While you do general printing jobs, I work with making and printing business documents using a Canon color laser printer, using letter-size laser paper, and a "professional" Brother P-touch label printer for printing labels and signs on laminated label tapes in a few colors. Your shop impresses me and I wish you, Mike the Man, lots of success and a long endeavor in your new shop. And I hope your work will never be done. 🖥🖨
@@smalltownink Your videos are great. Always nice to see other shops doing work. If you ever have any questions on anything, be sure to hit me up, I'm happy to help.
@@smalltownink Check out our Discord Server: discord.gg/GSWvQyXf Lots of good help from folks all over the country. Some probably out your way too, so they can provide you with local services, cheaper than the big box places like 4Over.
great printing equipments but very few finishing machines. Creaser, foil and gold laminator, square back gluer, round corner, driller ... Greating from a Belgian printer !
Hi Ben, trust me, I know. I wish we had a more diverse portfolio of finishing equipment in house. However, we do have some outsourcing partners very close by that do laminating, perfect binding, die cutting, etc., so it's a very short trip to get those additional finishing elements done. Thanks for viewing and your comment.
@@miketheprintman I started some videos (in French) with my own equipments. Only 4 vids actually, hope I will post more soon. If you want to take a look : th-cam.com/channels/bksRrikRLVDct9fd4Q2NMg.htmlfeatured
Nice shop! Questions: 1. Why did you get a Ricoh machine through Heidelberg instead of Ricoh? 2. For standard #10 envelopes, if you had a small order (2,500 or less) in 1 or 2 color, would you still use the offset or use the inkjet? In other words, where’s the break point between the two machines and why? 3. Are you happy with the Ricoh/Heidelberg?
Very happy with Ricoh/Heidelberg. We went with Heidelberg because at the time we also bought a 2nd Polar cutter with them and sold an old DI press, so it made sense on the financials. For the envelopes it depends, a lot of customers are looking for a specific look of offset, so we have to run it offset no matter how small the quantity, but yeah, if it's a short enough run we would the inkjet or the Ricoh.
Honestly it was kind of hit or miss with that thing. This video is from the old shop I worked at. I no longer have access to the printer. But when the printhead was brand new the prints were excellent. Problem was that the printhead life was supposed to last around 500k impressions, but we never got more than like 150k before needing to change it. Plus all envelopes had to be run in landscape which slowed the machine down. I would not recommend it.
Just catching up on your videos :) I wondered do you use software to track your jobs or do you just use job sheets? We are currently looking for a method of keeping track of jobs so all ears haha.
When I was at the place above we used old software called Everest. However at my new job we use Printer's Plan. It has the capability to barcode jobs, but we don't use it. We manually enter in when jobs have been approved and then when they have been shipped. It's good software, but we don't utilize it as much as we could.
It's a solid machine. We don't really run it inline, but it has the ability to dock and run direct with the Ricoh machines. Only thing I wish we would have gotten the one that does three side trimming, would speed things up. Otherwise, it's a great unit.
@@miketheprintman The 7110x Versafire. Was using the original DFE but then Heidelberg sold us a new SupraSetter and Prinect along with their DFE... I think Hberg over engineers their software and makes things way more complicated then they have to be...
Prinect is great if you have accompanying offset equipment, but to be honest it's kind of overkill for digital alone. That's why we decided to just go with a Fiery unit.
At the time the lease was around $7.5k per month. Prices have gone up since then here in the Bay Area, so I’d expect it’s closer to $8-8.5k now for that same size unit.
@@blueghost4121 we closed down back in April of this year. I'm at a new shop now. I'm hoping to get permission to video that place as well. It's bigger and they have more equipment.
@miketheprintman I'm in my garage still. 315 square feet. I have an HP Latex 570 and we need to get a bigger place but renting space is too much. I'm thinking about expanding my garage 🤔
@@blueghost4121 I hear that. I've been thinking about starting my own shop somewhere, but prices are so high right now, it's ridiculous. The garage might be the place I have to go. The 570 is a nice machine. Great for banner work.
Of course. Lots of shops have offset presses. Our HalmJet is an offset press meant specifically for envelopes. We have just slowly transitioned over to digital printing because we feel that is where the future of print lies.
