by three powerful forces: the accelerating shift from physical to online retail, rising sustainability expectations, and rapidly evolving packaging formats.

The first round of the South Zone for the 7th edition of Print Olympiad concluded on 6 March.

The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club (TAC) have announced that the 19th edition of Goafest will be held in Goa from 20 to 22 May, 2026. The annual festival, a long-standing fixture in the South Asian advertising, media, and marketing calendar since its 2006 inception, is the region’s primary platform for celebrating industry excellence and innovation.

On 17 February 2026, the department of printing technology at Arasan Ganesan Polytechnic College, Sivakasi, hosted its technical symposium, Arasan Dharbar 2026.

The first round of the East Zone for the 7th Edition of Print Olympiad 2026 was conducted on 28 February on a virtual platform.

On 16 February, the first round (North Zone) of the 7th edition of Print Olympiad 2026 was conducted under the aegis of the Offset Printers Association (OPA).

Kodak presented a range of specialised consumables, featuring professional-grade photo papers, wide-format inkjet media, and durable laminating solutions for commercial and industrial applications.

At GiftWorld Expo and PaperWorld India, Gujarat-based Lisco showcased the 60-cm UV DTF printer, a sheet label cutter, and the fibre laser marking machine.

Delhi-based True Colors displayed the UV 6090 and the UV DTF 6040 at GiftsWorld Expo and PaperWorld India.

Dr Kanwardeep Sharma, a graphic communications expert from Kurukshetra University, received an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Graphic Communications Management from the US-based Cedarbrook University.

Inspired by ABBA’s Money, Money, Money, we enter the world of global and national economics, finance, and how policies make or break the market. Essential reads to understand the rich man’s world.

The ink and printing industries are undergoing a transition toward audited transparency, led by Epson, Ricoh, Flint Group, Siegwerk, Sakata Inx, and Inx International.

The new research centre in Bengaluru marks Artience Group’s first research centre outside Japan.

The new research centre in Bengaluru marks Artience Group’s first research centre outside Japan.

The South Indian printing industry is gearing up for a wave of engagement and knowledge-sharing with the announcement of the "Achchu Payanam" (Print Journey) roadshow, a statewide promotional initiative for the upcoming Bharat Print Expo 2026.

The global specialty print community is set to converge in Barcelona as Fespa Global Print Expo 2026, alongside its co-located events European Sign Expo, Personalisation Experience, WrapFest, and the two new additions, Corrugated and Textile, confirms its international exhibitor line-up. Scheduled from 19 to 22 May 2026 at the Fira de Barcelona, Spain, the combined events will host over 500 new and returning exhibitors from more than 40 countries.

Drawing lessons from aerospace, healthcare, and global manufacturing, Gaurav Kataria of ITC highlighted how AI-driven predictive maintenance and generative design are transforming the print industry

At Print Summit 2026, Koenig and Bauer’s CEO, Sascha Fischer, unveiled digital authentication tools, including a verification app - ava, that embed invisible security into packaging, allowing brand owners to track and verify products

Kunal Enterprise presented a manual-to-automated revolution at Pamex 2026, featuring servo-driven presses and glass printing solutions for the automotive, electronics, and luxury packaging sectors

Multi Hitech highlights its two-micron precision manufacturing capability at Pamex 2026, showcasing a range of print and magnetic rollers for high-end label production

On the last day of Pamex, Delhi-based Ample Graphics announced that the company clinched 13 deals during the show. Among these, nine deals have already been confirmed, while the rest four deals with him confirmed soon

Sona Papers successfully concluded its participation at Pamex 2026, marking a strong presence with an impressive footfall and enthusiastic industry response. The company showcased an extensive portfolio of premium and sustainable paper solutions catering to the evolving needs of the packaging and commercial printing segments.

Autoprint debuted its Fine Coat 105 and Dextra 89 with vertical foiling at Pamex 2026, offering advanced indigenous automation for high-speed packaging and quality inspection.

At Pamex, Excel Machinery showcased its indigenous Maxima 2840 die-puncher, targeting 500 national installations by 2026 while highlighting versatile, Make in India technology for packaging.

At Pamex, Sai Enterprises highlighted its HPM paper cutters, showcasing fully automatic post-press solutions following record sales of over 600 units across the Indian market.

At Pamex, Kodak highlighted its commitment to sustainable prepress, noting a shift toward process-free plates as printers move away from chemical-intensive workflows.

At Pamex, Druck and Bindung showcased its global flagship Magnabind Layflat Imagebook-3000X securing a deal with Kadam Digital for the automated industrial-grade photo book solution.

At Pamex, Monotech Systems spotlighted its indigenously developed PixelGlow embellishment range and the high-capacity KnowzzleJet web press, driving the industry toward automated, digital-first production.

At Pamex, Kapoor Imaging highlights sustainable prepress, showcasing Kodak’s low-power CTP technology and compact flexo solutions designed to eliminate chemicals and reduce operational footprints.

At Pamex, Nippon Color debuted automated digital die-cutters and inkjet solutions, targeting labour shortages and sustainability through high-precision finishing and zero-waste short-run production.

