Control Print: Revolutionizing the Unseen World of Industrial Coding and Sustainable Packaging
"In many consumer goods, the packaging actually costs more than the item inside. Yet, the most critical information—the expiry date, the batch code, the MRP—is often printed in the 'unseen' world of the production line." This insight from Shiva Kabra, Joint Managing Director of Control Print, reveals the hidden engine behind India’s organized retail boom. As the country moves from loose sugar and milk to branded, packaged goods, Control Print’s industrial inkjet technology has become the silent guardian of product purity and consumer safety.
Founded in 1991, during an era when "startups" were not yet a cultural phenomenon, Control Print was born out of a unique twist of fortune involving a debt repayment. Today, it stands as one of India’s largest manufacturers of coding and marking equipment, serving industries ranging from shampoo and soda to cement and electrical cables. Shiva Kabra, a mathematics and economics graduate with an MBA from INSEAD, has successfully transitioned this legacy manufacturing firm into a tech-forward leader in track-and-trace systems and sustainable packaging.
The Fortune of a Debt: The Founding of Control Print
The origin of Control Print is a "strange story" of entrepreneurial courage. In 1991, Shiva’s father had lent money to a friend who couldn't pay it back. As part payment, the friend handed over a tiny, struggling business called Control Print. Shiva's father, who already ran a large plastics trading setup and had founded ABS Industries (India’s first engineering polymer manufacturer), saw a spark in the printing business that others missed.
"My father felt there was more scope in this business than his existing trading lines," Shiva recalls. "He had the courage to divert funds from a 30-year-old family business to invest in this new technology-driven industry." At the time, industrial printing tech didn't exist in India—everything was imported. This insight that India was ready for organized packaging proved to be a multi-decade winner.
The Industrial Printing lifecycle
- Variable Data Input: Systems receive real-time data like batch numbers, MRP, and manufacturing timestamps.
- High-Speed Coding: Specialized industrial inkjet or laser printers apply the data to products moving at high velocity on conveyor belts.
- Consumable Management: The continuous supply of specialized inks and solvents tailored for different surfaces (plastic, metal, paper).
- Track & Trace: Integrating variable QR codes into the supply chain to prevent counterfeiting and manage logistics.
The Successor's Challenge: Earning Trust
Shiva Kabra’s path to the family business was non-linear. After studying in the US and working as an investment banker in New York, he was set to take a job in Singapore when his father’s partner left the firm. "I came back to India temporarily, perhaps to be closer to my girlfriend at the time," Shiva admits. "But I ended up staying, getting married, and getting stuck in the business during an existential crisis in 2007."
The transition was slow and required Shiva to prove himself on the "pitch." He emphasizes that respect in a manufacturing setup cannot be commanded—it must be earned. By spending time on the ground and showing an awareness of the "reality of the floor," he earned the trust of a team that had been running the show for decades. "It’s like Cricket," he notes. "You can have a reputation, but you still have to play the ball that’s coming at you."
Control Print Impact by the Numbers
- 1991: Year of founding, amidst the initial waves of Indian liberalization.
- 4-5 Years: Time taken to recover from the company's major 2007 technology partnership crisis.
- Hundreds of Billions: The global size of the digital printing industry Control Print operates in.
- 95%: Of Shiva’s own reading is still done via physical print, reflecting his belief in the medium's longevity.
- Top Tier: Recognized as one of India's largest manufacturers of coding and marking solutions.
The Future of Print: Digital and Traceable
Despite the digital revolution, the volume of physical printing continues to grow. Shiva believes the "serious" nature of print ensures its future. In the industrial world, this means moving beyond simple date codes to **Track and Trace** systems. By printing variable QR codes on every individual product, Control Print allows manufacturers to track an item through the entire supply chain, from the factory floor to the consumer's hand.
The company is also pivoting toward **Sustainability**. With the growing environmental impact of packaging waste, Control Print is investing in R&D for recyclable and compostable packaging solutions. "There is a negative connotation with packaging when you see bags of chips on a beach," Shiva says. "We are working to reduce the environmental footprint of the industry we serve."
— Shiva Kabra, JMD, Control Print
Leadership and the "Genuine" Entrepreneur
For Shiva Kabra, an entrepreneur isn't just someone who founds a company—it’s anyone who takes ownership and pushes boundaries to deliver excellence. He believes the true differentiator is **Passion**. Whether it's opening a small restaurant or running a listed manufacturing giant, the ability to galvanize a team around a meaningful USP is what defines success.
Successor’s Wisdom for Family Businesses
- Earn Your Trust: Don't expect to lead on day one. Earn the respect of your veterans by showing you understand the ground reality.
- Work from the Grassroots: Practical, hands-on experience is the only way to make sound judgments at the board level.
- Reinvent Every Day: Reaching a revenue goal provides only momentary satisfaction. The real game is starting again the next day with fresh fire.
- Process the Pain: When a major partner leaves or technology fails, look for the learning opportunity. Crisis is often where the next growth phase begins.
The Silent guardian of the Supply Chain
As India’s organized packaging industry continues to expand, Control Print remains at the forefront, ensuring that the "unseen" information on our daily products remains accurate, traceable, and secure. Shiva Kabra’s journey from New York banking to the heart of Indian manufacturing proves that with the right intention and a relentless focus on the "floor," legacy businesses can lead the charge into a sustainable, digital future.
"There is always going to be a space for physical retail alongside e-commerce," Shiva concludes. "And as long as there is a physical package, there will be a need for the high-speed, variable information that keeps our world moving."
Key Takeaways
For Manufacturing Leaders: Don't fear the "successor" transition. Focus on earned respect and grassroots awareness to maintain the company's culture while introducing innovation.
For Industrial Tech Founders: The moat in this industry isn't just the machine; it's the integration into the production line and the reliability of the track-and-trace data.
For Consumers: That small code on the bottom of your shampoo bottle is the result of decades of industrial innovation, ensuring your product is genuine, fresh, and safe.
About the Guest
Shiva Kabra is the Joint Managing Director of Control Print Limited. A graduate of Grinnell College with a double major in Mathematics and Economics and an MBA from INSEAD, he previously worked as an investment banker in New York. Under his leadership, Control Print has expanded its global footprint through strategic acquisitions and pioneered the development of high-speed track-and-trace and sustainable packaging solutions in India.