Bringing decades of global pulp and paper industry experience across the US, Europe, and Canada, in an exclusive interview with Paper Mart, Mr. Arvind Singhal, CEO and Director of Parason Machinery, shares a clear-eyed view of an industry shaped by cycles, disruption, and resilience. In this wide-ranging conversation, he outlines Parason’s philosophy of simplicity, transparency, and practical value creation for customers. He emphasizes on how sustainability, AI, and practical innovation will define both the company’s growth and the industry’s future. He reflects on the evolution of paper demand from writing & printing to packaging paper and tissue paper over time.
Paper Mart: Please introduce yourself, your role at Parason, and how has the journey been so far?
Arvind Singhal: I joined Parason Machinery in February 2025, so it has been about ten months now. Before this, I spent most of my professional career working in the US and Europe with global pulp and paper companies. Coming back to work with an Indian company has been a very positive experience. I see strong talent, capable machines, and the right infrastructure here. Parason Machinery has everything needed to grow into a major global player, and it is exciting to be part of that journey.
PM: As CEO and Director of Parason Machinery, what is your vision for the company?
AS: Our vision is very simple– simplicity itself. Over the years, the pulp and paper machinery industry has become overly complicated. Large suppliers often use excessive technical language, which creates confusion for customers. When customers are confused, they struggle to understand what they truly need. At Parason, we want to eliminate that confusion. When customers ask questions, they should receive straight, clear answers without unnecessary jargon. Simplicity and transparency are deeply rooted in Indian culture, and I believe this approach will win in the long run.
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PM: What are you displaying at Paperex 2025, and how has your experience been so far?
AS: This is my first time attending Paperex personally, although Parason has been exhibiting here for many years. I am genuinely impressed. I have attended exhibitions worldwide, and Paperex is one of the best-organized events I have seen. The venue, layout, and convenience are excellent. What stands out most is that many visitors here are actual decision-makers. You get to speak directly with people who influence purchasing and strategy, understand their expectations immediately, and have meaningful conversations—all in one place.
PM: How does Parason support paper mills in improving efficiency and sustainability across their pulp and paper processes?
AS: Sustainability is something we actively practice, not just talk about. Internally, Parason has made significant investments toward green energy and sustainability goals. For example, more than 50% of the energy used in our foundry comes from solar power, which is very rare in the global paper machinery industry. This allows us to speak credibly with customers about sustainability. Beyond that, we focus on energy solutions, continuous audits, and process optimization. We have strong technical teams who regularly evaluate processes to identify efficiency improvements and energy-saving opportunities.
PM: Are there any new developments or innovations that Parason is working on to better serve the paper industry?
AS: Yes, we are working on several innovations that we believe will significantly impact the way certain processes are handled in the industry. At this stage, many of these developments are proprietary, so I would prefer not to go into specific details. What I can say is that these innovations are aligned with our core philosophy of simplicity, transparency, and practical value for customers. We are very excited about what is coming.
PM: You have witnessed multiple cycles in the pulp and paper industry over the decades. How has the industry evolved in your view?
AS: I have been associated with the paper industry since the early 1980s. When I was studying at the University of Roorkee, we were shown how closely paper consumption correlated with GDP growth. The conclusion was simple: as economies grow, paper consumption grows. That connection between economic development and paper demand has remained true over the decades.
However, I have also lived through major disruptions. In the late 1990s, the rise of the internet drastically impacted printing and publishing grades. Businesses that once seemed permanent declined rapidly. The newspaper industry followed a similar path, and for a long period—from the late 1990s to the early 2010s—it appeared as though the paper industry was shrinking globally. I recall working in Muskegon, Michigan, producing high-quality paper for brochures and commercial printing, and then witnessing the impact of AOL and the internet in 1998, which cut demand for printed materials in half almost overnight. Later, while working in Canada with the newspaper industry, I saw the decline continue as digital platforms replaced traditional advertising and news, and paper schools had almost no enrollment—Western Michigan University had only three students in the entire paper program at one point.
Yet, the industry demonstrated resilience. From around 2010 to 2020, the global demand for paper surged, driven largely by packaging and e-commerce. There was simply not enough paper being produced to meet demand, highlighting how critical the industry is for commerce and logistics. Then came COVID-19, which temporarily disrupted supply chains and production, but demand rebounded quickly.
Throughout these decades, I have seen cycles of decline and growth, influenced by technological shifts, consumer behavior, and global events. For example, energy prices, raw material availability, and logistics costs have impacted India differently than other countries, while Europe has faced challenges due to high electricity costs from geopolitical issues like the Ukraine war. These cyclical changes show that while short-term disruptions happen, the long-term trajectory of the paper industry remains upward.
Today, certain segments are booming: tissue, specialty papers like décor and laminate papers, and packaging paper driven by e-commerce and rising middle-class demand. The industry continues to evolve with technology, AI, and automation, but the core principle remains: paper adapts, survives, and continues to be essential in both industrial and consumer contexts.
Packaging remains the largest segment globally and will continue to dominate. Tissue Paper is also growing rapidly, particularly in India, where per capita consumption still has significant room to increase.
PM: What are some of the major trends and challenges we are seeing in the industry today?
AS: Currently, the industry is experiencing some level of overcapacity, which has slowed investments in certain regions, including India. India also faces challenges such as high raw material costs, inefficient logistics, and high electricity prices compared to countries like the US. These factors impact competitiveness. At the same time, Europe is facing its own challenges due to high energy costs driven by geopolitical factors. However, these cycles are temporary, and the industry has always recovered from similar situations in the past.
PM: Which paper segments do you see growing strongly in the coming years?
AS: Packaging remains the largest segment globally and will continue to dominate. Tissue paper is also growing rapidly, particularly in India, where per capita consumption still has significant room to increase. Specialty papers—especially décor and laminate base papers—are another strong growth area, driven by rising incomes, better housing, and lifestyle changes.
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PM: How is Parason integrating AI and automation into its processes and customer solutions?
AS: AI is a powerful tool for us, especially in creating transparency for customers. Traditionally, suppliers often rely on “black box” models where customers are expected to trust outputs without understanding the logic behind them. We want to change that. Our goal is to give customers tools where they can input variables themselves, compare scenarios, and arrive at conclusions independently. AI helps us develop these tools faster and more effectively. As a relatively agile organization, we can move quickly and adapt to customer needs.
PM: What is your overall outlook for the future of the paper industry and Parason Machinery?
AS: Nobody can predict the future with certainty, but based on decades of experience, I am confident that the paper industry will continue to evolve and remain essential. Cycles will come and go, but paper will not disappear. At Parason, with our focus on simplicity, transparency, sustainability, and technology, I believe our future is very strong.
