Andre Palko's Bindery Success Tips

2010-03-19T19:01:00.000-07:00

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Do You Want to Make Your Downtime Productive Time?

2010-01-12T06:32:00.000-08:00

Not Enough Time in Your Day?
We all have the same 24 hours a day to work with.
No more, no less. So why do some people always seem
to get more done?

Here's a simple tip that will punch up your productivity.
Most printers are pretty good at scheduling. When there's
work in the shop, it's scheduled and prioritized.
So far, so good.

When we're busy it seems we'll never get a break, so
the natural response is to relax a bit and take that break.
However, this is valuable time that should not be wasted.

According to Kevin Carey of DieInfo Inc., "The problem is
few companies plan for these periods and as a result,
this valuable time is squandered on non-critical activity.
Professional companies have contingency plans for slack times
and immediately implement a prioritized list of activities and
scheduled projects, already allocated to individuals and teams."

The common response to downtime is to clean the machines,
sweep the floors, maybe oil something and generally just look busy.
While somewhat useful, it's too casual to be a productive use of time.

Instead, create a plan of slack time activities that will help
improve production for the next busy time. This can include
administrative, production or training activities. Some examples:

Create a list of questions for brainstorming sessions in each department
Conduct a tool, parts and supplies inventory
Set up a standard maintenance procedure and schedule
Create standard operating procedures for all processes in the plant
Organize a tool and parts storage system
Inspect and repair equipment
Throw out old, worn, useless parts
Cross train staff on different equipment and in different departments
Conduct departmental training

There is no limit to the list. The key is to pre-plan and prioritize.
When it slows down, each employee goes right to his list.
No unnecessary questions or discussion.

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We Have a Winner in Our Survey Drawing!
Laura Lockett of Cal State University in Sacramento,
whose print department uses EZ-Fit Tri-Creasers on their
Baumfolder, won the iPod Touch in our recent survey drawing.
Thanks to Laura and everyone else who participated!

Here's a very interesting, uplifting statistic to ponder:
Of the nearly 700 respondents, 91.8% said they were
satisfied in their jobs. Compare that to a just-released
survey from the Conference Board Research Group that
shows only 45% of Americans are satisfied in their work.

So what does it mean? Are printers twice as happy?
Perhaps it's the type of people our industry attracts.
It could be a statistical glitch.
I prefer to believe it's because our readers are a
select group who realize that we make our own happiness,
no matter what our circumstances.
What do you think?

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Point of View
The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.
Zig Ziglar

One of the great lessons in life
is to know that even fools are right sometimes.
Winston Churchill

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Re-entry Into the Work Force
If you have been laid off for some time, but will start a new job
soon, strengthen your skills by reading industry blogs and
trade publications. If your expertise is out of date, bone up.

If you are going with a new company, be prepared for emotional
volatility, says The Wall Street Journal. It's not easy being the
new person, especially if your self-confidence took a hit
during unemployment.

It's a tough question, but ask yourself why you were one of
those who was laid off. It probably wasn't your fault, but consider
how you could have made yourself more valuable and
more productive before it happened.

2009-12-10T10:43:00.000-08:00

Huge Tax Benefit That May Not be Renewed...a Reminder!!
Section 179 deductions...sounds boring but it can save you a
ton of dough if you simply take advantage. What it says, according
to the IRS, is that if you buy or lease equipment and place it
into service before the year end, you can deduct the full
amount from your gross income for 2008, even if you don't
start paying until next year.

Click Here for an online calculator to do some what-if
scenarios. (Scroll to bottom of page.) Of course, check with
your accountant as you would with any financial decision.
You'll see the advantages are tremendous and depending on
your tax bracket, investments this year will give you large
cash savings.

"Buy + Refi"
Leasing companies are also very creative. Most will let you
make a purchase of a new or used piece of equipment, then
roll an existing lease or loan into a new lease/loan with
lower interest rates and longer terms.

Deferred Payments
If for instance, you don't start paying until March 2010,
you still get the equipment delivered this year and
you still get the Section 179 savings this year. Most
leasing companies are offering some deferred payment plan.

