Star Colourpark is no studio, but will print photo albums

Star Colourpark India Pvt Ltd has graduated from a mere copier company to a digital press. The company is now gearing up to print photo albums for its customers. Its Managing Director K. Janakarajan told Business Line that the company has, with the installation of the iGen 150 digital printing machine from Xerox, tested its efficiency for handling any kind of media for taking prints.

“We have invested around Rs. 4.5 crore on this machine. Thanks to SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India); they processed our application and sanctioned the loan in just four weeks,” says Janakarajan.

The company is yet to make a formal announcement of the launch of this machine, which according to Pankaj Kalra, Head, Production Systems Group, Xerox India, is the first Xerox iGen 150 installed in the country. “We have about 15 installations of the iGen family equipment in the country, of which three are in the South. But this is the first top of the line equipment and Xerox’s flagship product,” Kalra added.

He further observed that the South Indian market has been much faster in adoption of new technology, and Xerox, as a company grew faster than the market, particularly in the digital printing space. Star Colourpark has in the meantime commenced the trial run of iGen 150 and Janakarajan is convinced that he would be able to take the company to the next higher pedestal with this machine.

Asked the need for such a sophisticated machine for a market such as Coimbatore, the State Colourpark MD said, “we will now be able to print albums and photobooks, personalise invitations and offer an entire array of services to our customers. With the existing digital printers, we are able to take 1.2 lakh prints a month. With the iGen 150, we expect to more than double our monthly print volumes. That apart, this machine is capable of handling any media,” and quickly clarified that he meant any kind of paper and not any other material.

Star Colourpark has six outlets in Coimbatore. Janakarajan indicated that he has plans to open one or two more outlets in the city. The company has established its presence in Chennai as well. “We have two branches, but operate these under a different name. I am planning to expand the company's presence in Chennai; am contemplating to have a similar machine installed there,” he added.