Author Topic: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?  (Read 11790 times)

Offline blue moon

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Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« on: November 10, 2016, 03:15:21 PM »
Long story short, getting ROQs. A small YOU and a larger ECO. 'should be here next month.

Why ROQ? Many will think there is some sophisticated discombobulated formula behind the decision, but it was just the opposite. I asked one question only, "What press will make us the most money over the next three-four years?" And the answer was ROQ! This is not to knock down the other manufacturers as many of them have fantastic product, but there is just a slight edge with the green presses. How slight, one might ask. In my eyes less than 5% and possibly as low as 1%. The problem is, for us that 1% performance lag is hundreds of dollars in labor every month and with two presses it could be $1K! 5% in performance could mean $5K left on the table EVERY MONTH. Such is the world of contract sreenprinting. Those are some serious numbers and are hard to ignore.

So what did we look at?
Peter Walsh (M&R) was very helpful coming up with a deal that makes sense and we looked at getting two Sportsmans. This would have been our second choice after the ROQs. We were very close to going that route, the main thing in the way was that  minor lag in production I already mentioned. The value for the money was a little better with the ROQ, too; even though they were just a little bit more expensive.
MHM makes a nice press, and I still believe the best engineered press on the market, but dealing with MHM directly I never got the satisfaction to our issue with the bent main shaft. Add the fact that pin system we tried to make work with the CTS is just not working as well as three point setup from ROQ and they were out of the running. Again, fine press, but my expectations are for the ROQs to produce at least 10% more in a day and 20% (compared to our old press) would not surprise me!

In the end, ROQ team really bent over backwards to get our business. I had serious reservations about dealing with Ryonet as, just as many others here, I perceived them to be catering to the garage printers only. It turns out things have changed. They have hired some top talent from big, big, big companies and start tackling the real movers and shakers in the industry. Shops with 30 autos are switching over and these are not the guys to suffer fools lightly. Jeffrey, my point of contact at RYO has Private Equity background and gets the business on the whole different level. It was refreshing to have a conversation with somebody who does not need an explanation of what a discounted cash flow means. We needed two presses and could not really afford two fully loaded ECOs. Jefferey worked on finding a deal that would work for cost and the production requirements. It involved getting a little creative (while all the other manufacturers we getting creative, Jeffrey "The Energizer Bunny" would not quit until we found a configuration that worked for both of us.) We are getting a demo 8/12 ECO XL and a 4/8 YOU. ECO is a beast that will print fast and is actually bigger than we needed, but it was available and they were motivated to move it. As a consequence we can print 30"x40" images! (did not order the hardware for that as I don't anticipate needing it, but hey it's nice to know we can if need be). ECO was important as we run over 1,000/hour every day at least for an hour and we needed a press that can do that. We are often at 1,100 per hour with tables lifting up and down so my guess is we'll be printing 1,200 almost daily now that there is one less motion with the platens. Again, this translates into an extra 0.5-1% per day. 4/8 YOU with 4 heads (cost savings measure) will have 2 slots for flashes, so it will be a true 4 color press which covers about 60-70% of our work. This press is an absolutely incredible value for the money and in my opinion the best deal on the market for entry level equipment. We picked up a whole slew of ancillary equipment to speed up the production, including ROQ Cool (cooling attachments), 3 digital flashes (temp controlled rather then time), ROQ Press hot Iron and few other smaller extras.

After my previous post, there was some grumbling about their support system via PM's and I spent almost an hour on the phone with one of the board members that had some issues to report. I expected there was going to be somebody with a problem, there always is. No company is perfect. My thinking was also that RYO is going through some growing pains and that was the cause of it. I reached out to Jeffrey without knowing, but fully expecting them to fess up and pony up to get the issue sorted and that is exactly what happened. The words out of his month were "We need to not only fix this, but also make it right!". I asked for a free set of youth platens (for the board member, not us, obviously) to help make up for the problem and without a hesitation the answer was "Consider it done!". It is the attitude we have with out customers that was extended by RYO. No BS, we will do what needs to be done. Period.