Bottom line is, you've got some powerful leverage
available...it's one of the few things our leaders have
done right. We all know the odds of them taking
away something really useful to the economy and
the country are pretty good, so I urge you not to
delay if you're even close to a purchase.

Talk to your leasing or loan company, or reply to this
email for a few referrals of companies who specialize
in this.
******************************************************
Help Wanted
Experienced folder operator wanted in Tampa FL.
Should have experience in glue folding. Night shift 10pm to 6am.
Company offers paid health insurance after 90 days,
401k with 3% employer contribution after 1 year,
one week vacation after one year.
Relaxed, casual work atmosphere.
Contact Ron Sheldon (813) 886-5597 x 237
or email rsheldon@ammsusa.com
If you have a Help Wanted or a Situation Wanted
position, we'll list it at no cost both here and in the
print version of Bindery Success, space permitting.
Just reply to this email or forward your listing to
classified@technifoldusa.com
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Point of View
Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions
of our childish days; that can recall to the old the pleasures
of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveler,
thousands of miles away, back to his own fireside and his quiet home.
Charles Dickens

An obstacle in life is like a log in your path.
You could step over it.
You could move it out of the way.
Or you could cut it up and make firewood.
Unknown

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Chance to Win an iPod...Take this Quick, 7-Question Survey
Complete this brief, 7-question survey and you're entered in
a drawing to win an iPod Touch 32gb, or a $250 Gift Card
from Amazon. Drawing held December 21...
just in time for Christmas!

PLUS...we'll ship your next order with Technifold USA
via FedEx ground at no charge to you.
Simply complete the survey here:
Click Here to Take Survey and Enter Drawing

It's quick, easy and your answers are completely anonymous.
Once your survey is complete, simply enter your email
address to get the shipping credit and automatically enter.

How to Trim Problem Paper -- Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T09:46:00.000-08:00

An Attitude of Gratitude...
Happy Thanksgiving from everyone here at Technifold USA!

"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands,
because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have
we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have
something else or something more." Brother David Steindl-Rast

We'll be CLOSED for the holiday
Thursday Nov 26th and Friday Nov 27th
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How to Trim Problem Paper

In the perfect world, every sheet of paper is perfectly square
and each sheet is the same as the next. In our world, we
know this to be perhaps the exception. Maybe the paper
wasn't stored right, maybe it distorted after printing,
maybe it's a deckle edge sheet, the converter did a
lousy job...etc.

Whatever the reason, sometimes you're faced with having
to trim a job where sheet-to-sheet register seems
impossible when guillotine cutting. The recommended
solution is to obviously trim the stock before printing.
Sometimes this is just not possible...you've just got to
print the full sheet as it is.

Aside from die-cutting the piece, there is a way to
deal with this. Andrew Brennan of Delaware submitted this
tip and I've used a variation on this myself. A warning from
Andrew and me: use extreme care and if your paper
cutter manufacturer does not recommend doing this,
or they have an alternative solution, and by all means
follow their suggestions to avoid personal or machine
damage and inury! Common sense should prevail.

First: Construct or buy a hardwood wedge and insert it
in the cutter backgauge at the exact point
where the side guide would have pulled the sheet.
(image below)

Place magnetic strips on the cutter side at points
where the grippers would have grabbed the sheet.
Be sure both the wedge and the strips go
completely to the bottom of the cutter table so
sheets don't slide underneath, and you don't want
them to ride above either. Then make your first cut.

Next, rotate the stock as shown below to cut away
the tail of the sheet opposite the gripper.

Now you have two square edges to work with.
Depending on the job, you might carefully finish the cutting
while leaving all the objects in OR you might do
these first two cuts, set the lifts aside and do the
final trimming in a second pass. In either case,
don't forget to remove all objects before continuing
on to the next job.

This technique works surprisingly well, but let's hope
you don't have to pull it out of the hat too often!

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Point of View
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue,
but the parent of all other virtues.
Cicero

What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside
on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets.
I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?
Erma Bombeck

Digital Finishing Plus a New Google Business Tool

2009-11-23T13:15:00.000-08:00

Another No-Cost Business Tool from Google

The new Google Voice product gathers all your calls from your
various phones, which can then be accessed from your home,
office or cell phone.

