Monotech Systems Limited has emerged as a powerhouse in the Indian digital printing industry, known for its diverse portfolio, strategic global partnerships, and pioneering spirit in indigenous manufacturing. From representing top-tier international brands to developing cutting-edge solutions under its own banner, the company has positioned itself as a one-stop shop for digital print and embellishment technologies. In this exclusive interview with Digital Impressions, TP Jain, Managing Director shares insights into Monotech’s journey, its innovation-driven roadmap, and how it continues to shape the future of digital print in India and beyond.

Veerendra Malik (VM): Monotech Systems has been a key player in India’s digital printing ecosystem. How would you describe the company’s journey from inception to where it stands today?

TP Jain (TPJ): Monotech Systems Limited has been at the forefront of India’s digital printing revolution, evolving from a technology solutions provider into a leading innovator, manufacturer, and strategic partner in the print and packaging industry. From its early days, the company established key alliances with global brands like Konica Minolta, Xerox, and Ricoh, which enabled the successful delivery of over 2200 digital production presses across the country, empowering print service providers with highperformance digital printing capabilities. Its current partnership with Ricoh has further strengthened Monotech Systems’ presence in the high-speed inkjet and production printing space, offering advanced solutions across commercial, transactional, and publishing segments.

Recognizing the rising demand for value-added services, Monotech Systems was one of the first to bring digital print enhancement technologies to India, introducing Scodix for premium finishes like spot UV, foiling, and embossing. In digital print finishing, the company started by aligning with established brands such as Dumor and Sysform and has since evolved to offer European-standard finishing equipment, delivering superior automation, quality, and precision to modern print operations. Demonstrating its commitment to “Make in India,” Monotech Systems has developed indigenous brands like PixelGlow for digital UV and foiling systems, JETSCI for digital label printing, embellishment presses and inkjet web press for print-on-demand book production, and Pixeljet for wideformat inkjet printing. These homegrown solutions are now gaining traction both in domestic and international markets. Today, Monotech Systems stands as a comprehensive provider of end-to-end digital printing and finishing technologies, blending global expertise with local innovation to lead the transformation of India’s print industry.

VM: How has your vision for the company evolved over the years, especially with the rapid pace of digital transformation in the print industry?

TPJ: Monotech Systems’ vision has evolved from being a channel partner for international printing technologies to becoming a forward-thinking technology creator and enabler focused on driving the next wave of digital transformation in print. In the early years, the company was primarily focused on bringing proven global technologies to India. However, as the print industry began rapidly shifting towards shorter runs, mass customization, automation, and digital workflows, Monotech Systems shifted its vision to anticipate not just current trends, but future demands. It began investing in R&D, manufacturing, and product development with a focus on local innovation with global standards. Today, Monotech Systems’ vision is not just to supply equipment, but to build ecosystems — offering integrated digital solutions across printing, finishing, enhancement, labels, packaging, and wide-format applications. The company now sees itself as a technology partner to the industry, helping customers adapt to evolving business models through smart, scalable, and sustainable solutions. This evolution reflects Monotech Systems’ commitment to stay ahead of the curve — not only reacting to change but actively shaping the future of print.

VM: Monotech represents leading global brands like Ricoh, Scodix, Mimaki, Agfa, Canon, and Plockmatic among others. How do you manage synergies between such diverse portfolios?

TPJ: Managing synergies across a diverse portfolio of global brands like Ricoh, Scodix, Mimaki, Agfa, Canon, and Plockmatic requires a clear strategic framework, deep product expertise, and a strong understanding of customer needs across different market segments. At Monotech Systems, we approach this by positioning each brand within a specific solution category, ensuring there is no overlap and that each offering complements the other. This clarity enables us to present customers with the most suitable technology based on their unique application requirements — whether it’s production printing, wide-format, industrial printing, digital enhancement, or finishing.

Our strength lies in our consultative approach, where we don’t just sell machines, but architect tailored solutions by combining hardware, software, and finishing systems across brands. Internally, our teams are organized into verticals aligned with each product line, supported by specialized pre-sales, application, and service teams who are trained directly by our international partners. This allows us to maintain technical excellence while delivering a seamless experience to the customer. Ultimately, our ability to create synergy lies in our deep domain knowledge, solution-oriented mindset, and a customer-first philosophy that ensures every brand in our portfolio plays a distinct and value-adding role in the broader ecosystem we offer.

“By continuously investing in research and leveraging our in-house development capabilities, we were able to build tailored solutions that addressed the unique needs of Indian printers, making our products not just competitive but highly relevant to the local market”

VM: What criteria do you follow while choosing international brands to represent in India’s competitive print market?

