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Nuflex Graphics on a mission to bring the best in flexo pre
Based in Pune, India, Nuflex Graphics is a company providing flexo prepress solutions. Formed in 2019, the new company adopts a “sell on technology” principle.
“We want to democratize high-quality pre-press for packaging, because too many smaller brands think it’s only for the bigger players. We aim to make it available to every brand at a pricepoint that’s right for them. That will benefit everyone, elevating the industry through a better understanding of technology,” said Nikhil Puntambekar, director of Nuflex Graphics.
According to Puntambekar the “sell on technology” principle is a goal that every technology-based business aims for, and one that Nuflex is achieving, recording strong growth this year despite the challenging
trading conditions created by a global pandemic.
Right technology, right partner
It helps having the right technology at the heart of the business — in Nuflex’s case, the KODAK FLEXCEL NX System, supplied and supported by Miraclon — and the right partner.
Nuflex is part-owned by Mumbai-based Numex Blocks, which brings over 30 years’ experience in flexo packaging prepress to the partnership, and serves all packaging segments, including narrow, mid- and wide-web.
The company offers customers large and small the same proposition: a complete prepress solution, including press fingerprinting and trials as well as final plate imaging.
“Smaller customers really welcome such an extensive package, because the smaller the business, the more support it needs to get to the next level,” said Puntambekar.
Fast turnaround and consistent quality
Nuflex’s offering has been shaped by Puntambekar’s in-depth understanding of local market conditions, and his strong links to the corrugated packaging sector. He identified fast-
turnaround delivery of FLEXCEL NX plates to customers as a major reason for Nuflex’s success, usually within 24 hours and often on the same day. “It’s becoming the norm, so it’s expected of us. Production runs are getting shorter as consumption patterns change. It helps that from the start we’ve been able to put robust production practices and disciplines in place,” said Puntambekar. the simplified workflow and problemfree printing at their end, so there’s value throughout the production chain.”
A further analysis of Nuflex’s performance shows that most growth is organic, encouraged by the quickening pace at which flexo is taking is gaining market share from other processes, gravure in particular.
Just as important is the consistent quality of the plates: “FLEXCEL NX delivers the right densities and colors, and these hold true across the spectrum of the work we produce — labels, flexible packaging, pouches, shrinksleeves and corrugated. Customers like “This is apparent in every segment, but especially in flexible packaging,” added Puntambekar.
As an example, he cited a shrink sleeve product where the better halftone reproduction achieved with FLEXCEL NX DigiCap NX patterning technology won over a sceptical customer.
“They doubted our claim that DigiCap NX meant a single hit of white instead of a double, but we achieved it with the same densities and visual results. White’s the most expensive pigment, so reducing consumption at the same time as speeding things up brings real value to the process,” said Puntambekar.
He added that consumer pressure for more sustainable packaging production is a further driver of process conversion.
Similar process conversion, this time from offset to flexo, is apparent in the corrugated segment, which Puntambekar regards as a good avenue for growth, helped by FLEXCEL NX’s ability to print 150lpi.
“Liquor brands in particular are actively exploring conversion, and the nationwide ban on plastic bags imposed in 2019 means paper bags are a good opportunity. In some cases, we’ve converted customers from five colors to four colors using FLEXCEL NX,” said Puntambekar.
Predicting the future is difficult at the present time, but Puntambekar expects these trends to continue, and for circumstances to generate more inorganic growth: “We’re seeing production return to India from neighboring countries, and a move to localized manufacturing even within national borders.”