If you ignore a voice mail, it is transcribed and sent to you as
an e-mail. And Voice lets you make free conference calls and
cheap international calls. To get started with the service,
you set up a personal Voice Web page, where you link your
home, work and cell numbers with a new number given to
you by Voice.

The new number link is used because Voice is still somewhat
under development. Before long, they will have number
portability so you won't have to use the number link they
give you to start. When one of the designated phones rings,
you can pick up whichever phone is most convenient.
You can press * to make all the phones ring again. Voice
does a pretty good job of recognizing words in a
voice mail and transcribing them. Depending on the
clarity of the speaker's diction, it could get a word or two
wrong, but generally the meaning of the message is
not changed.

You can sign up for the service at google.com/voice.
Right now, there is a waiting list.
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Point of View
A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory.
Arthur Golden

A great marriage is not when the perfect couple comes together.
It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.
Dave Meurer

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Need to Segregate Digital Work from Offset?
Or do you simply need to streamline your digital operation?
Check out the Speedcreaser here.

It's a low-cost creasing and/or
micro perforating solution
specifically designed for
the short-run department
or copy shop.

Currently we have customers using these in all
sorts of normal digital applications--flyers, brochures,
book covers as well as the unusual such as
creasing boxes and wrappers for promotional products.

The Speedcreaser can also be run inline with right
angle sections from folding machines, turning unused
or little-used items into productive pieces.
The Auto Feed version can also be used as a
feeder for various equipment.

Call Mark at 401-364-3735 or contact us with your questions.
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A Knockout Strategy for Trying Times

2009-11-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

George Foreman Hands a Knockout to Andre
"Why did you name all your sons George?"
is one of the most-asked questions put
to this boxing and business champ (and no,
I did NOT ask him and no, I'm not that
tall...he is sitting in the photo at left,
handing me a copy of
his latest book
Knockout Entrepreneur.)

His exchange with the reporter
went something as follows:
"Do you know Ali?"
Yes.
"Do you know Holyfield?"
Yes.
"Do you know Joe Frazier and Ken Norton?"
Yes.
"Well, let all those guys hit YOU in the head and see how
many names you can remember!"

In his book, Foreman says one of the biggest obstacles to
success is fear of taking a risk and the desire to stay in your
comfort zone. While making his comeback, he found his right
hand had weakened. Normally a boxer moves in tight circles
to the left as he moves around the ring. Foreman decided to
work on moving to the right, and worked twice as hard
on his left hand.

Challengers in the ring who had studied his old films (where
he moved to the left) were surprised when they found a
strong left-handed George moving to the right. He credits
that change in fundamentals with taking him back to the top.
He took a weakness and turned it into an opportunity.

"There's no shame in changing," says Foreman. His advice:
ask probing questions..."How can I do what I do better...
am I problem oriented or solution oriented?"
Hmmm...I think he's been reading our newsletters!

If you ever get the chance to hear big George speak, do it.
He's the real deal...an authentic, engaging, funny and
inspirational man driven by his faith, family and community.

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Fold Roller Washes
A reader asked our opinion on using MRC (metering roller cleaner)
for folding machine fold rollers. Mark did a little research on the
topic, and here's what we found.

Most of us are inclined to lump all combination style fold rollers
into one rubber+steel category. But rubber is a very broad
category and in fact there are many types of vulcanized
rubber, polyurethanes and foams that are used in fold rollers,
even within the same makes and models.

So MRC, a 'rubber' roller cleaner, should be OK to use, right?
Not so fast. The rubber used in metering rollers is different
than fold roller rubber, and using MRC can damage your
fold rollers.

The first, best course of action is to check with the
manufacturer of your folder. Technology and materials
are changing all the time and you don't want to
inadvertently damage thousands of dollars of rollers.
"We've always done it that way" can be an expensive
motto, so double check whether that press wash or MRC
is compatible with your fold roller rubber.

