Career Guide

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN PRINTING TECHNOLOGY By

V.K. Bharti Print communication is one of the strongest and powerful media of mass communication which is growing very rapidly. Books, newspapers and magazines come to mind most often when people think about printed products. Everyone is familiar with such products. Print is power. According to famous saying “Book lives longer than author himself” and “Book is an indispensable document in its own field” also establishes the importance of print.      The printed material either book, magazine or newspaper has a strong impact on society and plays a key role in nation building. We find the existence of print in every sphere of our life and it plays crucial role in educating the people and to provide them clear picture of what is going on in and around the world. The invention of movable type and printing press by Johannes Gutenberg has actually revolutionized print media. Gutenberg printed the first book on a printing press with movable type in 1453. This invention transformed the way the world received printed material.      Printing is a part of the mass communication process. It involves several skills. Printing industry is an industry in which technical skills holds the prime importance. Each person engaged in performing typesetting, designing, pasting, plate making, image setting, camera work, printing and binding has a specific and specialized role to perform and contribute for the final output. Career in Print Media            Print Media is one of the most flourishing sectors of the country. The young generation of today is seen choosing a career in print media as working in this sector gives promising opportunities to stride ahead very fast. But jobs in the print media also demand lot of hard work and patience. There is a huge opening for qualified printing professionals in India. Jobs for printing technologist are available in advertising agencies, newspapers/magazines, government presses, machine manufacturers, packaging industries, book printers and even more in private commercial press as technology consultant. Opportunities are available in the area of: Publishing houses under central and State Govt. Printing Presses under Central and State govt. Commercial printing presses doing Offset, Flexography, Gravure and Screen printing Publishing houses in private sector Pre-press solution for printing Industry Designing and digital printing Security printing Software solution for print industry Electronic publishing Color management solution Packaging Print finishing and converting Machine manufacturing /service Marketing/management executive Research and development Total quality control      The printing industry is the fast growing industry in India. There are thousands of quality printing houses in major metros in India. In addition to that, some govt. departments, engaged in publishing activities are Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Indian Council of Historical Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Indira Gandhi National Open University, National Institute of Open Schooling, Lalit Kala Academi, National Book Trust, National Council of Educational Research and Training, National Institute of Science Communication & Information Resources, Publication Division, Sahitaya Akademi, Zoological Survey of India, Bureau of Indian Standard, Survey of India, All Universities, All State Textbook Corporations, Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd., Govt of India Presses, State Council of Educational Research and Training, Joint Cipher Bureau, Parliament of India, Offices of Registrar General of India, National Museaum, Directorate of Printing and Stationery etc.      A Career in printing gives an opportunity to work on various positions like General Manager, Registrar, Director, Professor, Reader, Lecturer, Consultants, Head, Chief Production Officer, Production Officer, Asstt. Director (Production), Technical Officer, Printing Officer, Manager Printing, Supervisor, Publication Officer. Apart from these positions, there are many more positions.      This sector has immense employment opportunities. A printing technologist can get job in newspapers, magazines and advertising agencies, government departments, banks and private publication houses. He can be in the marketing and sales department of companies, which supply raw materials for printing and photographic films.  Another option is teaching where jobs exist in schools, college and polytechnics offering vocational, diploma, degree and master degree courses. A print technologist in the production department of a newspaper or a magazine starts his career as Production supervisor and can go up to the level of General Manager.      Students after successful completion of printing technology courses can get job in printing companies and media houses across countries.  Generally, the students are recruited through campus interviews by the major advertising agencies, newspapers/magazines, machine manufacturers, packaging industries. All leading publishers recruit students through campus interview. Some students get job in multi-national firm also. Reputed software companies also recruit printing technologists in various capacities. This is the only field where the demand is always more.      The printing technology courses are offered in India at four levels i.e. diploma, degree, Masters degree and Ph.D. which are offered at university, institutes and polytechnic level. The eligibility for admission in Printing Technology Courses are given as under: S.N. Courses Admission Criteria Intake Duration 1 Diploma in Printing Technology 10th Pass with Mathematics and Technology Science 60 3 Years 2 B.Tech/B.E. in Printing Technology 12th Pass with Physics, mathematics as compulsory subject along with Chemistry, Computer Sc./Bio-tech./ biology subject and admission on the basis of merit of AIEEE or State level engineering competitive exam. OR diploma holders can get admission in 2nd year directly through LEET. 60 4 Year 3 M.Tech/M.E. in Printing Technology 55% marks in B.Tech/B.E in Ptg. Tech./Packaging Tech. and with valid GATE score or on the basis of merit of test conducted by the university 20 2 Year 4 Ph.D. in Printing Technology As per ordinance of the universities - 2-4 years      Apart from the above, the Industrial Training Institutes (ITI’s) are offering certificate courses in the area of plate making, offset machine operation, screen printing, camera operation, desk top publishing and book binding. These courses are designed in a way that the students acquire adequate knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects to get job at shop floor level in the industry.      Printing Technology Courses in India became popular towards the later half of the 20th century. With the advent of print media on a universal scale and innovations in printing technologies, this field of study has gained immense popularity among learners. Printing as a subject is huge and involves studying of different analogue and digital technologies.      