Pakistan has a large printing industry, with many companies producing products for the local market. However, there are also a number of challenges that the industry faces. One of these challenges is access to materials and equipment. The lack of lithography presses and intaglio printing studios is a major hurdle for the country's printmakers.
Technology
Pakistan is a major producer and consumer of printed textiles. This country is a hub for high-quality, luxury fabrics that are exported to the Western world. EFI Reggiani, based in Bergamo, Italy, has been an equipment supplier to Pakistani textile manufacturers for many years. Several of the country’s leading companies use digital printing technology from Reggiani.
The company has installed three of its newest high-volume digital textile printers in the country. These EFI Reggiani BOLT single-pass printers can print complex, high-quality fabric patterns at up to 90 linear metres per minute. This equipment allows them to expand their production capacity, improving productivity and competitiveness. It also opens the door to new types of products and services they can offer.
Printing of Money
Since its inception, the offset printing of money has been an integral part of a nation's economy. Currency has evolved from the barter system of King Alyattes of Lydia in 600 BC to the current movement towards cashless economies.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is responsible for establishing the currency of Pakistan. It is also the authority responsible for issuing the country's banknotes. Initially, the rupee was pegged to the British pound. But it moved to a managed float policy in 1982, which caused a dramatic decline in the value of the currency.
To prevent counterfeiting, ever more advanced security features have been added to each of the generation's notes. These include a partially embedded window security thread that changes colours when viewed against regular and ultra-violet light.
In addition to paper-based notes, the SBP also issues gold coins occasionally. These commemorative coins have been issued for various occasions such as Mother of the Nation Fatima Jinnah's 110th Birth Anniversary, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Death anniversary and laudatory coins that pay tribute to the humanitarian services rendered by the late Dr. Abdus Sattar Edhi and the late Dr. Ruth Pfau.
Packaging
The printing industry in Pakistan produces a wide variety of products, including books, magazines, newspapers and stationery. Packaging plays a vital role in the manufacturing process, keeping products safe and fresh until they reach the customer's doorstep.
The packaging industry in Pakistan is worth around USD5.53bln (PKR897bln) in FY20, up from an estimated USD5bln (PKR750bln) in the previous year. It derives much of its demand from the food, pharmaceutical and textile industries.
Packages Limited in Lahore has taken a significant step forward with the installation of a KBA Rapida 106 sheeted offset press. This high-performance press with six inking units, coater and delivery extension provides the company with a high level of productivity.
3D Printing
3D printing, also known as stereo lithography or additive manufacturing, is a method of creating three-dimensional objects using computer-aided design (CAD). It involves layering materials, such as plastics and composites, to create objects with precise sizes, shapes, colors and rigidity.
The technology has many benefits, including a reduced cost of production and a fast process. It also avoids wasting materials, which is ideal for a variety of manufacturing applications.
Another benefit of the technology is that it can be used for rapid prototyping, which is essential for testing products before they go into production. It allows engineering and design teams to work out bugs, make changes and test new designs faster than with traditional methods, such as a wooden model or CNC machining.
The technology can be used for a range of applications, including healthcare, education and industry. It may also boost a company’s R&D Tax Credits, which can be based on the wages of technical employees involved in creating and testing 3D printed prototypes or integrating hardware and software.