NBG Printographic Machinery showcased its Starflex 450 mm flexographic printing press, designed to cater to both label and flexible packaging applications, highlighting the company’s focus on versatile technology, production efficiency and European-standard engineering.
The Starflex 450 mm is a double-servo-driven press equipped with Italian gears and European tooling. Designed to handle a wide range of substrates, the machine offers converters the flexibility to undertake both conventional label printing and demanding flexible packaging jobs. During the exhibition, NBG Printographic Machinery demonstrated premium label samples featuring cold foil and heavy embellishments to showcase the machine’s capabilities in high-value print applications.
For flexible packaging converters, the press can process substrates such as PET, BOPP and shrink films, among other commonly used materials. One of its key features is an automatic pre-registration system that enables faster registration during machine start-up, helping minimise material wastage. The machine can operate at production speeds of 120–140 metres per minute, with a maximum mechanical capability of up to 200 metres per minute.
“The Starflex 450 mm has been developed to offer converters the flexibility to handle both labels and flexible packaging on a single platform. Our objective is to combine versatility, production efficiency and consistent print quality,” said Taruna Garg of NBG Printographic Machinery.
The response to the machine at the exhibition was encouraging, with NBG Printographic Machinery reporting increased visitor footfall and more serious business enquiries compared with the previous edition. Several prospective customers showed interest in detailed technical discussions, machine trials and visits to the company’s manufacturing facility.
With approximately 37–38 years of experience in printing and converting machinery, NBG Printographic Machinery entered the flexographic printing segment around 11 years ago. The company launched its narrow-web and wide-web flexographic press ranges simultaneously and has since expanded its portfolio to cover a broad spectrum of converter requirements. Its narrow-web range includes 370 mm, 455 mm and 550 mm machines, while its wide-web portfolio extends from 1,000 mm to 1,600 mm. The company is also developing a mid-web solution of approximately 670 mm.
Another significant development has been NBG Printographic Machinery’s hybrid flexographic technology, which combines flexographic and gravure printing stations in different configurations. These presses are designed for specialised applications, particularly jobs requiring advanced coating capabilities. The company has successfully installed hybrid presses at multiple customer locations over the past two to three years.
NBG Printographic Machinery has achieved approximately 80–85 flexographic press installations during its 10–11 years in the segment. Repeat business has been an important indicator of customer confidence, with several converters investing in second and third machines. Kumar Labels, for instance, has three machines from the company, while other customers, including TJS and converters in Kolkata, have also made multiple investments.
Highlighting the importance of customer relationships, Garg said, “You can sell a customer a machine for the first time, but winning their confidence for a second or third installation is the real achievement.”
The company attributes its market positioning to a straightforward machine philosophy, consistent print quality and strong customer support. Rather than unnecessarily complicating machine design, NBG Printographic Machinery focuses on operational efficiency, reliable performance and ease of use.
“Customer service is one of our key strengths. We believe in supporting our customers not just during installation and commissioning, but throughout their journey with the machine,” Garg added.
Manufacturing quality is another key priority. NBG Printographic Machinery undertakes a significant part of its manufacturing in-house, supported by CNC machining facilities and a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) for component and frame inspections. Its assembly and service teams follow systematic checklists during machine assembly, testing and commissioning to maintain consistency and reliability.
“Our objective has always been to deliver machines with quality and performance comparable to European standards. We achieve this through in-house manufacturing, stringent quality checks and systematic testing,” Garg explained.
Looking at the Indian market, NBG Printographic Machinery sees continued growth opportunities in both labels and flexible packaging. With increasing consumption, expanding retail markets and the growing importance of product presentation, packaging demand is expected to remain on an upward trajectory.
“The Indian labels and flexible packaging industry has a positive growth outlook. As the economy expands and consumer markets evolve, packaging demand will continue to grow. Flexographic printing is here to stay,” she observed.
Going forward, NBG Printographic Machinery plans to strengthen its product portfolio while maintaining its focus on delivering the right technology at competitive prices.
“Our focus is to offer the right technology at the right price while keeping customer requirements at the centre of everything we do,” Garg concluded.
