Few tips to bring change in the screen printing industry

Here are some ‘New Year Resolutions’. I am sure the industry will see “A BIG CHANGE” if these ‘Resolutions’ are followed.

Here we go…
1. Adopt automation to improve productivity.
2. Pay attention towards value addition whether its graphics or garments because that’s where the profit lies.
3. Screen is the heart of printing, so do not compromise on screen making equipment, emulsions, mesh & chemicals.
4. Use only polyurethane squeegee rubbers and sharpen the edge regularly to decrease ink consumption.
5. Maximise the use of UV Inks where ever possible (for graphics, industrial and commercial screen printers).
6. Maximise the use of Water Based Inks, PVC FREE – Phthalate Free Plastisol Inks (for garment screen printers)
7. Use only Yellow Polyester Mesh of high quality.
8. For halftone screen printing use dual-cure photopolymers emulsions and for better sharpness and quick exposure use SBQ photopolymer emulsions.
9. STOP wooden frames and use only aluminium frames
10. Work towards standardisation.
11. Pay attention to avoid. rejections and reduce wastage
12. Spend money for education and training.
13. Visit all printing related exhibitions to keep pace with the latest trends & technology.
14. Have concern for environment, safety, energy savings and other cost saving measures.

My message to screen printers who are into job work:
* Pay more attention towards quality and productivity and do not buy cheaper and substandard raw materials, because today labour, electricity and overheads are more expensive than those cheaper raw materials. Purchase raw materials and develop vendors/supplier who can provide better service and knowledge.

My message to all garment manufacturers who are having in-house printing unit:
* Use only high quality inks and forget ink cost, because the ratio of ink cost is very negligible considering the entire production cost of garment, even if you buy the most expensive ink. Because print sells…

Remember, to bring change in the industry, we need to change.

Bhargav

Last chance to register for Print Summit 2012 – DO NOT MISS

Hi Everyone,

Progress in business cannot be achieved overnight and it also cannot be achieved only by investing in new technology, visiting exhibitions, attending technical seminars etc.

To progress in business its equally important to learn from India’s most successful entrepreneurs of printing industry, how they built their multi million empire from scratch.

Here is rare chance to meet and listen to many such successful printers.

Also get a chance to meet large print buyers from corporate sectors who will explain what are the current trends and requirements in Printing & Packaging to meet the global challenges.

Even its important to know from them what they expect from you as a print supplier.

YOU CANNOT MISS THIS PRINT SUMMIT 2012 which is a rare opportunity no matter how big or small printer you are.

Bhargav

Interview with Michel Caza by FESPA on Screen Printing Technology & Future of Printing Industry

Hi Friends,

Its my pleasure to share a video interview of my Guru Michel Caza prepared by FESPA (www.fespa.com).

In this video he speaks about Screen Printing Technology, UV Special Effects Screen Printing & Future of Printing Industry in general.

I am sure this video would be of great use to you guys.

I hope you will like it.

Have a creative year ahead.

Bhargav

Thanks BMPA for recognising DMI’s efforts and success in screen printing education

Thank you BMPA for recognising DMI’s “efforts” and “success” in screen printing education

At the recent High Point 2011, an annual function of Bombay Master Printers’ Association (BMPA) held on September 30, 2011, I was taken by surprise when I was called on the stage to receive a trophy on behalf of DMI for its “efforts and success” in screen printing education and training.

As the invite sent to me had clearly stated that at this function BMPA would felicitate my friend Dr. Rajendrakumar Anayath, for being honored with this year’s ‘Education Award of Excellence’ from Printing Industries of America (PIA). By receiving this honor in US he has not only made India proud but proved that nothing is impossible if you have the will and courage. This man is not only dedicated and devoted but also gifted to our printing industry. If you ever get chance to listen to his lectures or talks do not miss I am sure you will be highly inspired by him…

I felt greatly honored when this award was presented to me from this legend (Dr. Rajendrakumar Anayath) who is not only my close friend but also a well wisher of DMI.

I remember well that day when I called him up with the request to inaugurate DMI in 2006, he willingly accepted my invitation without any excuses. Since then I have been more closely associated with him and on several occasions we shared same stage at various industry forums.

When he was at Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), as head of the Printing Technology Department, he had invited me to make presentation on advanced screen printing technology which was great honor and I willing accepted and we had a great time in Manipal together for couple of days.

Whenever he visits any printing exhibition he makes it a point to visit my stall and he always spends time to see DMI’s creative print finishing samples. That’s because he is an intelligent academician who knows the importance of each and every printing process. I very well remember what he said after visiting our stall at Print Pack 2011 in New Delhi: “Bhargav, screen printing today is not what it was 6-7 years ago. With the kind of experiments that you are making at your DMI, it appears to me that it has emerged as a printing process to be reckoned with.”

I think this award is also a tribute to my father, late Shri Dhirubhai Mistry, the founder of Grafica group of companies. As a genius in printing technology, he himself was a student of Sir JJ Schools of Applied Arts, Mumbai. It was his vision to set up an institute like DMI to provide full fledged education and training to students in screen printing and make them finest screen printing technologists rather than machine operators. Grafica took up the initiative to make his dream a reality and I will continue with his mission.

