Artis Laminates launches a 1mm folder of its premium range of laminates in Chandigarh on April 16, 2023. The programme was broadcast live on Ply Reporter's Facebook page. The programme started with a lamp-lighting ceremony done by Mr Rajeev Gupta, MD, Artis Laminates along with Ms Sandhya Gupta; Mr Karan Gupta, Director, Artis Laminates along with Ms Barkha Gupta. Artis Laminates was founded in 2017 by the Unique Group, Yamunanagar. With over 30 years of experience, they are also one of the oldest plywood manufacturers in the country. The company built its first sprawling high-tech manufacturing unit, certified by ISI and the Indian Green Building Council, in Yamunanagar, with a production capacity of over 3.2 million laminates per year.
Mr Karan Gupta, Director, Artis Laminates, gave a product presentation after launching the folder and said, "This catalogue has over 20 collections and highlighters as per trending in the market that include digital veneer collection, matching pestle colours, the widest range of flute collection, zero finishes, wooden and stone finishes in zero finishes, the widest range of stones and marbles, the super matt collection, ten different finishes in pestle colours and fabrics, etc. With HPL Technology, ARTIS Zero Maintenance Laminate has made a mark in the hearts of the Indian consumer and is counted among India's best-quality laminate brands. The manufacturing plant is spread over an area of 4 acres and powered by solar energy.
Mr Rajiv Gupta, MD, Artis Laminates addressed the audience and said, "With this new range of laminates, Artis Laminate has tried to give a quality product into the market. With this folder, we have entered the 1mm laminate segment. We started in the laminate business four years ago, but we have 30 years of experience in the plywood business. Besides, we are in battery manufacturing. For all segments of business, our motto is to fulfil our commitment, whether it is to promise for quality, a value for money product, or price, we deliver according to the promise made to the customers."
Mr Karan Gupta, Director, Artis Laminate, welcomed the audience and said, "He joined his father in the business after completing his studies in the UK." Along with our plywood business, we were finding new segments to opt for, and after a long period of research, we found that laminate is a good product where we can serve better. With a vision to offer a high-quality product, we led the foundation of Artis Laminate in setting up the latest and best machinery and infrastructure. Quality and service are the main pillars of this industry, and for that reason we maintain a proper inventory of stocks with good designs and textures. The 1 mm catalogue received a very positive response. To make this catalogue outstanding, we did really hard work and lots of research for the selection of designs and textures."
Mr Karan’s younger brother, Mr Kunal Gupta, gave a video message from the United States. He is studying in his final year of graduation at the University of Virginia, USA. He is planning to join Artis soon. He said, "The launch of the 1mm folder is a major milestone for our company, which never would have been possible without the support of dealers and distributors. I hope to bring new ideas and experiences that I have gained by living here and add some American flair to my Indian roots. We have a global comprehensive study to break down the best new and upcoming designs and textures in this catalogue. The folder is the result of years of R&D, and we are confident that it will be a game changer for our company."
Q&A with Mr Rajiv Gupta, MD, and Mr Karan Gupta, Director, Artis Laminates
Q. You worked ethically in the plywood segment for a long period, what is your vision and thought for the laminate industry?
Mr Rajiv Gupta: We have already been doing laminate for four years, and our vision and policy are the same. We are moving forward in the plywood industry with a value-for-money product with no compromise in quality or service. The most important thing is to maintain very good quality.
Q. What was the inspiration that drew you into the laminate industry after completing your studies?
Mr Karan Gupta: It was a self developed inspiration, and when I came into business, I found in my research that 1mm was a long-lasting product, and it was a dream product to bring to the market.
Q. You came into 0.8mm first, and there are no pan-India distributors. So, what is your message to the viewers about how you will move ahead in 1mm?
Mr Karan Gupta: Wherever we have our presence, we are doing very well, and our capacity is being consumed very easily by that select market. Our network expansion is a continuous process, and for 1mm we will do much better in this direction, which will be supported with designs, innovation, and excellent service.
Q. You have come a long way with quality, service, and ethics in business. What is your future plan in terms of capacity, product offerings, and as a whole service to the industries?
Mr Rajiv Gupta: Our plan is to cater to the domestic industry, and later on we are looking forward to exports. With coming requirements, we will increase our production capacity. Thirdly, we will be adding more products, whether through manufacturing or any other means. So, in all three cases, we are open to exploring new opportunities. We must give back to the market at least as much as we have received from it. To make the newly launched premium range in Artis Laminates, we have to focus on quality, service, the latest designs, innovation, and business ethics. I guarantee that all four aspects will be considered with the utmost care.
Distributors’ Opinion
Q. Bangalore, or even Karnataka, is a very promising market for 1mm; what is your expectation from Artis Laminates’ new and innovative offerings in the 1mm collection?
Mr Rajan Rungta, Balaji Trading Co, Bangalore: Bangalore is a vast market, not only for laminate but also for the masses and the classes. The market is always ready to accept new designs and textures. Zerofinish is hot right now, not only in Bangalore but all over India. Artis laminates' with zero finishes in pestle colours will do wonders across the country. I am very hopeful that this folder will do wonders.
Q. Pune is a promising market; you must have vision to make Artis Laminates reach the top.
Mr Rajender Aggarwal, Lotus Plywood, Pune: A new offering is always appreciated in the market; we were waiting a long time for this folder. Our strategy will work fine, and for that, we have fixed the marketing plan among the areas divided into different zones. We have been associated with Artis since their inception. I would like to say that our orders are always pending with the company, and I hope the 1mm laminate orders will also be pending with the grace of God.
Q. In a sense, the UP market is primarily a 0.8 mm market, but having responsibility for 1 mm would be a challenging task, what do you say?
Mr Gautam Arora, Innovative World, Kanpur: It is true that UP is mostly known as a 0.8mm market, but now the leading companies are aggressively promoting 1mm in UP, and with those efforts slowly the market is changing. The new players are also not trying to promote lower thickness very much. What I can foresee is that the coming times will favour 1 mm, and it will take off in the near future as the interior and contractors now prefer 1mm. Artis Laminates has come up at the right time. Those who are selling under-thick material, their future is in the dark.
Q. Despite the fact that you are from the hub of laminate, how will you move ahead with a brand based in North India?
Mr Rupesh Patel, Kailash Sales Corporation, Ahmedabad: Now transportation is not a major issue in the laminate industry because what is more important is service and quality. If thats excellent, you can sell laminate anywhere. Now Indian laminates are being sold in overseas countries also.
Mr Rupesh Gupta, R D Trading Company, Hisar: The success of laminate depends on the designs, quality, and service. Artis laminate is local to us, so there is no issue of designs. We are associated with them for three years, and there is not every single complaint, even in their 0.8-mm laminates. What I show in the presentation is today’s trend, like fabric, stone, veneer, pestle colours, etc. It will move quickly across the country? Ye hunar, ye sadgi apnepan ki murat nahi dekhi! Kirdar to bhut dekhe jamane men, magar aap jaise sakhsiyat nahi dekhi.