World renowned printing equipment manufacturer, Agfa Graphics has reiterated its commitment to fortify activities in the inkjet sector in Nigeria so as to make the market more vibrant and profitable to the players.
The print equipment manufacturing giant reaffirmed its dedication during an Open House Discussion Forum it hosted for Top Inkjet Players in Nigeria aimed at listening to their challenges with a view of assuring them of Agfa readiness to bring the sector back to its old days when quality was the watchword through Agfa renowned inkjet printer – JETI which unarguably set the pace for quality large format printing decades ago.
While addressing the inkjet sector players, Agfa General Manager, Middle East, Africa and SAARC, Graphics/ Inkjet – Mr. Som John said the organization was ready to proffer solutions to the challenges being faced by Agfa inkjet customers as he urged them to put forward their challenges to enable both parties provide lasting solutions. According to Mr. John, “we want to bring back profitable inkjet business in Nigeria. We are committed to the sector and we have the confidence that the sector is bouncing back. Our partner, Technology Global is ever ready to provide the needed after sales support and the headquarters will also give all the needed support”, he assured while urging the players to embrace UV technology, pointing out that solvent technology was fading out. “Solvent technology will soon fade out completely. Players in the sector should embrace UV because it is environmental friendly and it is good for the operators as well as the country. Let’s forget the past and move to UV. We are ready to give the necessary support”.
In the same vein, Regional Sales Manager, Agfa Middle East Inkjet, Mr. Rajesh Patki stated that one of the areas Agfa would be reactivating Nigeria Inkjet market was through total support particularly on pricing structure on consumables and spares that would make inkjet players businesses grow profitably. “We understand the issue of no capital which is one of the biggest challenges right now; we will proffer workable solutions to the challenges; we only need some level of commitment from the customers and everything will work out. We are ready to support more than ever before”, Patki expressed. He added that Agfa through its partner, Technology Global Services LTD would fix the machines that may have stopped working and bring them to workable condition. To Rajesh Patki; “like never before, we are ready to support the players but the players only need to change their mindsets. They should corporate with us so that we can all work together to bring the business back and all of us will be happy at the end”.
Earlier in his presentation, the Managing Director of Technology Global Services LTD – Mr. Akin Oduwole gave assurance that inkjet business in Nigeria can be profitable again. According to Oduwole, nobody would stop Chinese machine from coming into the Nigerian market but advised inkjet players who buy Chinese machines because they are cheap to examine their Return On Investment (ROI) and profitability as they would end up spending more than they ought to spend on repairs as against buying durable machines that would give premium quality and also last longer. “Chinese equipment lacks the capacity for some jobs, it’s better to embrace specialty jobs which end up being more profitable”, Mr. Oduwole noted as he also enjoined players to collaborate and pull resources together in a bid to order consumables in bulk, stating that bulk ordering would make them get consumables at cheaper rate which would in turn make their businesses competitive thus translate to increased profitability.
Mr. Oduwole who is the initiator of the face-to-face Discussion Forum between Agfa Graphics top management representatives and top players in the inkjet sector in Nigeria, expressed optimism that his organization together with Agfa would bring back the lost business in the inkjet sector by giving all necessary support to players.
Some of Nigeria’s top inkjet players present at the Open House Discussion Forum are the MD of Bio Colours LTD – Mr. Bayo Ogundogba, MD of Spec Digital LTD – Mr. Biyi Bamgbose, MD of Print Options LTD – Mr. Felix Enumajuru, MD of Indoor Design & Concept LTD – Mr. Kingsley James, Chief Operating Officer of Digital Reality Print LTD – Mrs. Elsie Akin-Adesola, MD of Immaculate Publications – Mr. Ezeh, MD of Megaplux – Mr. Paul Inyang and CEO of Jott – Mr. Thomas Osobu. Other companies represented at the forum include Printserve LTD, Townsway LTD among others.