Have a nice weekend…

Bhargav

Back in action after FESPA AMERICAS rich experience

FIRST MY PRAYER & TRIBUTE TO PEOPLE OF JAPAN

Before I begin to pen down my all recent news, I submit my sincere prayer: may GOD bless the people of Japan with peace and lot of inner powers to face the toughest challenges arising out of the recent earthquake and tsunami, its after effects including the nuclear crisis.

I personally like Japan and the Japanese technology; I respect their hardwork and dedication which they have put not only into electronics but also automobiles, engineering and other areas. They have given the world many fantastic innovations that cannot be ignored. Their ability to bounce back from the aftermath of the World War II is a great lesson to be learnt by rest of the world. And I am sure they would equally bounce back from the current crisis too.

I had worked with many Japanese in the past when I joined my father’s business in 1989. At that time we used to manufacture Printed Circuit Boards and our company Grafica Display used to cater to many of the giant electronic companies in India having collaboration with renowned Japanese organizations. So my experience with them was really amazing. I have learnt a lot from them, their system of working, management, production and quality systems, how to achieve production efficiency etc. etc… (Photos of my training in Japan)

Once again I strongly pray to GOD to give them great support and courage to face such devastating tragedy.

OVER TO FESPA AMERICAS:

Now let me share my rich experience at FESPA AMERICAS event in Orlando, USA.

First of all, I sincerely thank FESPA and their team for giving me such a great honor by inviting to conduct a joint workshop with great masters.

It was a valiant effort by FESPA for experimenting and bringing such great idiosyncratic talents together under one roof. It was great fun and a rare experience working with such veterans of our industry.

Michel and I were suppose to teach process color and graphics screen printing but what I realized from this show that Print Finishing for value addition has a HUGE, HUGE scope in the US market. Screen printers in the US have great potential in this segment and need to explore the idea of print finishing which I am teaching in DMI since last three years. Thousands of screen printers have already benefitted by learning print finishing from DMI Workshops FREE OF COST…

Michel looked very energetic throughout the show as always, Charlie and Scott were great together and my new friend Ad Versteeg was also great human and knowledgable in art screen printing.

Overall the show was mix of all printing technologies, screen, digital, textile and few stands selling offset machines and stuffs.

Also, I had a great time with friend Mike Young who came with few of his industry friends and colleagues, Ron Hayden, David ECKL, Jon Andresen. We had great time and delicious dinners together.

After the FESPA AMERICAS at Orlando, Mike Young was kind enough to take me in an around New York city and we had some fun moments together.

With me Hanish Mehta and Shashank Khedekar were also there to support me throughout the show while I was busy at the workshop.

I was highly enthused when I saw our NPL system running perfectly during the live workshop. The best part, it was appreciated by all visitors who saw our super creation.

The overwhelming response towards NANO-PRINT, NANO-SCREEN MAKER 5-in-1, NANO-UV and NANO-SHARPENER give clear indication that Grafica will definitely mark success in the US market soon.

It made me feel proud and the day is not far when NANO-PRINT, NANO-PRINT plus and complete NPL package will be part of success story of many screen printers in US.

With this remarkable achievement by our company, I am highly glad to announce that from next month onwards Grafica will have full fledged operation to cater the American market with efficient sales team and highly qualified service engineers to offer prompt technical support.

DMI Workshop starting tomorrow:

It will be very busy week for me because less time and more task to complete in a short span of time. This time I am expecting 45 to 50 participants mainly from outside Mumbai. That’s because of huge gap within two workshop dates due to FESPA AMERICAS.

During the workshop, for the first time, I would be demonstrating semi automatic multi color screen printing by lining up 4 Nano-Print with inline Nano-UV. I am sure participants will gain new insights how to improve production capacity with minimum investment thus maintaining high quality standards.

On second day I would demonstrate creatives and new ideas in wedding cards and packaging through screen printing. Some of these jobs will be executed on Grafica’s new Nano-Print plus and Nano-Print.

On third day as usual I would be demonstrating practical on heat transfer screen printing both tagless neck labels and garment printing.

Dubai Exhibition:

I was also informed by my team that our Dubai exhibition is going great guns and they managed to book more than a dozen of NPL package and couple of Cylinder Presses. Grafica is creating a storm in the desert that’s because this is our  3rd exhibition in Dubai within one year. WOW that’s great news to keep me energetic.

Garknit-X Kolkata

My has company created a great interest among West Bengal’s offset printing community at the recently concluded Garknit-X Kolkata, an exhibition focussed on apparel, knitting, leather and jute technology fabric and accessories.

Garknit-X Kolkata was held from 25 – 27, February 2011 at Science City. Although it was a garment, textile and jute industry event, in order to take full advantage of the exhibition, we had invited several printers from offset and non-textile segment. We had also displayed a set of creative print finishing samples with a variety of special effects produced by DMI students which stirred the creative minds of many offset printers.

They were lucky to see live demo of Grafica’s NPL and NPL plus series of screen printing machine and equipment for the first time in Kolkata.

