Morya Labels goes digital to keep up with the start-up boom | Labels & Labeling

India-based label converter diversifies its business by installing a Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 230 digital press, the company’s first investment outside off set, screen and flexo in more than 15 years.

One of the most intriguing and dynamic trends in recent decades has been India’s start-up movement. The country has blossomed into a hub for entrepreneurial vigor, particularly within the realm of e-commerce. Remarkably, this phenomenon extends beyond the confines of large cities and commercial centers.

This spurred Mumbai-based, Morya Labels to broaden its horizons and introduce Morya Digital Labels (MDL) in late 2023, aiming to cater to the start-up industry with short-run jobs digital printing services.

Discussing the surge in India’s start-up economy, Amit Bera, director at MDL, remarks: ‘With the burgeoning Indian start-up ecosystem and the overall economic landscape, there is a widespread aspiration for entrepreneurship and brand creation. Whether venturing into food-tech or IT brand, the entrepreneurial drive permeates all sectors today. And what’s a brand without labels and great packaging?’

With more than 15 years of experience in the print industry, Morya Labels boasts a seasoned presence in the labeling sector. Established by Ramesh Vanga and Babaji Gopale, the company fulfills diverse label needs through offset and screen printing, serving prominent Indian beverage brands such as Oxyrich (Manikchand), Kingfisher, McDowell, and more.

In 2021, Morya Labels ventured into a new domain with the establishment of Shri Morya Packaging, emphasizing roll-form labels. The company made significant investments in three flexo machines from China and Vietnam to bolster this division.

Bera comments: ‘Ramesh Vanga had contemplated transitioning to digital for some time now. We are witnessing a significant shift in label procurement patterns, with a preference for smaller, more frequent orders – making digital printing an ideal choice.’

That’s when Bera and his team commenced their research of new digital label machinery, engaging with all the major machine manufacturers, before ultimately selecting Konica Minolta’s AccurioLabel 230.

He elaborates: ‘Print quality was paramount for us. We sought a press versatile enough to meet the diverse needs of our label portfolio, spanning form beverage to the food industry.

‘We were particularly eager to acquire a robust roll-to-roll digital label printing machine, to complement our stack flexo presses. With its 4-color toner-based printing and impressive speeds of up to 23.4m/min, jobs move swiftly from production to delivery. Director Ramesh Vanga and I were thoroughly impressed by the quality, performance and technology of Konica Minolta’s AccurioLabel 230 - it exceeded our expectations.’

The AccurioLabel 230 is a 13-inch-wide roll-to-roll machine with an unwinder and rewinder supplied by Brotech.

Vijay Kamat, Konica Minolta’s product manager of industrial printing, explains: ‘The AccurioLabel 230 offers customers a host of advantages, including enhanced productivity, flexibility and stability. The AccurioPress engine caters to small- and mid-range segments, making it suitable for label printers, print providers, brand owners, packaging companies and commercial printers.’

The label line delivers print runs of up to 1,000 meters at 1,200 DPI without the need for recalibration. With an enhanced speed, it accommodates most coated/uncoated papers. PP and PET media can be printed at full speed. Additionally, the machine is capable of printing pre-printed media, including overprinting flexo white pre-printed on clear PP labels.

Kamat further states: ‘Konica Minolta aimed to become a strategic partner for Morya Digital Labels. With the Accuriolabel 230 in place, MDL can incorporate digital content onto labels, addressing both short and ultra-short label printing requirements of its customers. Moreover, it enables MDL to explore new business opportunities that could not be considered before the installation of the AccrioLabel230.’

Empowered by its latest Konica Minolta press, Morya Digital Labels has a clear-cut strategy to expand its customer base from 650 to more than 1,000 customers.

Bera shares: ‘The world is evolving rapidly, and it is crucial for label converters to aid brand development in this dynamic landscape. I firmly believe that digitally printed labels play a pivotal role in fostering the growth of start-up brands in India. We are engaging with numerous less-known brands, including those from smaller cities and regions, entrenched in the Indian start-up ecosystem, all seeking attractive labeling for their products. It’s more than just offering solutions; it’s about empowering them with customized strategies and insights to distinguish themselves in the market.’

In this context, the AccurioLabel 230 at Morya Digital Labels has the capability to bolster emerging brands in India’s flourishing start-up economy, propelling fledgling brands to the next level of success.

‘There is heightened awareness regarding labels and packaging, necessitating agility and efficiency on our part. We recognize that we are competing with the big players in the business, thus emphasizing the need to remain lean and responsive,’ Bera says.

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