Assam Packaging Industry bets on Kodak CTP to raise the bar for print quality in Upper Assam

Tinsukia-based printer, with over two decades of growth behind it, enters organised mono carton manufacturing and upgrades prepress with Kodak technology, marking a significant step forward for print and packaging in the North-East.

The Assam Packaging Industry, based in Tinsukia, Upper Assam, has commissioned the Kodak CTP system at its production facility a move that underlines the company’s continued push towards quality output and prepress efficiency. Alongside this, the company has launched Assam Packaging Industry, described as one of the first organised mono carton manufacturing units in the Upper Assam region.

The Kodak CTP installation was commissioned by Insight, and the company reports a marked improvement in dot quality, output consistency, and workflow speed. Production is currently running between 175 and 210 LPI for commercial applications including magazines, calendars, book covers, and promotional print jobs, using Kodak Sonora Plates.

Rajarshi Gogoi, Managing Partner, The Assam Packaging Industry, said “In this industry, service support matters as much as technology. You can buy a machine from anywhere, but proper technical guidance and after-sales support make the real difference over time.”

The company traces its roots to 1978, when Late Hemo Kumar Gogoi — a Printing Technology graduate from Jadavpur University and former Production In-Charge at The Statesman in Kolkata — established Assam Paper Industry at Borguri Industrial Estate. The enterprise ran until financial pressures led to its closure in 1997.

In 2001, a 19-year-old Rajarshi Gogoi revived operations from the same premises, without external investment or an established workforce. That decision, over 25 years, has shaped Assam Packaging Industry into one of the more recognised printing operations in Upper Assam.

Today, the company operates two production facilities totalling approximately 23,000 sq ft and employs close to 65 permanent staff, with additional headcount during peak production periods when multi-shift operations are the norm.

The launch of Assam Packaging Industry in 2025 represents the company’s most significant diversification to date. The unit caters to packaging requirements across tea, spices, garments, sweets, jewellery, food products, and customised applications — segments that are seeing sustained demand growth across the North-East.

The existing production floor runs offset presses and alongside CTCP systems, UV coating, lamination, die-cutting, programmable cutting systems, and Adobe design software. The Kodak CTP is the latest addition to this stack.

Assam Packaging Industry has also received the ZED Bronze certification from the Ministry of MSME, Government of India — a recognition that validates the unit’s commitment to Zero Defect Zero Effect manufacturing principles. The certification, awarded following an internal audit by MSME, Gov., New Delhi, underlines the company’s focus on high productivity, waste reduction, and a safe working environment that meets government-defined quality and safety benchmarks.

Prior to finalising the Kodak investment, the company evaluated multiple options, with discussions centred on dot quality, workflow efficiency, LPI output, and production consistency. Insight Print Communications, the technology partner, managed the installation and technical commissioning.

Technical support during the installation and operator training was provided by the North-East support team, enabling a smooth transition without significant operational disruption.

Gogoi noted the outcome, “The photo reproduction quality is much sharper now, especially in detailed image areas. Even our workflow has become smoother and faster. Earlier, certain things took more time to manage. Now the overall process feels more controlled.”

With improved print quality and output consistency, The Assam Packaging Industry is reporting stronger enquiries not only within Assam but from neighbouring markets including Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

Gogoi summarised the company’s outlook, “Printing is in our blood. We have grown up around it. For us, this work is personal.”