HBD Packaging, a family-run business founded in 1985, is a provider of innovative and quality printed packaging materials. At its purpose-built factory in Greater Noida, HBD Packaging is using the latest technology in prepress, printing, post-press, and packaging conversion.

Machinery such as the DGM SmartFold 1100, Eterna Elite Die cutter, Shanhe high-speed Flute has been added in the past several years to complement its extensive battery of multicolor offset presses. Another multicolor press, a 7-color coater RMGT using UV LED for interdeck curing, is on order and likely to be installed in March.

Rajiv and Niraj Bhargava started HBD packaging in 1985. Earlier they worked with Konark Printing and Packagings owned by the firm of Vishnu Kumar and Brothers. HBD’s current operations include a range of packaging processes for producing monocartons, litho-laminated cartons, leaflets, and three-ply cartons for FMCG brands and products such as Paper Boat and cartons for food, pharmaceuticals, toothpaste, and mosquito repellents.

In a recent conversation, Rajiv Bhargava, MD at HBD Packaging said, “The FMCG and pharma industries are growing rapidly, and Paper Boat is one of our prominent customers. They have a lot of potential upside because of their recyclable packaging. Even the trim waste that comes out of their packaging goes to the paper mill for recycling.

“We hardly work with plastic, except for lamination films but the paper mills can recycle that also by separating the paper and plastic film. Our processes involve printing, converting, coating, foiling, dye punching, embossing, and folder gluing and all of these operations are conducted in-house.”

Bhargava explains that funds, space and manpower constraints are among the major challenges of the packaging industry. He says that the pandemic made a few things clear to all the industry segments – that uncertainty and changing needs and preferences are the greatest challenges. These are a constant in the market, with the only solution being market-centric automation.

“In the past two years, HBD Packaging witnessed quite a number of quitters among its rolls – the delusion that higher pay is equivalent to growth prevents the development of highly skilled and committed individuals. For young employees, especially, the line between learn and earn is a blur. We faced severe challenges due to labor shortage, but patience and perseverance kept us going – resulting in over 30% growth post-Covid,” Bhargav adds.

Speaking from his experience in the industry regarding some of the common problems, he says, “The financial constraints can be really bothersome. At times, during the purchase of bulk raw material or new machinery, one doesn’t have the budget sorted out. However, if the dealers on the other end say that they don’t mind delayed payments because of their trust in us – it becomes a badge of honor. The amount of trust that we receive and the word-of-mouth confidence among our customers and suppliers are what we’ve actually earned over the years.”