And finally, kudos to DMI students:

In a fitting tribute to the successive achievements at ASPT, Screenprinting & Graphics Association of India (SGAI) in association with Screen Print India felicitated DMI students at their Awards felicitation program in Mumbai on 2nd March 2010. The awards were present by Al Guercio, President, Ulano Corporation, USA.

Being in FESPA AMERICAS I really missed the opportunity to see my students being felicitated. They were also honoured for their achievements in the ASPT 2010 students’ competition.

My company’s new office in Mumbai:

Before my official announcement, I am delighted to inform you that GRAFICA FLEXTRONICA is beginning its new office in Mumbai very close to the domestic airport and international airport. Our office will be fully functional by 21st of March 2011.

So from 21st onwards all the marketing, sales and accounts related matters will be handled from our new Mumbai office.

Customers can now come down to our Mumbai office instead of going all the way to directly factory. For customers who want to visit our factory for demo, trials and inspection of our machines, special arrangements have been made to reach our factory.

We shall intimate you soon with full contact details of our new office once the telephones lines are hooked up.

To all my respected customers, friends and industry colleagues, this is my personal invitation to visit our new office anytime and shower your good wishes. To have a cup of tea or coffee together will also be a great fun.

So, from 21st March 2011 see you in at our new Vile Parle office in Mumbai.

Join DMI’s FaceBook:

Welcome onboard DMI’s facebook for educationally like minded screen printing professionals. Its very simple to join DMI FaceBook network you need to just clicking on “I LIKE” button and you are connect with me and my DMI’s network.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

The purpose to involve with DMI’s FaceBook Network is to know various development in the industry, exchange ideas, share your thoughts with like minded printers, give advise and tips from the industry gurus and experts associated with DMI’s FaceBook Network. This is a platform specially created to exchange knowledge on advanced screen  printing process and technology.

Till then have a nice and a profitable week.

Bhargav

 

 

 

Finally five global screen masters all set to shower knowledge at FESPA AMERICAS in Orlando

All set to fly to Orlando, USA within next few hours to join the elite club of 5 Global Screen Masters who are going to conduct exhaustive 3-day workshops on advanced screen printing during the FESPA AMERICAS on 24, 25 and 26th February 2011. CLICK HERE FOR WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

My brand new screen printing package now popularly called as Nano Premier League (NPL) has already reached Orlando for the workshop. A set of DMI’s creative samples has also been sent along with NPL to promote my print finishing concept for value addition through screen printing.

‘Orlando’ is synonymous with the famous Walt Disney World or Disney World, the world’s largest and most-visited recreational resort. If this world famous resort was inspired by the dreams of Walt Disney, then FESPA AMERICAS I would say, is inspired by the think tanks of FESPA Board to fulfill the aspirations of American Screen Printers. And I would look forward to conduct this workshop which I hope would bring fun to every attendee as much as the Disney World.

So, please stay tuned to my blog for daily update with photographs which I shall upload on day to day basis after the workshop. Because this is going to be one of the first of its kind creative live workshop on advanced screen printing organised by FESPA.

GULF PRINT PACK 2011, Dubai – 14 to 17 March 2011

WoW! This would be our second appearance in an international exhibition within 45 days. Recently we had successfully exhibited wide range of screen printing machines and allied equipment in the 14th Annual Sign and Graphic Imaging Middle East exhibition at Dubai Airport Expo.

Now once again my team is busy in preparing for the International exhibition on Printing & Packaging Industry to be held at Dubai Airport Expo from 14-17 March 2011. This would be our third exhibition within one year in Dubai.

This time we are demonstrating 30″ x 40″ Cylinder Press with inline UV with all new improved features like sticky roller for dust removal and antistatic system along with NPL package.

Gulf Print & Pack focuses on the latest innovations in printing machinery, substrates and other solutions that will allow the screen printing business to grow in many folds.

Garknit-X, Kolkata – 25 to 27 February 2011

And now we have this GarKnit-X in Kolkata next week which is an international trade show on apparel, knitting, leather and jute technology fabric & accessories, to be held at Science City from February 25 – 27, 2011. We will be displaying our complete NPL package for the first time in eastern region all with new and improved features besides array of DMI’s creative samples all 100% screen printed.

Nano-Print plus production commenced…

The production of our new innovation “Nano-Print plus” is now in full swing. There is a surprise to all those who have booked for this machine earlier. Nano-Print plus has been redesigned after meticulous R&D by our engineering team to offer bigger print area 22” x 28” instead of 18″ x 24″ print area with no additional cost.

By the way we have also started to offer NPL plus package. Download PDF for more details about attractive discounts offered on NPL plus

What’s new to see in next DMI Workshop:

NEW Series of Packaging design and innovation through screen printing with special effect.

I will also be showing my new concept – Nano Print semi automatic multi color line using 100 LPI halftone dots.

The reason to show this innovative concept in my workshop from now onwards is to educate how to reduce manpower and supervision cost and how to increases productivity. This is something I believe never done before in the screen printing industry with semi automatic machines.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE IN DETAILS ABOUT MY NEW CONCEPT

So folks finally have a nice weekend and don’t forget to see my FESPA AMERICAS workshop blog and photos daily from 24th onwards.

