India's packaging industry is changing quickly, and according to Pranav Bhalara, one of the biggest drivers is the growing demand for flexibility. As more startups, emerging brands and niche products enter the market, packaging providers are being asked to produce shorter runs, more variations and faster turnarounds than ever before.
Pranav believes digital print is helping make that shift possible. While conventional packaging remains strong across India, digital technology is opening the door to new applications, lower minimum order quantities and more opportunities for experimentation. For brands that want to test products, launch quickly or introduce multiple versions of the same package, digital offers capabilities that traditional methods often struggle to match.
At Balaji Multi-Flex, those capabilities are creating new opportunities across a wide range of industries. The company has expanded beyond its traditional focus and now produces packaging for products including coffee, nutraceuticals, honey, wet wipes, and other emerging consumer categories. Variable designs, customized packaging and unique pouch formats are becoming increasingly common as brands look for ways to stand out in crowded markets.
Pranav also sees changing consumer expectations influencing packaging decisions. Customers increasingly want products tailored to their needs, and brands are responding with greater personalization, more product variety and packaging designed to support shorter production cycles. Digital technology allows packaging providers to keep pace with those expectations while maintaining quality and speed.
Looking ahead, he expects both conventional and digital packaging to continue growing in India. But he believes the strongest opportunities will belong to companies that embrace innovation, stay close to customer needs and remain willing to invest in new capabilities as the market evolves.
For packaging providers, the future may not be about choosing between conventional and digital — it may be about combining both to unlock new possibilities.
