Guwahati signage players break new grounds for innovative & integrative works
Filled with untapped business opportunities, Guwahati city in Assam is home to a bunch of signage players playing new games to change the way signage solutions are made and produced in traditional manner. In freewheel chats with Sign & Graphics they talk about their backgrounds and new plans they have set to break new grounds for innovative applications and adoption of new machines and technologies.
Pradip Advertising & Co. – Award-winning player
Since its inception in 1997, Pradip Advertising & Co. has grown organically through a commitment to creating outstanding and innovative works and projects. “We work with clients from diverse industrial segments such as entertainment, media, technology and fashion to execute projects across multiple platforms,” says Apurba Lahkar, Managing Director, Pradip Advertising & Co. In recognition of Apurba’s dynamism and visionary power, Pradip Advertising was honoured with the MSME National Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurship in 2012.
“We closely collaborate with our clients comprising some regional ad agencies as well. In fact, we are equally versed in creating turnkey promotional campaigns for established brands as well as partnered agencies for concept and innovative developments that help our partners define and achieve their business goals,” tells Apurba. Dalmia Cement, HDFC Bank, MAK Lubricants, Vivo, Oppo, to mention a few, are some regular clients of Pradip Advertising & Co.
Production setup of Pradip Advertising & Co. is equipped with a set of advanced printers, viz. HP Scitex 1500XL, ColorJet POLO TURBO, HP Designjet L25500 and Revotek NS330K which empower the production team to produce 50,000 sq ft prints per day. The portfolio also includes a line of finishing equipments like Graphtec CE 5000-120 cutting plotter and others. Pradip Advertising is an authorised 3M and Avery Dennison Converter in North-East India. It is registered under Udyog Aadhaar, PWD and NSIC.
UMANG Communications –360-digree solutions provider
Engaging in execution of turnkey signage, advertising and promotional projects revolving around retail branding, corporate events, trade exhibitions, corporate gifting, custom decors, marketing and many other tasks, UMANG Communications aims at providing one-stop solutions to the utmost satisfactory level of their clients from diverse industrial clusters. “Working with a bunch of eminent brands across the length and breadth of North-East India, we carry out projects in B2B and B2C models as per the requirement of our clients,” says Amit Jain, Director, UMANG Communications Pvt Ltd.
Amit continues, “Since our establishment in 2011, we have been engaging in 360-degree of activities around advertising, marketing and events.” UMANG Communications maintains fullest satisfactory level and long-term relationship with their clients who eventually are happy not just for getting stunning signage and advertising solutions but also marketing results. Over the last 10 years, UMANG Communications has worked with over 300 clients for 5000 plus projects. The company’s client list consists of MI, Airtel, Reliance, Pepsi, BP, Dalmia Cements, to mention a few. Amit mentions that they involved in branding of stadia during the South Asian Games 2016 and 250 MI outlets across North-East India.
HP Latex 335, HP DesignJet D5800, EPSON SureColor SC-P9000 and a line of finishing equipments, plotter, channel letter bending machine, CNC router, etc are equipped in the production facility of UMAMG Communications, which is 12,500 sq ft in area, backed by a team of 40 well-experienced staff. The company is an authorised converter of COSIGN, 3M, Avery Dennison and Starflex in North-East India. On future expansion plan, Amit informs that the company’s production set up will be expanded to 22,000 sq ft, perhaps it will be the largest in the region, with addition of UV technology.
Shyam & Sons – Absolute source of consumables
When it comes to counting on genuine suppliers of printing media and inks in North-East India, Shyam & Sons would come on the forefront as this dealer of a broad range of consumables in Guwahati fulfils the bare requirement of all print service providers (PSPs) in the region. “Whether in Guwahati or other cities like Agartala, Shillong, Imphal, just name any in North-East India, we are very proud to say our customers are dotted everywhere. We supply a range of consumables meeting the need of all PSPs whether working for corporate clients or local walk-in customers,” mentions Shyam Harlalka, Proprietor, Shyam & Sons.
Right from the day one of its establishment in 2012, Shyam & Sons maintains standards in its product portfolio. The company is an authorised distributor of AT Inks, Starflex (Sun Sign & Technologies), 3M, Pioneer Polyleathers and SRF. Shyam states that they maintain warehouses where all the consumables are stocked for instant delivery to their clients based in any part of North-East India. “Our significant point is that we are capable to deliver either media or inks within the promised time frame,” says Shyam.
Shyam & Sons has a team of 28 employees, who maintain accuracy in transport and inventory of all products. “We supply around 300 tonnes of printing media every month. Among all, Pioneer Polyleathers materials are the most demanded media in North-East India for the reason that the products are good and economical, with 3M comes up next for being the ultimate choice for big corporate clients,” explains Shyam. In addition, Shyam & Sons is dealer of HP DesignJet Z6 Series printers in North-East India.
Print & Signs – A to Z signage solutions
Print & Signs is one of the cosy and crowded signage and graphic arts printing corners in Guwahati. Founded by young, energetic and visionary Bikash Agarwala, the company serves its customers of all kinds, either corporate biggies or walk-in local customers, from different parts of North-East India. “Having eight years of presence in the region’s signage and graphic arts market, we have the knack and innovative technologies to fulfil the demands of our customers,” says Bikash Agarwala, Founder-Director, Print & Signs LLP.