Thank you an good bye for now…

Bhargav

Eureka! Grafica’s NANO-PRINT – Semi Automatic Multi Color Line

This week I had to produce a process color samples for my forthcoming FESPA AMERICA workshop in Orlando. So with the intention of proofing the job faster I experiment by lining up FOUR NANO-PRINT’s with FOUR NANO-UV inline at my DMI’s training centre and screen printed the job instantly like a multi color screen printing line. It was amazing experience.

Usually printing single color one at a time you cannot judge the final result until the last color is screen printed but with this concept you can instantly see the final output of the printed image and if required you can set the densities of a particular color or tweak the machine settings to get the final print as the proof. This is really a time and money saving factor which one should start considering as a future investment.

This concept also requires less manpower thus reduces supervision cost and increases your production at a rapid speed. This is something I believe never done before in the screen printing industry with semi automatic machines.

The simple plan has turned out to be a great concept which I feel would be a next leap in the screen printing industry.

This is yet another revolution I am looking forward to happen with low investment and get faster job turn around with this New Concept Grafica’s “NANO-PRINT semi automatic multi color line”.

Watch out  video of this concept live in action…

Meet the five global gurus at Screen Masters Workshop at FESPA AMERICAS, Orlando

When I received an email from Frazer Chesterman, Managing Director of FESPA:

“Hi Bhargav, I am running a Workshop in America at our new show – FESPA Americas. It will be an on the floor event for US students of Screen.

I am interested in you being part of the Screen Masters concept.

It would be Michel Caza master for Graphics

Charlie Taulieb and Scott Fresener for T-shirts and Textile

Ad Versteeg for Art

And you for special effects”

I was thrilled, excited and my immediate response to his email was ‘yes’ with lot of enthusiasm to join the four global gurus and expert in their respective field. Now I will be the fifth global guru to demonstrate my expertise in special effect screen printing jointly with Michel Caza in graphics process color screen printing.

I, Scott, Charlie, Ad and Michel were very excited to be the part of Screen Master Workshop organized in this giant show FESPA AMERICAS in Orlando, USA.

Below is what Michel Caza commented to Frazer when he heard about this unique concept for the first time.

Dear Frazer,

“I love the idea of workshop. We could manage something both for screen high tech in graphic screen (very fine line halftone screen printing), share between Bhargav who is the best teacher in the world (see the giant success of DMI in India) and me. We are used to work together.

In textile, may be my new technology in water based UV printing on garment combined with Charlie’s special effects.”

With Michel Caza this would be my second workshop experience after the FESPA 2010 Munich show.

So, I was invited by FESPA as one of the FIVE Global Screen Masters to conduct live workshops on advanced screen printing process and special effect in print finishing at their forthcoming FESPA AMERICAS Workshop.

The other four “Screen Masters” or the international screen printing experts are:

SGIA Parmele Award winners, Michel Caza, France and Scott Fresener, USA.

Charlie Taublieb, Taublieb Consulting USA.

Ad Versteeg, Secretary of Het Zeefdruk Instituut, Netherlands.

FESPA AMERICAS is an international exhibition-cum-conference to be held from February 24-26, 2011 at Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, USA. This is FESPA’s first ever Screen Masters Workshop.

Hosted daily by five screen industry gurus, participants will benefit from our collective expertise. Michel Caza and I would reveal the Secrets of Great Graphics Printing and special effects, print finishing for value addition. A large number of visitors are expected to gain lot of tips and innovative ideas from all of us.

Joining the elite club of Global Screen Printers at FESPA AMERICAS is not only a great honor to me, my company Grafica and my institute DMI but also to my beloved country.

When it comes to the scope and opportunities in screen printing many experts from all over world generally speak about Industrial screen printing, textile, graphics, decals etc. but screen printing has huge demand in print finishing for value addition not only in offset prints and packaging products but also in many other segments. I was told that printers in USA have not identified the power and secrets of screen printing in print finishing the way I am exploring and promoting it in India through my institute DMI.

In a way, FESPA AMERICAS workshop is a pioneering step intended to provide the passionate community of screen printers with an exclusive opportunity to gain practical tips and expert advice on how to achieve phenomenal print results from the five global Screen Masters.

The Five Global Screen Masters are being invited to deliver a blend of hands-on training and technical presentations, focused around garment decoration, fine arts, signs and graphics, print finishing and special effect.

To make this concept a success I will be leaving next week to Orlando for FESPA AMERICAS show along with my team and Grafica’s NANO PREMIER LEAGUE package to run live workshop.

I will be also displaying a wide variety of print finishing samples and process color screen printing samples to teach special effect in screen printing to US screen printers and graphic students.

Especially for this show I have designed a poster which I will be screen printed live on NANO-PRINT. Since Michel was expert in screen printing 150 to 300 LPI he wanted me to print minimum 100 LPI on NANO-PRINT to demonstrate his expertise. So with all his online help and support my students did the proofing on NANO-PRINT to make sure everything is set right for the workshop.

