Having participated in IndiaCorr since 2013, Chandru noted significant changes over the years, particularly in client needs. Automation has become a pressing requirement as the industry faces a shortage of semi-skilled labour. “We have slowly started seeing a manpower shortage, particularly in the semi-skilled section,” Chandru said. With fewer workers willing to relocate for jobs, box manufacturers are increasingly seeking automated solutions to maintain productivity. 

Chandru explained that the demand for automation is particularly strong in areas where many employees are typically required, such as near the feeders of high-speed machines. Similarly, the automation of post-production processes, such as collecting and palletising bundles, is essential. As labour shortages persist, solutions like load formers and palletisers enable manufacturers to operate machines at full speed without requiring excessive manpower.

Keenmatics plans to continue introducing niche products to the market. This year, the company has partnered with Sauer Systems to bring advanced scorer profiles to the Indian market. This collaboration aims to address quality issues in box manufacturing by minimising gap variation and improving folding tolerance.

On the subject of sustainability, Chandru said that the corrugated packaging industry inherently supports sustainable practices. “The corrugation industry is a sustainable industry. Because we reuse the same boxes. The boxes are not dumped. They are reused,” he noted. 

Keenmatics maintains a policy of not competing with Indian manufacturers. Instead, it focuses on importing and selling products that are not manufactured locally, supporting the growth of Indian manufacturing by identifying and representing unique international products.