The idea that ROQ is on a serious ramp up with innovation was a bonus. Just to be clear, we bought ROQ presses because of what they can do today, right now, not what they might be doing tomorrow. I have been thoroughly disappointed by lack of delivery on the promises before (personally and professionally), so any such discussion does not carry as much weight as anticipated. But, just like discounted cash flow, it is a factor and it influenced our decision. Imagine having a press that prints faster as it gets older. What a concept! How about this? You come to work in the morning and your press can do something it could not do the night before (like half index for example). This is what MHM used to be, the market leader in out of the box thinking. Now, ROQ has taken over!

pierre

ROQ Cool
! No longer available

ROQ EVO Flash
! No longer available

ROQPRESS Iron
! No longer available

ROQ4YOU
! No longer available



Yes, we've won our share of awards, and yes, I've tested stuff and read the scientific papers, but ultimately take everything I say with more than just a grain of salt! So if you are looking for trouble, just do as I say or even better, do something I said years ago!


Offline dirkdiggler

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2016, 03:25:11 PM »
Congrats!  Just happy to another dude like me making money!
If he gets up, we'll all get up, IT'LL BE ANARCHY!-John Bender

Offline 1964GN

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2016, 03:31:32 PM »
Congrats!

We have had out 12/16 YOU XL for 2 years now and have had zero downtime. You won't be disappointed! When we move to a larger building, which based on recent events may be much sooner rather than later, we will be adding another YOU and a dryer.

Offline Prosperi-Tees

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #3 on: November 10, 2016, 04:00:33 PM »
Got my eye on the 4/8 you, hopefully business picks up and could get one of those bad boys.

Offline ebscreen

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #4 on: November 10, 2016, 04:11:08 PM »
Congratulations, you won't be disappointed.

I take it this means the MHM is going bye bye?

I can't wait until we can do the same. Beautiful solid machines that they are they
just can't compete with green.

Offline blue moon

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #5 on: November 10, 2016, 04:14:03 PM »
Congratulations, you won't be disappointed.

I take it this means the MHM is going bye bye?

I can't wait until we can do the same. Beautiful solid machines that they are they
just can't compete with green.

thanx!
Actually we are going to keep the MHM for now and have it as a standby press. This will allow us to take on the rush orders and hot market type stuff without impeding the daily production. We have three printers so feeding the presses will not be a problem. Eventually we'll replace the MHM with another 8/10, I am guessing a year or so down the road.

pierre

p.s. I will need the info on using the ROQs with the MHM screens as you mentioned!
Yes, we've won our share of awards, and yes, I've tested stuff and read the scientific papers, but ultimately take everything I say with more than just a grain of salt! So if you are looking for trouble, just do as I say or even better, do something I said years ago!

Offline ebscreen

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #6 on: November 10, 2016, 04:18:36 PM »
Got it. Nice, a jump from 1 to 3 machines is awesome.

I'm gonna bet that with the cups as opposed to pins you won't have to change anything on the
reg. pallet. The issue with Newman pins is that they ride above the stop blocks, but I'm pretty
sure the cups are larger in diameter and won't be an issue.

Either way I'm here if you need it.

Offline blue moon

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #7 on: November 10, 2016, 04:29:21 PM »
Got it. Nice, a jump from 1 to 3 machines is awesome.

I'm gonna bet that with the cups as opposed to pins you won't have to change anything on the
reg. pallet. The issue with Newman pins is that they ride above the stop blocks, but I'm pretty
sure the cups are larger in diameter and won't be an issue.

Either way I'm here if you need it.

we do have a handful of newmans, too. so all we'll have to do is make the blocks taller? That should be easy.
Also, we've been printing on the manual every day this year so all that work will shift to the small auto and fill it up to about 50%. With yearly growth of 20% the small press will fill up fast. We'll keep the staffing as it is for now and as we get more work we'll add another puller or two to the team.

pierre
Yes, we've won our share of awards, and yes, I've tested stuff and read the scientific papers, but ultimately take everything I say with more than just a grain of salt! So if you are looking for trouble, just do as I say or even better, do something I said years ago!