Engaging in solvent/eco-solvent printing, CNC routing, laser engraving, channel letter bending… all under one roof, Print & Signs boasts a state-of-the-art production facility of around 9500 sq ft equipped with a line of highly versatile and advanced machines such as EPSON SureColor S60670 eco-solvent machine, True Colors solvent printer with KM 1024i printhead, Success CNC router & aluminium channel letter bending machine and others.
Backed by a strong team of 25 experienced sign-making, designing and creative professionals, Print & Signs works for a list of corporate players, event companies, showrooms, architects, interior decor companies, etc. Some of the key customers in the list include Yokohama, Dynaroof and Sleepfresh Mattress. Bikash conveys that they just don’t provide their customers signage solutions but also acceleration their business.
Signage India – A vision to safer roads
Here comes the innovator of road signage. Signage India is a name synonymous with the road safety signage solutions which include road sign boards made of retro reflective sheets, ABS speed breakers, flexible median markers, etc. “Unlike any other sign makers in the city we work for a different domain. In this respect, I would say we are the one of the off-track sign makers with a vision to safer roads. In spite of business we are proud to be socially responsible in our contribution to the industry,” asserts Manish Patwary, Director, Signage India.
Since its inception in the year 2011, Signage India has carved its name for itself in the list of top service providers of road safety products and other solutions. Most of the company’s works are involved for public sector projects for different transport departments and many others related to National Highway Authority across North-East India.
With its main office at Bharalumukh in Guwahati, Signage India has a state-of-the-art workshop at Lokhra Charali where installed some high-end printer, router, engraver and finishing equipments like HP Latex 365, K-Bend channel letter bending machine, Mehta Elita-32 laser engraver, etc. The company’s road safety products include prismatic range of retro reflective road sign boards, median markers, zebra crossing signs, white thermoplastic paints, etc.
Manish says they engage in thermoplastic paint road marking service as well.
Colourful Concept – New player’s old experience
Barely a few months old, Colourful Concept is a brainchild of two mutual business partners—Narpat Singh Nirwan and Pratik Goel. After carefully observing the trends and tradition of the region’s signage and graphic arts market, the duo eventually decided to kick-start business as an exclusive print service provider (PSP) for providing signage graphics of all kinds. Narpat Singh Nirwan, Partner, Colourful Concept, says their objective is to work for sign makers, not for end customers.
He continues, “We come to know that many PSPs in Guwahati do not have the facilities to print and produce premium graphics using UV flatbed technology. In this, we help them get their needful. So, we have invested in a highly advanced and versatile Monotech Pixeljet Impulse UV flatbed technology and start helping PSPs fulfil their customers with UV-printed graphics.” Pixeljet Impulse is a high-volume versatile UV flatbed system for unlimited rigid applications on unconventional materials such as wood, glass, ceramic tiles, melamine, acrylic, etc.
Within the short span of its existence in the region’s signage market, Colourful Concept has garnered a fame of being a source of premium graphics for big brands like Airtel, Dalmia Cements, Decathlon and others. “We give any design and concept the power of UV printing with our Pixeljet Impulse. This is just the beginning, we look forward to upgrading our production setup and manpower,” tells Narpat.
Disha Communication – Expansion into a new landscape
Disha Communication is a popular reprographic centre. Since its inception in the year 2015, this print shop pulls customers from different walks of life. Schools, colleges and academic institutes across Guwahati are some of the major clients for which this commercial printing corner provides printing of various applications. Just recently, in addition to the commercial prints, Disha Communication opens door to their clients looking for digital large-format graphics or promotional signage prints.
The newly opened digital large-format printing division of Disha Communication is equipped with a Gongzheng GZM 3204SG Plus solvent system. Parameswar Deka, Proprietor, Disha Communication, says that they have observed the vibrancy in the region’s signage and graphic arts market. He adds that they are chalking out plans to expand the large-format machine portfolio for innovations that have not yet implemented in the region. In its digital large-format venture, Disha Communication has roped in a handful of eminent brands such as Doms, Hawkins, Vivo and some local retail and departmental stores. “We are thankful to AM (Aspiration Machineries), a regional partner of Lisco in North-East India, for their support in terms of technology and business optimisation with new innovation,” says Parameswar, adding sooner than later Disha Communication will boost machine portfolio to a new level.
Danji Solution – Affluent custom-sign maker
Dealing in an extensive range of backlit fabric box display solutions, standees, neon boards, LED boards, modular name plates, directional signs, Danji Solution is an affluent sign maker cum dealer of a select range of signage products. The company distributes Flexo Bond instant adhesive, Bit Bang signage animator, Lazlo aluminium profiles and Hi Ryte power supply. Solutions of Danji Solution are influencing and innovative.
