S Kumar eyes East Africa expansion with Zonten, targets Kenya hub in 2026

KENYA – S Kumar, the India-based distributor of Zonten presses and converting equipment, is planning to expand into East Africa with a local presence in Kenya by 2026, aiming to strengthen support for converters in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The company says the move is driven by rising demand for affordable label and packaging machinery, with managing director Manish Hansoti describing East Africa as a high-potential market that remains underserved by equipment suppliers.

“We are planning to start operations for Zonten in East Africa, mainly in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda,” Hansoti said.

“We have had a few installations recently, and most printers in the region are Indian-owned. They rely on support from India because they are connected to the Indian market.”

Hansoti noted that geographical access from India provides a service advantage, particularly for time-sensitive technical support.

“There are several flights from Ahmedabad and Mumbai to the Middle East and Africa within a span of eight to 10 hours, which allows us to provide timely service and support,” he added.

S Kumar has already supported Zonten installations in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and now sees East Africa as one of the last major “virgin” growth opportunities.

“This is a virgin market, there’s not much presence of machine suppliers yet,” Hansoti said. “The neighboring countries are getting saturated, so we’re looking to set up something new in this region.”

Affordable technology for a price-sensitive market

Zonten’s portfolio spans compact slitting and converting systems as well as high-end flexo, semi-rotary, and full-rotary offset solutions.

At Labelexpo Europe 2025, the company showcased an economical flexo configuration aimed at Africa and other price-sensitive regions, featuring two servo drives and a flower-type mode, with speeds up to 160m/min.

Among key platforms promoted was the ZTR-FL modular flexo press (370/430/560), supporting UV/LED curing, die-cutting, slitting, cold foil and optional online inspection.

Zonten also highlighted its ZTJ Series intermittent offset press, positioned for short-to-mid run label production through high-resolution output, tight colour control and reduced waste.

S Kumar said it has recently installed a second intermittent offset press at Ramdoot Packaging as part of ongoing rollout efforts.

Hybrid and converting solutions gain traction

Zonten also introduced the ZTD-350 hybrid digital-flexo press using Epson printheads, combining W + CMYKW digital output with flexo units for enhancement, variable data and rapid changeovers.

In converting, the ZMQ Series Multi Converting System integrates flexo, flatbed hot foil, screen printing, cold foil, intermittent die-cutting, IML cutting and sheeting in a compact footprint.

The ZMQ platform is designed to add embellishment to digitally or conventionally printed labels, and a Nairobi-based customer has reportedly installed an embellishment unit to support its digital press.

Building local support for converters

Initial installations in East Africa include stack-type flexo presses, embellishment machines, die-cutters and hot foil converting equipment, often complementing digital systems such as HP Indigo presses already in the market.

To improve responsiveness, S Kumar plans to appoint a local marketing and engineering representative, beginning with a resident engineer who can handle both technical support and commercial engagement.

“You cannot provide the required support without a local presence,” Hansoti said. “Initially, we’ll have a resident engineer who can handle both technical and marketing functions, and we’ll see how it develops.”

S Kumar is targeting fast-growing end-use segments including food, healthcare, beverages, lubricants and pharmaceuticals, positioning its expansion as part of a longer-term push to support a more self-sufficient printing ecosystem in East Africa.

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