We use UPS and FedEx primarily. We have our own delivery truck for local pallets. I’m not sure who we use for bigger shipments, because it’s very rare we send more than two or three pallets at a time.
It had something to do with the cold I think. For some reason in the morning during winter it would give a "X Axis Overflow" error code. But as soon as we moved it into my office we haven't had problems since. The only common thing between the two seems to be temperature, so that must be it.
@@miketheprintman Interesting. Yeah I'm looking to sell my California properties and move to the midwest so I can get my print business off the ground. Sounds like climate control is definitely important especially for modern digital machinery. I'm sure regulating larger warehouse temps gets costly lol.
Main thing is look for a warehouse that has insulation. There are still a lot of places, especially older buildings that weren't built with it from the start. That can be a huge savings in AC costs.
Agh, still using those horrible HP Laser machines. I also would reccomed you switch for an older Designjet model. Those are built like tanks and last (touch wood) for a really long time
hello, it's a nice business, but my humble advice is if you shoot with a better camera, you can create much higher quality content, I'm a digital printing center in turkey
No doubt, yes. But I'm trying to show some folks the equipment in our shop, nothing more. Not out here to win any Emmy's for Print Shop Tour videography.
That's an awesome tour. I love seeing inside other shops. Thanks for sharing!
While you do general printing jobs, I work with making and printing business documents using a Canon color laser printer, using letter-size laser paper, and a "professional" Brother P-touch label printer for printing labels and signs on laminated label tapes in a few colors. Your shop impresses me and I wish you, Mike the Man, lots of success and a long endeavor in your new shop. And I hope your work will never be done. 🖥🖨
Thank you for the kind words. Oh yes, work will never end.
Thanks for the tour ! Greetings from a fellow printer from Argentina
Great studio tour! Thanks for sharing!
Nice shop Mike. Really enjoy your channel.
Thank you. Unfortunately this was the old shop I worked at. I’m hoping for a new, updated shop tour soon enough from the new place. Keep posted.
Nice office. The place looks awesome. Looks like a great place to work.
Awesome tour!!! And awesome place.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the tour.
Nice Shop!
Thanks!
Appreciate the tour! Quite the operation you have there!
Thanks for checking out the channel. I got to get on your level with making videos everyday now.
@@miketheprintman I got the quantity part down, maybe not the quality. :) Working on it LOL
@@smalltownink Your videos are great. Always nice to see other shops doing work. If you ever have any questions on anything, be sure to hit me up, I'm happy to help.
@@miketheprintman I need all the help I can get!
@@smalltownink Check out our Discord Server: discord.gg/GSWvQyXf
Lots of good help from folks all over the country. Some probably out your way too, so they can provide you with local services, cheaper than the big box places like 4Over.
great printing equipments but very few finishing machines. Creaser, foil and gold laminator, square back gluer, round corner, driller ... Greating from a Belgian printer !
Hi Ben, trust me, I know. I wish we had a more diverse portfolio of finishing equipment in house. However, we do have some outsourcing partners very close by that do laminating, perfect binding, die cutting, etc., so it's a very short trip to get those additional finishing elements done. Thanks for viewing and your comment.
@@miketheprintman I started some videos (in French) with my own equipments. Only 4 vids actually, hope I will post more soon. If you want to take a look : th-cam.com/channels/bksRrikRLVDct9fd4Q2NMg.htmlfeatured
Nice shop!
Questions:
1. Why did you get a Ricoh machine through Heidelberg instead of Ricoh?
2. For standard #10 envelopes, if you had a small order (2,500 or less) in 1 or 2 color, would you still use the offset or use the inkjet? In other words, where’s the break point between the two machines and why?
3. Are you happy with the Ricoh/Heidelberg?
Very happy with Ricoh/Heidelberg. We went with Heidelberg because at the time we also bought a 2nd Polar cutter with them and sold an old DI press, so it made sense on the financials. For the envelopes it depends, a lot of customers are looking for a specific look of offset, so we have to run it offset no matter how small the quantity, but yeah, if it's a short enough run we would the inkjet or the Ricoh.
Yeah nice
I wanna live here. Are you taking applications? Lol!
