Workhorse Products Newsletter – December 2023

Where has 2023 gone? As we approach the year’s end and look back, we at Workhorse will find this past year had its challenges, but was also filled with opportunities, including a turning point towards our future. We are eager for 2024, as we have some exciting plans and projects in the pipeline, and we can’t wait to share them with you!

Workhorse Products – Automatic Press Comparisons

Workhorse Products currently has 3 different automatic press options made to meet your screen printing needs. In our March 2023 newsletter, we shared an article outlining our top 6 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade to an Automatic Press. Having an automatic press in operation can help you grow your business, increase shop productivity and the quality of prints, and allow your workforce to boost their output. These machines bring cost savings in the long run and support your shop’s profitability due to, as one example, less turnaround time for jobs. They also can provide a better quality of life for both employees and shop owners as they produce more in a shorter period of time, offer better consistency of prints, and reduce standing for long hours and the physical strain that comes with a manual press. Automatic screen printing presses offer many benefits. How do you know which option is the best for your shop? Below, we share some information about the automatics we have designed and manufacture so you can select the best one for your screen printing needs. View or Download the Chart Freedom Express Series   The Freedom Express is the premier entry-level automatic screen printing press on the market. This fully pneumatic press – powered by the Workhorse OS – has everything you need to tackle the transition from manual to automatic printing. The feature-rich Freedom Express offers the greatest value for anyone entering the world of automatic printing.    Cutlass SE Series  The Cutlass SE Series is designed with the everyday rigors of your print shop in mind. This automatic screen printing press delivers a perfect balance of affordability and performance. The electric-driven indexing with pneumatic print heads combines the fast and smooth indexing of the Sabre with the easy-to-use and reliable pneumatic print heads of the Freedom – all enhanced by the Workhorse OS. All of the options you need to take control are right at your fingertips. The Cutlass SE Series is the most functional and affordable press in its class.    Sabre Series  The Sabre is the hardest working, most comprehensive and feature-rich automatic screen printing machine that Workhorse has to offer.  With its numerous best-in-class features, Workhorse OS innovations, and combining electric indexing and AC printheads, the Sabre is class leading.    Workhorse Products has the right automatic screen printing press for your shop’s needs. We encourage you to read our article 6 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade to an Automatic Press to learn more about how these machines can help support your business. Our company offers unparalleled support in the industry, and we welcome you to contact us with any questions regarding our automatic screen printing presses.

Workhorse Products Newsletter – June 2023

Hello Printers! Welcome to our second quarter newsletter! Schools are letting out and as summer approaches, we hope this finds you doing well and gearing up for some well-deserved summer vacation time! In this issue we will expand on the topic of press automation and explore ancillary equipment to consider with your automatic press. Ancillary equipment plays a vital role in maximizing the efficiency and productivity of your automatic press and we have put together a brief guide to help you navigate these items. We’ll explore dryers, compressors, exposure units, flashes, your building, and more! But that’s not all! Our dealers are hard at work, offering a variety of exclusive discounts, package deals, and add-on incentives to meet your needs. Whether you are considering an automatic press purchase, ancillary equipment options, or looking at your first manual equipment set-up, now is the perfect time to take advantage of these incredible offers. Call me at (602) 414-3695 and I will make sure to find the incentive that’s right for you! As always, our goal with this newsletter is to keep you informed and engaged with our print community. We value your feedback and suggestions, so please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know what you think. Ancillary Equipment to Consider with an Auto Purchase Upgrading to an automatic press is no doubt a significant step in your business growth. Now that you’ve made that decision, it’s time to consider the ancillary items that go hand in hand with this upgrade. If you haven’t made the decision to purchase an automatic press, be sure to read the article in our March 2023 newsletter, 6 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade to and Automatic Press. These ancillary items may seem less significant, but they play a crucial role in ensuring the efficient operation of your printing business. In this article, we’ll look into these products and explain their importance. Read More See What Our Customers Are Saying “Those of us who have Workhorse presses – we don’t get rid of them. They’re good, solid presses! We’re not getting rid of Workhorse machines unless you pry them from our cold, dead hands!” Monica Maglaris Co-Owner Liberty Screen Print Read the Full Story International T-Shirt Day Is on June 21st In our March newsletter, we offered a plan to take advantage of the opportunity that is International T-Shirt Day! In addition to promoting it on your social media (as we outlined in our previous newsletter), you can also encourage participation in other ways. This year, the celebration falls on June 21st, so now is the time to get the message out to your customers. As we mentioned in our last newsletter, you can release new designs, have a promotional event at your business, offer a discount [...]