My students worked very hard to with me continuously day and night for one week to linearize the whole process to successfully screen print 100 LPI on NANO-PRINT. In fact I was stunned to see such a fantastic result of four color graphics screen printed on NANO-PRINT with 100 LPI.

In fact I created an ICC profile on NANO-PRINT using my Profile Maker before my students screen printed the final proof. We did lot of intense trials and proofing and I think my experiment will be a guiding light to many of my customers who want to successfully print process color screen printing on Grafica’s NANO-PRINT.

Here is the photo of the final proof shot from my iPhone screen printed with 100 LPI on NANO-PRINT.

To print this specially designed FESPA AMERICAS poster, we lined up four NANO PRINTS with four NANO-UV inline. This was our first experiment of printing CMYK at one go on NANO-PRINT just like a multi color screen printing lines. This concept will be a new trend setter in future because its the best time saving system.

This concept was really helpful to me when I printed this proof because I got clear idea how the image will finally look after all four colors are printed. This also saved my time to make proper decisions.

The best part of this concept is you can re-correct or tweak the setting of machines without wasting time to set proper densities as per profile to achieve correct  grey balanced image or else you have to wait for the result of your image after the final (fourth) color is screen printed.

Once the video of four NANO-PRINT with four inline NANO-UV is ready I will send you the link to know how four NANO-PRINT works together with inline NANO-UV to print CMYK on after another.

But time being checkout this short video which I have uploaded on YouTube again taken from my iPhone.

My plan in FESPA AMERICAS is to show practical part of print finishing with Michel Caza. In the print finishing segment I am going to demonstrate The Cake Basket which has several special effects. Since there is a time limit for everyones presentation, so I have printed some of the effects at DMI and only six effects will be printed live at the workshop.

The FESPA AMERICAS is expected to provide the US, Central and South American region with a completely different show case of wide format digital, screen and textile printing innovations.

The event is supposed to give lot of insights to participants who can witness the complete screen printing process and have the exclusive opportunity to absorb passion of ‘FIVE’ Screen Masters.

Founded in 1962, FESPA is a not-for-profit federation of trade associations and an organizer of exhibitions and conferences for the screen and digital printing industries and I have been associated with FESPA since last six years.

I have done lot of road shows and workshops in India but FESPA AMERICA would be my first landmark experience as I would be conducting live workshop for the first time overseas. I am sure the workshop of five Global Screen Masters will create a great impact in the US screen printing market.

If you get chance to visit FESPA AMERICAS, Orlando do register your seats for “Screen Masters Workshop” and learn great new techniques in screen printing from the five global gurus.

Hope to see you soon…

Regards,

Bhargav

DMI students made India proud by winning international awards year after year

Ever since its inception in 2006, my institute, DMI is continuing its saga of winning awards in national and international students’ competitions. This year my institute has set a world record by clinching two hatricks in two major international awards competitions and made me and my country proud.

As many of  you would recollect, by winning Silver at FESPA 2010 Munich, DMI became the first screen printing institute in the world to win in FESPA’s Youth competitions for three years’ in succession.

And in this ASPT students’ competition 2010, my students sealed yet another hatricks by cornering awards for 4 consecutive years.

DMI's "BEST OF SHOW" Entry - The Munich River

This year DMI won 3 Gold Awards, 3 Honorable Mention and 1 Best of Show Honor in ASPT’s Tom Frecska Student Printing Competition 2010. This means out of its 8 entries, it cornered 7 awards.

I am very proud of all my students who really worked hard with perfection and won 7 international awards for DMI.

Here, I would like to specially mention two names “Shailesh Yeole” and “Firoz Chippa”, who played a leading role in the entire awards entry process. Both of them really hard with passion and dedication and the awards are the reflection of their efforts. Their entry not only won GOLD but was also judged as “BEST OF SHOW” in this competition.

Student of my 6th batch printing samples for ASPT Students Competition at DMI.

Some of the entries submitted to ASPT students competition by DMI:

DMI's Award Winning Entries at ASPT Student's Competition

List of DMI Student who won the awards at ASPT Student’s Competition

I was told that there were 61 entries from six institutes in the Post Secondary section out of which 17 entries were bestowed with awards. I was also informed that DMI was the only entity from India in this section which had submitted 8 samples out of which 7 were bestowed with awards.

The ASPT students’ competition though relatively new, the quality from the participants are improving year after year as noted by the observers. There has been also a growing interest among the visitors to see the students’ award gallery. But visitors usually tend to feel that students are not competing in the same manner as professional printers.  But this year their belief was wrong.

Many of the visitors could not really believe the standard of quality of entries submitted by DMI students this year, especially the DMI’s winning samples on display.

Mike Young, during his visit to DMI

My friend, Mike Young, a leading consultant (Imagetek Consulting International), USA, had sent me an email about this good news and here are his words.

“Dear Bhargav,

“Yeole Shilesh did a great job. He won gold for the Butterfly Bag, an honorary mention for the A4 Catalog and gold for the FESPA Munich River which also took deservedly the “Best In Show” Award.

