Volt S Automatic Screen Printing Press by Anatol Equipment

DEPENDABLE EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR PEACE OF MIND

“There’s a relationship going forward. There’s a human element, a friendship element.”

- Jamie Buhr, Midwest Graphics & Awards

Even before the camera started rolling, Jamie Buhr of Midwest Graphics & Awards, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, began to share his experiences in the screen printing industry. Experiences that everyone who runs a custom screen-printing operation knows all too well, which Jamie summed up with: “If anything can go wrong, it probably will.” From shipping issues to vendors who don’t have the garments you want in stock, it’s always something.

Midwest Graphics & Awards,

Ann Arbor, Michigan

While there’s no way to engineer a fool-proof solution for all the challenges a screen printing and embroidery entrepreneur faces, there are some concrete ways to reduce the problems that can impact a business’s bottom line. (And give a business owner peace of mind.) Buhr found that having reliable equipment backed by good customer support ensured he could deliver high-quality products on-time to his customers. Even more important to him was the ability to establish a relationship with the manufacturing company. In Anatol Equipment Mfg. Co., Buhr found a company that could give him a great working relationship, as well as dependable machines. In the video below, Buhr relates how, when he was working with a major corporation (“in a past life,” as he puts it), he quickly learned to tell the difference between who just wanted to make a sale, and who was interested in a relationship on a human level.

To learn more about Midwest Graphics & Awards and their working experience with Anatol Screen Printing Equipment, take a few minutes to watch the full video here.

Anatol’s efforts to foster a personal connection with clients within the professional relationship matched Midwest Graphics’ own approach to serving customers. Midwest and Anatol both believe a customers’ experience should be fast, easy, affordable, and tailored to the individual. With their shared ethic, Midwest Graphics immediately established a partnership with Anatol. “We have a friendship with their representatives and technicians,” says Buhr. "There’s a relationship going forward. There’s a human element, a friendship element. I’m grateful I went through this whole experience with Anatol.”

Anatol Titan

Durable and dependable, the Anatol Titan automatic screen printing press delivers outstanding performance at an affordable price. Available in configurations with 2 to 7 colors, the Titan offers a maximum image area of 15" x 16" (38.1 cm x 41 cm), with a maximum pallet size of 16" x 22" (41 cm x 56 cm) and a maximum screen size of 21" x 28" (54cm x 71cm). 

Anatol Horizon

The Anatol Horizon is an automatic screen printing press equipped with powerful features. Easy to operate, the Horizon gives you what you need to consistently produce quality prints at a high production rate. Capable of printing 900 shirts per hour, the Horizon's speed, flexibility and performance enable print shops to complete demanding last-minute rush jobs with time to spare.

Midwest Graphics & Awards currently serves their customers with the Anatol Titan and Anatol Horizon presses. “My mantra,” Buhr tells his staff, “is, if [the product] isn’t something you would wear or give to your family or friends, then don’t give it to our customers.” Anatol’s presses have exceeded the expectations of the company and provide the quality, dependability, and speed Buhr and Midwest were looking for to meet the needs of their customers.

To learn how you too can improve your screen printing business with top quality equipment and personalized service, visit www.anatol.com, or call 847-367-9760.

Part 2: VOLT TECHNOLOGY GAINS AND DELIVERS A NEW, MORE PROFESSIONAL EDGE

In PART 1: VOLT TECHNOLOGY GAINS AND DELIVERS A NEW, MORE PROFESSIONAL EDGE, we explored how one of the first businesses integrated VOLT technology into their operations, and directly benefited from the professional image and efficiency the VOLT provided in a competitive market and environment. In PART 2, we continue our conversation with Steve Farrell, the owner of Los Alamitos, California’s Cali Stitches. Today, we’re talking to him about the practical application and advantages of VOLT technology as well as the professional installation and service support of Anatol Screen Printing Equipment.

Steve Farrell installed the VOLT into Cali Stitches operations in July of 2014. The technology, technical advantages, efficiency and dependability of the VOLT 10-Color, 12-Station, All Electric Servo Driven Automatic Screen-Printing Press allows Cali Stitches to respond to their customers’ needs with a higher level of quality products within reliable time frames.

As Cali Stitches added equipment to provide its customers with a wider range of services and products, Farrell explored options in screen-printing equipment. In comparing technical designs and engineering the VOLT caught his attention because of one outstanding feature – and that outstanding feature became the reason he selected VOLT for his operations. Servo-driven technology eliminates the compressor and chiller.

For Farrell this single feature separated the VOLT from competitive machines. He said, “I liked the idea of the registration being controlled by an servo indexer rather than by a pneumatic indexing system. With the servo we won’t have to worry about registration issues so we would be able to ensure proper registration on every job.”

What Farrell discovered, along with others that are now integrating the Servo-electric VOLT into their screen-printing operations, is that the removal of the pneumatic system eliminates frequent down time from faulty airlines, toggle switches and solenoid valves. Elimination of the pneumatic systems also improved the quality within the workplace environment by reducing sound pollution emanating from the compressor and chiller.

“It’s been a beautiful machine,” noted Farrell. “With a lot of great features we really appreciate, like the 15-inch touch-screen controls.”

The Volt’s 15-inch touch-screen allows the operators to modify operations with a single touch to enhance production rates through printing efficiency.

Farrell also found the quality of the installation and follow-up service by Anatol Equipment to be a perfect match for the high level of performance and Servo-electric technology offered by the VOLT.

From its ability to efficiently deliver high-quality printing machines for its customers to the enhanced image to projects and the marketplace, the All-electric VOLT plays an important role for Cali Stitches. “It has shown our clients that we are investing in the best screen-printing technology to ensure the best outcomes for them,” says Farrell. “It ensures them that they will receive the best screen-printing available.”