MBO and Horizon techs recommend using Varn VWM, which
will remove both solvent-soluble and water-soluble glazes
in one washup. You'll get both types of build-up on
fold rollers, so it's convenient to have a one-step wash.

VWM can be mixed with 20 to 50% water for best results.
A Baum technician suggests using Surewash from RBP
Chemical on their fold rollers. Wayne Pagel of Kepes,
a specialist in fold rollers, cautions us to avoid rubber roller
(MRC) or type wash, and stick with a cleaner designed for
the type of rubber in your fold rollers.

As we discussed last week, running tough jobs like
aqueous will highlight worn or dirty fold rollers and you'll
want to clean more frequently when running tough jobs.
Just be sure to clean them with the right solution.
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Point of View

Whatever you are ready for is ready for you.
Mark Victor Hansen

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing
new landscapes, but in having new eyes.
Marcel Proust

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Web Press Headaches?
Is scoring on your web presses
giving you fits?
Want to eliminate a separate,
offline scoring operation?

Then give Mark a call at
401-364-3735 or email
Mark@technifoldusa.com

The Web Creaser uses our Tri-Creaser technology,
adapted for web press speeds and installation requirements.
We can quickly outfit any web press.

2009-11-02T16:52:00.000-08:00

'I Hate People'...
    Though co-workers can be wonderful, you could be thinking
that some of them are a pain in the neck.

Like 'em or not, they're here to stay. You might as well
decide how they can help you or how you can avoid being
distracted by them. So say business writers Jonathan Littman
and Marc Hershon in their often-humorous book, which is
about dealing with various types in order to "get what
you want out of your job." So far, their I Hate People ...
has gained great reviews.

   They do make a point when they say the person who has your
best interests at heart is probably the one sitting in your own chair.They recommend "solocrafting," which means moving forward with your work under any conditions.

What they advise:

   Stop talking. Start doing. Stop asking (for whatever). And,
make them (the supervisors and co-workers) believe in you.
In other words, the writers of this humorous book are champions
of the entrepreneurial spirit in day-to-day shop or office life.

   They also say teams with more than three to five competent
people are not very effective and can stifle your creativity.
Whether or not that's the case, the authors admit they don't
have all the answers.

   You might find the book controversial, but at least it will
get you thinking.

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Point of View
If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it.
~ Jonathan Winters

One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears,
by listening to them.
~ Dean Rusk
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Folding Aqueous Coated Jobs...Feedback Part 2
Last week we touched on a few emergency techniques.
This week: equipment and environment.

Equipment
Working with aqueous or any challenging stock will tend to
highlight any flaws or worn items on your folder. For example,
a feed table register belt gets worn and glazed over time.
Normally it might not pose a problem, but present it with a
very slick stock and the problem appears. Often it's a
simple matter of cleaning, (be careful with the chemicals
you use!) or it may be time to replace (see last weeks
suggestions.) You may also find that the side guide and
register marble combinations may need to be
finessed with a slick stock.

Your fold rollers may be working just fine...until that aqueous job.
Again, more frequent cleaning with recommended roller wash
may do the trick (more on roller washes next week.)

MBO and Stahl both make use of an "open cell" foam
as a high-grip alternative to traditional polyurethane or
urethane and steel combo rollers. The downside is that the
rollers wear faster. Kepes, a manufacturer of post-press
specialty items and replacement parts, has taken the
foam roller one step further.

Their High Density fold roller has a simple design twist
on the standard combo
fold roller. It can use
either foam or urethane,
and has the added
advantage of
decreased
marking problems--there is no steel-to-steel overlap to
cause marking as the rubber wears down. (image above)
With a high-density design for extra grip, plus urethane for
longer life (compared to foam) you now have a good,
high performance upgrade that will help with tough stock.

Questions on the fold roller issue? Give Mark a
call at 401-364-3735 or email info@technifoldusa.com
and we'll point you in the right direction.

Environment
There have plenty of books and studies done on the
Pressroom environment; suffice it to say that
humidity and temperature differences play a vital role
in the successful printing and finishing of any stock.

