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| Rajendran, ‘Perfect Print’, Pettah, Thiruvananthapuram |
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Rajendran, who never passed even 10th standard, has invented the compact offset printing machine that costs just a fraction of the regular machine and can be operated by even a 7th standard student. His firm ‘Perfect Print’ is now a noted entrant in the field of quality printing machinery.
While his friends used to play after school hours, Rajendran used to observe types in the printing press of his relative, with whom he stayed in Bangalore. While studying in class 6 he printed the first page using letterpress but the poor quality and crude noise disappointed him. After coming back to Kerala and while working in various presses, he dreamt and worked hard towards improving the machine.
By that time offset machines had come to the scene. He wanted to own one but the prohibitive cost of Rs.4.5 lakhs made him think of designing one on his own.
His first attempt was to put together a Double Dummy machine. With no background in lathe work or welding, he prepared a plan and had it fabricated. Although he succeeded, the machine could print only 2000 copies per hour when the expected output was 6000. The hard work of 1 year cost his dearly. He had to sell off his house and plot and move into a rented house to clear his debts.
With confidence as his assistant, he attempted next to build a plan mini offset press. This machine, brought out in 1997 was a completed technical success, though for the 1st year he could just sell 1. But the market was only waiting to get a feedback of the performance and next year he could sell 5 machines.
From then onwards it has been a steady progress for ‘Perfect Print’. His product won awards in the print festival conducted at Madurai and Bangalore.
He dreams of completing the Double Dummy machine, but tempers his enthusiasm with this realistic assessment: “for experiments one needs money. If I fail, there will not be anyone to support me.”
Rajendran with his machine
Courtesy: C.N.Viswanathan, Kerala Kaumudi, December 14, 2003
Contributed by: Administrator