Rishi/Sunil won honorary for the Chocolate Box, as did Albert Baby Chand for the Guitar print.  However, Rishi won gold for his Teddy Bear entry.

This year, the competition was tough from several really good entries from US students – effectively setting up a challenged to the Indian ‘block’.

Please give your students a resounding thanks and appreciation in all their efforts and endeavors and not forgetting their instructor of course.

Regards,

Mike Young”

About Mike Young.
He has been a specialist in high-definition graphic and high-performance industrial screen printing close to 40 years.  A regular visitor to India, he is an honorary judge for the SGIA Golden Imaging Awards, legal expert witness and a frequent seminar speaker in all aspects of sophisticated and high-definition industrial printing.  He is a SGIA Fellows, a member of the Academy of Screen Printing Technology and recipient of the prestigious Swormstedt Award for technical writing.

DMI’s Past Achievements – A FLASH BACK:

My students will be happy to read your inspirational comments on this post for their continued achievements.

Regards,

Bhargav

A tribute to my guru Michel Caza

“Big News”

This article is a tribute to my guru, MICHEL CAZA who recently conferred with the prestigious Howard A. Parmele Award, By SGIA (Specialty Graphic Imaging Association), USA, for his “extensive contribution to the screen printing industry”

When I first received an email from my friend and colleague at ASPT, Mike Young that my guru “Michel Caza was presented with the Howard A. Parmele Award during the SGIA Expo in Las Vegas” I was really thrilled and excited to congratulate him on the phone first rather than congratulating through email. So, I called him immediately on his mobile phone when he was in Vegas. While talking to him I noticed that he was very contented because after a long wait his hard work was well recognized by this industry.

I salute my GURU (and a great legend) for his achievement and his commitment, dedicated towards this industry. His passion and hard work in screen-printing research & development will definitely benefit many screen printers and his pupils in this world immensely.

To honor my great guru Michel Caza a thought immediately flashed in my mind to write this memoir as a fitting tribute to him. In fact it was a long due.

I want to recount how Michel and I met, how from an ardent ‘screen printing disciple’ finally I became his spiritual ‘son’. (In fact I am still his ‘pupil’ and ‘son’ as he often addresses in his all communications). As you walk down my memory lane sketched here, you will realize that I had just a professional connection with him initially.

Once I happened to read some spiritual thought which said: “Everyone should adopt a GURU in their life. Your GURU will guide you and help you develop your skills.”

On that day I vowed to follow these ‘words of wisdom’ throughout my life because I strongly believe in it. First of all, my great guru and guide was none other than my father late Dhirubhai Mistry, from whom I have learnt the best values of my life and still following it. Whatever I am today is because of my father’s sheer strength, hard work and dedication … and of course my parents blessings.

My father used to read a lot daily. He had an enormous library adorned with many useful technical books and magazines. Even today I have screen printing magazines and books dating back to 1960’s (courtesy my father). My father had an eagle eye for good articles. He used to make a copy of them and file separately so that he could have an easy access to refer them whenever needed. I remember, he always made it a point to discuss good technical articles with me and share few tips on what he read.

As a new-comer, I used to pay heed to his advice or sometimes just pretended that I understood. After my father’s death I started realizing the value of such technical information. Thereafter, I developed more appetite for updating my technical knowledge by reading various books, articles and magazines.

The more I read the more interest I developed in reading. It dragged me towards the screen printing process more deeply. Now it has become a part of my life or I say passion.

As many in the printing industry know about us, I mean Grafica & DMI, we were originally into screen printing business before we entered into machinery manufacturing in 1989.

So screen printing process was not new to us. May be one of the reasons, why my company is today able to manufacture good machines was because we know what screen printers really need to deliver high quality prints.

In the year 2000 there was a sudden boom in advertising business, generating huge demand for graphics screen printing and digital was just getting popular in those segments.

Since I had very good expertise in industrial screen printing (especially Printed Circuit Boards-PCB’s), process color (CMYK) graphics screen printing was like a rocket science to me but not for my father because since 1960′s he had mastery in producing billboards through screen printing process. But ever since I joined my father’s company in 1987, process color screen printing and graphics was totally replaced with printed circuit boards (PCB) since early 80’s. So my expertise was mainly in PCB’s and I had no idea how to even carry out the basic CMYK separation.

Soon our machinery business started growing in these segments there were plenty of crazy questions from customers; there were frequent problems ‘delivered’ by my engineers and customers and I was supposed to give them appropriate solutions.

In the absence of complete knowledge in process color screen printing, myself and my engineers used to blindly arrive at a conclusion that e.g. the problem of dot gain was due to screen printing machine. This is one of the examples like that there were many other teething problems that we had to solve daily.

However, once I started reading SGIA’s Technical Guide Books, we realized that ‘dot gain’ problem was not due to machine there were some other reasons related to the technicality of process color screen printing. That is said: half knowledge is dangerous.

(Those days SGIA used to send Technical Guide Books to all its members. Later, they started sending them in PDF format on CDs. Now we can access everything online. Days have changed … but I still like the printed version.)