A few readers wrote to say that they use humidifiers
and/or vaporizers to control the relative humidity in
the vicinity of the folder. Some swear by the use
fabric softener in the mister to help with the register.

But let's back up a bit. Paper is hygroscopic: it will either
take up moisture or release moisture into the environment
to reach the same state of humidity as the surroundings.
When it stops releasing or absorbing moisture, it is
at equilibrium. For best printing (and subsequent
finishing) results, paper should be at this state of
equilibrium before printing. Also, the paper should
be at the same temperature as the pressroom.

Sounds easy, right? Well, relative humidity changes with
the air temperature. Warm air holds more moisture than cool air.
A 70 degree room will hold more moisture than a 55 degree room,
hence the term "relative humidity." In the US, relative humidity
(RH for short) can vary form 10-90% depending on
location and time of year.

To add to the mix: humidity and moisture content
where the paper is manufactured make a difference in
how the paper will perform. Sooo...to simplify things,
most paper companies manufacture so that the end
user (the printer) gets best result at an RH of about
40 to 50%. Got all that?

If you haven't already done so, a study of your
press and bindery environment is a good place to
start. If no standards and controls exist,
a changing environment will make it harder to
troubleshoot any other items. For instance, say
your RH is 25% one day and 45% the next. How
will that affect job print quality, aqueous coating
and drying? A job that runs perfectly one day may be
totally different and mis-register the next. The operator
ends up fighting a "folder" problem that is really a
relative humidity problem resulting from variations in
drying, tackiness, curl, etc.

It's a complex subject. Avoiding it will cost you
tens of thousands of dollars over the years, not
to mention endless aggravation. Paper manufacturers are a
good place to start, and there are usually very specific
recommendations for preparing various papers for
printing.

Although no single source will give you all the answers
you need, (unless you get very lucky,) by instituting
standards, you chip away at the seemingly endless variables
that can affect your production.

Next week...manufacturer recommended solutions for
cleaning fold rollers.
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Folding aqueous jobs, more on cutting, and little-known equipment deduction

2009-10-22T14:26:00.000-07:00

More on Cutting...
In the last issue (Oct 2--yes I missed a couple of weeks)
we talked about the use of jogging blocks for high-volume
cutting.

The Problem: now that you've got the row of small pieces
cut without spilling them, how do you move them quickly
to the side table? Usually you can use the jogger block
as a support, and move the cut pieces plus jogger in
one smooth motion. With very small pieces, sometimes
any movement is enough to send them flying.

A Solution: Simply use a piece of chipboard on the bottom
of the lift being cut. This provides something of a rigid base
for the cut lift to ride on. Periodic silicone spray on a
clean table also helps.

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Point of View

Observation is like a muscle. It grows stronger with use and atrophies
without use. Exercise your observation muscle and you will become a
more powerful decoder of the world around you.
~ Joe Navarro, former FBI agent

When you look in the mirror, you are looking at the problem;
but remember, you are also looking at the solution.
~ anonymous

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Feedback on Folding Aqueous Coated Jobs...
Plenty of great feedback on this issue...it certainly touched a nerve!
Although I can't always respond individually to every email, they all
get read and my thanks to all who took time to write!

I'll break the feedback in to three categories:
equipment, environment and technique.

Before we get to those, one lone respondent said he runs aqueous
jobs the same as regular uncoated jobs and never has a problem.
He added he's going to keep his fingers crossed! This highlights
the complexity of printing and finishing. If you experiment enough,
you can probably find the right combination of paper, ink,
coating and machines to run without a hitch.

Until then, here are a few ideas to consider.
Technique
==> The simplest and most common suggestion was to
use more fold roller pressure. Adjust manually or use thinner
sheets in the calipers.

==> Check the register belt on the infeed table. If it's worn
and too smooth, register can be an issue when you get to
a slick, coated stock. A simple test: wet the belt slightly.
If the register problem goes away, you've found the culprit.