When It Comes to Paying for Equipment – You Have Options!

After you’ve made the choice to purchase new equipment, there are several options to consider when it comes to the actual payment process as well. Options we will discuss in this article include cash purchase, bank loan, third-party financing, and borrowing from a family member or friend. It’s important to consider your business’s financial situation and needs, as well as each option’s advantages and disadvantages.  Cash Purchase   Cash is great, and so is not paying a lender interest over time (one advantage of paying cash).  As soon as the cash changes hands, you own the equipment free and clear, all the while lowering your monthly operating costs. While those are good points, they are not the only considerations.   When you are ready to add a new automatic press and are thinking of paying for it with cash, you will want to make sure using that payment method doesn’t negatively affect your business operations. There are always going to be operating costs – marketing, building lease, consumables, employees, insurance, taxes, and more.  Prior to using your company’s cash, make sure you have a good understanding of your current operating costs, and perhaps most importantly, make your best guess at what future costs might be as well. Every screen printing business is different so there aren’t too many more specifics we can really offer other than the obvious – Make sure you have enough cash set aside (after the purchase) to cover your operating costs. Here is an example to illustrate the point: Your business has operating costs of $10K per month. You have $60K saved up and now want to purchase an auto for $50K.  If you use $50K of the cash reserves, you will reduce from 6 months to only 1 month the ability to keep your business going, should the unexpected happen.   If you were to finance the equipment for a monthly payment of $1K, you would make your total operating cost $11K a month while leaving your $60K in the bank. This payment option would also keep your almost 6 months of operating expenses available.   Bank Loan  The bank is a great way to finance a press and potentially the cheapest access to money you have. Most small businesses turn to their bank when money is needed, and understandably so. Spending a little time getting to know who is holding your money and building a relationship with them is not a bad idea. They typically hold your checking and savings accounts and other assets your business has. For this reason, they can be (or should be) able to offer the cheapest financing. However, there are still things to consider:   We have seen the transition away from small “handshake” banks, and most credit decisions are now passed on to one main or larger underwriting firm. These decision makers don’t know or understand you, your business, or the equipment you are purchasing. Because of this new way of handling loan applications, banks are not [...]

Ancillary Equipment to Consider with an Auto Purchase

Upgrading to an automatic press is no doubt a significant step in your business growth. Now that you’ve made that decision, it’s time to consider the ancillary items that go hand in hand with this upgrade. If you haven’t made the decision to purchase an automatic press, be sure to read the article in our March 2023 newsletter, 6 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade to and Automatic Press. These ancillary items may seem less significant, but they play a crucial role in ensuring the efficient operation of your printing business. In this article, we’ll look into these products and explain their importance. Compressor / Chiller At a minimum, you will need a compressor that produces enough PSIs (pounds per square inch) and CFMs (cubic feet per minute) to properly handle the requirements of your auto press. At this time, you may even want to consider future purchases that require air. PSI is the amount of pressure that the air compressor can generate and is typically measured at the outlet of the compressor. CFM refers to the amount of air that is delivered at a given pressure and is typically used to evaluate airflow capacity. The higher the CFM, the longer it can power or operate without needing to recharge. The chiller is a needed device for your compressor and offers several benefits. Essentially, it cools down the compressed air in your compressor, which reduces the operating temperature and improves the quality of the compressed air by eliminating moisture and contaminants that can cause damage to downstream equipment (specifically, your automatic press). There are two common options when you purchase: piston-driven and screw-driven compressors. Piston-driven uses pistons and cylinders to compress air, while screw-driven uses rotating screws to compress air. The advantage of piston-driven is that they are less expensive with fewer moving parts; the disadvantage is that they are generally less efficient and produce more noise and heat, as well as consume more energy. Screw-driven are more expensive but offer the advantage of efficiency and performance – they can operate at a constant speed without overheating. The choice between piston and screw compressors depends on the specific needs of your business. Dryers / Flashes / Attachments A crucial consideration is the need for a larger dryer. Automated printing significantly improves your output and you will need a dryer to handle the workload of these larger runs. A larger dryer will prevent bottlenecks in your production and increase the output capacity of your entire shop. Larger dryers can be powered by electricity or gas, and each offers a specific set of advantages. The topic of dryers is easily a stand-alone segment, so for this article, when considering a larger dryer, keep in mind the following: belt width, oven chamber, rate of production, and power source. When deciding on a flash, a key component is the balance between function and speed. Some flashes allow you preserve a printhead (color) by [...]

