Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) printers, with their high-speed, non-contact printing of variable data such as date codes, batch numbers, and product identifiers directly onto cables and wires, have become an indispensable tool in the cable and wire industry. LEIBINGER, a leading German brand renowned for high quality CIJ printers has been a preferred choice of several cable & wire manufacturers in India as well as worldwide. In this interview, Wire & Cable India discussed with Mr. Tim Richards, Area Sales Manager, LEIBINGER, and Mr. Shyam Shet, CEO, Indomax, about LEIBINGER’s business in India, their collaboration and how their synergies are making big contributions to the Indian market.
Wire & Cable India: Can you give us a brief overview of Paul LEIBINGER Gmbh?
Tim Richards: LEIBINGER is a globally operating specialist in coding & marking systems with headquarters in Tuttlingen, Baden-Württemberg (Germany). The third-generation family-run company, founded in 1948, develops and produces industrial inkjet printers as well as inks for various applications – with a workforce of close to 300.
Innovative technologies and an exceptionally high standard of quality are what distinguish LEIBINGER’s advanced coding & marking solutions. As the inventor of a disruptive nozzle sealing technology, LEIBINGER is transforming the industry’s experience working with Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ), leading to greater productivity in the manufacturing of food and industrial products – with tens of thousands of successful installations worldwide. A global network with some 150 distribution partners and subsidiaries in the US and China ensures that LEIBINGER is ideally positioned to maintain close relationships with its many customers worldwide.
WCI: What inspired your journey with Indomax in India? How do the synergies of both the companies help serve the market better?
TR: Founded in 2003 and backed by the NKB Technovations Group, Indomax provides innovative solutions that streamline production processes and enhance product traceability. As an official LEIBINGER partner in India since 2017, Indomax has become a trusted leader in industrial marking and coding solutions. In 2018, the company secured its first major contracts in the cable processing industry from prominent Indian manufacturers, marking the beginning of its rapid growth.
With year-on-year success, Indomax achieved a remarkable 30% growth from 2023 to 2024. LEIBINGER printers, known for their Made-in-Germany quality, exceptional performance, and reliability, are trusted by manufacturers worldwide. Indomax and LEIBINGER share a commitment to innovation, advanced technology, and a strong customer focus, aiming to support their clients in achieving goals related to productivity, efficiency, and operational cost optimization.
Leibinger and Indomax share a common vision of placing customer first! Indomax’s eye for expert analysis and detailed preparation as well as their customer-focused and hugely energetic approach to business and market development for the LEIBINGER CIJ business are exemplary.
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WCI: What specific technologies do you cater to the wire and cable industry? Can you highlight the core USPs of LEIBINGER?
TR: LEIBINGER provides advanced CIJ (Continuous Inkjet) solutions tailored to the wire & cable industry’s key challenges: high productivity, reliability, and cost efficiency. Manufacturers face increasing demands for high-performance cables, compliance with safety standards, and sustainability initiatives like recycling and CO2 reduction – all under rising cost pressures.
LEIBINGER’s CIJ printers excel in this environment by offering flexible, contactless marking on various surfaces with fast-drying inks that ensure legibility and reliability. LEIBINGER printers stand out in three key areas that set them apart from the competition:
The world’s only fully automatic nozzle sealing technology, ensuring maximum uptime and productivity. The technology eliminates the need for cleaning and keeps the ink from drying out, preventing clogs and ensuring immediate startup, even in harsh production conditions. This means no cleaning, no production interruptions, and no costly downtime – just seamless printing at all times and smooth operation 24/7.
The LEIBINGER brand is renowned for its unmatched reliability. German- engineered and with 85% in-house production, the printers are crafted to ensure maximum quality control.
A printer concept designed for minimal operating costs, with reduced maintenance and optimized resource consumption. LEIBINGER’s state-of-the-art CIJ printers have the lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) offering optimized consumables and power consumption, and minimum maintenance. Unlike other printer providers, we focus on replacing only necessary spare parts, avoiding the need to replace entire ink core modules. Another key advantage is reduced solvent consumption. LEIBINGER’s IQJET uses only 2.7 ml of solvent per hour, compared to competitors’ 6-10 ml, resulting in significant cost savings and lower emissions over time. Furthermore, this advanced printer is uniquely designed to be maintenance-free for 5 years—unmatched in the CIJ market, where competitors typically require maintenance every 1.5 to 2 years.
WCI: Tell us the share of CIJ printers’ market in the Indian cable & wire industry.
