Phi Pac has installed a DGM Smartfold Classic 1100 SL folder-gluer at its Gurugram facility, marking a new phase in the company’s transition from commercial printing toward packaging-led growth. For founder Sundeep Murada, the investment represents more than an equipment upgrade; it reflects a long-term strategy built on automation, production consistency and deeper control over the packaging value chain.

Phi Pac’s journey began in Delhi in the late 1990s, when Murada entered the printing sector through a small stationery printing business started by his father. In the early years, the company relied heavily on outsourced print jobs while building customer relationships and learning the fundamentals of offset production. Over time, it expanded from single-colour machines to multicolour presses, adding capacity as market opportunities developed.

The company’s growth was supported by demand from sectors such as telecom and banking, but like many commercial printers, Phi Pac also faced market fluctuations and pressure on margins. A key turning point came around 2017–18, when the company entered corrugated packaging through work linked to Domino’s Pizza packaging requirements. Although challenging, that experience gave Phi Pac valuable exposure to packaging manufacturing, quality expectations and production management.

For converters moving from print into packaging, automation is becoming essential to achieve scale, reduce downtime and improve repeatability.

Today, Phi Pac operates with a diversified portfolio covering commercial printing, offset work and packaging production. However, Murada sees packaging as the company’s strongest long-term growth engine because it offers scalability, product development opportunities and more sustainable business potential than service-based commercial print alone.

The DGM Smartfold Classic 1100 SL was selected to support that direction. The folder-gluer is being used for a wide range of carton applications, including four-corner cartons, six-corner cartons, lock-bottom cartons and three-ply cover jobs. These formats require reliable folding, gluing accuracy and stable running performance, especially as customers demand better quality and shorter turnaround times.

Murada said the decision to invest in new equipment was driven by the need for greater automation and confidence. Having worked with pre-owned machinery in the past, he recognised that modern folder-gluers offer significant improvements in electronics, metallurgy, controls and operational stability. For packaging converters, these advances can directly reduce downtime, improve consistency and support higher productivity.

The investment also reflects a broader shift in India’s packaging industry. Many businesses that began in commercial printing are now moving toward product-focused packaging, where value is created through structure, functionality, efficiency and problem-solving. In this environment, manual systems can limit growth, while automated equipment enables converters to scale operations and protect profitability.

• Higher consistency: automated folding and gluing improve repeatability across carton formats.
• Greater efficiency: modern equipment helps reduce downtime and support faster production.
• Future growth: packaging offers stronger scalability than margin-pressured commercial print.

Before finalising the purchase, Murada evaluated the DGM manufacturing facility in China, carried out market checks and spoke with existing users. Technical understanding, transparency and after-sales support were important factors in the decision. For a first-generation entrepreneur with a cautious approach to debt and expansion, confidence in the machine supplier and service structure was essential.

Phi Pac’s strategy is also shaped by a clear view of where packaging value is moving. Murada believes product-based packaging, particularly solutions that solve real problems in sustainability, structure or manufacturing efficiency, can offer stronger pricing power and wider market reach. This aligns with wider industry trends, where converters are expected to deliver not only printed packs, but functional, efficient and differentiated packaging systems.

The installation of the DGM Smartfold Classic 1100 SL therefore represents a practical step toward a more automated and packaging-focused future for Phi Pac. It strengthens the company’s ability to produce complex cartons, supports operational discipline and reinforces its ambition to build a future-ready packaging business through careful investment and continuous learning. Source: user-supplied article. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Image concept: a modern Gurugram packaging facility showing a DGM Smartfold folder-gluer producing lock-bottom and multi-corner cartons, with operators monitoring automated carton finishing and stacked finished packs ready for dispatch.