S Kumar showcases embellished labels, cartons, digital agility at CMPL

Ahmedabad-based converter S Kumar showcased its full range of embellished packaging products at CMPL 2026, including labels, cartons, swing sleeves and gifting packaging all on display. This is backed by a pan-India customer base of more than 5,000 brands.

Manish Hansoti who helms the business alongside his wife, spoke to WhatPackaging? during the show, which the company has attended for eight consecutive years.

Embellishment at the core

S Kumar's product range is built around high-decoration print and packaging, with raised effects, special effects and foiling among the key techniques on display at the stand. The company recently received an award for work in this category, underlining its credentials in premium finishing.

Production is split across two facilities: the primary plant in Ahmedabad, which houses the bulk of the printing and finishing capacity, and a smaller operation in Indore focused on gifting products. Combined monthly output stands at approximately 20 to 25-lakh square metres, supported by a mix of digital, offset and flexographic equipment along with extensive finishing lines.

Digital-first for short and medium runs

A particular point of pride for the company is its early adoption of digital printing. S Kumar claims to have been the first converter in India to install a Screen digital press, acquiring the machine in 2018. That capability has since become central to its service offering for start-ups and small-to-medium brand owners who require short and medium run jobs without lengthy setup times.

"You send us your file and we print it," Hansoti explained. "We can handle more than 80 to 100 jobs per day, and for a straightforward job the turnaround is 48 hours. The main bottleneck is finishing, that is where the time goes."

The company also carries out variable data printing, including barcodes and QR codes, and counts India Post among its clients in that segment.

Navigating market headwinds

On the broader market environment, Hansoti acknowledged that geopolitical pressures have created a degree of softness in export-facing segments, particularly among customers selling into West Asia, where demand for cosmetics and personal care products has seen roughly a 20% dip. The company is compensating by actively onboarding new clients.

"If there is a 20% increase, we absorb 10% and the customer pays 10%," Hansoti said. "It is a win-win situation, and our major customers have been cooperative."

Raw material cost increases have also required careful management. S Kumar's approach has been to share the burden equitably with its customer base, absorbing half of any cost increase internally and passing the remainder through.