Hot Line to Profit

[Music] [Music] Hello, Harvey Levenson of the technical services department here. >> We're in the middle of a run here and I have excessive thought gate. I wonder if you can help me. >> Let me suggest that you check plate to blanket squeeze first. Do you have a packing gauge? I've got another problem for you. We're having trouble with beige makeup. Who's down low? May I help you? Yes, sir. Yes, I believe we've talked before, right? That's right. [Music] We're having a real traffic problem here today. >> Yeah. Yeah, we've already tried that. You suggest changing the sequence of the inks. Okay, we'll try that. If it doesn't work, we'll get back to you. Well, judging from this tar target down at the tail of the sheet, I can see that we're getting some doubling in the cyan here, which it ultimately is going to affect our tone reproduction in the rest of the print, you recognize why we have to resort to some of these exotic ways. And then if you think in one frame of reference in terms of how best >> by now let us know how you turn on. Thank you. [Music] Well, as far as I'm concerned, GATF has certainly been the hotline of profit for me. I've been in the printing business for approximately 20 years, and like everyone else, I run into problems periodically. some of them of course quite serious. Since becoming a member of GATF, I've uh found fast answers to many of these problems which has not only saved me time and money, but has also saved me from having unhappy customers. >> Okay. >> Mr. Hogan's experience with GATF is repeated many times every week throughout the membership of over 1,200 companies and individuals. Actually, GATF is the members and what the members make it. It is owned by the members, represented by its members and the many programs are directed by the members. The profile of GATF is one of intense activity. The atmosphere is that of scientific progress in meeting the needs of the graphic communications industries. And the primary purpose of the entire staff is to serve as the hotline source of technical information that will help every type of member both large and small to turn out a high quality product with a favorable profit for himself. In traveling around the United States, Canada, and in fact, the world, and meeting with printers, we're often asked by them, "What can GTF do for me? What's in it for me?" That question can produce a very lengthy answer, as our programs cover all facets of graphic communications. We also are very active in the vital areas of career and recruitment programs, environmental control, technical counseling, and many other services that are significant and valuable to our members. If I were to categorize the basic areas in which we serve and benefit our members, they would be in our activities in the fields of research, of scientific, technical, and craft education, of technical services, and of dissemination of technical information. Of course, there's a wide variety of activities in each of these very broad programs. So, the direct answer to what's in it for me is just about anything you need to help you do a better, more efficient, and more profitable job with the facilities and personnel you now have. The minute you become a member, you have in a sense added all of the researchers, educators, and technical specialists here at GATF to your own staff along with one of the most complete graphic arts research centers in the world. Designed for and working with research programs that can help solve your problems and anticipate your future needs. As a member, you have instant hotline access to every service that GATF offers. >> The technical center in Pittsburgh along with its dedicated staff has been invaluable to me and to our firm over the last 25 years that we have belonged to the association. But in addition to this, I think one of the important things about GATF is that it's more than 400 dedicated members, working members that serve on its committees and boards. The interchange of ideas and the thoughts and the experiences gained from this association, I think is invaluable. And I think this is what is one of the main things that it is about our industry. It's people and that ability for people to give to people. And I like that. I think we should >> people helping people. >> That's really what it's all about. >> And everyone in business, whether large or small, can use help, especially with the complexities of running a successful business today. >> I know you've had several. >> There are hundreds of monthly publications designed for the graphic arts with valuable information on how to increase quality, how to cut costs, new products and processes, solutions to all types of problems. But who in business can spend the time to read this mass of materials? This is one of the basic services of GATF to its members. It does their reading for them. Then each month it sends out a digest of current technical articles, patents, and books abstracted from nearly 300 publications from around the world. Many other reports and bulletins dealing with specific subjects are sent to all members throughout the year. Information that readily keeps the members aware of what is happening throughout the graphic communications industries. The foundation's reference library contains knowledge of graphic arts accumulated over 50 years, and the library staff can readily fulfill the most amazing requests for printed information on all phases of the industry. >> Yes, as a member of the foundation, you're entitled to a free copy of that book. Some of the most valuable and widely used textbooks on graphic arts are published by the foundation and cover nearly every phase of production. >> I understand we have about 900 orders now for the revised lithographers manual. >> It's very logical for the foundation to assume the responsibility for producing textbooks for the industry. For one thing, they have extensive research and testing facilities that are far beyond any that might be practical for any individual