Hahaha. Not at the moment. 🤣
How do you like that iJet envelope printer? Can it bleed? I'd love to see it run.
Honestly it was kind of hit or miss with that thing. This video is from the old shop I worked at. I no longer have access to the printer. But when the printhead was brand new the prints were excellent. Problem was that the printhead life was supposed to last around 500k impressions, but we never got more than like 150k before needing to change it. Plus all envelopes had to be run in landscape which slowed the machine down. I would not recommend it.
@@miketheprintman Thanks for the reply, love your videos.
Nice
Just catching up on your videos :) I wondered do you use software to track your jobs or do you just use job sheets? We are currently looking for a method of keeping track of jobs so all ears haha.
When I was at the place above we used old software called Everest. However at my new job we use Printer's Plan. It has the capability to barcode jobs, but we don't use it. We manually enter in when jobs have been approved and then when they have been shipped. It's good software, but we don't utilize it as much as we could.
NIce tour! Hey, How do you like the Plock 350? I've been thinking about picking a used one up for offline booklet making.
It's a solid machine. We don't really run it inline, but it has the ability to dock and run direct with the Ricoh machines. Only thing I wish we would have gotten the one that does three side trimming, would speed things up. Otherwise, it's a great unit.
I did a new video that shows the Plockmatic in action a little more.
th-cam.com/video/XOvxA6KdQTw/w-d-xo.html
Wish we still used the Firey DFE instead of the Heidelberg.. ugh.
What machine do you have?
@@miketheprintman The 7110x Versafire. Was using the original DFE but then Heidelberg sold us a new SupraSetter and Prinect along with their DFE... I think Hberg over engineers their software and makes things way more complicated then they have to be...
Prinect is great if you have accompanying offset equipment, but to be honest it's kind of overkill for digital alone. That's why we decided to just go with a Fiery unit.
How much do you pay monthly for that WHS space?
At the time the lease was around $7.5k per month. Prices have gone up since then here in the Bay Area, so I’d expect it’s closer to $8-8.5k now for that same size unit.
Wow!! That's insane. So you're not there anymore?
@@blueghost4121 we closed down back in April of this year. I'm at a new shop now. I'm hoping to get permission to video that place as well. It's bigger and they have more equipment.
@miketheprintman I'm in my garage still. 315 square feet.
I have an HP Latex 570 and we need to get a bigger place but renting space is too much. I'm thinking about expanding my garage 🤔
@@blueghost4121 I hear that. I've been thinking about starting my own shop somewhere, but prices are so high right now, it's ridiculous. The garage might be the place I have to go. The 570 is a nice machine. Great for banner work.
Hello, is there offset printing in America?We have sheet fed heidelberg sm 52 and gto
Of course. Lots of shops have offset presses. Our HalmJet is an offset press meant specifically for envelopes. We have just slowly transitioned over to digital printing because we feel that is where the future of print lies.
What shipping company’s do you use?
We use UPS and FedEx primarily. We have our own delivery truck for local pallets. I’m not sure who we use for bigger shipments, because it’s very rare we send more than two or three pallets at a time.
ye buddy!
Your summa cutter had climate issues in the warehouse? Too humid?
It had something to do with the cold I think. For some reason in the morning during winter it would give a "X Axis Overflow" error code. But as soon as we moved it into my office we haven't had problems since. The only common thing between the two seems to be temperature, so that must be it.
@@miketheprintman Interesting. Yeah I'm looking to sell my California properties and move to the midwest so I can get my print business off the ground. Sounds like climate control is definitely important especially for modern digital machinery. I'm sure regulating larger warehouse temps gets costly lol.
Main thing is look for a warehouse that has insulation. There are still a lot of places, especially older buildings that weren't built with it from the start. That can be a huge savings in AC costs.
Agh, still using those horrible HP Laser machines. I also would reccomed you switch for an older Designjet model. Those are built like tanks and last (touch wood) for a really long time
Yeah those designjet desktops were well built for sure.
hello, it's a nice business, but my humble advice is if you shoot with a better camera, you can create much higher quality content, I'm a digital printing center in turkey
No doubt, yes. But I'm trying to show some folks the equipment in our shop, nothing more. Not out here to win any Emmy's for Print Shop Tour videography.