Zahir Hassan from Thalassery in Kerala’s Kannur district, is managing director of Power Print LLC, Dubai,a leading commercial printer in the UAE
Even though the world is said to be moving towards a paperless world and the printed word is becoming less relevant due to the ongoing digital revolution, the printing industry in the Gulf region, equipped with the latest machinery, has been growing by leaps and bounds. There is no dearth of printing jobs for Power Print, a 10-year-old company that Zahir started.
Hailing from the place where Dr Herman Gundert, the famous 19thcentury German scholar and linguist, started one of the first printing presses in India’s Malabar coast, Zahir may have printed several million pages and words in his two and a .half decades in the UAE’s printing industry.
The depth of the printing industry in the UAE can be gauged from the fact that even ballot paper for national elections in Iraq, Afghanistan or sometimes Pakistan and some African countriesare printed in the country’s printing presses. So are textbooks of many schools and universities around the world, especially African countries .which lack printing presses.
After costs skyrocketed in Europe and South East Asia, the printing business in the UAE got a boost as an economical outsource zone.As the pulp and paper industry in Europe relocated to countries with lower costs due to deforestation and high labour costs, printing work also .migrated to low-cost regions like Dubai Zahir saw this trend well in advance, thanks to his deep knowledge of the printing industry in every region of the world, the result of heading a reputed printing business in Dubai for many years.
Zahir came to the UAE in 1986 to work as amedia executive for an advertising agency in Dubai. While working there in different positions, he obtained an MBA from TIU Missouri and a Ph.D. in marketing from North CarolinaUniversity, USA.
After 16 years with Zabeel Printing Press, he decided to quit his job as general manager/managing directorand started Power Point LLC in Dubai. In just 10 years, Power Print has grown to become one of the leading print solutions specialists in the region. The companyoperates from a 30,000 square feet integrated printing complex, equipped with the latest printing machinery,in Al Quoz It also has a 10,000 square feet warehouse to store raw materials and finishedproducts.
Power Print has grown to become one of the leading print solutions specialists in the region. The companyoperates from a 30,000 square feet integrated printing complex,equipped with the latest printing machinery
Another reason for major printing presses to come to the UAE was that quality herewas up to western standards. Like in many other fields, Dubai became a cost-effective place for outsourcing high quality printing work. The UAE government encouraged the industry by setting up the International Media Production Zone (IMPZ), thus enhancing Dubai’srole as a global printing hub. Even though some printing presses faced problems during the recession which started in 2008, the industry is once again humming with full order books.
In view of growing demand from international customers, Power Print has created a dedicated team to take care of overseas printing projects. The company’s location in Al Qouz Industrial Area makes it accessible to all major ports and airports,which makes for easy transportation of finished products to the client’s destination. Trained and experienced staff combined with automated process systemsin all areas ofits operationsallow Power Print to cater to demanding clients from all over the world. Use of modern technology in receiving and sending digital files to and from the pre-press department makes its international operations not much different from doing business locally. The company has been efficiently handling many international print projects on time without compromising quality.Zahirgradually expanded his business which can now give any commercial printing or luxury packaging solution. Since Dubai isalso the marketing hub of the region, the emirate’s printing sector benefited frominnovations in packaging and aggressive branding campaigns. In providing the finest printing products and solutions, Power Print competes with major printing houses not only in the UAE but also from the region. Its professionals can be relied on for attention to detail.
The company was recognized by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Printing and Publishing Group with ‘Quality and Innovation’ Award at the Dubai International Print Awards. Ever since the annual award was started in 2006, Power Print has been regularly emerging as a winner.
The company’s consultancy group helps clients design marketing and advertising material in a professional way. Whether it is designing and printing eye-catching catalogues, brochures, promotional boxes, books, leaflets, point of sales materials or even wedding invitations, Power Print is the last word in printing in Dubai.
Power Print has a diversified portfolio of clients, including the two leading telecommunications companies in the UAE, Etisalat and du. Both telecom giants get their SIM card packaging printed by Power Fill Packaging, a subsidiary of Power Print, which was launched in 2009. The company has also been seeking partners from different countries including France and Kenya for joint ventures in Kenya and Afghanistan. A French company has shortlisted Power Print as a potential partner for their Middle Eastern expansion. Dubai Media City, owned by TECOM, has recognized Power Point with a certificate of appreciation for its contribution as a reliable and most valued supplier.
A lot of customers and business enquiries are coming to Power Print through word-of-mouth endorsement. The company has got ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accreditation. Aware of the environment, the company operates a waste disposal system for paper and chemicals. All waste paper is recycled and Dubai Municipality officials inspect the plant every month.
For the 10-year-old printing press, the economic downturn of 2008 and the digital revolution brought major challenges. Thanks to the presence of an experienced printer and manager at the helm of affairs, Power Print not only survived the crisis, in which many firms closed down, but learnt the technique of making optimum use of its printing capacity. When every marketing manager was talking about the impact of the digital revolution on printing presses, Zahir realized that digitalizationis still in its infancyin the UAE. The major challenge came from the worldwide recession of 2008 which impacted the local printing industry.
For his commendable projects and initiatives, he was bestowed with the Bharath Gourav Award by the Indian government
During the pre-2008unprecedented economic boom in the UAE,especially in real estate and construction, most printing presses were on an expansion spree, adding newand expensive machines. Separate printing units to handle real estate and construction clients were set up.
When the crisis hit hard, suddenly everything crashed like a house of cards and the severe recession caused red ink to spill on the balance sheets of both new and established players in the printing industry.While new orders almost dried out, payments for completed works were slow to come, causing severe financial problems in the printing industry. With about 200 firms with excess printing capacity trying to grab shrinking orders, the industry was squeezed from both sides. As a result, a number of presses closed down.
Without compromising on the long-term health of the printing industry, Zahir decided to keep part of the total production capacity idle for sometime, thereby reducing utility payments and cost of manpower. Power Print also started dealing directly with clients, especially multinational ones. By eliminating middlemen, the cost of producing brochures and other corporate promotional material came down, attracting a number of cost-conscious clients to the company.
Power Print is using a state-of the-art printing machine with an average life span of three years. The company invested Dh30 million in October 2011 for new printing machinery for the packaging section to meet growing demand from local packaging customers. Luxury packaging accounts for 40 per cent of the company’s business. New investment for expansion is planned for the second half of 2014. Zahir also wants Power Print to have its own building.
Zahir is also active in socio-cultural groups and trade bodies. A founder member of the Printing and Publishing Group under the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he is currently theinfluential trade body’s vice-chairman, a coveted position for an Indian expatriate. An eminent member of the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC), he has been widely quoted in the media about the local printing industry. IBPC is an influential business network forum of leading Indian businessmen and professionals in the UAE.
Married to Shahnaz, Zahirhas been blessed with three daughters, namely,Shireen, Sharfa and Shaza. For his commendable projects and initiatives, he was bestowed with the Bharath Gourav Award by the Indian government. A keen reader and constant learner, he is also apast president of the Brennen College. Alumni Association in the UAE.