20th July 2014

Courtesy: Print Week

Heidelberg-powered Centre to boost print in Sivakasi

It has been more than a year since a common Centre for printing unit has been set up under the cluster development programme near Tiruthangal. This Centre, which is the brainchild of Sivakasi Master Printers Association, is part of the special purpose vehicle (SPV), Unigraa Printing Solutions Private. The cluster programme has the support of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

According to a government spokesman, "The capability of SSI units can be improved only by adopting the cluster approach. The Tamil Nadu State Government is taking speedy and effective action for development of Industrial Cluster in Tamil Nadu. District Industries Centres are implementing product-based clusters." The Cluster in Tiruthangal is part of this scheme.

Despite an increase in print production in India, the Rs 1,500-crore printing industry in Sivakasi is going through a slump. Many printing units are idle or running fewer shifts. Printing units – mostly SMEs – are encountering power cuts and a slowdown in their traditional businesses of notebooks, stationery, calendars, text books, novels and labels.

Today, 80% of the 6,000 units in and around Sivakasi are medium and small sized and are unable to make capital investment in top technology.

“An individual firm in Sivakasi cannot make huge investment because of the huge mismatch in the turnover, ROCE and the capital investment. Investing in a pre-owned kit will not result in quality in printing,: said AMSG Ashokan, the president of the All India Federation of Master Printers, who is hosting the GC meet.

Which is how the print industry opted for the cluster development programme promoted by the Centre to meet the investment for machinery, according to one of the directors of the SPV, VS Raveendran, who is also the director of Sel Jegat.

30 members of the printers association raised the funds for the Rs 15-crore project. “While the Centre gave a grant of 70 per cent, the State contributed 10 per cent,” Raveendran said.

The common facility centre is located on a four-acre land and houses a 12,000 sqft building. "A five-colour Heidelberg with varnish coating has been installed.” he said. On cards is a CTP kit and an imported Japanese cutting machine.

Raveendran added, any player in the industry could use the facility for a nominal charge. The Sivakasi Master Printers Association plans to provide hands-on training to the students from the two print institutions in Sivakasi.