Online ericheartsu

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #8 on: November 10, 2016, 04:29:56 PM »
Long story short, getting ROQs. A small YOU and a larger ECO. 'should be here next month.

Why ROQ? Many will think there is some sophisticated discombobulated formula behind the decision, but it was just the opposite. I asked one question only, "What press will make us the most money over the next three-four years?" And the answer was ROQ! This is not to knock down the other manufacturers as many of them have fantastic product, but there is just a slight edge with the green presses. How slight, one might ask. In my eyes less than 5% and possibly as low as 1%. The problem is, for us that 1% performance lag is hundreds of dollars in labor every month and with two presses it could be $1K! 5% in performance could mean $5K left on the table EVERY MONTH. Such is the world of contract sreenprinting. Those are some serious numbers and are hard to ignore.

So what did we look at?
Peter Walsh (M&R) was very helpful coming up with a deal that makes sense and we looked at getting two Sportsmans. This would have been our second choice after the ROQs. We were very close to going that route, the main thing in the way was that  minor lag in production I already mentioned. The value for the money was a little better with the ROQ, too; even though they were just a little bit more expensive.
MHM makes a nice press, and I still believe the best engineered press on the market, but dealing with MHM directly I never got the satisfaction to our issue with the bent main shaft. Add the fact that pin system we tried to make work with the CTS is just not working as well as three point setup from ROQ and they were out of the running. Again, fine press, but my expectations are for the ROQs to produce at least 10% more in a day and 20% (compared to our old press) would not surprise me!

In the end, ROQ team really bent over backwards to get our business. I had serious reservations about dealing with Ryonet as, just as many others here, I perceived them to be catering to the garage printers only. It turns out things have changed. They have hired some top talent from big, big, big companies and start tackling the real movers and shakers in the industry. Shops with 30 autos are switching over and these are not the guys to suffer fools lightly. Jeffrey, my point of contact at RYO has Private Equity background and gets the business on the whole different level. It was refreshing to have a conversation with somebody who does not need an explanation of what a discounted cash flow means. We needed two presses and could not really afford two fully loaded ECOs. Jefferey worked on finding a deal that would work for cost and the production requirements. It involved getting a little creative (while all the other manufacturers we getting creative, Jeffrey "The Energizer Bunny" would not quit until we found a configuration that worked for both of us.) We are getting a demo 8/12 ECO XL and a 4/8 YOU. ECO is a beast that will print fast and is actually bigger than we needed, but it was available and they were motivated to move it. As a consequence we can print 30"x40" images! (did not order the hardware for that as I don't anticipate needing it, but hey it's nice to know we can if need be). ECO was important as we run over 1,000/hour every day at least for an hour and we needed a press that can do that. We are often at 1,100 per hour with tables lifting up and down so my guess is we'll be printing 1,200 almost daily now that there is one less motion with the platens. Again, this translates into an extra 0.5-1% per day. 4/8 YOU with 4 heads (cost savings measure) will have 2 slots for flashes, so it will be a true 4 color press which covers about 60-70% of our work. This press is an absolutely incredible value for the money and in my opinion the best deal on the market for entry level equipment. We picked up a whole slew of ancillary equipment to speed up the production, including ROQ Cool (cooling attachments), 3 digital flashes (temp controlled rather then time), ROQ Press hot Iron and few other smaller extras.

After my previous post, there was some grumbling about their support system via PM's and I spent almost an hour on the phone with one of the board members that had some issues to report. I expected there was going to be somebody with a problem, there always is. No company is perfect. My thinking was also that RYO is going through some growing pains and that was the cause of it. I reached out to Jeffrey without knowing, but fully expecting them to fess up and pony up to get the issue sorted and that is exactly what happened. The words out of his month were "We need to not only fix this, but also make it right!". I asked for a free set of youth platens (for the board member, not us, obviously) to help make up for the problem and without a hesitation the answer was "Consider it done!". It is the attitude we have with out customers that was extended by RYO. No BS, we will do what needs to be done. Period.

