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Manual Press
Manual screen printing is perfect for
the beginner and intermediate printer. They start out with 1 color 1 station
table top presses and expand all the way to 8 color 8 station floor presses. If
you are only looking to do a short run, or have plenty of time to do a longer
run, manual printing makes sense.
Sometimes a shop with an automatic
will have a minimum quantity of shirts that customers cannot meet or do not need
and that’s where you come in! The manual screen printing process is exactly as
it sounds. Everything is done by hand and allows the operator to make
adjustments, change color and print a color twice to get solid coverage. Screen
sizes are manageable and the accompanying equipment you buy to run your manual
press will last you for a long time (at least until you decide you want to
upgrade).
Manual presses require more physical
effort than an automatic. You’re rotating the carousel and lifting and lowering
the print heads, bending and kneeling, making adjustments and of course –
running the squeegee. Manual printers are limited to the number of shirts per
day that can be run compared to automatic printers who can print at higher
volumes. Your production time will also be longer as a manual printer vs an
automatic printer.
You may have to hire more employees
to keep up with orders and keep the flow of your shop steady and consistent.
Manual screen printing is a process that stands the test of time. It is easy to
understand and most people can run with it. Depending on if you’re the hobbyist
or budding entrepreneur you may have a wide range of presses in your lifetime.
It’s all about what works for you and your shop.
Automatic Press
When someone feels that they are
ready to expand into automated printing it is typically because they have more
orders than they can handle. Business is booming, they are making pretty good
money and they know that expanding could yield more orders at a faster turn
around making them even more money. Making the jump to automated screen
printing isn't an easy decision, and deciding what automatic press is best for
your shop should only be made after considering many factors.
While business growth and expansion
is something every business owner should look forward to, buying an automatic
press isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly. Think about why you want
to get an automatic press. The obvious answer is to yield a higher turn around
time on orders. But what is the real reason for YOU? Is it a promise of large
orders? Do you have hundreds of small orders piling up?
While an automatic can whip out those
large orders, if your price isn’t right or your customer is in a mood, you
could very well find yourself with a large piece of equipment that you’re
making monthly payments on and hardly using. Likewise, you could run your small
orders on the auto, but you will need to keep a steady stream of orders coming
in to keep the press running. We all know that there are certain times of the
year that isn’t possible. Just like the weather has seasons, so does printing.
Before you decide to jump into
automatic screen printing you need to have built a solid foundation for your
business. You need a steady stream of customers who give you hundreds (if not
more) of shirt orders on a regular basis. Before you let the tradeshow daydream
take over, ensure that you have the groundwork in place before buying.
The best advice we can give is to
contact your distributor. The sales person you get in contact with will be able
to help you breakdown costs and whether or not the you’re ready to jump into
automatic printing. Discuss the different manufacturers, color capabilities,
hidden costs including freight and set up fees, the cost of spare parts, training
costs for your employees and whether or not your current equipment can keep up.
For example, will your current dryer keep up the pace or will you need a larger
one with a longer belt?
On the flip side, you have a lot to
look forward to when you decide your shop is ready for an automatic. The
obvious is higher production. You will also have consistent quality from print
to print. Jobs that you never thought were possible are now easily accessible.
And, your market will undoubtedly expand. This may take some getting used to
because you will get to know all different types of customers. One day you may
even decide to jump into contract printing just for the extra money.
There are a lot of good reasons for
you to go with an automatic, but we want to urge caution. Take a hard look at
the reasons you’re wanting to move up to an automatic. Can you afford it? Can
you afford to upgrade other equipment if yours won’t work with an auto in the
shop? Does your production warrant the upgrade? If you think it’s the right
time, then we encourage you to go for it! Otherwise, keep rocking on the
manual.