==> "Desperation" cures, or "how do I get this job to run
right now?" Most suggestions here involved spraying a very fine
mist of water/alcohol directly on the fold section. A warning:
this will promote rust on metal parts! (WD40 or Pledge polish
lightly applied can help prevent rust.) Be sure to dry equipment
when the job is done.

Another emergency suggestion sent in: use Shower to Shower body
powder on the fold rollers. Of course, a fine powder in a machine
is not a good combination. These are definitely NOT manufacturer
recommended answers to the problem, they are emergency
solutions. But if plan to stick around the industry, a bag full of
tricks like this goes hand-in-hand with the territory.

Next week...manufacturer recommended solutions (equipment)
and environmental cures.

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Equipment Leasing Can Put Cash in Your Pocket

Thinking about investing in equipment? It pays to do it this year.
The Section 179 deduction from 2008 was extended with the
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009.

What's it mean? Let's say you want to invest $12,000 in a
piece of equipment, say a Speedcreaser
outfitted with 2 Tri-Creasers and a
Micro Perforator.

Buy before the end of the year and you
can deduct the entire $12,000 this year.
If you're in a 35% tax bracket, that's a
real, cash savings of $4,200.
Cost of equipment is lowered to $7,800!

PLUS...many leasing and finance companies are offering deferred payment
leases, which makes an even better case for purchasing this year:

Buy it now and start earning a return immediately
Start paying for example, in March 2010
Get the full deduction of $12,000 this year
Your tax savings pays for most or all of first year payments
No out of pocket costs

Get positioned now for the future. Call your leasing or
finance company or email info@technifoldusa.com for a listing.

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Print 09 Free Passes...expires Aug 14

2009-07-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder--you can still get Free Print 09
exhibit hall passes. The deadline to pick up these
$40.00 passes is August 14 or when we use up our
allotment of 500 passes, whichever comes first.
(That's the show management deadline
so don't delay...we can't help you even an hour after
the deadline passes!)

Click Here to Sign Up Today
Sign up as many employees as you like.

2009-07-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

Weekly Tips, Techniques and News to Keep Your Bindery Productive
This Week...
Lead Edge Nicks * Cartoon * Handling Customer Complaints * 5 Ways to Avoid Burnout

Nicks at the Lead Edge of a Sheet
My first experience with this quick and simple fix was on folding
machine slitter shafts, and I've seen it work on scoring machines
and cover feeders. It really applies to any situation where a
sheet is passing through two shafts.

The Problem: When scoring or perforating, the lead edge gets a
small nick or tear when it hits the score or perf blade. If this is
happening to you, try this: simply offset the pull out
wheels as shown below.

This is NOT a cure-all for every case of nicking, but in seconds
you'll at least eliminate one potential cause and can move on to
the next one. Other causes include bent shafts, bad bushings,
wrong score or perf for the job, curled paper and more.

The reason this often works is simple. If the outside diameter of the
pull out wheels is much different than the OD on the score/perf
blade combination you are using, they are each trying to move the sheet at
a different speed. Too much of a difference in speed and you've got a nick or tear.

In a perfect world, every device, made by every manufacturer would
perfectly match up for every machine and we wouldn't have this
problem. Another factor is wear and tear on the gripper rollers,
especially with rubber rollers.

So here's how it works:
Step 1 -- Offset the wheels as shown.

Step 2 -- If the nick goes away, try running the job with the
wheels in the offset position. You might be surprised.

Step 3 -- If the nick disappears but register is a problem, use the
bare minimum of pull out wheels, e.g. 1 set on either side of
the perf or score. Don't load up with the pull out wheels, less
is usually better. Check the condition of the wheels and
replace if needed.

Step 4 -- substitute a different wheel. For instance, on folding
machines you might have steel counter knives (used for cutting)
that have a slightly different OD. Use them in place of the regular
pull out wheels.

Remember, this isn't a guaranteed cure, but it only takes seconds to try
and I've seen it work often enough that I wanted to pass it along.