TPJ: At Monotech Systems, selecting international brands to represent in India is a highly strategic process guided by a clear set of criteria aligned with our long-term vision of delivering innovative, reliable, and future-ready solutions to the Indian print industry. First and foremost, we look for technological leadership — brands that are globally recognized for innovation, performance, and quality. We evaluate whether the brand’s products bring differentiation to the market, offering solutions that fill gaps or create new opportunities for Indian print businesses. Another key factor is market relevance — we assess if the brand’s offerings align with current and emerging demands in segments such as commercial print, packaging, labels, wide-format, or digital embellishment. We also consider the brand’s commitment to collaboration, including their willingness to support localization, training, service infrastructure, and long-term partnership.

Compatibility with our existing portfolio is critical; we ensure the brand complements rather than competes with our current offerings, enabling us to build integrated, end-to-end solutions for customers. Finally, we look at the scalability and sustainability of the relationship — ensuring we can grow together in a dynamic and evolving market. This careful evaluation process has helped us build a portfolio of world-class brands that not only lead globally but succeed locally under the Monotech Systems’umbrella.

VM: Monotech is one of the few Indian manufacturers of inkjet printing systems. What was the inspiration and turning point when you realized that Monotech could play a much larger role beyond distribution and enter into manufacturing as well?

TPJ: CThe decision for Monotech Systems to move from being a distributor of world-class printing technologies to becoming a manufacturer of inkjet printing systems was driven by a combination of market insights, customer demands, and our vision for the future of the print industry. Early on, we recognized that India’s rapidly evolving print market was increasingly leaning towards short-run, high-quality digital print solutions, and there was a gap in the availability of affordable, locally manufactured inkjet systems that could address this growing demand.

While we were successfully distributing international brands, we saw an opportunity to bring innovation closer to home by developing indigenous solutions that were not only costcompetitive but also tailored to the unique needs of the Indian market. The turning point came when we realized that manufacturing in India could help us control quality, reduce lead times, and offer more flexible pricing models to our customers, thus enhancing their competitive edge. We were also motivated by the success we had seen with our other inhouse brands, such as PixelGlow and JETSCI, which were already gaining traction for their superior value proposition. With the increasing shift toward digitization, automation, and customization in print, we saw an opportunity to create next-generation inkjet systems that could deliver world-class performance, but at a price point suited to the needs of Indian printers. This strategic move allowed us to combine local manufacturing advantages with global standards, and it enabled Monotech Systems to play a much larger role in shaping the future of India’s digital print ecosystem. Ultimately, the inspiration came from our commitment to being not just a distributor, but a true enabler of digital transformation in the Indian printing industry. We believed that by entering the manufacturing space, we could offer printers more than just equipment — we could provide them with solutions that are innovative, accessible, and tailored to local market dynamics. .

VM: What are the major challenges you faced in manufacturing high-performance inkjet and enhancement presses in India — and how did you overcome them?

TPJ: Manufacturing high-performance inkjet and enhancement presses in India posed several challenges, primarily related to technological complexity, supply chain logistics, and market readiness. One of the first challenges we encountered was the lack of local expertise and infrastructure to build such advanced, high-precision machines. Inkjet technology requires specialized components, high-level engineering, and stringent quality controls, all of which were not readily available in the Indian manufacturing ecosystem. To overcome this, we invested heavily in upskilling our engineering teams, partnered with global experts for R&D support, and built strong relationships with quality component suppliers, both locally and internationally. This allowed us to enhance our capabilities and ensure that the products met global standards of performance and reliability.

Another challenge was ensuring cost-effectiveness while maintaining the high performance required in the digital press market. Inkjet and enhancement presses are highly specialized systems that demand advanced manufacturing processes. Initially, sourcing high-quality components from global suppliers and ensuring competitive pricing was a hurdle. To address this, we focused on localizing production wherever possible, which helped reduce costs while also improving our supply chain efficiency. Additionally, by manufacturing in India, we gained more control over lead times and could quickly respond to market demand, offering more flexible pricing models for Indian customers.

We also faced the challenge of convincing the market to embrace locally manufactured, high-performance technology. The Indian print industry, while rapidly evolving, had a strong bias toward established international brands. To overcome this, we focused on building trust through performance — ensuring that our machines delivered outstanding print quality, reliability, and after-sales service. We also invested in creating demo centers and providing hands-on training to customers, allowing them to experience the performance of our machines firsthand before making a purchase decision. Finally, innovation and R&D played a pivotal role in overcoming challenges. By continuously investing in research and leveraging our in-house development capabilities, we were able to build tailored solutions that addressed the unique needs of Indian printers, making our products not just competitive but highly relevant to the local market. In summary, while there were several challenges in manufacturing high-performance inkjet and enhancement presses in India, our focus on engineering excellence, localized production, and customer-centric solutions allowed us to overcome these obstacles and position Monotech Systems as a leader in the field of indigenous digital printing solutions.

