By Arun Rao
Surat-based Om Shanti Machinery Exim, a key player in the sublimation printing and Position textile printing market, initially purchased Grando, a Chinese brand of sublimation printers, for use in their own fabric process house. After extensive trials and refining the combination of digital textile inks and software, they became the Indian agents for Grando in 2016, particularly focusing on Surat.
A Journey of Trials and Success
“We did a lot of trials on inks and software in our fabric process house, and once we gained the confidence that all the inputs were correct, we started selling the Grando Sublimation printer in 2016. As time passed, sales of our printers increased because our customers now had access to the right software and textile inks to print their fabrics, without having to conduct trials to find the right combinations,” said Mr. Hiren Patel, Director at Om Shanti Machinery Exim, while speaking with The Textile Magazine.
The Evolution of Grando Sublimation Printers
“When we first purchased the Grando printer for our process house, it was just a two-heads printer. The Chinese company gradually increased the printheads to 3, 4, 8, 12, 20, and 24, and now, there is a machine with 32 heads, which offers a daily production capacity of around 15,000 metres per day,” Mr. Patel shared.
The company also sells Position printers under the SDF brand, another product manufactured by a Chinese company. The printer being promoted at the SITEX exhibition is the SDF Position printer.
Expanding Presence across India
Apart from Surat, which remains the company’s largest market, Om Shanti Machinery Exim has sold printers in Ahmedabad, Noida, Delhi, Ludhiana, Bhiwandi, and other cities. The company maintains offices in Ahmedabad and Noida, with resident engineers stationed at both locations. In Surat, the company addresses customer complaints within 15 minutes, thanks to the allocation of area-wise after-sales service teams. In Ahmedabad and Noida, complaints are attended to within 45 minutes.
Quality and Durability of Grando Printers
“Normally, an 8-head sublimation printer weighs around 500-600 kgs, but the same 8-head Grando printer weighs 1,100 kgs, which ensures stability and minimizes vibrations in the machine. Printers in the market typically have a printing width of 72 inches, while Grando printers offer a width of 80 inches. Additionally, these printers are equipped with Epson printheads,” explained Mr. Patel.
He further emphasized the longevity of Grando printers, stating, “Normally, all printers, whether digital or sublimation, work well for 12-18 months. However, issues typically arise after this period, and many printers are scrapped. In contrast, our Grando Sublimation printers continue to operate even after 5-6 years.”
Inks Compatibility and Customer Satisfaction
Om Shanti Machinery Exim also supplies sublimation inks and Reactive ink with its sublimation printer and position textile printers and stresses that customers purchase their inks to ensure compatibility with the printer for high-resolution prints. “The inks we sell have already been tested for compatibility with the Grando printers to deliver excellent print quality,” Mr. Patel noted. Despite being tested for optimal performance, the inks sold by Om Shanti Machinery Exim are priced at the same rate as those available in the market.
Future Plans and Growth Prospects
Looking ahead, Mr. Patel shared the company’s plans for growth, particularly in terms of expanding their printer offerings. Currently, their position printers feature 8 printheads, but Om Shanti Machinery Exim aims to offer printers with 32 heads, thereby increasing fabric printing capacity and reducing costs for their customers.