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Learn to Handle Customer Complaints
Next time you get a customer complaint, use the L.E.A.R.N. formula to resolve it:
1. Listen-Close your mouth and listen. Do not interrupt. Let her blow off steam.
2. Empathize-Put yourself in their shoes. Then let them know that you
understand their feelings.
3. Ask-Ask them what they would like done.
4. Reassure-Reassure them that you will do what you can to resolve the problem.
5. Never forget to follow‐up-Pick a specific date for resolution or when you will
respond, and stick to it.
Source: National Appraisal Consultants wwwappraiserssuccess.com

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Work is a privilege. It's a privilege to be able to do what you love to do and be
good at it. My hobby is my work, and my work is my hobby. That's the secret.
There's no distinction.
LES PAUL, GUITAR LEGEND
Source: AARP 4/08 p77

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5 Ways to Avoid Job Burnout
==> Take on new projects...for instance, if you are interested in online marketing and
want to learn more about it, ask your boss if you can work on optimizing your
company's Website for search engines or manage a pay per click ad campaign.

==> Become more active in your own field...sometimes, decades of working in the
same profession can cause you to lose your sense of wonder and intellectual
engagement. The cure may be to dive right back in with renewed vigor, like
becoming involved in the local chapter of your professional association or
writing an article for your industry trade publication.

==> Find intellectual stimulation outside of work...especially for workaholics,
hobbies can be a tonic for burnout. You can take up chess, study a foreign
language, paint, sculpt, snowboard, spelunk, learn to fly or play a new instrument.

==> Update your resume...and quietly put some feelers out for a job search. Even if
you don't actually make a move, just knowing that you are valuable and wanted
can lift you out of the doldrums.

==> Revert to the passions of your youth...doing something you did when you were
younger but don't do now-whether playing basketball or watching "I Love
Lucy" reruns-can have a psychologically rejuvenating effect.

******************************************************
Got a Question, or Stumped by a Bindery Problem?
Give us a call or email. If we don't have an answer, we'll do our best to
point you in the right direction.
Call Mark Beaudreau, our technical specialist, direct at 401-364-3735
Or email: mark@technifoldusa.com
******************************************************

Dedicated to your Bindery Success

Andre Palko and the Technifold USA Team
4 Wisteria Rd
Lafayette NJ 07848
Phone 973-383-7920
Fax 973-383-7981
info@technifoldusa.com

Bindery Equipment as Recession Buster?

2009-03-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

In the Feb issue of the NPES News President Ralph Nappi says that "neither vendors nor printers have the luxury of sticking with the same old strategies, as digital technologies and consolidation continue to shape the industry." He goes on to talk about 5 recession busting survival strategies.

Number 2 on his list--right after "digital"--is "Think Finishing." Nappi suggests that as the print consumer grows savvier, "printers will need to offer creative finishing options to standard print pieces, be they elaborate diecutting and folding added to point of purchase displays or interactive additions to print advertising." And based on feedback from our customers, I'd add that you better make sure you can get it done fast.

Bindery equipment has always been the forgotten stepchild of the printing industry. How many times have you seen a printing company spend extravagantly on press or pre-press, yet do all their folding on a machine that should be in a museum?

If you are waiting for things to return to "normal," then you are probably going to starve. There are fundamental economic changes underway and thinking outside the box is more important than ever. Counting on a status quo is a recipe for losing customers and for drops in productivity. And not because your operations are necessarily getting worse, but because your competitors are working very diligently at pulling ahead everywhere they can.

Of course we have a vested interest in bindery equipment--it's our job to make it dramatically more productive and that is precisely what our tools are designed to do. Regardless of that, my point is this: take a look at ALL your operations and departments to see where you can give them a lift, and don't ignore the not-so-glamorous bindery department.

Folding machines, saddle stitchers, cutters, scoring machines and all the accessories that go with it can often be used in ways you might not have envisioned. And with consolidations and closings seemingly being announced by the hour, it's not a question of IF you need an advantage, it's a question of HOW are you going to get it!

We're always happy to discuss this and other ideas. Your feedback is welcome!

Common Sense

2009-02-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

A couple hundred years ago Thomas Paine wrote in
Common Sense that society is the joining of
people together to accomplish good. Government is
a necessary evil which exists to protect us from
the bad stuff out there, and in doing so protecting
our lives, liberty and properties.