During their studies, students learn the detailed aspects of printing processes, printing material, pre-press technologies, binding and finishing techniques, business management, entrepreneurship development, cost estimation etc. The Bachelors and Masters programmes are of multi-disciplinary nature, covering subjects like; Mechanical, Information Technology, Electrical, Electronics, Computers, Chemical, Total Quality Management, Operation Management, Organization Behaviour, Project Management, Technology Management, Security Printing in addition to Physics and Chemistry.  Printing studies involve not only processes and technologies but also gives thorough knowledge about ink, paper and other consumables.      Printing jobs extend over a number of sectors. Apart from offset printing, there are large number of printing houses engaged in screen printing, flexography and gravure printing. Qualified printing professionals are also given placements in printer manufacturing houses and consumable producing companies. Inks, toners, and print cartridges are some of the consumables extensively used in different printing processes.      Categories of personnel with Diploma/Degree in Printing Technology are employed in various positions as given below. After getting initial orientation training to suit the specific needs of the employer, they will be able to fulfill the employer’s requirements. -    Supervisory personnel at the middle-management level for shop floor supervision of large presses. -    Works Managers, Production Manager and production executives for the modernized commercial presses, newspaper presses, Government presses, publishers and specialist printers. -    Engineers for printing machinery manufacturer and printing materials manufacturer, both in the design office and factory shop-floor. -    Maintenance engineers for implant maintenance in large printing establishments. -    Sales/maintenance engineers for printing machinery manufacturers, and sales/marketing executives for modernized printing presses. -    Faculty positions in diploma and Degree level printing institute’s courses in Printing Technology. -    Production executives/managers, Co-coordinator in advertising agencies.      The annual growth rate and the demand for degree holders for the next two decades is very promising. Remuneration      The job offers good remuneration in the production department of newspapers, publishing house, packaging, pre-press work, digital designing etc. A student with a diploma in Printing Technology may get a monthly salary of Rs. 15000-16000 per month in the beginning.  Similarly, a degree holder in Printing Technology may get a monthly salary of Rs. 20000-22000 per month in the beginning which is considered a good start.      The colleges and institutions in India offer diploma, degree, master degree and PhD programmes in printing technology. The leading institutes in India conducting courses in printing technology are: Institute offering Ph.D in Printing Technology Anna University, College of Engineering Guindy, Chennai-600025. Institutes offering Masters degree in Printing Technology 1   Anna University, College of Engineering Guindy, Chennai-600025. 2   Guru Jambeshwar University of Science and Technology Hisar-125001, Haryana. 3   Jadavpur University, Faculty Of Engineering and Technology, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata-700032, West Bengal. 4   Pune Vidyarthi Griha’s (PVG’s) College of Engineering and Technology, 44, Vidyanagari, Shivdarshan Parvati, Pune-411009, Maharashtra. Universities offering degree in Printing Technology 1   Anna University, College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai-600025 2   BMS College of Engineering, P.O. Box No. : 1908, Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore - 560019. 3   Jadavpur University, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata-700032, West Bengal. 4   Guru Jambeshwar University of Science and Technology Hisar-125 001, Haryana. 5   Institute of Engineering and Technology, Calicut University Campus, Tenhipalam, Malapuram, Kerala. 6   JNTU College of Engineering, Kukatpally, Hyderabad-500872, Andhra Pradesh. 7   Pune Vidyarthi Griha’s (PVG’s) College of Engineering and Technology, 44, Vidyanagari, Shivdarshan Parvati, Pune-411009, Maharashtra. 8   Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana. 9   Somany Institute of Technology And Management Rewari, Haryana. Universities offering Diploma Printing Technology 1   NR Institute of Printing Technology, Teliar Ganj, Allahabad - 4, (UP). 2   Southern Regional Institute of Printing Technology, Adyar, Chennai - 600 113 (TN). 3   Western Regional Institute of Printing Technology, JJ School of Arts Campus, Opp VT Station Mumbai, Maharashtra. 4   Maharashtra Institute of Printing Technology, 1786, Sadashiv Peth, Pune, (Maharashtra). 5   Department of Printing Technology, Pusa Polytechnic, Pusa, New Delhi - 110 002. 6   Department of Printing Technology, Government Kalaniketan, Jabalpur (MP). 7   Department of Printing Technology, Govt Polytechnic, Gulzar Bagh, Patna -7, Bihar Department of Printing Technology, Govt. Polytechnic, Gandhi Nagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. 8   Department of Printing Technology, Institute of Printing Technology, Shoranur, Kerala. 9   Government Institute of Printing Technology, East Nehru Nagar, Secunderabad - 500 026 (U.P). 10 Institute of Printing Technology, Sivakasi - 626 123 (Tamil Nadu) 11 Times Institute of Printing Management Times of India Press, Opp. VT Station, Mumbai, Maharashtra. 12 Don Bosco School of Printing, Okhla Road, New Delhi - 110 025. 13 Government Institute of Printing Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka. 14 Salesian Institute of Graphic Arts, 22 A, Taylors Road, Chennai - 600 010, (TN). 15 Graphic Arts Technology & Education, 12 Shree Mills, Mumbai-Agra Road, Kurla, Mumbai - 400 070, Maharashtra. 16 Institute of Printing Technology, 87, Kamaraj Road, Sivakasi - 626 123 (TN). 17 Institute of Printing Technology, Chennai, (TN). 18 Institute of Printing Technology, Hyderabad, (AP). 19 School of Printing Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka. 20 Government Polytechnic College, Department of Printing Tech, Makhupura, Ajmer, Rajasthan. 21 The Regional Institute of Printing Technology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal. (The list is indicative only)      It is evident that print has the power to influence the society and nation as a whole. The growth rate in GDP has increased the per capita paper consumption. Paper consumption and press output shows the wealth, civilization and economic power of the country. Today, with the increasing trend towards digitization and computerization of the media and explosion of internet has created doubts about the existence of print, but the fact is that print will remain forever. It is evergreen. Hence, the future prospects for the printing technologists are very bright as there are immense opportunities awaiting this discipline. Qualified printing professionals will be in demand in the coming years. (The author is a Chief Production Officer in the Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture, Indian council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan, Pusa, New Delhi-110012, e-mail: cpoicar@yahoo.com) Soure from: employmentnews