At Pamex, Packnology is displaying an integrated digital system which combines printing, foiling, and spot UV in a single pass to improve efficiency for short-run labels.

At Pamex, Megabound debuts India’s first affordable elastic diary-binding machine, alongside case-making solutions used for high-volume production of 50,000 daily books at Gita Press.

At Pamex 2026, R Manubhai and Sons is highlighting its role in supplying high-end, refurbished offset presses to the Indian market. Ricky Raval, general manager at R Manubhai and Sons, discussed the company’s focus on sourcing and reconditioning equipment to meet the demands of a competitive domestic industry.

At Pamex 2026, Creofoil is showcasing a Made in India automatic screen printing line featuring M-Cure technology, designed for sustainable packaging with 10-fold film reuse.

Super Bond Adhesives is showcasing its new, locally manufactured HMPSA range and recyclable polyolefin-based solutions at Pamex 2026.

Arrow Digital showcased the ArrowJet Aqua 330R at Pamex, offering water-based, food-safe digital label printing designed for short-run production and variable data customisation

Hema Java of Java Paper Group shares insights into the company’s expanded showcase, specialised European imports, and new sustainable boards to meet India’s growing demand for premium substrates

Gaurav Gala, founder of S2 Trading Corporation, discusses the expanding role of synthetic paper in the Indian printing sector

Viceroy Properties has unveiled a coffee table book that documents the history, culture, and creative spirit of Versova, one of Mumbai’s most evocative coastal neighbourhoods.

The 12th Publishing Next Industry Awards honoured 11 winners in Delhi, celebrating excellence in editorial and publishing.

To strengthen its process performance solutions segment, Valmet is to acquire the Severn Group, which manufactures in India, the UK, and the USA.

The New India Foundation (NIF) has opened nominations for the 9th edition of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize; entries for non-fiction writing open until 31 January.

A quiet revolution is underway, with zines taking over art festivals, libraries, and pop-up spaces. Jiya Somaiya speaks to zine artists to understand a modest zine’s role in publishing.

Premiered on 5 December, The New Yorker at 100 explores the American publication’s centenary and the enduring authority of print.

The prestigious 19th Crossword Book Awards was held at the LaLit Mumbai on 3 December, 2025. Shanta Gokhale, a literary powerhouse whose work as a writer, translator and theatre critic has immensely shaped Marathi literature and enriched Indian literature at large was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Presenting the Award to her was Bachi Karkaria, the celebrated journalist and a close friend of Gokhale.

In an exclusive interview, Chaitya Dhanvi Shah, curator and managing director, DRS Arts Company, speaks about Husain @ 110 – an exhibition showcasing Husain’s 110 printmaking editions.

On a quest to redefine publishing, Naveen Valsakumar, in 2012, founded Notion Press, a global platform for aspiring writers, which allows authors to take control of their intellectual property.

Canadian-born Hungarian-British author David Szalay has been named the winner of the prestigious Booker Prize for his novel, Flesh.

PrintWeek’s tribute to Alois Senefelder on his birth anniversary explores how his personal struggles with publishers led to the invention of lithography.

The Bombay Zine Fest, held from 10 to 12 October at the Nautilus Cafe in Candies, Mumbai, celebrated zine culture and India’s growing independent printing and publishing scene.

The six women are: Aruna Karia from Hero Multi-Pap; Beena Gala from Infinity Industries; Hema Java from CH Java; Surbhi Kothari from Shree Krishna Commercial; Barkha Sugand from Ajanta Paper; and Garima Aurora from Unisource Paper

The knowledge session at PrintWeek Awards 2025 focused its attention on Indian publishing. A deep-dive into how printed books are reshaping the world, with Ajay Joshi of Penguin Random House, Dr Amit Sharma of HarperCollins and Priya Singh of Hachette India, with Ramu Ramanathan, editor of PrintWeek and WhatPackaging? moderating the discussion.

On 4 October, India’s National Book Trust (NBT) launched the eighth edition of its online flagship publishing course.

The 30 September episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati featured Amitabh Bachchan asking Kailash Kuntewad a print-related question for INR one-crore.

The Frankfurt Book Fair is set to host various Indian exhibitors, ranging from independent publishers to companies in the printing and prepress sectors. Read on to find out about India’s participation at the book fair.

The Frankfurt Book Fair is set to unite the world’s print and publishing industries, bringing together publishing experts, authors, and journalists from around the globe who will gather to network, discover new trends, and celebrate the world of stories.

Recognised as Educator of the Year, Rashmi Sharma, community success manager, South Asia at DScoop, has led and contributed to educational initiatives. Sharma has developed content for publications, conducted site visits, and curated programs for the graphics and art industry

Winning the Sales Champion of the Year award, Rajalakshmi Ezhumalai, assistant manager of sales for food products at Suba Solutions, has achieved success in the food packaging sector. She surpassed her annual sales target and oversees the sales cycle across departments.

Winning the Mentor of the Year award, Priyanka Rathi, head of marketing communications at Holostik India, shares insights on inspiring the next-gen in the print, packaging, and publishing sectors. She believes the key to attracting young women lies in making the industry more visible and accessible.