TR: LEIBINGER printers are used across various industries, including food, beverage, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, automotive, semiconductors, and, of course, wire and cable. Wherever reliable marking is required, LEIBINGER printers are in demand. The cable market is particularly important for us, with India being one of the leading cable manufacturing countries, home to many global leaders—many of whom are already Indomax and LEIBINGER customers. We hold a leading position in this segment. LEIBINGER offers a broad product range, from affordable entry-level models for standard applications to advanced printers for specialized requirements, ensuring a solution for companies of all sizes.
Shyam Shet: LEIBINGER commands a leading position in the Indian cable & wire segment. Because of its highest productivity and lowest TCO many of the leading cable & wire manufacturers in India like Prysmian, Sterlite Technologies, Finolex Cables, LAPP India, HFCL, Polycab, Birla Cables, Havells India, APAR Industries, SBEE Cables, ZTT India, Aberdare Technologies, West Coast Optilinks, have reflected their faith in LEIBINGER brand.
LEIBINGER captures maximum OFC manufacturers. LEIBINGER JET Rapid wire series makes printing possible at very high speeds of over 700mpm on OFC ribbons and fibres, thus making JET Rapid wire the default choice in these high-speed applications.
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WCI: Tell us about the capabilities that CIJ printers should possess to cater to the cable & wire industry. What are the recent technologies and trends emerging in the cable printing sector?
TR: The trends in CIJ printers for the cable and wire industry are increasingly focused on maximum flexibility and seamless operation. In cable extrusion, manufacturers work with a wide variety of materials and colors, requiring marking solutions that can adapt between light and dark cables, as well as different surfaces. Flexibility in switching between different print jobs is essential, as each cable may have unique marking requirements, including regulatory compliance and specific end-use purposes.
CIJ printers must offer easy and quick changeovers between production runs, making user-friendliness and the ability to handle diverse coding and marking needs critical for efficient operations. These capabilities ensure that manufacturers can maintain smooth production without delays, while meeting the industry’s high standards for product traceability and compliance.
Another important trend is the push for maximum automation. Coding & marking systems must integrate seamlessly into existing production lines, offering extensive connectivity options. This ensures smooth communication with other systems and allows for efficient operation. Additionally, ease of use is crucial, as operators need solutions that are simple to handle in day-to-day production, reducing downtime and enhancing overall efficiency.
LEIBINGER is a leader in this area with its Plug & Print printers. The IQJET, for example, features an integrated PLC, OPC UA standard, and cloud connectivity. Other LEIBINGER printers, such as the JET 3 up, JET 3 Rapid, and Rapid Wire, also offer a wide range of interface options for seamless integration. Speaking of the JET Rapid and JET Rapid Wire, this brings us to another key trend: speed. Cable manufacturers need to consistently meet their production targets, and LEIBINGER printers reliably mark cables at speeds of up to 1,000 m/min—about as fast as a sprinting lion. This is a record in the CIJ marking market, setting LEIBINGER apart as the fastest solution available for high-speed cable production.
Sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint are also major concerns in the cable market, and this focus will continue to grow. With LEIBINGER systems, our customers are equipped with future-proof solutions that aim for minimal resource consumption, whether it’s solvent use or energy efficiency.
WCI: Can you elaborate on how LEIBINGER’s superior technology has helped your clients with distinct results?
TR: LEIBINGER printers have benefited several customers worldwide in enhancing their productivity and overall printing efficiency! Prysmian, a global leader, recently praised its partnership with LEIBINGER, particularly for providing a coding solution capable of handling a wide range of materials in their production, including rubber, PVC, ETFE, XLPE, and polyurethane. Permanently marking these diverse materials is a significant challenge.
SS: In India one of the leading optic fibre cable manufacturers was finding a challenge of printing on OFC cables at speeds of over 600mpm. Here the LEIBINGER, JET Rapid wire printer series turned out to be saviour. Jet Rapid Wire printer with its unique bevelled print head design and 128 kHz drop frequency made printing at speeds over 600mpm a breeze.
Ink adhesion is a challenge while printing on low surface energy wires, like PE, HDPE, etc. At one such leading customer in India, we offered them our UV curable inks, which provide excellent adhesion and the print quality is as good as permanent.
WCI: It’s clear that after sales service plays a crucial role, can you also elaborate on Indomax’s service infrastructure.
SS: Indomax with its headquarter in Pune and regional offices spread across the major zones in India, is well equipped to serve the customers across the length & breadth of the country.
We believe that it’s important to emphasize that when selecting a marking solution, it’s not just about delivery time but also the quality of consultation and support provided before the purchase and during installation. At Indomax and LEIBINGER, we offer exceptional customer service that goes far beyond the standard. We provide free sampling of your cables—completely non-binding and incredibly fast, within just a few days.
