Year In Review

[Croft]

What did you do this year that made a difference in the shop and what is there to do. Small and big budget stuff.

For Me

1-  after buying screens since the 90's we have ended up with 5 different sizes of the new "standard size"  screens , took the leap and listed all the but 2 sizes on CL and sold them.
      We now use 23x31 on auto and manual and 22x26 on the manual these 2 sizes make it possible to keep the side clamps in one location.
    IT has made a HUGE difference in production .

2-  Started using TRILOC every time on auto , because we noticed even the quicky 1 and 2 colour designs can go quicker with it.

3- Added air clamps to Chameleon press so we can use Triloc, side benefit to this quicker setup and no more hassle dealing with different diameter screen frames.

4- Bought diamond cut sharpener off CL and love it.

5- Had under sink filtration box made to clean up waste , we replace the filter every 2weeks and can't believe how much crud was going down into the septic, those problems have been resolved now.

For 2014

Really want to get a 10color press.

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

1 - closed my commercial location Dec 31st 2012 (due to only making the rent twice in all of 2012) and moved everything into my one car garage. (8/8 Chameleon with side air clamps; MSP 3140 exposure; 8ft conveyor in a one car garage is tight!!..but no more rent to pay!)

2 - Bought a Tri Loc.....and use only 23 x 31's aluminum frames now...(I will be putting up my smaller roller frames for sale Jan 1st 2014 if anyone interested)

3 - upgraded in quality of my 8ft conveyor...I have a Vastex EconoRed IR....i updated to an 8ft Atlas 824 with forced air and its more up-to-date with bells and whistles...I have yet to install it..i plan to install it on my Christmas vacation from work...i will be putting the vastex up for sale if anyone interested.

4 - Bought an Oyo thermal image setter off ebay...came with pc and montior..im still trying to figure it out haha..I have it printing but im still trying to figure out all it can do...im only scratching the surface with it.

5 - Started to charge for things I haven't been charging for....I've been kind of flying by the seat of my pants and leaving money on the table..being a nice guy and hooking people up....Im now starting to charge for EVERYTHING thing I do and touch with printing....rolling into 2014 its the law of the land....last 2 months ive been slowly easing my customers into it the additional cost.

6 - Doing my best to keep up with the paper work side of things with Quickbooks.

7 - bought a new 16x16 Stahls Hotronix heat press and can now do foil (though I find it a pain in the a$$!!!!)

8 - Learned what it takes to print on Camo,,,,not much to know other than needing a blocker underbase...but still it was new to me and learned what it takes.

I am where I need to be for my situation finally and no more re-investing in equipment until I one day move up to an auto but that's years away if at all...I'm thinking in 2014 I will finally have my biz worth my time and making money. (I was dormant for 6.5 yrs of the 10 yrs due to 2 hurricanes)

[inkman996]

1- Added s single head embroidery machine which freed up the 12 head to run quantity only.

2- went from a 6 head auto to a new 8 head auto

3. Had an industrial fan/vent installed in the print area to help with the heat and remove the smokey poly haze.

4. Added two more Macs to the offices huge difference in having issues constantly

5. Bought an MSP3140 and Tri-loc, by far the best improvement over the years

5- Bought a second quartz flash tho unable to use it due to amp shortage.

2014 Hope to buy laser system from Brian (Binkspot) meant to earlier this year but un-foreseen circumstances came up

Also hope to finally move to an ink mixing system once and for all. Ink prices is just to jacked for stock colors.

Long term really hope to buy a bigger building with better utilities and space.

[GraphicDisorder]

2013:
1. Hired Screen print help.
2. Added 6 Head embroidery machine taking us to 17 heads.
3. New LED Warehouse lighting, which helped a lot believe it or not.  Our lighting was terrible.
4. Added a dedicated shipping terminal and shipping software, improved work flow.  Saved ton of time as we at times do 100 boxes in a day.
5. Upgraded our computers, already noticing huge difference there as we are not waiting on our computers now.

Wish List For 2014:
1. Hope to add 2-3 more employees.  1 for embroidery, 1 for screen print.  If we do a 3rd it would be a floater or maybe sales.
2. Add Larger Auto, minimum 12 color. 
3. Add Larger Dryer
4. Add Vinyl Printer/plotter/lamination set up.

[Inkworks]

Last year was the really big year, Moved into a new shop, added a 12/14 auto, large format exp. unit and 8K light, 4 head Barudan and embroidery dept. guillotine, drying racks, front dest, huge reno's, heat press, epson 7880, big compressor and air-dryer, large parts washer for squeegees and floodbars, 60 screen drying cabinet, 80 Hix Retens.

This year we added a second pad-printer, upgraded the manual screen press from a 6-4 to a 6-6 with better micros and off contact adjustments, just got the 60" Kutronic squeegee sharpener, did more renos. got a band saw and drill press in the workshop, central Vac. and Post exposure. drying rack/system, couple of smaller shears for engraving stock, pad plates and coroplast signage.

2014 will bring a new conveyer oven, finish ventilation, re-do showroom, re-do bathroom and put a sink in for pad printing plate making, a vertical panel saw for sign making, grommet press and corner rounder, close in a 500sq/ft workshop and re-arrange a bunch of the shop after the workshop moves out, probably a new heat press, maybe a laser if the right deal comes along on a Universal, update 3 computers, Film registration system for sure! And most importantly of all, improve systems, workflow and a key hire or two.

 I love shopping for deals on used equip. I don't know what I'll do when I run out of stuff I want 

[Denis Kolar]

- Added another single head embroidery machine.
- Purchased 36 manual Newman frames and screen panels from Shur-lok.
- Purchased 48 solvent printer
- Sold 24" Graphtec cutter and purchased 54" Graphtec cutter
- Purchased 54" laminator which gives me everything I need for printed vinyl production
- Built 5x10' table for vinyl production

- Finally taken 100% of my 1200 sqf basement for pruduction. My wife did not like that one

[bimmridder]

Adding another CTS for redundancy and back up in pre press.