Established in 2017, Danji Solution is known across North-East India for its range of custom signs. “In addition to corporate companies, we supply our custom-made modular display solutions to schools, colleges and many academic institutes in Guwahati and other North-East Indian cities and towns,” says Sanjay Pareek, Proprietor, Danji Solution. Some of the eminent brands like Bata, Apollo Hospitals, and Manisha Bakery are key customers of Danji Solutions.
“It’s not just about a signage or a promotional item we manufacture modular signage products as well as backlit LED boxes with a firm objective to add USP with which our clients use them to enhance their brand value. That’s why our products create a strategy—a kind of potential to bring the promotion to life and connect directly to consumers,” asserts Sanjay.
Sufalam Street brings a new paradigm of sign making in North-East India
An integrated signage agency offering the whole gamut of advertising & graphic arts solutions, Guwahati-based Sufalam Street is North-East India’s treasure trove of trendy and innovative signage applications. In conversation with Sign & Graphics, Manoj Das, MD, Sufalam Street, reveals how they make a difference amidst the crowd.
Sufalam Street, which literally means ‘pathway to good result’, has a strong ambition to fill up the gap of standard signage solutions in North-East India. “Situated in a far-flung geography from metros and tier-I cities, North-East India is always lagging behind when it comes to availability of high-end signage solutions,” observes Manoj Das, adding that Sufalam Street comes to the rescue of such situation.
“Whether corporate or local customers, they always prefer to be tied up with signage vendors in the neighbourhood. However, being a neighbourhood signage player in a tier-II city like Guwahati has our own challenge to set ourselves at par with those in metros and tier-I cities. We flawlessly maintain the status as our skills in managing high-end signage projects and establishing illustrious sign-making activities across a large-scale network eventually make us second to none, irrespective of where we are situated,” narrates Manoj.
As a one-stop signage solution provider, Sufalam Street works to leverage brands and services of its clients from different market clusters using advanced machines and creative know-how. UV, Latex, eco-solvent, and normal flex printings take place in an advanced way all under the roof of Sufalam Street’s well-equipped production facility. The facility is well-equipped with HandTop HTL3200 UV LED 3.2m roll-to-roll printer as the latest addition, with other high-end systems including HP Latex 365, EPSON SureColor SC S40670, K- Bend K3000 channel letter bending machine, Graphtec vinyl cutter and many other equipments.
Diageo, Samsung, Lenovo, T-Series, Panasonic, JK Tyre, LG, to mention a few, are some of Sufalam Street’s key customers which have been closely associated with them for years. The company’s categories of work include interior-exterior signage solutions, ACP LED boards, safety signage, metallic LED letters, clip-on boards, satin lit-boxes, etc. “We execute turnkey projects for our clients all over the seven sisters of North-East India, plus Sikkim. Our works are dotted right from Gangtok up to Agartala,” mentions Manoj.
Offering options to opt from for diverse forms and formats of signage solutions, Sufalam Street has expanded into two new verticals—Shristi Digital Signage and Shristi Digital Offset. “Our two new sister concerns are designed to help our clients grab complete signage solutions other than the large-format graphics. Shristi Digital Signage offers Super Us range of new-age digital signage solutions, which include digital display systems for retail stores, malls, restaurants, hotels, etc.
“We have visited the manufacturing plant of Super Us in Wapi and their Mumbai office. Our team is now well trained and educated about the technical know-how, software, engineering and installation of the digital display systems. Customers in North-East India always face problem when they purchase such product from Delhi or Mumbai and need help to resolve an issue,” informs Manoj, adding, “So, we are here with full confidence to meet the local need of our customers whether it could be related to technical issue or any other after-sales support,”
ColorJet India retains ‘Platinum Sponsorship’ of ITMA 2023
For the second time in a row, ColorJet India has signed for the Platinum Sponsorship of ITMA 2023, one of the world’s leading textile and garment machinery exhibitions. ITMA 2023 is scheduled from June 08-14 at Fiera Milano in Milan, Italy.
Sealing of the agreement on the Platinum Sponsorship of ColorJet India for ITMA 2023 was held at a meeting followed by the exhibition site visit of the two parties on January 12 in Milan. Eileen Ng, Deputy Project Director and Head of Marketing, ITMA, handed over the agreement to Smarth Bansal, General Manager– Product/Brand Management, ColorJet Group.
ITMA is recognised as the ‘Olympics’ of textile and garment machinery exhibitions. It showcases technologies and products for the entire textile making value chain. So, ITMA 2023 is set to make a strong presentation with over 1570 exhibitors from 42 countries.
On the occasion of the agreement, MS Dadu, Chairman, ColorJet Group, said, “This is indeed a momentous occasion for ColorJet Group to be a Platinum Sponsor of ITMA second time in a row. Also, considering the global digital textile printing market size which is expected to reach $7.9 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 14.8 percent from 2021 to 2030, we are sure that this partnership will help to reinforce our brand strength on the global platform and positioned ColorJet as a leading manufacturer of digital textile printers.”
Eileen commented, “As a leading manufacturer of digital textile printers, ColorJet understands the value of association with ITMA, the world’s largest international textile and garment technology exhibition. Both organisations have a common passion for the textile industry. We are delighted that they have extended their association with us for another edition.