The idea that ROQ is on a serious ramp up with innovation was a bonus. Just to be clear, we bought ROQ presses because of what they can do today, right now, not what they might be doing tomorrow. I have been thoroughly disappointed by lack of delivery on the promises before (personally and professionally), so any such discussion does not carry as much weight as anticipated. But, just like discounted cash flow, it is a factor and it influenced our decision. Imagine having a press that prints faster as it gets older. What a concept! How about this? You come to work in the morning and your press can do something it could not do the night before (like half index for example). This is what MHM used to be, the market leader in out of the box thinking. Now, ROQ has taken over!

pierre

ROQ Cool
! No longer available
ROQ EVO Flash
! No longer available
ROQPRESS Iron
! No longer available
ROQ4YOU
! No longer available


were you able to get the roq cool? we were told it's not in the US!
Night Owls
Waterbased screen printing and promo products.
www.nightowlsprint.com 281.741.7285

Offline blue moon

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #9 on: November 10, 2016, 04:31:53 PM »
I ordered it and was told we'd get it. Nothing was said about any delays, but our presses are still a month away.
Did you get an ETA?

pierre
Yes, we've won our share of awards, and yes, I've tested stuff and read the scientific papers, but ultimately take everything I say with more than just a grain of salt! So if you are looking for trouble, just do as I say or even better, do something I said years ago!

Offline DannyGruninger

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #10 on: November 10, 2016, 04:51:24 PM »
Eric, you might be thinking of the Roq Foggers. We use the roq cool here on our presses, and I know other guys that have ordered them in from portugal.

Danny Gruninger
Denver Print House / Lakewood Colorado
https://www.instagram.com/denverprinthouse

Offline DannyGruninger

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #11 on: November 10, 2016, 04:52:49 PM »
Congrats Pierre new equipment and growth is so exciting.

Looking at the rate of speed the Cooling Head and Ironing Head move in the video you will not be any where near 1100 units per hour.

Might want to go check out my instagram. Last year when we did hot market for the broncos we ran 1000 pcs an hour with both attachments going....

The iron will slow things down but the roq cool does not.

Danny Gruninger
Denver Print House / Lakewood Colorado
https://www.instagram.com/denverprinthouse

Online ericheartsu

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #12 on: November 10, 2016, 04:54:21 PM »
Eric, you might be thinking of the Roq Foggers. We use the roq cool here on our presses, and I know other guys that have ordered them in from portugal.

yes 100%. thanks!
Night Owls
Waterbased screen printing and promo products.
www.nightowlsprint.com 281.741.7285

Offline T Shirt Farmer

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #13 on: November 10, 2016, 05:06:29 PM »
Congrats Pierre new equipment and growth is so exciting.

Looking at the rate of speed the Cooling Head and Ironing Head move in the video you will not be any where near 1100 units per hour.

Might want to go check out my instagram. Last year when we did hot market for the broncos we ran 1000 pcs an hour with both attachments going....

The iron will slow things down but the roq cool does not.

Impresive
Robert
allpremiums.com
Your Source for Decorated Apparel.

Offline ZooCity

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Re: Our new presses! So, what did we get and why?
« Reply #14 on: November 10, 2016, 05:14:13 PM »
Congrats Pierre!   

Let us know how you end up using the Roq 4 you.  We really wanted to get one in here but not enough power available to run it.

Did you mean that 2x sportsman presses cost more than roqs?  If that's the case I don't see how it was even a consideration.  Sportsman EX’s maximum cycles per hour is 75 dozen per hour.  200-300pcs/hr drop sounds like a problem for your shop.  Maybe an EXG can cycle faster?  Was just curious on that part of the decision.  Coming from a sportsman owner moving to roq, I think (I hope!) you made the right one for you shop.