Quality is paramount in everything we do: Spectacular MMT

Digital printing firm Spectacular MMT under the astute leadership of founder directors Rajib Das and Samir Kumar Das has set high benchmark standards for the industry with unswerving attention on quality of work, client engagement, high-end infrastructure and machines, and right-skilled workforce. Rajib and Samir have demonstrated unalloyed commitment to excel in the printing business which is writ large in Spectacular MMT's remarkable business growth since its inception in Bengaluru in December 2007.

The founding partners had cut their teeth in R&D and several key dimensions of the printing industry for well over a decade before they took the entrepreneurial plunge. Hence, Spectacular MMT bespeaks of the highest quality standards evident in India's digital printing business.

Rajib was part of the R&D team of Metromedia Technologies, USA, and had also received the best innovation award for South East Asia in 2004 from the Metromedia USA Group. The duo had also worked in the European business environment and received special training on ICC Colour Management from a USA professional team. The founders' rich professional experience was the foundation on which the Spectacular MMT's superstructure has been built.

Commenting on the firm's strict adherence to quality, Rajib told Outdoor Asia that Spectacular MMT works only with client organisations that place a premium on quality of work. At the very outset, the firm invested in high-end printing machines. Samir categorically said that the firm did not want to cut any corners by investing in Chinese machines, although the Indian market as a whole was not very discerning about printing quality. Over the years the firm has set up an impressive printing infrastructure that includes machines, such as: 

•    HP Scitex XL 1500
•    HP Latex 65500
•    HP Designjet Eco Solvent
•    HP Scitex UV 2300
•    Vutek UltraVu 5300
•    Gretag Macbeth Spectroscan (For ICC Colour profiling)
•    Leister (Switzerland)
•    Hot and Cold Lamination

Samir underscored the firm's quality focus. "We are proud to claim that our clients always vouch for the quality that we bring on board. We use HP industrial machines and OEM ink. We never compromise on the substrate. Our quality policies have always been and will remain as stringent,” he said.

Spectacular MMT undertakes work for both indoor and outdoor displays. "We do have the best machines and technologies for handling quality indoor jobs. Having said that, outdoor is also our specialisation. We are one of the preferred printers for large brands like Tata Docomo, Idea Cellular, Aircel, Infosys, Wipro, among others. We also work for outdoor firms like Kinetic India, JCDecaux India,” said Rajib while adding that the firm's print work for an Accenture building wrap has received international acclaim.

Talking about the firm's engagement with the Indian OOH industry, Rajib observed that the outdoor market is yet to come of age in understanding the value of quality print in making a brand campaign more successful. "It is surprising and also painful to observe that a brand that spend crores to buy outdoor media does not invest enough to obtain good quality print and substrate for better creative re-production,” said Rajib.

Spectacular MMT has profited from the high standards that the management has set for the firm. "We have achieved 30-40% growth YoY, which is quite good compared with the industry trends. We hope to maintain the momentum going forward,” said Rajib.

Samir added that the firm plans to invest a lot more in manpower training to ensure the team is well equipped to manage the latest printing technologies and to cater to dynamic sectors like retail.

Spectacular MMT has largely catered to the southern markets with a focus on Karnataka. Rajib informed that plans are afoot to expand the firm's footprints in markets like Kolkata.

One challenge that will come up in building the client base and reaching out to different geographic markets would be of meeting stringent timelines. On this, Rajib said, "We set things straight right at the beginning and communicate to our clients about the timeline require to deliver a particular job. Our clients who appreciate and respect quality are always fine with it. And I should say, nowadays, like in other developed countries, clients here have also start their planning well in advance so that timelines are not breached.”

Environmental safeguards are paramount in Spectacular MMT's business approach. On this, Samir informed that the firm has already upgraded its machines as per the environment norms. "Our new Latex and UV prints are 100% green,” he said.

Looking ahead, he said the right choice and usage of material is going to be key for the digital printing industry. Rajib pointed out that the Kerala Government had already called for curbs on PVC-based digital prints for outdoor media. In many countries, digital printers are increasingly using green media for printing. It won't be long before the trend sets in India too, he said.