Those days I read many remarkable articles, some of my favorites were: “Screen Printing Criteria in Halftone Printing” by Hans Gerd Scheer and “Screen Printing of Fine Line Halftones by Michel Caza and his several other articles. I am mentioning his full name here because at that time he was not my ‘guru’ but story is taking you there, step by step.

I was quite fascinated by Michel’s in depth knowledge and command over the subject. I found his articles very easy to understand, crystal clear and absolutely practical. His articles became my daily ‘food for thought’ and a ‘dose of medicine’ to cure many routine problems.

As I gained knowledge from his articles, I started hunting for more information about him and his technical articles. Later, I found that Michel had published a Technical Guide Book, Titled “THE TECHNIQUES OF SCREEN PRINTING” compiled in a PDF format on a CD, comprising around 1400 pages with 17 videos explains the details of screen printing techniques for industrial, graphics, textile and art (serigraphy). Within no time I ordered my copy.

It’s an amazing tool of technical information in one CD. The CD emphasizes UV technology, four-color process, fine line halftones with 120 parameters to control, stochastic halftones, analog and digital pre-press, stencils, substrates, inks and more…

This is the newest, most comprehensive source of technical information on screen printing to be found anywhere. It is in a PDF format easy with great search features.

This is all about my CMYK connection with Michel. Now, over to UV curing technology:

UV Curing technology was not new to me because my father had adopted UV in PCBs since 1986. So naturally, from the day I joined my family business, I was exposed to UV inks only. But I never knew that UV is so popular in western countries for graphics four-color process until I read all of Michel Caza’s articles on UV Technology.

Except my father-mentor, I rarely came across any screen printers who had such in depth technical knowledge in UV technology, UV Curing Inks and related chemicals. After reading his series of articles on UV, I yelled: “Here’s a screen printer who knows his subject very well. Hat’s off to you Michel.”

From this moment I considered Michel Caza as my ‘remote’ guru yet to be embraced fully. I was eager and kept a high hope to meet him one day and shake hands with him. But I never realized that this ‘golden’ hand will one day become an ever helping hand in my profession… why in my profession, but the entire screen printing industry in India.

In 2002, I joined the managing committee of Screen Printers’ Association of India (SPAI) and we had organized a group tour for our members to visit FESPA 2002 in Madrid, Spain. The committee had a great plan to handover mementos at FESPA’s both to the incoming President (at that time) Ricardo Delgado and the outgoing President… it was Michel Caza! Now I was 100% sure that I would get a chance to shake hand with Michel, a long pending ‘project’ ever since I started reading his technical articles. Why just hand shake, I was now confident that I would also get some time to sit with him and discuss my problems related to screen printing. But on that D-day unfortunately he was busy with his board meetings and I could not meet him on the scheduled day.

But I was fortunate to catch hold of him the very next day at FESPA Stand and requested him to spend his valuable time with me. He was kind-hearted to concede my request and spent time with me sharing many insights about screen printing.

Finally, I was back in India, Mumbai precisely with good memories of meeting a ‘screen printing guru’ but with half satisfaction.

Soon after the FESPA Madrid show, there was an exhibition – ‘Screen Print India’ expo at Nehru Centre in Worli, Mumbai where the organizers had invited him as a chief guest for the opening ceremony which was later followed by his full day technical seminar in fine lines and halftones screen printing.

Regardless of being an exhibitor in that show, I attended his seminar with full excitement and attention. With the request of the organizers, my company also gathered a large number of printers to attend his seminar. That was for the first time in the history of Indian screen printing industry I witnessed more than 155 screen printers attending such a long technical seminar even though the seminar fee was Rs. 2500.00 per person!

During the seminar Michel displayed many of his creative and magical screen printed jobs using 150 LPI and above. Frankly till that time I had only read from his articles that he used to screen print 150 LPI and above but when I saw his actual prints I was really stunned. That’s why I call his prints magical!

After the seminar I requested Michel to allow me to see those prints closely and he was delighted to show and explain me the tricks. But for me those simple tips and tricks were not simple. It was not all that easy to understand because I didn’t even know e.g. ‘what is dot gain and what is gray balance’ in graphics process color screen printing.

After attending his seminar I could not focus fully on the remaining days of that show because since then I had sleepless nights as to how and where I could learn these great “Michel Caza Techniques” of screen printing fine lines and moiré free halftones. But I was determined to learn these techniques.

Since this show, I was restless because at that time I could not find anyone in India like him who was a master in screen printing. So, few weeks later after I dared to write an email to Michel requesting him whether he could teach all those techniques which he explained during his seminar in India. Unbelievable! He replied back in just few hours saying: “You can pack your bag anytime and come to France to learn these techniques practically in my company Graficaza and stay till you are completely satisfied.” I was thrilled like a child… because at first instance I never expected this positive reply and I just tried my luck by shooting him an email request with remote hope.

Also, he had made it clear to me that during the training period, I could learn as much as I wanted and surprisingly he was kind enough to offer me a free training as he mentioned in his email that “I do not teach for money”. Later I found that there were many lucky pupils like me to whom he had devoted his time, energy and superb technical knowledge.

