Just ordered an i-Image ST...

[244]

Must be Nutmeg

Bingo!

[Gilligan]

Well - we can't wait!! I'll keep everyone in the loop. Rich, 244, I appreciate your support.

We are already looking to the log-jams this will cause (we have been looking at this for quite awhile)- there are many.

Staging MUST happen in a more productive way!!
Set up times will accelerate dramatically...
As we speed up production, QC will be hit with a tidal wave of printed cotton (just one area we need to "adjust").
We have 2 shifts doing screens now - what will the second shift do?? (we already have answers - no one will be let go).
The art room should be done by noon as a result of "not screwing around with film". (we will get them more work)
Shippping will start much sooner than before.
Receiving will have to be on top of their game - (they are now but....)

I can tell you that the most fun has been preping all our "teams" for this and they totally understand the implications. We have been working on this for quite some time.

Thanks for your help and support......

I like this!

[ScreenPrinter123]

Obviously this will speed things up with the film, as you mentioned, but I'd be highly interested in knowing with spot color jobs (non-process) - and in particular butt registration designs and top colors on top a white ub -- how registration is. I'd imagine it should be dead on 100 out of 100 times?  Guess you'll find out every day of the week!  Let us know how that goes - that would be amazing to have to not micro a job on a permanent basis and makes it more appealing for smaller shops who need more time handling other aspects of our operation aside from screenprinting, but will never have the throughput you do. 

Congrats.

[bimmridder]

Don't assume that going CTS will instantly make set ups dead on all the time. CTS is ONE PART of your system. Sure, your screens will will register to each other within .001". But if you have low quality screens, mesh tensions all over the place, press not in top form, etc, you WILL still have set up issues. I'm not implying Ron's entire operation is not top notch. It sounds like he's been very thorough. But don't think CTS will magically solve every issue in your shop. On the flip side, you will find quality improvements, time saving, etc. that you hadn't even considered.

Congrats on your new purchase. It will can  be a huge game changer.

[alan802]

I'd sure love to get rid of regi marks alltogether.  Our setups are fast now and if anything is out of reg it's way less than a point line in any direction so I think CTS will close that gap even further.  Instead of micro'ing 1 out of every 4-5 screens it will probably be 1 out of 50 or more.

For those CTS users...I'm assuming there have been some of you that have had issues show up with the screens moving when you lock them in place or is that not much of a concern with most presses these days?  I don't see it much with our presses but have seen screen shift happen on other machines, especially those who have oddball locking bars that can grab the screen or shift it when locking.  Like Dave said, no matter how precise the image is placed on each screen, it will still come down to something as simple as flipping the screen lock toggle (for those of us lucky enough to have air locks on our presses), as well as other parts of the process like putting the screen into the I-image.

[Socalfmf]

Alan

I am going to say this.  if you had bought it a when we all started talking about this you would have had it paid off now and your press operators happier and your bosses happier with production times and dollars coming in.

I just think you are way overthinking this.

sam

[bimmridder]

I'd also add, when we went CTS, it kind of forced us to tighten up certain areas. The art department probably had the most change to deal with. (How do you check film when there is no film to check, for example) It made us a better operation is so many ways. Things you can't put on a ROI. Jumping off my soap box for now, but always happy to share my experiences on this subject.

[Gilligan]

Alan

I am going to say this.  if you had bought it a when we all started talking about this you would have had it paid off now and your press operators happier and your bosses happier with production times and dollars coming in.

I just think you are way overthinking this.

sam

Sam, not true... you can't make those employees happy. :p

[bimmridder]

I know how to make them LESS happy. Tell them the CTS is down for a few days. Or the Tri-Loc disappeared. Or the CIIID is down. (None are true). My employees have been fortunate to have some of the best equipment to work on. They really don't know how good they have it. I have ONE piece of film in my shop to try to demonstrate how we used to make screens. They never knew what  vacuum table was for. I have one sitting in the corner. Make them set up a job once in a while without the Tri-Loc just so they know how good they do have it. I have some pretty happy, motivated, hard working and caring employees. They CAN be happy when  they see how difficult it could be. Something else you can't put on a ROI

[Socalfmf]

Dave

so true..my head printer said if I ever got rid of him ( not going to happen unless he really f**ks up ) he will not work for a shop that does not have a DTS.  so that says a lot right there.

like you we give them the best equipment ( tools ) to do the job and that keeps them very happy.

sam

[Gilligan]

My comment was purely directed at Alan's situation and those particular employees and the tribulations that have been chronicled here plenty of times.

If you didn't get that joke, then I'm sorry.

[screenprintguy]

Must be Nutmeg

Bingo!

People talk about huge print shops, but until they know what goes on in that place, they have no idea what a big print shop is. My wife went to highschool with one of the execs over there. Place is a mega printing force to say the least. I'd say it has to be one of if not the largest in the US.

[244]

Must be Nutmeg

Bingo!

People talk about huge print shops, but until they know what goes on in that place, they have no idea what a big print shop is. My wife went to highschool with one of the execs over there. Place is a mega printing force to say the least. I'd say it has to be one of if not the largest in the US.

One of the largest is correct. There are a few larger.

[bimmridder]

Gilligan. I got the joke. I was just trying to turn a frustrating problem in to a positive situation. Sorry it came out wrong

[Gilligan]

No sweat my brother... Just taking a stab at poor Alan.