Author Topic: Open house?  (Read 2691 times)

Offline blue moon

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Open house?
« on: June 14, 2011, 08:58:08 AM »
I know there are several printers here who's shop and workings I would love to see in person.

Is anybody interested in opening their doors or visiting other shops just to see how things are done there or learning more about different types of presses?

I would gladly show the MHM and how we print some of the high end stuff if anybody is interested. Could even find few free beds to keep the expenses down . . .

Anybody else interested? Who and what would you want to see?
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 alan802

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Re: Open house?
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2011, 10:29:02 AM »
I love it when people come by our shop.  I haven't been welcomed into many neighboring shops and I've tried to go in and BS with other printers and look around but I usually get stopped in the front.  I don't blame people from being suspicious but some of them act like I've got an undercover camera and I'm trying to see what customers they are printing for. 

There was a competitor in our shop yesterday, he came by to drop off some embroidery and then came over and I took him out back and we spent 30 minutes shooting the crap and I showed him the RPM, our entire process from beginning to end.  I don't worry about him leaving here and using something that he saw or learned from our shop, I welcome it.

Last summer I went to 4 shops to see if they would show me how or if they do anything special to try and keep the shop area cooler during the summer and you would have thought I was a Nazi and it was 1940 in America.  I had heard that one shop had a huge attic type fan in the middle of their shop and it cooled it down some 15 degrees inside there after they installed it, but they wouldn't let me much past the front door, much less in the shop to see anything.  I guess they have no reason to trust me so I wasn't offended but I am still amazed at most of our local competitor's paranoia.

I love going into other shops and watching them work.  I usually leave there feeling really good about our operation.  I have given dozens of tours of our shop over the years to whoever wants to come by and see it, we are proud of it and I will always have our doors open to fellow printers.

I'd like to see just about any operation, manual or 10 autos, but most importantly the one or two auto shop.
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it -T.J.
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it -T.P.

Offline blue moon

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Re: Open house?
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2011, 10:47:44 AM »
How far away are you from the ISS show? I'd love to see the RPM.
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 Homer

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Re: Open house?
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2011, 11:41:37 AM »
I'll take you up on this offer -next year-  We are sealing the deal on a 6k sq/ft building today or tomorrow, my current shop is an unorganized clusterfk of screens and ink globs. . .nothing to see here. Tell you what P - if you want to wrap a shop vehicle, bring it up. . .your not too far from me, you can go see the glorious Niagara Falls too. . .eat some real wings. . .
...keep doing what you're doing, you'll only get what you've got...

Offline alan802

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Re: Open house?
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2011, 12:04:53 PM »
How far away are you from the ISS show? I'd love to see the RPM.

A short, straight 180 mile drive down I-35.  I've made it in 2.5 hours before.  It's a little out of the way but I'd love to have you come by.  I'll be at the show on saturday as well.
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it -T.J.
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it -T.P.

Offline mk162

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Re: Open house?
« Reply #5 on: June 16, 2011, 06:57:13 AM »
Homer, what is your shop size now?

Offline Homer

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Re: Open house?
« Reply #6 on: June 16, 2011, 09:50:56 AM »
2300, tiny as hell, I know.  The building we are going to is 11,200 but we are only taking 6k, the rest is dead storage, it's ours if we want it but we aren't flying airplanes or racing go carts so we don't need it -yet. Full bay for wraps, print room upstairs, offices, an actual dark room - it's going to be glorious. pool table, darts, a bar, smoking lounge, kitchen, fireman's pole, x box, anything to get us distracted from working haha. . . .

and then comes decision time -I'm sold on the vortex =thank you for the help btw, I have 3 to pick from -all 60" belts, and then a new auto. 8 color, 10  color, m&r or ? too many damn decisions. I think 8 color may not be enough -unless Pierre wants to dump the press of his.
...keep doing what you're doing, you'll only get what you've got...

Offline blue moon

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Re: Open house?
« Reply #7 on: June 16, 2011, 10:22:46 AM »
2300, tiny as hell, I know.  The building we are going to is 11,200 but we are only taking 6k, the rest is dead storage, it's ours if we want it but we aren't flying airplanes or racing go carts so we don't need it -yet. Full bay for wraps, print room upstairs, offices, an actual dark room - it's going to be glorious. pool table, darts, a bar, smoking lounge, kitchen, fireman's pole, x box, anything to get us distracted from working haha. . . .

and then comes decision time -I'm sold on the vortex =thank you for the help btw, I have 3 to pick from -all 60" belts, and then a new auto. 8 color, 10  color, m&r or ? too many damn decisions. I think 8 color may not be enough -unless Pierre wants to dump the press of his.

huh, not ready to upgrade the press yet. My guess is you'll want one before you move?
Also, I will have to get a dryer pretty soon. So what's the story on the Vortex?

the space sounds pretty nice!
« Last Edit: June 16, 2011, 10:49:18 AM by blue moon »
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 mk162

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Re: Open house?
« Reply #8 on: June 16, 2011, 10:37:48 AM »
who makes the vortex?

did marc from interchange call you?

Offline Homer

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Re: Open house?
« Reply #9 on: June 16, 2011, 10:52:30 AM »
yeah, interchange called -thanks!  -  it's the precision vortex -that's what my notes from marc says -11k for a refurb 1999 or 2000. Pierre -I am moving to your new thread. I have questions too.
...keep doing what you're doing, you'll only get what you've got...

Offline mk162

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Re: Open house?
« Reply #10 on: June 16, 2011, 11:14:13 AM »
No prob!  Marc is a nice guy and they were easy to work with.  I'd do it all over again if I had the choice.