Here's an alarming story reported by Bloomberg Neww,
and the first thing that came to mind was, "where
is the common sense in all this?"

Mark Pittman and Bob Ivry of Bloomberg write,
"The Federal Reserve, Treasury Department and Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation have lent or spent almost $3 trillion over
the past two years and pledged to provide up to $5.7 trillion more if
needed." According to Pittman, these gigantic pledges are nearly
enough to "pay off every home mortgage loan in the U.S., calculated
at $10.5 trillion by the Federal Reserve."

Now that's a bailout package, for every single mortgage holder
in the US to have their mortgage paid off. And it has the
ring of common sense to it. But you've got
to wonder, who's protecting whom here? And where has
all the common sense gone?

Other than writing endlessly to our representatives, the
best thing we can do in either a 'good' or 'bad' economy,
is to invest in our selves. As Dan Kennedy says, there is
no good or bad economy, just different economies.

No one, including the government, will look out for our individual
best interests as we do for our own. Keep learning,
keep studying, and stay sharp at whatever it is you do.
That's common sense, and that's the best protection we have.

the Super Bowl and Your Job

2009-02-02T07:05:00.000-08:00

This may be sacrilegious to say to sports fans the day after the
Super Bowl, but I'm not a big sports fan. I do however, like to
tune in to the Super Bowl for a few minutes. This year I tuned in
a split second before James Harrison's interception turned into
a record-breaking 100 yard return, never before
seen in Super Bowl history.
Now that's cool!

It's amazing what a fine line there is between phenomenal success and
just doing OK or worse--failure. Harrison could have made
the interception and returned it for 10 yards. It would have been a
great play. Or he could have missed by half an inch and it would have
been a touchdown for the Cardinals and failure for the Steelers. (To
all you Cardinals fans...I'm not taking sides!)

But that's not what happened. He was just a little bit faster here, a
little more agile there, pushed just a little harder against the
next guy in his way. Each tiny extra effort combined to make a huge
difference in the end result.

So this morning I asked, and we should all ask, "what little extra
effort can I make today that will make a difference?"

It's a point I try to make over and over with bindery
work. You don't have to be the fastest. Or have the most
up to date equipment. Harrison certainly was not the fastest,
and he was doing something he wasn't designed for.

But he didn't give up.
He was just a little bit faster than the other guy.
It was one tiny little success after another that
put him in the record books.

We can do the same.
If we produce a job at 5500 sheets an hour instead
of 5,000 today, we're outrunning the guy who
says "hey, we always run this job at 5,000/hour."
If you can do 3 operations to a sheet as it passes
through the folder, you're ahead of the guy who
does 2 operations on one machine and 1 on another.
If you've figured out how to cut down on double
sheets on a press, folder or any other machine,
you're a little faster and better.

And you don't have to be a superstar to do it.
So here's a challenge.

What are you going to improve today?
Take a minute or two and give it some serious
thought. Perhaps it's an idea you've been meaning
to try, or a different system you want in place.

Do one tiny NEW thing each day this week.
By the end of the week, you will have tried
5 new things. Out of those 5, the odds are
at least ONE will do something to make you
more successful.

Let me know how you do!

Here We Go...into the blogosphere!

2009-01-10T16:11:00.000-08:00

"Everyone" says you've got to have a blog. So here I go.
I'm pretty good at keeping up with most technology but
this social networking stuff has been on the back burner
for lots of years.

But you know what? I see some good uses for this.
I think I'm beginning to see the light, plus it's much
easier to do than it used to be.
For starters, it's a way for me to have a conversation with
thousands of customers like you. So I want to hear what you
have to say, starting with the one question, mini-poll at the right.

And if you haven't already done so, be sure to sign
up for the newly expanded 15-part Bindery Success Strategies
email course. It's totally free and it's full of tips and tricks
from our innovative customers as well as the staff at Technifold.
Click Here to Sign Up Automatically

Look for new posts here about twice a week and feel
free to leave a comment or suggestion.

Thanks for reading!

Andre Palko
President
Technifold USA