'We will do all that we can to help customers'
Kuldeep Malhotra, the managing director, Sales & Function Product Marketing at Konica Minolta India was besides appointed to Konica Minolta India's board of directors effective from 1 December 2019. He believes that this is not the right fourth dimension to gauge the touch on of the lockdown in India and its impact on the printing business. He contends that the situation is temporary and will laissez passer shortly — edited excerpts from an interview with Harish Penumarthi.
Just like other industries, press too is affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. Currently, in its third phase, the lockdown has stalled many operations throughout the country, putting MSMEs and larger companies as in problem. "There is no certainty every bit to how long it would take for the need to reemerge in the country. I experience this will hugely depend on how the marketplace reacts mail service-lockdown. Initially, the demand is expected to stay flat. Notwithstanding, it could go both ways afterward that."
"Notwithstanding, another point of business organisation is the COVID-induced unemployment and the broader effect of this on the overall economy. Also, what exactly is the client'due south mindset now? Republic of india's retail participation in the equity marketplace has been good during the outbreak – that reflects Indians are not as apprehensive every bit they used to exist. However, the true mood of the nation – and hence, the demand – tin only be gauged when the lockdown ends. Hence, whatever prediction that might come at present will be nothing short of speculation. We must patiently wait and encounter how the market ultimately reacts, and we are out of this unprecedented situation," explains Malhotra.
"We could have done much better" – says Malhotra
Merely a handful of KM'south customers are operating during the lockdown. While some of them are involved in the essential goods segment, others are engaged in fulfilling the documentation requirements of the government. "Nosotros have a team dedicated to supporting our customers during the lockdown. Nosotros have also made efforts to ensure a smoothen supply of spares and consumables to the customers operating to support the essential items." In FY 2019-xx, Konica Minolta improved its revenue over the concluding financial year despite the lockdown in the last one-half of March. "However, we could take washed much meliorate," he says.
We will practice all that nosotros can to support customers
Malhotra is again grateful to his customers for choosing Konica Minolta every bit their OEM. "Nosotros would request all our customers to be patient and be focussed on the changing demands of the customers because of the COVID-19 pandemic led lockdown. For the time being, things may not be the same, and nosotros believe it is a temporary phase, and information technology would pass in some fourth dimension. We will practise all that we tin to back up our customers in these testing times," Malhotra reassures printers.
KM to launch new products as per schedule
Recently, Messe Dusseldorf announced the postponement of drupa to 20-30 April 2021. While many believe that the delay of the event may bear upon their business organization, Malhotra says, "Well, we strongly believe that no business organization comes to a higher place human life – non fifty-fifty one. The postponement of drupa is a wise decision in back up of humanity, and Konica Minolta welcomes it. Equally far as the financials are concerned, it is improve to delay growth rather than stalling it all together. There will be some temporary snags on the investment front because of the COVID-19 disruption. However, with time, investments will get-go flowing in besides."
Konica Minolta is not delaying whatsoever of its product launches in the production press segment due to the postponement of drupa. There is a delay of approximately ane or two months considering of the COVID-19 lockdown situation. However, as soon as the lockdown is lifted, KM volition try to take hold of upwards with the schedules.
Higher run-lengths for the AccurioJet KM1
Malhotra gives us an update on the progress of the KM1 inkjet sheetfed printing, that so far has a single installation in Chennai in Republic of india. "The AccurioJet KM1 has more than 100 installations worldwide, making it 1 of the flagship products of the company. There have been a series of developments based on the experience gained from KM1 customers to make information technology more productive and consequent. So far, nosotros exercise not have any customers using the KM1 specifically for monocartons in India. Yet, we are in discussions with a few prospects for specific applications every bit there is a need for smaller quantities that are difficult to manage in the analog procedure.
"Nosotros wish to reach a higher level of run lengths with the KM1. Still, technologies have processes and costs associated with them. Digital so far complements longer runs and provides the benefits of regionalization and variable data," says Malhotra.
"Konica Minolta, as a company, invests in future technologies, and every bit a brand, KM has its inkjet technology in KM1. "We shall continue with our efforts to improve the automobile from the current levels in terms of media treatment, production capacity, and reliability so that it becomes more relevant to the customers with the changing business organisation scenarios," concludes Malhotra.
Source: https://packagingsouthasia.com/packaging-production/we-will-do-all-that-we-can-to-help-customers/
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