Ready to upgrade your shop to an automatic press? It is a rewarding feeling to outgrow your manual setup, but the jump to automation requires more than just a new machine. While you weigh your automatic press options, look around your shop. Success with an auto is determined by the equipment and habits you build today. Here is a checklist to help you transition without the friction.
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR HIGHER OUTPUT
A faster press demands higher output from every other corner of your shop. If your dryer or exposure unit is already a bottleneck, an auto will only amplify the problem. You need to invest in equipment that handles 23x31 aluminum screens and high-speed curing.
- High-Output Conveyor Dryer: A 10-color automatic press produces far more shirts per minute than a manual printer. You need a dryer like the RileyCure 248 to keep up with production. Its dual infrared elements provide the consistent heat required for high-volume runs.
- Donut Probe: Manual printers often rely on a laser temp gun, but for automation, a Donut Probe is a requirement. It travels through the dryer to provide a real-time temperature profile of the ink, ensuring every shirt is cured from top to bottom.
- Exposure unit: Automatic presses standardize on larger frames. The Baselayr V series Exposure Units are built for these larger dimensions and provides the sharp resolution needed for fine-detail auto prints.
- Quartz Flashes: The Riley Flash Quartz Dryer 18x24 is an ideal bridge product. It offers rapid on-off responsiveness, which is necessary when you move to a ROQ auto.
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When jobs are finished, you must reclaim screens efficiently. A dip tank system is the best way to handle the volume. Dial in your Darkroom Chemistry to make sure the reclaim process does not become the bottleneck in your shop.
SYSTEMIZING YOUR DARKROOM AND INK ROOM
An automatic press is only as fast as the shop around it. By implementing organizational equipment now, you build a foundation for production success.
- Screen Logistics: Auto shops handle three to four times more screens daily than manual shops. Using Baselayr Screen Racks gives you the mobile organization needed to scale.
- Ink Modulation: Stiff ink causes pinholes and poor flood strokes on an auto. A RevolvInk Mixer ensures your ink is always creamy and ready for the press. Always use a digital scale for color mixing to maintain consistency.
Stock up on multi-gallon containers of white & black inks and keep a dedicated ink spatula for every bucket to avoid cross-contamination.
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BRIDGE EQUIPMENT: THE RILEY 360
The Riley Hopkins 360 ROQ Compatible press is the ultimate bridge for a growing shop. It allows you to use ROQ Honeycomb Platens today. This protects your investment since these platens transfer directly to your future ROQ auto. Standardize your placement now with a Laser Guiding System to mirror the workflow of a professional automatic shop.
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THE AUTOMATIC READINESS CHECKLIST
An automatic press is an industrial machine that requires your shop environment to meet specific standards. Before you sign the lease on a new press, ensure your space is physically and technically ready for the install day.
- Power Requirements: Most automatic presses and high-output dryers like the RileyCure 248 require dedicated 208V or 240V circuits. Consult an electrician to ensure your sub-panel can handle the increased amperage.
- Compressed Air: Unlike manual presses, autos (except for the all-electric ROQ E) require a high-quality air compressor.
- Floor Space and Leveling: You need a level concrete floor that can support the weight of the press without vibration. Measure your "swing diameter" (the total width the arms rotate) and add at least three feet of walking clearance around the entire perimeter.
- Entry Points: Verify that your shop has a roll-up door or double doors wide enough for the press components. You will also need to rent or own a forklift and a heavy-duty pallet jack for the day of delivery.
- Climate Control: High-volume production generates significant heat. Ensure your ventilation system can exhaust the dryer fumes and keep the shop temperature stable, as extreme heat can affect ink viscosity and emulsion performance.
PEOPLE AND PRODUCTION STAGING
Waiting for the right time to get an automatic press means shifting your team's focus from the physical act of printing to the precision of staging. In a manual shop, the printer is the heartbeat. In an automatic shop, the press is the heartbeat, and your team exists to keep it running without interruption. This transition requires a "staging mindset" where jobs are prepped and ready before the current run even finishes.
- Staging Workflow: Train your team to use a cart to stage the next three jobs, including screens, ink, and garments, right next to the press. This minimizes downtime between jobs and ensures the press is always producing.
- Quality Control Habits: Because an auto prints hundreds of shirts an hour, a mistake caught late is a disaster. If you're not already following SOP's for jobs, start implementing processes to ensure quality at each step.
- Departmental Specialization: Automation often changes labor needs. You may find you need more people in the darkroom and reclaiming area than at the press itself. Evaluate if your current darkroom can handle coating and burning 10-30+ screens a day to keep up with an auto's demand.
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While there's other things to consider, if you start checking off these tasks and you will be on your way for an automatic press soon. Focus on building an efficient darkroom and ink room now so you can get straight to printing and dial in your on-press production once your auto is installed.