manroland-user meeting at Times of India

At the annual manroland User Group (MRUG) Conference, hosted and organized by Times of India in Mumbai this year, great manroland-users from all over the world came together to discuss innovations from the newspaper printing business, the future of the printing industry and new business models. 

Times of India, which is India’s largest English language daily newspaper, is a long-term partner and customer of manroland web systems as well as manroland-user by conviction. Thus, who could fit better when it comes to being the host of the annual conference that resolves to bring together all the high-class printers from all over the world, which print on top presses from manroland web systems, for having discussions and exchange? Therefore the 19th MRUG conference was held in Mumbai this year. The event took place from September 24 to 27 – well attended and organized as always. Besides interesting talks and discussions in a nice atmosphere, the visitors could also enjoy a cultural program.  

28 participants from 10 countries came together in Mumbai. After the intensive first meet and greet days and first presentations at the hotel Vivanta by Taj, the conference took place at the Times of India printing site in Airoli, Mumbai from September 26. There the guests, amongst other things, discussed about latest news from the newspaper printing business and shared their own experiences and innovations from newspaper printing, what has also been the main focus of this year`s conference. "Every year, I am highly fascinated about how openly these high-class newspaper printers share and therewith help to improve the newspaper printing business and keep it up-to-date and competitive. The MRUG Conference is a great example for cooperation and willingness for progress at the printing industry", says Peter de Rijke, Treasurer of the MRUG and Service- and Project Manager at manroland web systems.

There is one thing that all attendees of the conference have in common: the presses they print on. The newspaper presses from manroland web systems are amongst the world`s best and fastest presses at highest quality level. No matter if at XXL-design or with another configuration – whoever decides to print on a manroland web systems press is definitely part of the worldwide newspaper printer`s premier league.  According to this, the guest list of this year`s Users Conference in Mumbai showed great names – Transcontinental, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, HKM Holding Group, Paarl Media The Guardian, Infoglobo, newsprinters, Toronto Star, Smurfitt Kappa – they all showed up at Times of India, shared their knowledge and experiences and joint the active discussions. 

For two days, the attendees could listen to numerous speeches and presentations and benefit from the experiences of the other printers. The topics were very large-scaled and varied from possibilities for energy efficient companies to growth potentials for newspaper printers. The main focus was on innovations of the industry. Regarding this, an especially impressive speech was held by the host: Sanat Hazra, Director, Technical Production at Times of India, explained the latest innovations of the company as e.g. glitter ink, glued LEDs and different folding and gluing possibilities. Even vertical and horizontal perforations are possible today, what enables to print coupons to pull out. 

"What is extremely impressive to me is the systematic approach of Times of India for a step-by-step implementation of upgrades at their numerous printing sites and their consequent use for their various printed products", says Dieter Betzmeier, Executive Vice President at manroland web systems. "The host of the conference gave an excellent input with his talk and therewith perfectly completed the event." Betzmeier himself talked about innovations and possibilities for development at the printing industry from the view of a printing press manufacturer. He strongly emphasized the strategic focus at the core business, talked about new products and features at the newspaper sector, especially at the fields of automation, and explained the numerous benefits and possibilities of press.update projects. "Every year, the MRUG Conference offers a great and unique chance to get new motivations and ideas from first hand. Talking to our customers and partners helps us to adapt our product range according to the requirements and therewith strengthen our position as a market leader in web offset printing and expanding this in the future", says Betzmeier.