Bringing New Equipment into Your Facility

As with any major purchase in life, the purchase of new and improved equipment for your print shop facility can be one of the most exciting or monumental choices of your career. More often than not, this purchase requires hours of research, comparable shopping, and financing obstacles. After all is said and done though, it's the actual delivery of equipment to your facility that becomes the highlight of this whole experience, and it is with great anticipation that most pressmen or print shop owners await the delivery of their new press, cutter, or bindery equipment. There are a few things to keep in mind, however, for any printer acquiring new equipment. With a little 'know how,' this installation process can be as smooth as possible.

1. Loading Docks. Clear out your loading docks or garage door entrance. As simple a concept as this may be, do not wait for the morning of delivery to clear out the commercial entrance to your building. Have all paper stock and completed production out of the loading dock areas so when equipment is being delivered you can provide clear ingress to all delivery points within building. Make an open area for extra crates, boxes, or miscellaneous equipment.

2. Parking Lots. Make room in your parking lot. Have your staff park in alternate locations so the equipment can be staged as necessary in your parking lot. Most times equipment will be delivered to your facility on tractor trailers—these take up room, so try to be as accommodating as possible by providing ample room for the trucks.

3. Make Sure it Fits. Nothing is more frustrating than looking forward to new equipment installation, and then realizing that it just does not fit in the building. Ceiling height, hallways, doorways—these can all be sources of problems when trying to install new equipment. Make sure you are looking to purchase a piece of equipment that fits in your building, and is comparable to the space you have.

4. Deliveries. Schedule paper deliveries or production pick-ups for late in the afternoon or for another day. You do not want to crowd your loading docks with delivery trucks either making pick-ups or drop-offs. On the day equipment is being delivered, let that be your priority, and schedule all other deliveries for another time.

5. Print Production. Schedule your production around the fact that most likely your work schedule will be interrupted. Even if a press installation goes as smoothly as possible, you must still expect there to be a slight disruption in your normal daily activity. Make sure any imperative deadlines are met.

6. Swapping Equipment. Whether you are upgrading equipment, or getting rid of an existing piece of equipment, make sure it is out of the building prior to the arrival of the new machine. Do not expect the riggers delivering equipment to magically place it in the location of any existing equipment. If you need equipment "swapped" then make prior arrangements with the riggers to remove equipment before they bring in the new goods. By the same token, if you need equipment relocated within your facility, or want your pressroom re-arranged, make arrangements with the riggers to have that done prior to the arrival of your new equipment. Remember, as a rule of thumb, surprises of any kind are not good on days of delivery.