For more about Cali Stitches, click here.

For more details about the technology and advantages of Anatol’s VOLT, click here.

VOLT TECHNOLOGY MAKES A LASTING IMPRESSIONS AT ISS

After making its debut at Long Beach ISS in 2014, last month the VOLT returned to the largest show dedicated to imprinted sportswear in the United States today for round-two.

Brett Edmunds –Embroidery Doctor storefront.  

Brett Edmunds, of the Embroidery Doctor, located in Sparks, Nevada, represents today’s professional and forward thinking imprinted and screen-printing business owners. In the past two years, he and his staff have attended ISS researching equipment to fit the future needs of his business, as well looking for new trends in the industry, and taking advantage of training seminars available at the show.

The overwhelming positive response that the VOLT recieved at lasts year’s ISS in Long Beach, California, confirmed the rule that a good first impression is a lasting one.  Brett Edmunds, of the Embroidery Doctor, located in Sparks, Nevada, discovered the VOLT during its unveiling at the ISS Long Beach show in 2014. He had researched a number of screen printing press options before making a final selection, and the Anatol booth was high on his list for a visit. His objective was to find equipment and technology that would cost-effectively expand the scope and services of his company. The ultimate goal was to find a screen printing press that would eventually provide more responsive and competitive products for his customers – and not break the bank.

“I saw the VOLT at the show last year and was very interested,” said Edmunds. “Being what I think a good business person should be, I also wanted to see how the numbers were going to work out for us for the remainder of the year before committing to a purchase.”

Edmunds plans were focused on the addition of an automatic screen printing press to the Embroidery Doctor’s operations to expand production capacity that was currently being driven by a single manual press.

The Embroidery Doctor’s services include custom embroidery, screen- printing, vinyl, patches, artwork and digitizing. The company is committed to the special needs of their customer service with timely, professional, and price conscious products. For more about the Embroidery Doctor visit their Facebook page.

But what were the final criteria that tipped the scales in favor of the VOLT for the Embroidery Doctor from 2014 to 2015?

“There were a couple of reasons. One was, I wanted us to be different,” said Edmunds. “Nobody else had this kind of technology, so it would be something for our customers. I also really liked the idea that it’s 100% electric. Another important factor was that noise level. I wanted to keep the noise down, and keep a comfortable working environment for our people. The pneumatic presses are loud.”

The Volt textile automatic screen printing press was designed exclusively to step away from the numerous pneumatic automatic printing presses whose product differences are mainly the color of the press. Anatol Equipment designed the Volt to be fully powered by all-electric servo technology for reliability, durability and simplicity. 

ANATOL.COM

While waiting for the delivery and installation of their New VOLT in late February, Edmunds and members of the Embroidery Doctor once again attended the ISS show in Long Beach. This time, instead focusing entirely on the selection of the next new equipment for the shop, the Embroidery Doctor crew took advantages of the educational opportunities offered at the show.

“It was really good for my employees and me. We attended several different classes. It was very educational, and it really opened my employees’ eyes up to new possibilities. They really liked that and they liked being part of our decision making process.”

We will revisit Brett Edmunds and the Embroidery Doctor for a report on his experience with the installation and integration of the VOLT into his company’s operations this spring.

PART 1: VOLT TECHNOLOGY GAINS AND DELIVERS A NEW, MORE PROFESSIONAL EDGE

Imprinted Sportswear Shows like the ISS in Long Beach, January 16 to 18, draw large crowds of industry professionals looking for an edge on their competition through the integration of faster, more accurate, and more efficient equipment and technologies.

Today’s screen-printing and imprinted sportswear industry is quickly evolving in terms of its’ overall professionalism and marketplace competitiveness. In the past with low barriers to entry and limited regulatory demands, the industry was open to innovative artists with handcrafted designs, and often low-tech, low-volume production capabilities. And, it was populated with businesses that were operated with flair, but often with casual business models, and low expectations, as far as customer service was concerned.

Today, with a recovering marketplace and increasing disposable incomes in the consumer and corporate sectors, plus the proliferation of internet sourcing, the industry is rapidly becoming more competitive.

New owners, with more aggressive and professional management styles and business models, are changing the face of the industry more than ever.

Steve Farrell installed the VOLT into Cali Stitches operations in July of 2014. The introduction of VOLT’s advanced technology fit with the professional direction of the business’s objectives.

Steve Farrell, of Cali Stitches in Los Alamitos, California, represents one of today’s new entrepreneurs dedicated to working with a dynamic, growth oriented business model. Since entering the embroidery and imprinted design industry Farrell has continually grown and evolved Cali Stitches’ operations to offer a wider range of quality products and services matched with an ongoing dedication to professional customer responsiveness.

 “New and advanced technology and machinery differentiates us from our competition.”

– Steve Farrell, Cali Stitches

The addition of the Anatol's VOLT  to Cali Stitches, in July of 2014, fit perfectly with Cali Stitches professional direction.

"Our focus has been to offer our customers complete design and graphic development and services,” says Farrell. "There are a lot of silk-screening operations here in Southern California, but, most without real clear structures. Here, at Cali Stitches, we are dedicated to maintaining open lines of communication with our customers from our email response system to our customer-relations software. It’s all about reducing problems and ensuring complete customer satisfaction by being more of a professional business. The addition of new and advanced technology and machinery improved our responsiveness to customer demands, as well as differentiating us from other companies. We’ve invested in the best technology to produce the best products for our clients. ”

Cali Stitches has leveraged the integration of the VOLT to promote its technical and professional advantage within its marketplace throughout its social media network.

You can discover more about Cali Stitches, and its promotion of advanced VOLT Screen-Printing technology on the Cali Stitches Facebook.