printing company. >> The press room is one of the most complete of any research center in the world. >> If we're agreed then that the fountain solution film must spread on the ink. >> And the research staff, they are familiar with and work with almost every type of equipment and material used in the industry. And most important, they can be completely objective and unbiased in their opinions and analyses. These factors are all very important to the member who has need for special research or testing to alleviate a problem in his plant. Beyond having these extensive facilities available for customized research, the member also benefits from the many projects carried out each year that are designed to find solutions to prevalent industry problems. I think it's very useful to have a trained specialist from someone like uh GATF. They have an open and unbiased viewpoint. And uh we work day by day. We can very easily get into a rut uh get out of some of our systems and not not be doing our procedures the way that we were doing them. And uh perhaps also they they catch these things. They also add some improvements that we wouldn't think of. And these things all add up to profit in these very competitive days when we need every advantage we can get to sort of stay in business and make money. Some time ago, we decided to call GAF and to do a plant audit. The trained specialist spent a few days working with our people and he changed several of our operating procedures. This has helped us marketly and uh we helped our profitability and our productivity which is very important to us in these times. I would recommend that any company regardless of size should consider a plant audit. We are certainly glad that we did. >> Well, this form was specially designed for one of our members who recently installed a new press. Along with doing technical plant audits, the technical services department answers about 2,500 inquiries from industry each year, performing press tests, material tests on ink, paper, and other materials. As the troubleshooting arm of the foundation, its purpose is to find immediate solutions to the technical problems faced by printers and suppliers. For the 11th himself, he'll be in San Francisco. >> The technical specialists are always on the move solving problems, counseling at a school, conducting a workshop, conducting a product evaluation, helping with an environmental control problem. Wherever there is graphic communications, GATF has been there. And with all of the going and all of the doing, GATF still has time to conduct some 30 two to five day workshops each year at the technical center, many major seminars in various parts of the US, Canada, and throughout the world, and a special 5-day GATF orientation program designed for new graphic arts employees and people indirectly associated with the industry. We've taken advantage of several of GATF's educational programs, but the one that helped us most was their implant training program. After GATF conducted a technical audit of our pre-press and press operations, they prepared a implant customized training program which has been most effective in upgrading the quality of our work in increasing our productivity and improving the morale of our pre-press and press personnel. These benefits have made us more competitive, have helped us give our customers better service, and have improved the understanding and cooperation between plant departments. Most important, our return on sales has improved significantly. >> Fine. Bring that top roller down. Involvement is a way of life at GATF. >> Your technical center has been known as the answer place. >> We'll visually evaluate the blanket to determine what type of accumulation of paper debris is. >> Your foundation has been called the industry's only complete service organization. [Music] In 1965, 40 years after you created the organization, you then built this new center adjacent to the CargI Melon University, the Carnegi Institute, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Melon Institute, allowing constant access to the facilities and resources of these great institutions. And now many recognize GATF as the world center for graphic arts research and education. Now the distinctions accredited to GATF are very graphic and well- definfined. And the services offered by GATF are very impressive even though we didn't mention many of the foundation's activities. But what does all this mean to you when you're busy dealing with the daily procedures of running a business? Well, first of all, as a member, you have a direct hotline to a professional staff of researchers and technicians to work with you the minute you have a problem. >> Talk to GAPF and this is what they suggest. >> The result, minimum downtime, less waste, better quality, and quite often a happier customer. >> Have you been uh proof reading on this terminal at all? You really have to cut. >> You have many special programs available that can be tailor made to your operation. Technical plant audits to cut waste and provide for greater productivity and higher profit. Tailor made training programs to upgrade the competence of your personnel. >> Systems aids the printer in visualizing the appearance of the finished press sheet. As a member, you receive the latest reports and bulletins on graphic communications, often a full year before they're released to non-members. You'll get the latest reports on meaningful research that is unbiased and is directed toward achieving better quality, greater efficiency, and a higher profit in your operation. >> Well, I need an answer fast because I'm down. When you join the growing membership of GATF, you become a part of a progressive organization. And the more you use its many services, the more you benefit from your membership. Every function and program at GATF in the very end results in increased profit in graphic communications. And your membership connects you to the hotline to profit. >> Good morning, Graphic Arts Technical Foundation. [Music]