Old bastions like Mehta Cad Cam Systems play pivotal roles in gearing up the overall progression of the Indian signage industry. Every bit of their contributions to the industry counts a lot for gradual enhancement of machines, technologies and service supports. SHAILESH MEHTA, director, Mehta Cad Cam Systems Pvt Ltd in conversation with SIGN & GRAPHICS narrates the company’s competence of current portfolio comprising newly added/updated high-end machines to its existing line of digital large-format solvent and eco-solvent printers, CNC routers, laser engraving machines and vinyl cutting plotters.
Lustre in the signage era of India began with the introduction of vinyl cutting plotters from three leading companies, viz. Roland, Graphtec and GCC during the mid-1990s. Those were the days when Mehta Cad Cam Systems surfaced as a distinguished distributor of a line of the cutting machines catering to almost every sign maker all across the industry. “Then we further looked ahead to take on every new product or technology introduced in the market,” says Shailesh mentioning the advent of digital wide-format printers as a landmark revolution in the company’s business.
Big transformation
In spite of the fact that digital large-format printer manufacturers like DGI, Vutek, etc ruled the market in the initial stage, there existed huge room for low cost China-made printers distributed by Mehta Cad Cam Systems. “Introduction of such affordable printers in the early 2000s had drastically transformed the digital large-format printing sector, inviting a lot of new entrants including manual sign board makers, those who used only cutting plotters and others from various allied industrial sectors,” asserts Shailesh. He adds that the notion of sign making as a poor man’s profession had been abolished after the onset of digital wide-format printers.
Printers at Mehta Cad Cam Systems were initially only those with XAAR printheads. But the portfolio expanded with Seiko and Spectra printheads printers as per the increasing demands for high-resolution prints in the gradually growing market. “It’s true that the technologies in some Chinese printers are substandard. But the fact is that those substandard products had never lasted in the market,” exclaims Shailesh signifying that the companies like Gongzheng and Wit Color are of par excellence the quality that makes their products always present in the market since the beginning of the industry.
Fast forerunner
Mehta Cad Cam Systems is undoubtedly an ideal introducer of new machines in India. The company unpacked the first laser-engraving machine in the subcontinent in 1998. “Though laser-engraving had been only for mementos and textiles earlier, prospects of this technology expanded after the swift popup of shopping malls in the mid-2000,” mentions Shailesh. In fact, the trends of deco and graphic art designs in the showrooms of multinational companies in metros and other big cities have developed the acrylic applications and prospects of CNC routers and laser engravers in a big way.
Woodpecker CNC router imported in 2002 hit the Indian market in a revolutionary way. Another big addition in the company’s portfolio has been EFI VUTEk Rastek UV flatbed printer. Giving reasons why China-made UV flatbed printers are not successful in the market, Shailesh elucidates that quality and resolution of flatbed printers are very much depended on synchronisation of ink, software and printheads. “As EFI is one of the world’s leading printing software leaders, the company comes out with printheads with greyscale technology of Toshiba,” he adds. And now, the latest addition of 10 feet Gongzheng solvent printer equipped with Spectra Polaris printheads of 15 pico litres in the portfolio is the highest resolution printer of its class ever launched in India.
Future expansions
More than 400 staffs in 25 distribution channels across the country, Ahmedabad-headquartered Mehta Cad Cam Systems also has an overseas branch in Kathmandu, Nepal. The company has plans to mark its footprints soon in Sri Lanka too. Steadily spreading its branches across India and abroad, Mehta Cad Cam Systems aims to magnify its deliveries of around 200 cutting plotters, 30-40 CNC routers, 40-50 digital printers, 30-35 laser engraving machines every month.
“We have more than 10,000 customers all over India and we keep in touch with them regularly for instant service/supports of all nature,” mentions Shailesh. His future vision delineates that UV flatbed printing will catch on new stipulations in the industry. Philosophy of Mehta Cad Cam Systems is to develop or bring advanced technology or consumable so that their customers expand and grow together with them to boost the industry.