PUBLISHING NEWSPAPERS
Rajesh Ghorpade and Pradeep Shirale , directors at Sigmarq Technologies at Printpack 2019 . Photo Sigmarq
Robust recovery in newspapers yet to reach pre-pandemic levels
Sigmarq ’ s web offset business bounces back in 20212022
Kolhapur-based web offset press manufacturer Sigmarq Technologies has seen a robust recovery in business from the lows of the 2020-21 financial year . However , the supply of presses to the newspaper and book printing industry is still to reach the pre-pandemic levels .
“
Our
SHARDUL SHARMA
business in the 2021- 2022 fiscal year has recovered from the pandemic hit 2020-2021 financial year . In terms of inquiries as well as orders , there has been a strong bounce back . We were closed for four months in 2020-2021 . And although we producing towers and press lines , we are yet to reach the pre-pandemic levels . We are at about 60 % of the pre-Covid levels and hope to go back to pre-pandemic levels of production in the next fiscal year ,” says Rajesh Ghorpade , one of Sigrmarq ’ s directors .
Situated in the Five Star MIDC estate , about a 30-minutes drive from the city of Kolhapur , Sigmarq is now well established in the web offset industry . Managed by two industry veterans , Rajesh Ghorpade and Pradeep Shirale , the company now supplies single-width single circumference web offset presses to some of the well-known names in the newspaper and book printing industry .
The company started manufacturing autopasters in 2011 when not many Indian companies were in that line of business . Sigmarq achieved success with its autopasters and progressed to making towers and folders in 2012 . In 2014 , it launched its Crusader brand of 4-Hi towers .
The company ’ s first 4-Hi tower was supplied to the Dainik Jagran newspaper group in North India which has remained one of its most consistent customers . Some of its other daily newspaper customers include Eenadu , Gujarat Mitra , Malayala Manorama , and Daily Thanthi .
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Indian Printer & Publisher | 1 March 2022