Workhorse Products Newsletter – March 2023

Hello Printers! We are excited to be sending you our 2023 Q1 Newsletter! In this issue, we’ll be covering our 6 Top Reasons why upgrading to an automatic press could benefit your business. Whether it’s saving time and money or improving accuracy and efficiently, see what automating your shop could do for you. If you missed the ISS Long Beach show in January, be sure to check out our social media channels for highlights along with interviews from industry professionals. You’ll see we even managed to mix in a little fun along the way! As always, our goal with this newsletter is to keep you informed and engaged with our print community. We value your feedback and suggestions, so please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know what you think. 6 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade to an Automatic Press When the time comes to purchase your first automatic press, many considerations contribute to your decision. It is important to weigh these factors and the impacts they may or may not have on your business and your options to purchase. In this article, we will share 6 reasons to automate your shop, some of the most common concerns we hear about doing so, and the benefits and advantages that automation provides for your printing business. Business Growth As your business grows, you may find that you need more production, more employees, or want to expand into new markets. Whatever the case may be, automation can help with growth. For your expansion plans, you may need to develop new product offerings or explore new methods of printing. Automation enables you to produce a wider range of designs and unique products. It also gives your business the ability to transition between designs quickly and easily, as well as print applications and processes, making you more responsive to customer demands. Automating your shop allows you to scale operations more efficiently, which will help you tap into new markets, reach new customers, provide a better work environment, and even get you home to your family sooner. Automated presses will help you align your business for larger, more complex orders, and position it for long-term growth and success. Shop Productivity Most growth scenarios involve the need for both increased production and output. One of the primary benefits of automating your business is the increase of production capacity and being able to do so efficiently. Automated presses produce more prints in less time than manual printing, with the ability to produce up to 500-1000 shirts per hour. This allows you to take on larger, more complex orders with less time and effort required to complete the job. Automated presses will fulfill orders faster, reduce your lead times, and improve the delivery times to your customers. Quality of Print Automatic presses provide greater accuracy and consistency in the printing process, resulting in higher-quality [...]

Workhorse Products Newsletter – December 2022

Hello Printers! We are excited to be sending you our first e-newsletter! Some of you may know us well and some maybe just getting to know us, but, either way, welcome back or welcome! Moving forward, we are implementing some changes to how we connect with our customers. One of these is sharing our new quarterly newsletter with you. In these, you’ll find relevant news and information relevant to the screen printing industry. Through these newsletters, we aim to provide valuable knowledge that you can use to bring further success to your screen printing business. As such, we welcome input from you – our valued customers – so if there is a topic you’d like to see covered in a future newsletter, please contact us! If you would prefer our newsletters and emails to be sent to an alternate email, please contact us, and we will update our information. And if you find the information interesting or valuable, we invite you to please share it with and forward it to your friends and colleagues in the industry. Of course, if you don’t want to receive these emails, you can choose to unsubscribe below… but we hope you’ll stick around, because we have so much interesting information and many useful articles planned for future newsletters! In this edition of our newsletter, we are sharing a brief article based on a customer’s question, highlighting some of the advantages of LED Exposure units, as well as some of the fascinating history of this industry we all love – screen printing. We are excited about the changes being implemented and are looking forward to connecting and sharing with you! The Workhorse Products family would like to wish Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all our customers, partners, and friends! Ask The Experts At Workhorse Products Q: I am considering upgrading my exposure unit to LED. What are the advantages of LED compared to non-LED units in the marketplace? A: LED exposure units continue to be sought after technology because of the many advantages they offer. Let’s take a closer look. Advantages: LED units power up instantly, therefore, no warm-up time is needed. Non-LED units have to warm up before they are fully functional. For this reason, many shops leave it on all day so there is no wait time before each use. LEDs are ‘instant on’ and ‘instant off’, yet no power is consumed between each usage. This also lessens its overall power consumption. Lower energy consumption means LED units are more efficient to operate on a daily basis. You’ll enjoy energy savings on electricity use and be doing your part by using a more ‘green’ solution. LED units require little to no maintenance and use long-lasting bulbs that do not fade or weaken over time (unlike traditional bulbs). Also, with an LED machine, [...]

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