Along the same lines, the press manufacturers like to brag on how quick their makeready times are. What they don't tell you, when they demo that new press, with the big stopwatch on the delivery, is that the plates are of a known quality, where all the images have been proven to come right up to color, and fit. The paper is usually a top quality sheet, thats nice and flat, with ample weight to maximize both image quality, high speed runability, and all round press performance. The press crew has rehearsed that exact press demo countless times over the course of the week long trade show. The demonstrators KNOW that they are set up to succeed at these trade shows, and all they really need to do is let the press do its thing with all bases covered.
Then some company owner, along with the company bean counter, who has never received a single paper cut, nor seen a spot of ink under their fingernails, other than when loading the copy machine, or back when their pen exploded in their hands in grade school,decides that this new press in the hands of a press crew who has recently been promoted off the broom, will be able to deliver the same results in their non air conditioned plant, with job lot paper, and plates from their pre press department, with pre press employees, again right off the broom. Does this scenario sound familiar to anyone??? If this post makes me sound bitter its because I am. Im bitter that what was once a highly skilled craft and by all rights should still be, has turned into nothing more than a factory job where employees aren't judged by their abilities, but by how fast they are willing to jump up and down the presses catwalks, and by their willingness to accept blame when things go wrong!!! So glad Im retired, and feel sorry for the people that remember better days and have to finish out their careers under these conditions.