VM: How does Monotech ensure consistency and quality while manufacturing hightech digital printing equipment in India?

TPJ: At Monotech Systems, ensuring consistency and quality in the manufacturing of hightech digital printing equipment is a priority that shapes every step of our production process. To achieve this, we implement world-class manufacturing standards that focus on precision, reliability, and innovation. The backbone of our quality assurance begins with rigorous design and engineering processes. Our R&D teams collaborate closely with global experts to ensure that the technology we develop is both cutting-edge and adaptable to the needs of the Indian market. We incorporate the latest in automation and robotics into our production lines, ensuring consistent results in the assembly of complex components and systems. We place a strong emphasis on quality control at every stage of production. From sourcing raw materials and components to the final assembly of our digital presses, we adhere to strict quality guidelines to ensure the performance, durability, and longevity of each machine. Our manufacturing facility is equipped with advanced calibration tools and ISO-certified processes that monitor every detail, from print quality to machine durability.

To further guarantee the highest standards, we maintain an extensive testing protocol where each unit undergoes a series of real-world stress tests, validating its performance under various conditions. This ensures that all systems, whether they are inkjet printers, digital enhancement presses, or finishing systems, meet the highest benchmarks for speed, resolution, and reliability. The skilled workforce is another pillar of our quality control. We invest heavily in training and development, ensuring our engineers and technicians are always up to date with the latest industry trends and best practices. This ensures that the teams responsible for manufacturing and assembling our equipment have the expertise needed to maintain the highest standards. Finally, customer feedback plays a crucial role in maintaining our product quality. We actively engage with our clients to understand their evolving needs and challenges, which allows us to continuously refine and improve our manufacturing processes. By incorporating this valuable input, we ensure our products stay relevant, reliable, and at the forefront of the digital print industry.
.
VM: India is a highly diverse market in terms of print demand. How do you tailor your marketing and support strategies to suit various regions and customer profiles?

TPJ: Monotech Systems tailors its marketing and support strategies to India’s diverse print market by focusing on regional needs and industry-specific demands. Marketing activities are localized with multilingual campaigns and region-specific promotions to connect with varied customer profiles. The company uses a mix of digital channels for metro cities and traditional methods like print ads and trade shows for semi-urban and rural markets. Monotech Systems also works closely with local distributors and partners to ensure relevant product offerings. Their strong network of regional service teams provides timely technical support and training, while pricing and service packages are customized based on regional economic conditions. This localized, customer-focused approach enables Monotech Systems to effectively serve the diverse printing needs across India.

VM: What’s next for Monotech Systems? Are there any upcoming launches or technologies you’re excited to introduce to the Indian or global market?

TPJ: Yes, absolutely. We have several exciting innovations in the pipeline. We’re actively focusing on advancements in print-on-demand, which continues to transform the printing landscape with greater efficiency and customization. Additionally, we’re developing solutions in highspeed digital embellishment, bringing new levels of quality and creativity to packaging and commercial print.

Another area we’re particularly enthusiastic about is digital label printing, where we’re working on systems offering significantly higher resolutions, catering to the growing demand for premium, short-run label production. These technologies are designed not just for the Indian market but are also aimed at global adoption, aligning with the evolving needs of the printing industry worldwide.

Stay tuned—there’s a lot more innovation to come.

“Monotech Systems’ vision is not just to supply equipment, but to build ecosystems — offering integrated digital solutions across printing, finishing, enhancement, labels, packaging, and wideformat applications”

VM: Where do you see Monotech Systems in the next five years, especially in the context of digital printing, embellishment, and the growing ‘Make in India’ ecosystem?

TPJ: In the next five years, Monotech Systems envisions itself as a leading force in driving innovation and growth in the Indian print industry, particularly in digital printing, embellishment, and the expanding ‘Make in India’ initiative. With increasing demand for short-run, personalized, and high-value print applications, Monotech Systems aims to strengthen its digital printing portfolio by introducing advanced, cost-effective solutions tailored for Indian businesses. The company also sees significant potential in embellishment technologies, focusing on adding value through features like foiling, spot UV, and textured effects that cater to premium packaging, labels, and commercial printing segments. Aligned with the ‘Make in India’ vision, Monotech Systems is committed to increasing its focus on indigenous manufacturing and technology development. By enhancing in-house R&D capabilities and expanding local production of high-performance printing equipment, the company aims to reduce dependency on imports and provide more accessible solutions to the domestic market. Over the next five years, Monotech Systems plans to not only lead in technology innovation but also play a key role in building a self-reliant print ecosystem that supports Indian manufacturers, printers, and entrepreneurs across the country.

Back to News