Malhotra will add Autobond's range, including its Micro 52 SD TP B2 laminator, 120m/min Mini 105 TPHS B1 laminator and its offline 52 SUV and inline 36x52 spot UV inkjet machines, to its portfolio, which includes products from HP, Fujifilm, Renz and Morgana.

Bimal Chaku, vice president of marketing and sales at Malhotra Graphics, said that the two companies had met at Drupa 2012, where Malhotra was looking to add laminating and spot UV varnishing to its range of finishing equipment.

"Autobond’s selection of thermal and water-based laminators impressed us, as did the company’s offline spot UV machine," said Chaku. "The offline capability was vital, as there is plenty of competition for spot UV in the Indian market; however all of it comes integrated with a digital printer.

"Autobond’s SUV machine gives us that all-important USP to enable our customers to spot UV varnish for premium applications – such as corporate brochures, product catalogues and even packaging – with either a digital or an offset machine. That versatility makes it a very attractive proposition."

Chaku added that there was "great demand" for finishing equipment in India, from both digital and offset printers, as everyone recognised "how profitable added-value print is".

Autobond managing director John Gilmore said: "The Indian market is becoming an important one for us, with a strong demand for lamination and a growing trend for spot UV varnishing.

"We’re delighted to have Malhotra Graphics on board. We both share the same vision of the Indian market and we envisage that, by working together, we can ensure customers have the best machinery, service, and support available."

Autobond has also reported increasing demand for its products in Germany, where its distributor Binderhaus recently received two orders for the Micro 52 SD T laminator at Druck+Form 2013.

The Micro 52 SD T is a heavy-duty commercial laminator, aimed at short-run, multi-colour digital B2 and B3 production. It runs at up to 25m/min, has a Heidelberg Stahl suction drum feeder, optional perfecting and a footprint of just 2m x 1m.

Gilmore said: "Since launching this new range of laminators, we have sold more machines in Germany in the past two years than in the past 22 years."