In today’s professional world, who would impart such high knowledge free of cost? But Michel is unique and special. In fact this is called passion towards the industry. In fact the knowledge, which he openly shared with me is now benefitted by thousands of screen printers in India through my institute “Dhirubhai Mistry Institute For Print Technology Research & Training (DMI).

And this was the first LESSON I learnt from Michel even before becoming his PUPIL… And I vowed not to take any fees from students if I were to set up an institute in India to teach screen printing, and in fact my beloved father late Dhirubhai Mistry too had the same vision when he had great plans to set up a screen printing institute.

Without wasting much time, I planned all my immediate work schedules in my company to accomplish urgent tasks and meanwhile I also booked my ticket to France or I say for a ‘screen printing educational tour’.

I just opened my memory-diary and I recollected that on 28-April-2003, Monday afternoon I reached France. There after from the airport I reached Novotel Hotel by taxi. Immediately I informed Michel about my safe arrival and he was very happy and excited as well. He told me to get ready within one hour as he would arrange my pickup to have dinner at his home with his good friend and a board member of FESPA, Gyorgy Kovacs, a Hungarian screen printing professional, who is currently the President of FESPA.

Michel lived in an interesting country side village where the total population he mentioned was not more than 200 people. His house was surrounded by serene and beautiful environment. He lived in an enormous huge house flank by a big garden on the rear side. And that was the first time I met Michel’s better half Therese and Gyorgy Kovacs.

Since I am a pure vegetarian, usually whenever I travel abroad with lengthy tour, I carry home-made Indian food and some dry-fruits since I do not find much of veg-stuffs, suiting my tastes. But that day Therese surprised me by serving me with Indian curry with rice. Obviously I could not expect the Indian taste with many spices. But because of her excitement behind cooking and serving the Indian food to me with love, the dinner became extra delicious.

Anyway, after the dinner Michel accompanied me all the way back to the hotel and alerted me to get ready by 6.45 am in the morning so that we could reach his factory Graficaza by 7 am. The working hour was very interesting to me – 7.00 am to 3.30/4 pm. ‘Early to bed early to rise’ principle was possible there, considering this timings!

For few days, out of my excitement, I clicked as many pictures as I could, to make sure that I take good memories back home.

Since my training at Graficaza was planned for three weeks minimum with the possibility of extending it to one full month, I wanted to stay in a comfortable hotel that too somewhere nearby to avoid waste of time in travelling. To start with as I mentioned earlier I was put up in Hotel Novotel. But few days later I was contemplating to shift to another better hotel nearby Graficaza or near to Michel’s home to avoid long distance traveling. But I could not find any similar quality hotel nearby. So the next day I approached Michel to help me in this matter but he was also unable to find a better hotel near to his home or factory.

After few days, he told me to checkout from Novotel as he was planning to find some solution. I checked out of my hotel and kept the luggage in his car and he straight drove to his factory. Till afternoon he kept me under suspense not knowing about his plan.

In the mind I had full trust with him that he must have made some arrangement for me. But in the afternoon he called me to say: “Look, if you are comfortable in staying in our house for the duration of your training, I and Therese have no problem. In that case we want you to stay in our house but ….“You can stay as our Guest and not as a paying guest!”

Vow! That was really a memorable moment in my life! I felt greatly honored especially when I was not so closely known to him except that I was a keen knowledge seeker. I only knew at that time Michel always used to be eager to openly share knowledge with serious knowledge seekers like me. On the other hand I was also thrilled to live with his family because I felt this opportunity would take me more closer to his heart and I could also see the life style of my ‘guru in the making’.

Slowly and steadily my relation with Michel & Therese turned out to be so spiritual that I could really feel the warmth of their love and affection. My mom died when I was very young and Therese filled that vacuum and gave me those wonderful feelings back for few days.

Today, Michel Caza is not only my guru but more than what a guru can offer to his pupil. Those feelings, moment, love and affection, which they both showered on me, are deeply engraved in my heart which can never ever fade away.

After my training was completed, yes I had to really say a hard pressed goodbye with tight emotions. As I was leaving, Therese could not stop her emotions and she was in tears with motherly love.

Frankly this was my most memorable moment in my life because I entered in France as a knowledge seeker and was leaving my Guru’s home as their adopted son. Even today Michel always greets me in all his communications mentioning “My Dear Son or Hi Son.”

In today’s materialistic world, it is difficult to receive true and selfless love. I think there is something called past life relationship which must have got me reunited with Michel’s family in 2003.

Since my training with my guru, I have been closely associated with him in various FESPA and SPAI related trade events in India.

Even my guru had conducted a 3-day workshop on art-reproduction through screen printing at DMI. He was kind-hearted in permitting to publish his technical articles in my Grafica News and my companies website.

Michel is one of the key and important person towards the success of my institute DMI. Today on his achievement I would like to pass on all the credits for what my institute and I have received so far. Click here to read his message to DMI

Finally, I would like to congratulate my guru “Michel Caza” once again for being honored with “Howard A. Parmele Award” a long due and well deserved.

I also repeat my thanks to Therese & Michel Caza for being highly supportive, lovable and a source of my inspiration in my life.