This was the first outreach initiative of PrintWeek India to gain traction with Delhi audience in the promotion of the 3rd edition of the PrintWeek India Awards 2011. The entries for the awards close on 25 June 2011 with final award ceremony on 25 August.

During the panel discussion, Rishabh Singhvi of International Print O Pac (IPP) the PrintWeek India Printing Company of the Year 2010 spoke about the company's participation in the recently held Nigeria book fair and his experience in the new markets of North Africa. He discussed the IPP strategy for the book exports market. The other interesting thing Singhvi mentioned was, how IPP produces 100 magazines, has 20 book customers, plus 100 customers in the packaging converting segment; of which 80% are repeat customers. IPP has been in the forefront of investments; Singhvi discussed how the company financed its investments plus how it set up ERP platforms; a 360 degree total approach; and new projects.

Vasant Goel of Gopsons Papers, the Book Printer of the Year 2009 said: "It is India's moment and Indian print firms should grab this opportunity." He spoke about Gopsons' security printing division which recently installed two Kodak Digimaster EX150 digital production systems and five Versamark presses. Goel highlighted how the firm along with the security print division in Sri Lanka is creating specialised and high-value security printing applications for the government and other high profile clients. Goel also described the progress on the 17.5 acre plot in Virudhanagar near Sivakasi. The plant is up and running; and is expected to be a specialist book manufacturing company. Interestingly enough, the firm offers six basic formats of book publishing. Goel underscored the rationale behind this and as to how it has controlled the production process and eliminated waste. Today, the firm produces 1,25,000 hardbound and 2,50,000 paperback books; and has big plans for the future.

M N Pandey of Avantika Printers described his early days in offset printing and how he was engaged with 11 magazines. He said: "Digital is the grandson of print --- and definitely the future." Pandey who also sportingly displayed samples of the work his digital shop produces, spoke about the super specialisation in box fabrication; micro text on acrylic sheets and scroll; coffee table books with perfect double spreads and clean gutters. Later he highlighted some of the management practices which his unit is implementing to control waste and improve quality processes.

The morning kick-started with Ramu Ramanathan, the editor of PrintWeek India presenting a helicopter view on the print industry trends in India. This was followed by Alok Bharadwaj, senior vice president of Canon India presenting his views on digital trends. Later Bharadwaj handed over personalised PrintWeek India cover page mementoes to the winners of the Awards in 2009 and 2010 which included IPP, Gopsons Papers and Thomson Press.

Glimpses from the forum